No one told you life was going to be this way! But there was one show that’s been there for you and me for 25 whole years that makes it seem okay the way we are. When FRIENDS aired for the first time right across the globe, I was just a baby. But today as old as the show is, when I’m really stressed, or sad, or just relaxing, I’d prefer it over any other show.
The reason maybe because it’s the state we are in right now, or maybe because it’s part of us in every character. Instead of being depressed of this mess of a life or the very hard journey of becoming a grown up, I can now look at it with a sense of humor. Interestingly, I can often find a FRIENDS reference to anything good or bad happening around me and laugh it off. The setting is not the same at all. But life is relatable I guess, despite times and the cultures.
The creators of the show, David Crane and Marta Kauffman came up with this idea of 6 friends meeting in a coffee house. Its initial title was Insomnia Café. Then it changed several times to reach today’s most loved title “FRIENDS”. The show was shot at the Warner Bros Studios in California.
The story unravels around six main characters Ross Geller (David Schwimmer), Monica Geller (Courtney Cox), Rachel Green (Jennifer Aniston), Chandler Bing (Matthew Perry), Phoebe Buffay (Lisa Kudrow) and Joey Tribbiani (Matt LeBlanc). They live on their own and hang out together. Their favourite place to be is usually Central Perk or Monica’s apartment. The opening theme for the show is “I’ll be there for you” by Rembrandts pitching right on the confused lives of youth that seems to be stuck in second gear forever.
One would never get over the very first opening moment of this sitcom when Rachel runs away from her wedding into the coffee house. From thereon you are bound to it with love and laughter.
The show has gone on for 10 Seasons over 10 years from its pilot in 22nd September 1994 till 6th May 2004. They grew old, had adventures, got promoted, got in and out of relationships, yet lived a life that is not so perfect, but happy and content. It maybe the reason why in my case I’d watch it every time knowing very well how it ends, and still don’t feel “it’s just a story anyway”.
The actors have also had their rising as the show progressed, and they have also grown old with it adding to how realistic it feels. They have had their breakouts and breakthroughs as their lives happened through the decade of the show continuing to receive the same amount of love just as their characters.
Could there BE a show better than FRIENDS? So far there hasn’t been one for me! Some say that now it’s been 25 years it is time for the friends to get together again. They say a movie is coming up. But you never know for sure. While there’s a whole pack of us who love it so much, there’s another group that doesn’t. Yet to me it is a great show that I’ll never get tired of and will cherish for the next 25 years and on!
Featured Image courtesy of:
https://www.google.com/film-and-tv-friends-has-been-voted-the-greatest-sitcom-of-all-time
Images Courtesy of:
https://i2.wp.com/metro.co.uk/friends cast
https://img.maximummedia.ie/the first scene
