20 Astonishing Revelations: Unearthing the Untold BTS Friendships Since the Show's Epic Finale After 19 Years!
Discover the most intriguing BTS revelations from the iconic show Friends, including real-life romances, near-firings, unexpected plot changes, and hilarious pranks Get ready for a rollercoaster of behind-the-scenes secrets!
Summary
Behind-the-scenes revelations about Friends continue to pique interest even years after the show ended, adding to its enduring popularity.
During the show's inaugural season, Jennifer Aniston and David Schwimmer experienced genuine chemistry and crushes on each other, although they refrained from pursuing any romantic involvement.
An incident took place during the filming of an episode where Matt LeBlanc dislocated his shoulder, shedding light on the unforeseen hazards and injuries that could arise on the seemingly uncomplicated set of a sitcom.
Friends, the beloved sitcom, is filled with memorable moments that have stayed with viewers for decades. Since the show ended 19 years ago, there have been numerous behind-the-scenes revelations that have come to light. Following the story of six individuals in their twenties navigating adulthood, Friends explores the challenges and ups and downs that come with it. From the catchy claps in the theme song to the suspense of Ross and Rachel's romantic fate and iconic lines like "pivot" and "he's her lobster," the show is packed with elements that have made it a timeless piece of entertainment.
Even as both original and new viewers continue to enjoy the show, it's no surprise that there is still curiosity about what happened behind the scenes of Friends. Over the years, those involved in the production have been willing to share insider details, offering a glimpse into the reality of the show. Since its conclusion in 2004, intriguing insights have surfaced, adding an extra layer of fascination to the viewing experience.
Jennifer Aniston & David Schwimmer Almost Had A Real-Life Romance
David Schwimmer Disliked Marcel The Monkey
The onscreen romance between Ross and Rachel kept Friends viewers captivated for 10 seasons, leaving them in anticipation of whether they would end up together. Unbeknownst to the audience at the time, a similar connection was forming behind the scenes between the actors who portrayed these beloved characters, Jennifer Aniston and David Schwimmer. This revelation came to light during the Friends reunion in May 2021, where it was disclosed that both Aniston and Schwimmer had feelings for each other during the show's early days. Schwimmer openly admitted, "During the first season, I had a major crush on Jen," to which Aniston responded with affirmation, "It was reciprocated."
Marcel the Monkey, both adored and controversial, quickly captured the hearts of viewers when he made his debut in season 1 as Ross' beloved pet. While Ross undeniably cherished the presence of this endearing little capuchin monkey, Schwimmer held a different sentiment. During the 2021 reunion, he candidly confessed that he found the monkey to be somewhat bothersome. Schwimmer elaborated, stating, "What would often occur is that we had meticulously planned routines, but they would be disrupted because the monkey didn't execute its role correctly. Consequently, we had to start over and repeat the scenes until the monkey got it right."
The monkey would also receive his sustenance, live insects, throughout Schwimmer's breaks. Consequently, Schwimmer formed a profound aversion towards this primate counterpart. Subsequently, during the reunion, Schwimmer boldly declares that it was about time for Marcel the Monkey to depart.
Matt LeBlanc Dislocated His Shoulder Filming A Season 3 Episode
Surprisingly, despite Friends being a lighthearted sitcom set in New York City, the actors faced their fair share of on-set injuries. During the filming of Friends season 3, episode 2, "The One Where No One's Ready," Matt LeBlanc experienced a dislocated shoulder. In this particular episode, Joey and Chandler engage in a frantic race to claim a prized armchair, which resulted in LeBlanc taking a tumble. He instinctively raised his arm to cushion the fall, resulting in his shoulder "exploding."
NBC Nearly Cut Monica's Romance Subplot From Friends' Pilot Episode
In 1994, when the show Friends first premiered, there were concerns about including a plot line involving a woman engaging in sexual activity. The head of NBC at the time, Don Meyer, worried that Monica sleeping with a guy on the first date would make her unlikeable. However, the show's co-creator, David Crane, was adamant about keeping the plot. To settle the debate, Meyer arranged for a live audience to gauge their reactions. He asked biased and judgemental questions, such as whether Monica's actions made her seem promiscuous. Despite this, the audience still liked Monica and felt that her choice did not affect how they perceived her. Eventually, Meyer agreed to let the episode air, citing that he appreciated the element of Monica being deceived by the man she slept with, who had claimed to be celibate for years.
Matthew Perry Was Almost Fired From Friends
Matthew Perry's battle with addiction was widely known among Friends viewers, but little was known about the fact that he came close to being terminated due to it. In 2019, Generation Friends, a book authored by Saul Austerlitz, shed light on the showrunners' struggle in dealing with Perry's substance abuse issues. At one juncture, they contemplated letting go of Perry, given their concerns about the negative impact of being part of a hugely popular television series on his well-being. Additionally, they were apprehensive that the visibility of Perry's personal struggles might cast a negative light on the show itself. However, ultimately, they couldn't envision a future without Chandler and his witty one-liners, leading to their decision to retain him.
One Friends Season 8 Episode Had To Be Changed After 9/11
There were several moments on Friends that today's viewers reflect on with disbelief, as they would not be deemed acceptable now. However, one particular moment was fortunate enough to escape this fate just in time. The storyline of Friends' season 3, episode 3, "The One Where Rachel Tells Ross" initially focused on Chandler and Monica getting detained at an airport due to their remarks about bombs and airplane hijacking. Considering that this episode was scheduled to air merely a month after the tragic events of 9/11, changes were essential to ensure sensitivity towards cultural sensitivities. Consequently, the Friends episode underwent a complete rewrite, transforming into a more lighthearted portrayal of the couple's honeymoon antics.
Jennifer Aniston Was Originally Asked To Sit Out Of Main Cast Photos
It's difficult to fathom Friends without Jennifer Aniston portraying Rachel Green, but that almost happened. During the Television Academy's An Evening Honoring James Burrows in 2013, Aniston disclosed that she was initially asked to skip being included in cast photos, just in case she didn't end up playing Rachel Green. By that time, Aniston had already filmed five other pilot episodes and had committed to starring in a CBS sitcom called Muddling Through. The network kept her on standby, in case Muddling Through fell through, which led to Aniston being excluded from certain photoshoots, including the iconic fountain scene.
Ross's Emily/Rachel Name Mix-Up Was Inspired By Real Actor Mistake
The moment when Ross said the wrong name at his wedding was absolutely shocking to the audience, and it was all due to a mix-up on David Schwimmer's part. According to the book Generation Friends, Schwimmer had been rehearsing the line "Emily, the taxi's here." However, in a moment of confusion, he accidentally said Rachel instead. This unexpected slip-up caught the attention of Greg Malins, a writer/producer on the show, who then informed co-creator David Crane that they had stumbled upon the perfect twist for the wedding day scene. The rest is history.
Friends' Cast Would Intentionally Tank Some Jokes They Didn't Like
NBC Prepared For Huge Backlash To Carol & Susan's Wedding
In her 2023 book, titled "End Credits: How I Broke Up With Hollywood," Patty Lin revealed a contrasting experience as a writer for the immensely popular show Friends. Rather than the anticipated dream come true, Lin portrayed a different reality. She disclosed how the show's stars would intentionally undermine jokes they personally didn't find amusing, thereby necessitating revisions. Lin further explained that the cast openly expressed their opinions about the script, often seemingly frustrated by the constraints of the show and their inability to explore other avenues.
Once upon a time, it was almost unimaginable for the entertainment industry to showcase a same-sex wedding. The progress made in LGBTQ+ representation is evident, but there was a period when the idea of featuring such a union was met with apprehension. In 2019, Marta Kauffman disclosed to The Hollywood Reporter that NBC was genuinely afraid of potential backlash following the Friends episode that depicted Carol and Susan's wedding. Their concerns were so profound that they deployed 104 operators in preparation for a potential surge of phone calls. Surprisingly, they only received two calls, although they did receive more letters a month later.
