20 Years Ago We Made Friends, Now It’s Time for a Catch Up
Believe it or not, the first ever episode of Friends was first broadcasted on the 22nd September 1994 on NBC. Twenty years have certainly flown by, but the memories those six New Yorkers gave us, will last us a lifetime.
It all began with Monica, Ross, Joey, Phoebe and Chandler casually talking about the mundane activities of their everyday lives until being rudely interrupted by runaway bride Rachel. From then on, Friends exploded into the comedy phenomena of the nineties and noughties.
Friends was a regular top ranking sitcom in regards to ratings, bringing an average of 15 million viewers every week in the US. It racked up 62 PrimeTime Emmy nominations during its ten year existence, and is still incredibly popular today, with many television stations across the world showing re-runs on a daily basis.
A twenty page pitch described the comedy show as 'six people in their 20's who hang out at this coffee house.' Hardly a groundbreaking concept, but who knew how accomplished it would become?
Friends was created by Marta Kauffman and David Craine, and featured (at the time) a cast of complete unknowns who had only been seen on throw-away sitcoms or drama shows on American television. The only real recognisable cast member was Courtney Cox who had starred in Ace Ventura: Pet Detective and played Jerry’s girlfriend in a handful of Seinfeld episodes. Apart from Cox, NBC was taking a leap of faith with this fresh faced gang.
It worked. Friends received positive reaction from critics and clearly proved popular with viewers as the show always received strong viewership throughout its ten seasons. What makes this sort of sitcom work is its strength of personality. Instead of focussing on one or two characters (which was the original idea), all six have equal opportunities to make us laugh, cry and fall in love with. The show allowed for a myriad of story lines, which in turn gave the show its longevity.
Throughout its existence, Friends had a huge impact on pop culture. From memorable catchphrases such as 'Oh My God!' 'How you doin'?' and 'We were on a break!' to Jennifer Aniston's hairstyle— which led to imitations worldwide— Friends was an outlet for many young adults to mimic or express themselves by finding a common bond with one of the six. But it wasn't just the six main characters that inspired people. The Central Perk coffee house— one of the principal settings of the show— motivated Iranian businessman Mojtaba Asadaian to start his own Central Perk franchise that is registered in 32 countries. In London, a Central Perk replica was built in Broadwick Street in Soho which sells real coffee to customers, whilst featuring genuine Friends memorabilia and props, such as the Geller Cup from the episode 'The One with the Football' from season three.
Although Friends affected pop culture in various ways, it also gave hope to a country in mourning. Following the September 11th attacks in the United States, the ratings for Friends increased by 17%. This was down to many Americans seeking escape from the traumatic effects of that day and daily news reports of constant threats of terrorism bearing down on their lives. This is a key example of how a television show can galvanise people, help them deal with their own lives whilst also allowing them the chance to break away from their own domestic troubles— even if it is just for half an hour a week.
Friends helped develop an alternative family lifestyle that, for a change, represented a hearty look on twenty somethings who are un-married, sometimes unemployed and lead unconventional lifestyles. In the past, shows veered away from this formula but it was the nineties and Friends was about to change American culture. Even though its original treatment pitched the idea of 'six people in their 20's who hang out at this coffee house' that most certainly doesn't epitomise what Friends represents. Friends was about creating and sustaining relationships— whether they be romantic or not— that emphasised the importance of being there for one another through the good times and the bad. It was a show about six friends who took control of their lives.
