JG: "When Marta & David & Jeff & I did 'Dream On', we used to spend a lot of time thinking about titles, because they were on-screen at the top of each episode. On "Friends", we decided that was a waste of time. We figured, why not name each episode after the thing that people will ostensibly be talking about around the water-cooler the next day?"
Return to Questions
"To answer your initial question, then... it varies. "
JG: "We only accept script submissions through agents. Sorry. That's the standard deal."
On acquiring scripts:
AJ: "If you are interested in plot synopses and the like, the best thing would be getting the 'Friends Companion' or to read the Episode Guide. If you are looking for script format because you're interested in writing for TV, there are loads of books that can fill you in. You might also try contacting the Writers' Guild (though I don't know if they'll be much help if you're not a member) or the Museum of Broadcasting in New York."
You can sometimes find unofficial transcriptions of scripts on the Internet, but WB Studios is tracking down most of those sites and closing them down.
JG: "There are two standing sets -- Monica and Rachel's apartment, which occupies the center of our stage, and the coffee house, which is stage right. Those stay up all the time, 'cause they're in every show.
"Stage left is a space where we put our larger 'swing sets' (sets that are only needed for one episode). In any given week, that could be Chandler and Joey's apartment, Carol and Susan's apartment, or the fancy restaurant in 'Candy Hearts' [114].
"Those three sets face the audience. There's additional space for sets off to the side and behind -- if we have to build sets there, we feed the scene live to the audience on overhead monitors."
Second, here's an answer based on a visit to the set during season 9. Specifically, it was on October 11, 2002, for the taping of episode 907, The One With Ross's Inappropriate Song. (By the way, when you watch that episode, and you hear someone in the audience gasp in shock when Phoebe eats the meat, that was my wife).
Monica's apartment and Central Perk are still as described above. Joey and Chandler's apartment is still stage left, with the hallway separating the apartments. I believe Joey's apartment is mostly left up all the time now, rather than being a "swing set" because that set was still up during the recent filming of an episode, even though the set wasn't used at all for that episode. But I suppose it still depends on how much space might be needed for temporary sets.
The space on the sides of the audience is used as well. At the October 11 visit, the side on the audience's right was occupied partially by Ross's apartment, and partially by the living room of Richard's apartment. I think they had to move some of Ross's apartment, between scenes, to have Richard's living room fully set up. The space on the audience's left was used for Mike's (Phoebe's boyfriend) parent's apartment. I believe that space is often used for Phoebe's apartment, because I saw a set-dresser touching up the paint on the floor with a can labelled, "Phoebe's Apt." Mike's parents set was quite large, with several rooms, hallways, etc. In fact, it was so large that I'm sure it slightly encroached on the space normally used for Joey and Chandler's apartment, although we could still see most of their apartment back there. Incidentally, between almost every scene, several crew members would hang out at Joey's and play foosball. I have a feeling the crew leaves Joey's apartment in place as much as possible, at least for this reason.
Incidentally, Monica's "secret closet" is usually a door to the backstage area. The shelves of junk that were in it for episode [814] (The One With The Secret Closet) was just a one-time arrangement.
Other interesting set facts:
The purpose of the big poster behind Monica's TV is to hide a large rectangular hole, through which the crew sometimes films. Similarly, there is a section of wall next to Monica's front door which detaches to cameras can be set up there. Although that hole is completely replaced when needed, it has a picture mounted on it to help hide the seams.
The street outside of Central perk is indeed part of the set (not filmed outdoors). The street, apartments across the street, cars, and live pedestrians were visible during shooting.
Monica's guest bedroom (formerly Rachel's room) is usually not set up. The entry way to it is there, and at times a camera films from "inside" that entry way. Monica's room is not normally set up, either. Most likely, when those rooms are needed, they are actually set up elsewhere. Otherwise, part of Central Perk would have to be taken down to make room.
Here's a very crude drawing to better illustrate what I've described above. It's not complete, not totally accurate, and not to scale, but it gives you some idea:
There was a great deal of debate on the internet over whether the first line was "So no one told you life was gonna be this way" or "So no one told you that was gonna be this way." Alexa Junge put the argument to rest with the following:
AJ: "the lyric question is 'No one told you LIFE was going to be this way...' But it's not a dumb [question] - there was momentary debate even between Marta [Kauffman] and David [Crane] who didn't want to believe they wrote two consecutive lines with the word 'Life' in them. But they did."
Also: There are only four claps; and D.O.A. stands for "dead on arrival."
The Theme song is sung by the Rembrandts. An extended version can be found on their 1995 album, "L.P." The music is by Michael Skloff and the lyrics by Allee Willis
So no one told you life was gonna be this way [four claps] Your job's a joke, you're broke, your love life's D.O.A. It's like you're always stuck in second gear When it hasn't been your day, your week, your month, or even your year
CHORUS: but I'll be there for you (When the rain starts to pour) I'll be there for you (Like I've been there before) I'll be there for you ('Cause you're there for me too)
Then, the extended version continues with:
You're still in bed at ten and work began at eight You've burned your breakfast; so far, things are going great Your mother warned you there'd be days like these But she didn't tell when the world has brought you down to your knees
CHORUS
BRIDGE: No one could ever know me, no one could ever see me Seems you're the only one who knows what it's like to be me Someone to face the day with, make it through all the rest with Someone I'll always laugh with Even at my worst, I'm best with you Yeah!
It's like you're always stuck in second gear When it hasn't been your day, your week, your month, or even your year, but
Carl Sobeski figured out the following guitar chords:
Fret Fret Fret A G C#m +---------+ +---------+ +---------+ 1 | | | 1 1 5th 1 | | | 1 1 3rd | 1 | | | 1 4th +---------+ +---------+ +---------+ | | | 2 | | | | | 2 | | | | | | 2 | +---------+ +---------+ +---------+ | 3 4 | | | | 3 4 | | | | | 3 4 | | Bm D E +---------+ +---------+ +---------+ | 1 | | | 1 2nd | 1 | | | | 5th | | | 1 | | 1st +---------+ +---------+ +---------+ | | | | 2 | | | | | | | | 2 3 | | | +---------+ +---------+ +---------+ | | 3 4 | | | | 3 3 3 | | | | | | | A G So no one told you life was gonna be this way A C#m Your job's a joke, you're broke, your love life's D.O.A. G Bm A It's like you're always stuck in second gear G D E And it hasn't been your day, your week, your month, or even your year A D E But, I'll be there for you (When the rain starts to pour) A D E I'll be there for you (Like I've been there before) A D E G A I'll be there for you ('Cause you're there for me too)
Then a whole new phase begins: Production.
JG: "It's a tape loop. Monkey's a very talented monkey, but she ain't no dancer."
AJ: "The pillow falling thing evolved on the stage. It may have come from the director, James Burrows or the actors or as a result of all their comic heads working together. I don't know for sure. All I know is we came by to see a run-through and were surprised by the wonderful bit and it stuck.
"Actual flubs are rare, but every so often something unexpected will happen at a taping that's too precious to pass up. In a recent episode (TOW 5 Steaks & an Eggplant) [205] Matt was supposed to go to the phone and say 'Bob, here' but he fell so fantastically, that's the take that ended up on the air."
Note: An * means more than one group worked on it, usually meaning one did the "story" and the other the "teleplay".
To write to the costume Designer:
Debra McGuire c/o Friends Warner Bros. Studio 4000 Warner Blvd. Building 160, Suite 750 Burbank, CA 91522
To write to the Set Decorator:
Greg Grande c/o Friends Warner Bros. Studio 4000 Warner Blvd. Building 160, Suite 750 Burbank, CA 91522
To write to the Property Master (in charge of props):
Marjorie Coster-Praytor c/o Friends Warner Bros. Studio 4000 Warner Blvd. Building 160, Suite 750 Burbank, CA 91522
Well, it's not completely gone. The vertical section next to the refrigerator is still there, as is about 2 feet of the horizontal section. But the rest of the horizontal section was removed, as was the vertical post nearer the audience.
The framework was interfering with production. It cast odd shadows, it interfered with the boom mike, and it was often blocking certain camera shots and angles.
Sometimes you can find the original Mummfords auctioned on eBay. But the aren't as interesting looking as Hugsy.
Todd: Over time various cast members and crew have contributed to the drawings on JOEY's apartment door. Two of our crew artists are Greg Bruza who is a set dresser and another is Paul Swain in our electrical dept. Sometimes the drawings do represent some inside information that even I am not aware of. The actual piece of set dressing is a "TYCO MAGNA-DOODLE".
Greg Grande: Yes, the Magna Doodle, most weeks, is done by our resident electrician Paul Swain. He seems to be the cartoonist on the crew. However, over the past several years we have had participation from other crew members, and yes, even the cast a few times early on. Early on Greg Bruza and myself as well as others had contributed to the doodle board. Lately it's been Paul Swain."
Ross Geller (David Schwimmer): Ross is Monica's brother. He has a Ph.D. in paleontology. Originally in the series, he worked for a museum [102]. He lost that job in season 5, due to his "rage problem." Later he became a guest lecturer at NYU (episode [604]). This led to a full-time teaching position there.
Ross's wife divorced him after she realised/decided that she was a lesbian [101]. Much of season one involved her pregnancy (discovered in episode 102). She finally gave birth to Ross' son Ben [123] and both she and her partner want Ross to be involved with the child to some degree [102] despite the fact that he doesn't really get along with his ex-wife's wife. But that may be changing. He not only gave away the bride at her wedding but he even danced with her new wife. [211]
Ross speaks very precisely [103] and is somewhat shy. He had a pet monkey named Marcel [110] who he had to send to zoo when it hit puberty [121].
Ross has been madly in love with Rachel since the ninth grade. At the end of the first season, he gave up on Rachel and began seeing Julie, whom he knew in Grad School and re-met on a trip to China [201]. When he found out that Rachel was interested in him, he broke up with Julie but blew it with Rachel when "the list" he made to help him decide between Julie and Rachel fell into Rachel's hands. [208] But they got over their differences and became a couple [214]. However, they broke up because their relationship was stressed by Rachel's busy schedule and Ross's jealousy [312][315]. The next morning Rachel changed her mind and a reconciliation looked likely, until she found out that Ross has slept with Chloe, the navel-ringed copy store girl [316]. Rachel couldn't forgive Ross but he claimed innocence since they were on a break. Because of their strong feelings, they briefly got back together at the beach [325] but it wasn't long before they right back to the same arguement (We were on a break!) [401]. In season 4, Ross met Emily Waltham [414], a woman visiting from London, and after a very hasty courtship, they decided to get married [419]. However, at the wedding in London, Ross accidently spoke Rachel's name instead of Emily's [423][424]. Although they still went through with the wedding, their relationship quickly disintigrated. Emily decided she can never trust Ross, so they got divorced.
Ross and Rachel's friendship began improving again, and in the final episode of the fifth season, they got drunk in Las Vegas and ended up getting married [524]. Early in the sixth season that was corrected with a divorce. Another notable occurance was when Rachel and Ross arranged to be their "backups" if they weren't married by the time they're 40 [625].
In early season 8, we learned that Ross fathered Rachel's child during a "one-night stand." Both have internal conflicts about where they want or think the relationship should go, but neither one seems to admit that they still want to be together. At the end of season 8, after the baby is born, Ross was apparently ready to propose to Rachel. However, a strange turn of events led Rachel to agree to marry Joey, even though he didn't really ask (nor did he intend to).
In season 9 Joey backed out of the picture so Ross could have another chance with Rachel, but that didn't go to well and by the end of season 9, a relationship between Joey and Rachel began.
By the beginning of the 10th season, Ross will be 35, based on his statement about 9 years earlier in the pilot episode, "I'm only 26 and I'm divorced!", and his consistent statement in episode [509], "I am 30 years old, and I'm about to be divorced twice." In episode [902] his birthday is stated as October 18th. That is consistent with episode [205], which aired in October 1995, had him celebrating his birthday at the hootie concert. But I don't blame Joey for thinking Ross' birthday was in Maytember, because I'm not sure anyone really could keep track of it. Episode [104], which aired in October 1994, had Ross state his birthday was "7 months ago," which would seem to place it in March. And Ross told Gunther his birthday was in December, in episode [405]. Maybe Ross just likes getting presents all year round?
Monica E. Geller (Courteney Cox): Monica is Ross' sister. She was a cook at a trendy restaurant, Iridium, on 65th and Broadway [101] until she was fired for accepting a kickback, which was against restaurant policy [205]. She's had a few different chef positions througout the rest of the series, including head chef at Alessandros, and in season 9, head chef at Javu.
She rents the apartment where much of the show's action takes place. It is quite an amazing apartment for someone with her career history. JG suggested that it might be an illegal sublet (see question 2.06), and this was confirmed in "TOW the Ballroom Dancing" [404].
She cannot seem to get her mother to approve of her at all [102][108]. The others consider her to be very bossy, anal-retentive, competitive, and controlling.
Monica has dated a number of men in the show, usually with bad luck. If she likes them, they turn out to be schleps [101]. If she doesn't like him, her friends love him [103]. And, just once, he turned out to be way too young [122]. And sometimes too old. She dated her father's friend Richard Burke (played by Tom Seleck) who is much older than she is [215] but they broke up [224]. Then she dated Pete Becker, a millionaire in the computer software industry [318]. Eventually, things were going very well for them (he even bought her a restaurant [321]). However, she broke it off when she discovered he's an obsessively stubborn person who doesn't know when to quit [324]. After she left Pete she had a brief catering business with Phoebe [406], but then got the position of head chef at Alesandro's restaurant (which she had given a bad review, so all the staff hate her) [409]. She briefly dated Richard Burke's son [408], but it was too weird. She and Chandler ended up in bed together in London, after spending most of Ross' rehearsal dinner (for his wedding to Emily) consoling each other [424]. That these two would get together has been desired by fans and hinted by various sub-plots. I.E. [325], [401].
Monica and Chandler continued their romance and tried to keep it a secret. But eventually everyone found out [514]. While in Las Vegas, they decide to get married. While waiting their turn at the chapel, they discovered Ross and Rachel (who were very drunk) had just been married [524]. That derailed everything (they weren't ready anyway) but they decided to move in with each other early in the sixth season. At the end of season 6, Chandler finally proposed again (although it almost didn't happen)[624]. They were married at the end of season 7. Their wedding date is May 15th, 2001 even though the marriage episode aired on May 17th. This is known from a statement Monica made in episode [717].
Monica will be approximately 34 at the start of season 10. This is based upon her statement that she was 28 during season 3, and that she was "25 and 13 months" (26 for those who are slow) in "TOW The Ick Factor" [122] (near the end of season 1).
Chandler Muriel Bing (Matthew Perry): Chandler was a data processor who didn't care for his job. However, in the middle of the first season he recevied a promotion [115] to be manager over other data processors. His job was officially, "Statistical analysis and data reconfiguration." In Season 9 he quite that job and is now a Junior Copywriter at an advertising agency. Some of this co-workers in season 1 thought he was gay, as did some women in college [108]. So did Mr. Heckles, the former neighbor who lived (and died) downstairs [203]. Chandler has a very hard time asking women out [106] as well as breaking up with them, I.E. the horrid Janice [105]. He seems to get stuck with Janice repeatedly [110] [114][224-308][415]. Chandler enjoyed a long (by his standards) and promising relationship with Kathy, who was originally Joey's girlfriend but was a much better match for Chandler. Unfortunately, it didn't last [405-413]. He and Monica ended up in bed together in London, after spending most of Ross' rehearsal dinner (for his wedding to Emily) consoling each other [424]. That these two would get together has been desired by fans and hinted by various sub-plots. I.E. [325],[401].
Monica and Chandler continued their romance and tried to keep it a secret. But eventually everyone found out [514]. While in Las Vegas, they decide to get married. While waiting their turn at the chapel, they discovered Ross and Rachel (who were very drunk) had just been married [524]. That derailed everything (they weren't ready anyway) but they decided to move in with each other early in the sixth season. At the end of season 6, Chandler finally proposed again (although it almost didn't happen)[624][624]. They were married at the end of season 7. Their wedding date is May 15th, 2001 even though the marriage episode aired on May 17th. This is known from a statement Monica made in episode [717].
Chandler's mother writes romance novels and embarasses Chandler greatly [111]. He used to smoke and sometimes still has trouble [103][317][318][905]. He lived with Joey across the hall from Monica and Rachel, until he moved in with Monica is season 6.
Chandler's age, as of early season 10, will be 35. This is based on the fact that in episode [407] (6 years earlier) he mentioned he was 29: "I'm 29. Who needs a savings account?"
Joey Francis Tribbiani (Matt LeBlanc): At first, Joey lived with Chandler across from Rachel and Monica. He still lives there, but his roommate has changed frequently. He is an aspiring actor who continually gets rather pathetic roles. These include Pinocchio in a children's production [101] as well as Sigmund Freud in a musical of Freud's life [106]. He was also the poster boy for VD [109]. His almost-breakthrough role (which he messed up) was as Al Pacino's butt-double in a movie [106]. He finally got a break and appeared on Days of our Lives as a doctor [210], until the writers killed him off [218]. But later in his career he got higher back, somehow to play the same character that was killed of in the past, which he still plays. I'm not sure how the soap opera writers (or the Friends writers) justified that. I may have to look into it and find the details. Especially considering the fact that his character a brain transplant from another character that was being killed off. How can he still be a doctor without his original brain?
He had a part in a movie with Charles Heston [414]. Near the end of season 5, he got the lead in a movie called Shutter Speed [522]. However, when he got on location in Las Vegas for filming, he found the film had been closed down due to lack of funds. So he got a job a Caesar's Palace. Joey's presence in Vegas is what leads to everyone else coming to Vegas for a weekend, which was were the final episodes of season 5 took place[523][524]. Joey also had a big part in a War movie (Over There) later in season 7, which was released late in season 8.
Joey is kinda slow intellectually. He is quite active with the females, but never has a lasting relationship. He's also an ordained minister based on getting ordained over the internet.
During season 8 Joey developed feelings for Rachel, but help them back because he didn't want to interfere with chances of Rachel and Ross getting together. Once Ross told him to go ahead and tell Rachel, he did... but found out Rachel didn't feel the same way. At the end of season 8, a strange turn of events led Rachel to believe Joey was proposing marriage to her... and she accepted. But that was sorted out and their relationship was back to normal - - that of friends. But late in season 9, Rachel developed feeling for Joey, and by the end of season 9, they got together during the gang's trip to Barbados.
Sometime during the 10th season, Joey should turn 36, since he was 28 as of "The One Where Joey Moves Out", a 2nd season episode). This is confirmed in episode [619] when (during a discussion of Spring Break) it was mentioned that he was 13 in spring of 1981. That makes him 34 in spring of 2002, and on schedule to turn 36 during season 10. However, there are inconsistencies. In episode 701 it's mentioned that he's 31 (which would make him 34 at the beginning of season 10). That seemed to be confirmed the next year in episode [802], where Chandler reminds Joey that he is 32. But then again, in 714 it's established that Joey is older than Chandler (whom we already know is 35). So which episodes do you believe? (Hint: None of this is real, so you don't have to believe any of them if you don't want to.)
Rachel Karen Green (Jennifer Aniston): Rachel, until the start of the series, had never held a job and had always lived off daddy's money [101]. At the start of the show she had just left Barry, her husband-to-be, at the altar and ran to (and moved in with) the only friend she could think of (at least the only friend who wasn't invited to the wedding): Monica [101]. It took her a while to get into the groove of living and working in the big city. She worked as a waitress until mid-third season, when she quit [310], then got a job at Bloomingdale's [311]. Later she got a job at Ralph Lauren [517][518] as the Coordinator of the Women's Collection. But late in Season 10, her boss caught her pursuing work at Gucci, and she got fired. She didn't get offered the job at Gucci, either. But then Mark (same guy that got her the job at Bloomingdale's) offerred her a job at Louis Vuitton, in Paris.
Rachel has dated many guys (much to Ross' chagrin), including Paolo, an Italian man who could barely speak English [107-112], and much later, Joshua, a well-to-do young customer at Bloomingdales [413-420]. For all of the first season, she was oblivious to Ross' crush on her. At the end of the season Chandler let it slip and she decided to go for it. However, by that time Ross had found a new girlfriend (Julie). When she got drunk and told Ross that she was over him, he decided to leave Julie. However, a list [208] of pros and cons about Rachel (which Ross was using as part of his decision between her and Julie) upset her and she turned away (but, of course, later forgave him and they got together). However, they broke up because their relationship was stressed by Rachel's busy schedule and Ross's jealousy [312][315]. The next morning Rachel changed her mind and a reconciliation looked likely, until she found out that Ross had slept with Chloe, the navel-ringed copy store girl [316]. Rachel couldn't forgive Ross, but he claimed innocence since they were on a break. Because of their strong feelings, they briefly got back together at the beach [325] but it wasn't long before they broke up (still arguing about the alleged "break" they were on [401]. In season 4, Ross met Emily Waltham [414], a woman visiting from London, and after a very hasty courtship, they decided to get married [419]. However, at the wedding in London, Ross accidently speaks Rachel's name instead of Emily's [423][424]. While they still went through with the wedding, this event planted the seed which eventually led to their divorce.
At the end of season 7, we learned Rachel is pregnant. In early season 8, we learned that Ross is the father. Both have internal conflicts about where they want or think the relationship should go, but neither one seems to admit that they still want to be together. At the end of season 8, after the baby is born, Ross is apparently ready to propose to Rachel. However, a strange turn of events led Rachel to agree to marry Joey, even though he didn't really ask (nor did he intend to). That was sorted out and everything went back to the status quo. But during seasons 8 and 9 there has been signs of a possible relationship between Rachel and Joey, which finally happens during the gang's trip to Barbados at the end of season 9.
Rachel's parents have problems of their own as well. Her mother (having married her own "Barry") envied Rachel's free life, and for that and several other better reasons has divorced her husband [211][222].
Rachel's age is a bit... um... flexible? She should be about 34 by the end of the 9th season, even though the writers claim she only turned 30 in episode [714]. My figure of 34 is based on several things:
We know her birthday is on May 5th, because Gunther asked her in episode [405]. This is further confirmed by the fact that she has had several birthday parties near the end of several seasons [124] [222] (and seasons usually end around May). Rachel stated that she is 28 in episode [416] and therefore would have turned 29 at the end of that same season.
I suppose you could argue that she was rounding up to the nearest full year. But, hey, women don't do that.... especially women like Rachel. Maybe you could say season 4 was a bit out of sequence, and ep 416 was after her birthday (breaking with the precident of seasons 1 and 2). After all, in seasons 7 and 9 she had her birthday parties in mid season, instead of the end of the season. But even if we adjust the calculations down by a year to account for this, there's still an additional year discrepancy. One other inconsistency in her birthday information is that in episode [722], the cop looking at her driver's license commentented that she is an Aquarius, but that would put her birthday in January or February. Rachel, if born May 5th, would be a Taurus. Maybe the writers or Jennifer Aniston thought that having Rachel be a bull was not consistent with her character.
In season 9, Rachel's birthday was celebrated during the January 16, 2003 episode 912. This isn't very consistent with May 5th, but it is definately consistent with being an Aquarius.
Phoebe Buffay (Lisa Kudrow): Phoebe is way out in left field most of the time. Often the cause of strange looks and shrugs from the others, Phoebe left home early in life after her mother committed suicide; she moved to the city where her albino male roommate committed suicide; she got her act together when she discovered aroma-therapy [101]. She is a masseuse [112] and also sings at Central Perk, often about death. She is very spiritual (not necessarily in a religious sense). She cleanses auras [101] and believes she can sometimes read thoughts of people or sense the presence of departed friends or family. She once was inhabited by the spirit of an old lady who died on her massage table [211]. She had a friend whom she believes was reincarnated as a pencil [108]. She lived with her grandmother [104] for much of the show, but her Grandmother died [513]. Phoebe still lives in the apartment she shared with her.
Her sister, Ursula Pamela Buffay, is a waitress at Riff's, a restaurant featured in 'Mad About You' [102], but they do not get along [116-117].
Many plots that focus on Phoebe involve her complicated family relationships. In addition to Ursula, we have had episodes that centered around her husband [204], her search for her father [209], her brother (Frank, Jr.) [305], Frank Jr.'s wife and home-ec teacher (Alice) [318], her discovery of her birth mother [325][401], and the surrogate pregnancy she went through for Frank, Jr. and Alice [411]-[503], and finally meeting her father at her grandmother's memorial service [513].
Phoebe hadn't had many long term relationships until season 9, when she met Mike Hanigan. That relationship lasted several months until she decided there wasn't a future in it, because he's been through a painful divorce and never wanted to be married again. But at the end of season 9 he decided he'd be open to the idea, as a reaction to news that David (the Scientist Guy) was going to propose to her. Mike proposed first. Phoebe turned him down, because she doesn't need to marry him right away... she only wanted to know there was a possible future.
I don't have much info to confirm Phoebe's age, but we know she's over 33 by the end of season 9. In TOW They All Turn Thirty, [714], there's a flashback (how long back, we don't know) to Phoebe's "30th birthday," where Ursula shows her a birth certificate proving she's really 31 at that time. We do know Phoebe's birthday, even if we don't know the year. It's February 16th, which she tells Frank Jr. in episode [305]. However, in episode [905] her birthday is celebrated (with a nice dinner out) on Halloween. She admits she couldn't get reservations on the actual night of her birthday, so she got them on Halloween instead. Either the restaurant was booked up for 8 months, or the writers forgot when her birthday is.
By the way, Frank Jr's birthday is October 25th.
According to Phoebe, she will die on October 25th, 2032 (revealed in episode [703]).
"For example, somebody recently quoted a line from Mad About You in which Ursula mentioned her brother. Well, if Ursula has a brother, so does Phoebe, and we writers need to be aware of that.
"There was also a post on the newsgroup which confidently asserted that the character of Carol, the pregnant lesbian ex-wife, was 'based on Friends Executive Producer Marta Kauffman.' Marta really got a kick out of that one, as did her husband and two kids.
"I don't think any of the cast members are wired as of yet [that was around 1994 - 95], though I did circulate the internet "Friends Drinking Game" to them. They loved it, and expressed amazement that people knew the show that well."
By the way, "JG" stands for 1st season producer / writer Jeff Greenstein, and "AJ" stands for producer / writer Alexa Junge.
JG: "O.K., here's the quasi-definitive answer as I know it, as we writer folk have discussed it over the course of the season...
"In the pilot, we established that Monica, Rachel and Ross all went to Lincoln High School together. Monica was fat; Rachel was popular and possibly bitchy; Ross was a nerd. Rachel says that she and Monica were close, but in the time since, they've drifted -- enough so that Rachel didn't think to invite Monica to her wedding.
"We also established that Ross had a crush on Rachel back then; she knew this, but thought of him as 'Monica's geeky older brother.'
"During the making of 'The One Where Nana Dies Twice' [108], Schwimmer and Perry wondered if Chandler and Ross might have gone to college together. We writers agreed that it might be nice for two of our other characters to have a history together, so we wrote it in.
"Therefore, my guess is that when Monica graduated college and was looking for an apartment, Chandler (who was living with his first roommate Kip -- the one Joey is jealous of in 'Dozen Lasagnas' [112]) alerted her to the fact that an apartment was opening up across the hall from him. Monica found Phoebe through a roommate-matching service and moved in.
"One of the ways we've justified -- to ourselves, at least -- this amazing place Monica lives in (on an assistant chef's salary!) is that it's probably an illegal sublet. Several plot lines revolving around this fact were discussed over the course of the season, but never amounted to anything."
(After a while, this aspect of the plot was changed / solidified. Alexa Junge added: "Rachel and Monica live in a rent-controlled apartment Monica's grandmother left her (not Nana - the other one)").
(This was later confirmed in episode [306], when Monica tells Joey that the apartment is her grandmother's, who's moved to Florida. Also, in episode [404], Monica and Rachel almost get kicked because of the illegal sublet.)
(This was clarified in episode [306], where Chandler places an advertisement in the newspaper, to find a new roommate, because Kip has moved out. Plus, Phoebe reveals that she has been slowly moving out because she can't stand Monica's incessant neatness.)
"As for the timing of the events surrounding Ross's divorce, that's something we've consciously avoided getting into. The more you think about it, the more troublesome it becomes: Was Carol already involved with Susan when Ross got her pregnant? We invite viewers to figure this one out for themselves..."
(Episode [306] also reveals that point at which Carol starts spending a lot of time with Susan.)
"In fact, when we were initially casting Marcel, we were told that no capuchins were available because all of them were in Malta shooting 'Outbreak.'"
[See also 1.10]
Try the following:
Matt LeBlanc c/o Studio Fan Mail 1122 S. Robertson Los Angeles, CA 90035
If you want to write to the Friends office in general:
Friends Warner Bros. Studio 4000 Warner Blvd. Building 160, Suite 750 Burbank, CA 91522
If you want to write to a specific writer / producer / staff member, add that person's name and "c/o" (care of):
(person's name) c/o Friends Warner Bros. Studio 4000 Warner Blvd. Building 160, Suite 750 Burbank, CA 91522
Also:
AJ: "Ross lives across town [from Monica's apartment]. Phoebe lives nearby." AJ: "It's 'less than a hundred steps' [from Monica's building to Central Perk] because Joey has counted them."
AJ: "It's 'less than a hundred steps' [from Monica's building to Central Perk] because Joey has counted them."
Visit the Friends apartment building, several other Friends sites, the Cosby brownstone, the Nanny townhouse, the firehouse used in Ghostbusters, and more, on an exciting three-hour bus tour of TV and Movie locations in Manhattan. $30 per ticket. For further information on times and group rates, e-mail tvtour@aol.com or call (212) 410-9830. Try http://www.sceneontv.com as well.
Rachel might be Jewish, but there isn't enough information to be sure. Several magazine articles and other sources have referred to her as a JAP (Jewish-American Princess), a term often (but not exclusively) used for Jewish-American girls who grow up spoiled by a well-to-do family. But that term isn't necessarily used literally anymore. Moving on... Phoebe's first version of her Holiday song (mentioned in the paragraph above) included the line, "Spin the dreidel, Rachel." (Which Rachel objected to, but only because it didn't rhyme very well). That suggests that she's Jewish, but again, it isn't necessarily proof. Another item that suggests she's Jewish is that fact that in episode [909] Rachel mentioned her "bubbe," which is the yiddish word for Grandmother. This suggests that Rachel's heritage is at least partially Jewish.
On the other side of the discussion, in episode 222, The One With Two Parties, Rachel refers to what life will be like if her parents divorce. She says, "I mean, this is what my life is gonna be like. My mom there, my dad there. Thanksgiving, Christmas. She gets the house, he's in some condo my sister's gonna decorate with wicker." Why would she mention Christmas instead of Hanukkah, in relation to family holidays, if she were Jewish? Well, we all know the writers of the show aren't terribly consistent, and they often forget facts they've established about the characters. They've changed the birth dates of at least 3 of the 6 main characters.
The bottom line for Rachel seems to be, "We can't really answer that question conclusively."
Whom shall we assume knows how to spell her name better? Ross and Rachel (or actually, the prop master who prepared those envelopes)? The guy at the cake shop (who didn't even give Rachel the right cake)? Or the people who prepare the show's credits? Don't get too hung up on things like this.
Some people mistakenly believe that Monica's middle name is Velula, because Phoebe signed for a delivery as "Monica Velula Geller" in episode 307. However, Phoebe's statements around that make it clear she wasn't sure whether Monica had a middle name. She was just making it up.
We don't know for certain whether Phoebe made the name up or borrowed it from someone. The first time she used it was when talking to Emily's mother (while Phoebe was home and Ross' wedding was going wrong in London).
Ken Adam's is Joey's fake name (revealed in episode [804]).
214 The One With the Prom Video 508 The One With All the Thanksgivings 615 The One That Could Have Been 10.11 The One Where The Stripper Cries
In episode 323, The One With Ross' Thing, Joey and Chandler speculate that if the duck and chick had a baby, they could call it Chuck. Or Dick.
Many people have the mistaken idea that one of Joey's sister's is named Veronica, because in episode 311 Chandler thought he had made out with Veronica. However, that was a mistake on Chandler's part. He was drunk, remember? The dialog in question shows that he was actually thinking of Monica:
Chandler: Veronica! Look, it's got to be Veronica--the girl in the red skirt. I definitely stuck my tongue down her throat. Monica: That was me.
But one way or the other, there is no Denise. Friends supervising producer Todd Stevens was quoted in WB's Friends Newsletter as saying, "It was a joke. There is no Denise. That is all the information that I have. Thanks for asking."
JG: "Oh, come on. Chandler's not gay. Though back in college, there were a lot of girls who thought he was..."
JG: "The Phoebe/Ursula thing (which precipitated the Helen Hunt/Leila Kenzle [crossover from Mad About You]) was necessitated by the fact that Lisa Kudrow was playing two different roles on back-to-back sitcoms. Rather than just pretend Mad About You didn't exist, it was decided to make Phoebe Ursula's twin sister, and deal with the issue head-on in the 2/23/1995 episode. [116][117]
Other episodes which Ursula appears in are: [303] [401] [513] [614] [714] [806]
However, slowly over the course of the show, more has developed between Joey and Phoebe. They kissed again in TOW Barry & Mindy's Wedding [224] when Joey needs kissing practice. In episode [602] Phoebe foretells she and Joey will be married eventually, and have Chandler's money and Rachel's kids. At the end of season 6 [625], we find out that Joey is Phoebe's "backup," and they plan to get married if neither of them is hitched by age 40. Season 7 and 8 have contained many more signs of deepening friendship and hints of future developments. Joey gave Phoebe her "perfect kiss" in TOW They All Turn Thirty [714]; Joey proposed marriage to her when he thought she was pregnant in episode [801].
In "The One With The Flashback"[306] we find out that Ugly Naked Guy was previously known as Cute Naked Guy, but then he started putting on weight.
A.N.U.S = Annual Net Usage Statistics
JG: "As written in 'Stoned Guy' [115], it was 'Weekly Estimated Net Usage Statistics'. Matthew said 'Systems' instead of 'Statistics', but we decided to let it go because basically the joke was over as soon as he said the word 'WENUS'.
"Then, when we did the WENUS/ANUS call-back in 'Two Parts' [116 & 117], we decided to go back to 'Statistics' 'cause it makes more sense -- knowing full well that sharp-eared 'Netters would probably catch us at it."
So the transition period, in order of filming, went approximately like this: Episode 106 (production number 456655): Apt 4 & 5 (TOW the Butt) Episode 107 (production number 456656): Apt 4 & 5 (TOW the Blackout) Episode 112 (production number 456658): Apt 4 & 5 (TOW the Dozen Lasagnas) Episode 108 (production number 456657): Apt 19 & 20 (TOW Nana Dies Twice) Episode 109 (production number 456659): Apt 19 & 20 (TOW Underdog Gets Away) Episode 111 (production number 456660): Apt 19 & 20 (TOW Mrs. Bing) Episode 110 (production number 456661): Apt 19 & 20 (TOW the Monkey)
As you can see, the production numbers are not even in perfect order. If I had to guess (or maybe I'm remembering an old bit of trivia), I'd say that one of the bigger guest stars in production number 456657 (Elliot Gould or Christina Pickles) had a scheduling conflict which forced a relatively late change in the production schedule.
It's also interesting to note that episode 112, where Rachel dumps Paolo for making a pass at Phoebe, was filmed immediately after episode 107, where Rachel first meets Paolo. Paolo is mentioned in many of the subsequent ("in between") episodes, but his only other season 1 appearance is in episode 111 (The One With Mrs. Bing).
Ross: Aqui esta. [Here it is] Monica: ¿Y quien pidio el pollo General Tso? [Who ordered General Tso's chicken?] Chandler: ¡Pudo haber sido General Tso! [It could've been General Tso!] Rachel: ¡Miren, miren! ¡El viejo desnudo esta haciendo el hula hoop! [Look, look! Ugly Naked Guy is doing the hula hoop!] Todos: ¡Ewwwwww! [Ewwwwww!] Todos: ¡Hola, Joey! [Hi, Joey!] Joey: ¡Hola, amigos! [Hey, everybody!] Monica: Mira, Ross, Marcel se llevo el control remoto. [Look, Ross, Marcel has the remote control.] Ross: ¡Eso es que no le gusta la tele! [That's because he didn't like what was on!]
On the other hand, I suppose I owe a better answer to all you who think the world didn't really get interesting until 1990. "Frankie" is of the '80s music group "Frankie Goes To Hollywood," and Relax is one of their songs. The "Frankie says RELAX" t-shirts were a major fashion item of the 80s, specifically 1984. It is one of the best-selling rock-related t-shirts of all time. In one 5-week period of 1984, over 125,000 of those shirts were sold. The previous highest-selling rock t-shirt was an Iron Maiden shirt selling 70,000 over the course of a whole year.
And in case you're wondering about the origin of the band's name, I'm told it is taken from the title of an article in Variety magazine, about Frank Sinatra moving to Hollywood, and about his career as a movie star.
In one of the final episodes of Friends, we learn that the Chick and Duck died a while ago, but Joey was told they were taken to a farm where they could run and play. I wonder if they ever see Chichi?
In Ross's building: Mrs. Verhoven: Zeer vereerd een vriend van mijn moeder te ontmoeten. [Very honoured to meet a friend of my mother's.] In Central Perk: Ross: Bedankt voor de koffie Gunther. [Thanks for the coffee Gunther.] Gunther: Je spreekt Nederlands. Dat is te gek. Heb je familie daar? [You speak Dutch. That's Cool. Have you family there?] Ross: Yeah, we're done. Gunther: Ezel! [Donkey!] Ross: Hey, Gunther. You're an ezel. [...donkey.] Gunter: Jij hebt seks met ezels. [You have sex with donkeys.] In Ross's building. Ross: I brought her some bloemen. [...flowers.] In Joey's and Rachel's appartment. Ross: Ezels! [Donkeys!]
NOTE: I've been informed that in Dutch, "Donkey" can be slang for "idiot."
At the end of episode 321, we see a view from inside Joey's bathroom. The toilet is on the side of the bathroom that is closest to the kitchen. Much later, in episode 505, there is a scene where Chandler opens the bathroom door to reveal Joey, asleep with a toothbrush in his mouth, sitting on the toilet. In that scene, the toilet is on the side of the bathroom that is furthest from the kitchen.
In episode 305, when Joey shows Monica the problem with her tiles, the toilet is at the foot of the tub. In episode 723, when Phoebe finds a pregnancy test in the bathroom, the toilet is on the left side of the sink.
So now you know.
"It's this dumb thing that Ross made up because he was trying to fool our parents. It's a way of giving the finger, without actually having to give it. I remember I cried the night he made it up, `cause it was the first time that I realized that I was actually cooler than my older brother."
With all due respect to Alexa (because I'm sure she answered as honestly as possible), and with all due respect to Jennifer (who probably could do this trick if she decided to work on it), we now have the miracle of slow-motion playback, and you can see (if you watch carefully) that the way the cards flow shows that it must be a trick deck. The cards, while flying from one hand to the other, change the angle of flight in mid-air, and some of them even move backwards as she moves her hands further apart from each other. That could only happen if the cards were connected to each other, for the purpose of the trick.
Additionally, it's been pointed out to me that a connected deck (probably the same one - a re-used prop) appeared in Phoebe's possession in episode 419, The One With All The Haste.
Why didn't Chandler buy new black chairs? They looked so much nicer! Well, the black chairs made filming the show more difficult, because of the way they absorbed light.
I'm told Hoshi's line translates to: "What the hell are you talking about?"
This is a reference to an old song called "Billy, Don't Be a Hero." Presumably, last time Ross "grabbed a spoon," it was while that song was playing on the radio, or something like that. The timing of the reference is a little odd, because that song was popular in the mid 70s, which would have been a bit too early to accurately fit. But I suspect that this song was meaningful to one of the show's writers, in some kind of "grabbing a spoon" way, and thus it got mentioned.
For more information, see the FAQ for the Friends Zone Mailing list, or just generally browse the Friends Zone Site.
For more information, click here.
There are a great many Friends sites and more appear all the time. Rather than list them all here, I refer the reader to Yahoo's section on the TV-Show Friends:
http://dir.yahoo.com/Entertainment/Television_Shows/Comedies/Friends/
Contact: Alan
