Friends: Difference between revisions

| opentheme            = "{{Theme song|[[I'll Be There for You (The Rembrandts song)|I'll Be There for You]]"|[[The Rembrandts]]}}

* ''[[Joey (TV series)|Joey]]'' (2004–06)

'''''Friends'''''<!-- As per [[MOS:TMSTYLE]], PLEASE DO NOT ADD "*STYLIZED/STYLISED AS*"; graphical flourishes are not shown as part of the "*WRITTEN*" name in any reputable source. See talk page. --> is an American television [[sitcom]] created by [[David Crane (producer)|David Crane]] and [[Marta Kauffman]], which aired on [[NBC]] from September 22, 1994, to May 6, 2004, lasting [[List of Friends episodes|ten seasons]]. With an [[ensemble cast]] starring [[Jennifer Aniston]], [[Courteney Cox]], [[Lisa Kudrow]], [[Matt LeBlanc]], [[Matthew Perry]] and [[David Schwimmer]], the show revolves around six friends in their 20s and early 30s who live in [[Manhattan]], New York City. The original executive producers were [[Kevin S. Bright]], Kauffman, and Crane.

All ten seasons of ''Friends'' ranked within the top ten of the final [[Television program#Seasons/series|television season]] ratings; ultimately reaching the <abbr>n</abbr><abbr>umber</abbr> 1 spot in its [[Friends (season 8)|eighth season]]. The [[The Last One (Friends)|series finale]] aired on May 6, 2004, and was watched by around 52.5 million American viewers, making it the fifth-most-watched series finale in television history and the most-watched television episode of the 2000s. ''Friends'' [[List of awards and nominations received by Friends|received acclaim]] throughout its run, becoming one of the most popular and highest-grossing television shows of all time. The show's success led to a spin-off series, ''[[Joey (TV series)|Joey]]'', and a reunion special, ''[[Friends: The Reunion]]''.

{{Main|List of Friends and Joey characters}}

File:CourteneyCoxFeb09.jpg|alt=Courteney Cox|[[Courteney Cox]] as <br />[[Monica Geller]]

* [[Jennifer Aniston]] as [[Rachel Green]]: <br />A fashion enthusiast and [[Monica Geller]]'s best friend from childhood. Rachel first [[Pilot (Friends)|moves in with Monica]] in [[Friends season 1|season one]] after nearly marrying [[Barry Farber (Friends)|Barry Farber]]. Rachel and Ross Geller are later involved in an [[on-again, off-again relationship]] throughout the series. Rachel dates other men during the series, such as Italian neighbor, [[Paolo (Friends)|Paolo]], in season one; Joshua Bergin, a client from [[Bloomingdale's]], in [[Friends season 4|season four]]; [[List of Friends and Joey characters#Tag Jones|Tag Jones]], her assistant, in [[Friends season 7|season seven]]; and [[Joey Tribbiani]], one of her close friends, in [[Friends season 10|season ten]]. Rachel's first job is as a waitress at the coffee house Central Perk, but she later becomes an assistant buyer at Bloomingdale's in [[Friends season 3|season three]], and a buyer at [[Ralph Lauren Corporation|Ralph Lauren]] in [[Friends season 5|season five]]. Rachel and Ross have a daughter named Emma Geller-Green in "[[The One Where Rachel Has a Baby, Part Two]]" at the end of [[Friends season 8|season eight]]. In [[The Last One (Friends)|the final episode of the series]], Ross and Rachel confess their love for each other, and Rachel gives up a dream fashion job at [[Louis Vuitton]] in Paris to be with him.

* [[Courteney Cox]] as [[Monica Geller]]: <br />The "mother hen" of the group and a chef,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lomartire, Paul |date=September 4, 1994 |title=Fall TV '94 |work=[[The Palm Beach Post]] |url= http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=PBPB&p_theme=pbpb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EAF87116FDB357D&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D |url-status=live |url-access= registration |access-date= February 14, 2009 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181125074053/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=PBPB&p_theme=pbpb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EAF87116FDB357D&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D |archive-date= November 25, 2018}}</ref> known for her [[Perfectionism (psychology)|perfectionist]], bossy, competitive, and [[obsessive-compulsive]] nature.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bianco | first= Robert |date=March 3, 2004 |title=''Friends'' played great game of poker |work=[[USA Today]] |url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2004-03-03-revisiting-friends_x.htm |url-status=live |access-date=February 20, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628184241/http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2004-03-03-revisiting-friends_x.htm |archive-date= June 28, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Booth |first=Jenny |date=May 21, 2006 |title=Sarey Carey: Does pride in housework make me bad as well as mad? |work=[[The Sunday Times]] |location=London |url= http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/article722553.ece |url-status=dead |access-date=February 20, 2009 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110629103342/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/article722553.ece |archive-date= June 29, 2011}}</ref> Monica was [[overweight]] as a child. She works as a chef in various restaurants throughout the show. Monica's first serious relationship is with a long-time family friend [[Richard Burke (Friends)|Richard Burke]], who is 21 years her senior. The two maintain a strong relationship for some time until Richard expresses that he does not want to have children. Monica and [[Chandler Bing]], one of her best friends, later start a relationship after spending a night with each other in [[London]] in the [[The One with Ross' Wedding|season four finale]], leading to [[The One with Monica and Chandler's Wedding|their marriage]] in [[Friends season 7|season seven]] and the [[adoption]] of [[twins]] Jack and Erica Bing at the end of the series. A running gag in the show is Chandler's easy-going and humorous nature conflicting with Monica's high-maintenance and compulsive behavior.

* [[Lisa Kudrow]] as [[Phoebe Buffay]]: <br />A [[masseuse]], [[vegetarian]] and [[self-taught]] musician. As a child, Phoebe lived in [[upstate New York]] with her mother Lily Buffay, until her mother committed suicide and Phoebe took to the streets. She [[Singer-songwriter|writes and sings]] her own strange songs, accompanying herself on the guitar. She has an [[identical twin]] named [[Ursula Buffay]], who shares few of Phoebe's traits. Phoebe has three serious relationships over the show's run: David, a scientist, in season one, with whom she breaks up when he moves to [[Minsk]] on a research [[grant (money)|grant]]; Gary, a police officer whose badge she finds, in season five; and an [[on-and-off relationship]] with [[Mike Hannigan]] in [[Friends season 9|seasons nine]] and [[Friends season 10|ten]]. In season nine, Phoebe and Mike break up due to his desire not to marry. David returns from Minsk, leading to the two getting back together, but she eventually rejects him for Mike when both of them propose to her. Phoebe and Mike marry in season ten.<ref name="friendsorigin">{{Cite web |last=Jicha | first=Tom |date=May 2, 2004 |title=They leave as they began: With a buzz |url= http://www.baltimoresun.com/topic/bal-friends-buzz0502,0,495484.story |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110604154545/http://www.baltimoresun.com/topic/bal-friends-buzz0502%2C0%2C495484.story |archive-date=June 4, 2011 |access-date=December 23, 2008 |website=[[The Baltimore Sun]] |page=1}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Andreeva, Nellie |date=September 20, 2004 |title= Kudrow has ''Comeback''; Cox, HBO talk |url= http://www.allbusiness.com/services/motion-pictures/4911247-1.html |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220714041238/https://www.allbusiness.com/services/motion-pictures/4911247-1.html |archive-date=July 14, 2022 |access-date=February 20, 2009 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |publisher=AllBusiness.com}}</ref>

* [[David Schwimmer]] as [[Ross Geller]]: <br />Monica's "geeky" older brother, a [[Doctor of Philosophy|PhD]]-carrying [[Paleontology|palaeontologist]] working at the [[American Museum of Natural History]], and later a tenured professor of palaeontology at [[New York University]]. Ross is involved in an [[on-again, off-again relationship]] with Rachel throughout the series. He has three failed marriages during the series: [[List of Friends characters|Carol Willick]], a lesbian who is also the mother of his son, [[Ben Geller]]; [[List of Friends characters#Emily Waltham|Emily Waltham]], who divorces him after he accidentally says Rachel's name instead of hers during their wedding vows; and Rachel, as the two drunkenly marry in Las Vegas. His divorces become a running joke within the series. Following a one-night stand, he and Rachel have a daughter, Emma, by the end of season eight. They finally confess that they are still in love with each other in the series finale.

In their original contracts for the first season, cast members were paid $22,500 per episode.<ref name= "salariescastlots">{{Cite news |last= Lowry |first=Brian |date=August 12, 1996 |title=''Friends'' cast returning amid contract dispute |work= Los Angeles Times |location=Los Angeles |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/10164381.html?dids=10164381:10164381&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Aug+12%2C+1996&author=Lowry%2C+Brian&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=%27Friends%27+cast+returning+amid+contract+dispute&pqatl=google |url-status=dead |access-date=March 8, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090720012355/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/10164381.html?dids=10164381:10164381&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Aug+12%2C+1996&author=Lowry%2C+Brian&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=%27Friends%27+cast+returning+amid+contract+dispute&pqatl=google |archive-date=July 20, 2009 |issn=0458-3035 |oclc= 3638237}}</ref> The cast members received different salaries in the second season, beginning from the $20,000 range to $40,000 per episode.<ref name="salariescastlots" /><ref name="castpaid">{{Cite news |last= Carter |first=Bill |date=July 16, 1996 |title=''Friends'' Cast Bands Together To Demand a Salary Increase |work=[[The New York Times]] |url= https://www.nytimes.com/1996/07/16/arts/friends-cast-bands-together-to-demand-a-salary-increase.html |url-status=live |access-date=March 7, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110825231542/http://www.nytimes.com/1996/07/16/arts/friends-cast-bands-together-to-demand-a-salary-increase.html |archive-date=August 25, 2011 |issn=0362-4331 |oclc= 1645522}}</ref> Before their salary negotiations for the third season, the cast decided to enter collective negotiations, despite Warner Bros.' preference for individual deals.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Rice | first= Lynette |date=April 21, 2000 |title= Friendly Fire |url= https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,275935,00.html |url-status=dead |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |page=1 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090719103906/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0%2C%2C275935%2C00.html |archive-date=July 19, 2009 |access-date= March 8, 2009}}</ref> The actors were given the salary of the least paid cast member. The stars were each paid $75,000 per episode in season three, $85,000 in season four, $100,000 in season five, $125,000 in season six, $750,000 in seasons seven and eight, and $1&nbsp;million in seasons nine and ten, making Aniston, Cox, and Kudrow [[List of highest-paid American television stars|the highest-paid TV actresses of all time]].<ref>{{Cite book |url= https://archive.org/details/guinnessworldrec2051222guin |title=Guinness World Records 2005 |publisher=Guinness World Records Ltd |year=2004 |isbn= 978-1-892051-22-6 |edition= Special 50th Anniversary |location=New York City |page=[https://archive.org/details/guinnessworldrec2051222guin/page/n291 288] |oclc=56213857 |url-access= registration}}</ref><ref name= "friendstimeline">{{Cite news |last= Saah |first=Nadia |date=January 21, 2004 |title=''Friends'' til the end |work= USA Today |url= https://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2004-01-21-friends-timeline_x.htm |url-status=live |access-date=December 19, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628184252/http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2004-01-21-friends-timeline_x.htm |archive-date=June 28, 2011 |issn=0734-7456}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Rice |first=Lynette |date=April 21, 2000 |title=Friendly Fire |url=https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,275935_2,00.html |url-status=dead |magazine= Entertainment Weekly |page= 2 |issn=1049-0434 |oclc= 21114137 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090720180227/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0%2C%2C275935_2%2C00.html |archive-date=July 20, 2009 |access-date=March 7, 2018}}</ref> The cast also received syndication royalties beginning in 2000 after renegotiations. At the time, that financial benefit of a piece of the show's lucrative back-end profits had only been given out to stars who had ownership rights in a show, like [[Jerry Seinfeld]] and [[Bill Cosby]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Carter | first= Bill |date=February 12, 2002 |title='Friends' Deal Will Pay Each Of Its 6 Stars $22 Million |work= The New York Times |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2002/02/12/business/friends-deal-will-pay-each-of-its-6-stars-22-million.html |url-status= live |access-date=March 28, 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130308114145/http://www.nytimes.com/2002/02/12/business/friends-deal-will-pay-each-of-its-6-stars-22-million.html |archive-date=March 8, 2013}}</ref>

Series creator [[David Crane (producer)|David Crane]] wanted all six actors to be equally prominent,<ref name="friendsorigin2">{{Cite web |last= Jicha| first= Tom |date=May 2, 2004 |title=They leave as they began: With a buzz |url= http://www.baltimoresun.com/topic/bal-friends-buzz0502,0,495484.story?page=2 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110604153826/http://www.baltimoresun.com/topic/bal-friends-buzz0502%2C0%2C495484.story?page=2 |archive-date=June 4, 2011 |access-date=December 23, 2008 |website=[[The Baltimore Sun]] |page=2}}</ref> and the series was lauded as being "the first true '[[Ensemble cast|ensemble]]' show."<ref name="paidcasttog" /> The cast members made efforts to keep the ensemble format and not allow one member to dominate;<ref name= "paidcasttog" /> they entered themselves in the same acting categories for awards,<ref name= "community2003">{{Cite news |last= Bianco | first= Robert |date= January 1, 2005 |title=The Emmy Awards: Robert Bianco |work= USA Today |url= https://www.usatoday.com/community/chat_03/2003-09-18-bianco.htm |url-status=live |access-date=December 19, 2008 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120113234559/http://www.usatoday.com/community/chat_03/2003-09-18-bianco.htm |archive-date=January 13, 2012}}</ref> opted for collective salary negotiations,<ref name="paidcasttog">{{Cite news |last=McCarroll | first= Christina |date= May 6, 2004 |title=A ''family'' sitcom for Gen X&nbsp;- ''Friends'' cast a new TV mold |work=[[The Christian Science Monitor]] |url= http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0506/p01s01-ussc.html |url-status=live |access-date=December 19, 2008 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090131083232/http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0506/p01s01-ussc.html |archive-date=January 31, 2009}}</ref> and asked to appear together on magazine cover photos in the first season.<ref name="filmhours" /> The cast members also became best friends off-screen,<ref name="kudrowcast">{{Cite web |last=Zaslow | first= Jeffrey |date= October 8, 2000 |title=Balancing friends and family |url= http://www.usaweekend.com/00_issues/001008/001008kudrow.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120526223112/http://www.usaweekend.com/00_issues/001008/001008kudrow.html |archive-date=May 26, 2012 |access-date=December 19, 2008 |publisher=| work= [[USA Weekend]]}}</ref> so much so that recurring guest star [[Tom Selleck]] reported that he sometimes felt left out.<ref>{{Cite news |last= Power| first= Ed |date=May 6, 2004 |title=Why we will miss our absent ''Friends'' |work=[[Irish Independent]] |url= http://www.independent.ie/unsorted/features/why-well-miss-our-absent-friends-170513.html |url-status=live |access-date=December 19, 2008 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120724004952/http://www.independent.ie/unsorted/features/why-well-miss-our-absent-friends-170513.html |archive-date=July 24, 2012}}</ref>

{{Main|List of Friends episodes}}

[[File:Friends season one cast.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|''Friends'' in first season. Front: Cox, Aniston. Back: LeBlanc, Kudrow, Schwimmer, Perry.]]

{{Main|Friends season 1}}

 

The first season introduces the six main characters who live in New York City: [[Rachel Green]], a waitress; professional chef [[Monica Geller]]; her paleontologist brother, [[Ross Geller]]; free-spirited masseuse [[Phoebe Buffay]]; struggling actor [[Joey Tribbiani]]; and Ross's college friend, [[Chandler Bing]], whose precise occupation at a corporation is unknown. Rachel arrives at Central Perk, wearing her wedding dress, after leaving her fiancé, Barry Farber ([[Mitchell Whitfield]]), an orthodontist, at the altar. She moves into her high school friend Monica's apartment, and gets a waitress job at Central Perk.

{{Main|Friends season 2}}

{{Main|Friends season 3}}

Ross, hurt and somewhat drunk, immediately sleeps with Chloe ([[Angela Featherstone]]), "the hot girl from the Xerox place," causing Rachel to break up with him completely. Although Phoebe initially believes she has no family except her twin sister Ursula Buffay (Lisa Kudrow), she learns she has a half-brother, Frank Buffay, Jr. ([[Giovanni Ribisi]]) and discovers her birth mother, Phoebe Abbott ([[Teri Garr]]) over the course of the season. Joey falls in love with his acting partner Kate Miller ([[Dina Meyer]]), but is jealous of her dating Marshall Townend ([[Reg Rogers]]) the director of their play. They begin a brief relationship that ends when she takes an acting job in Los Angeles.

{{Main|Friends season 4}}

{{Main|Friends season 5}}

Ross and Emily marry, but an angry and humiliated Emily flees the reception. Rachel soon admits her love for Ross, but realizing how ridiculous this is, advises him to work on his marriage to Emily. She develops a crush on her neighbor Danny ([[George Newbern]]) and they date briefly, until she realizes that he is too close with his sister Krista (Julie Lauren). Monica and Chandler try to keep their new relationship a secret from their friends. Phoebe gives birth to triplets in the show's [[The One Hundredth|100th episode]]. She gives birth to a boy, Frank Buffay, Jr. Jr., and two girls, Leslie and Chandler Buffay, the latter of whom was supposed to be a boy, but was later revealed to be a girl.

{{Main|Friends season 6}}

{{Main|Friends season 7}}

{{Main|Friends season 8}}

{{Main|Friends season 9}}

{{Main|Friends season 10}}

{{See also|The Pilot (Friends)}}

The episode title format—"The One ..."<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 5, 2004 |title=Have yourself a mocha latte and reminisce a bit |url=http://www.ocala.com/news/20040505/have-yourself-a-mocha-latte-and-reminisce-a-bit |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180211172257/http://www.ocala.com/news/20040505/have-yourself-a-mocha-latte-and-reminisce-a-bit |archive-date=February 11, 2018 |access-date=February 11, 2018 |publisher=Ocala.com}}</ref>—was created when the producers realized that the episode titles would not be featured in the opening credits, and therefore would be unknown to most of the audience. Episode titles officially begin with "The One ..." except the title of the [[The Pilot (Friends)|pilot episode]] and the series finale "The Last One". The season 5 episode "The One Hundredth" has the alternative title of "The One With The Triplet".

Filming for the series began during the summer of 1994 in front of a live audience, who were given a summary of the series to familiarize themselves with the six main characters.<ref name="friendsorigins1" /> A hired comedian entertained the studio audience between takes.<ref name="filmhours" /> Each 22-minute episode took six hours to film—twice the length of most sitcom tapings—mainly due to the several retakes and rewrites of the script.<ref name="filmhours">{{Cite web |last=Kiesewetter, John |date=January 27, 2002 |title=''Friends'' grows in stature, ratings |url=http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2002/01/27/tem_friends_grows_in.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121204193030/http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2002/01/27/tem_friends_grows_in.html |archive-date=December 4, 2012 |access-date=January 5, 2009 |publisher=[[The National Enquirer]]}}</ref>

{{Main|The Last One (Friends)}}

[[File:JenniferAnistonFeb09.jpg|thumb|upright|The cast became very emotional while filming the final episode. [[Jennifer Aniston]] explained, "We're like very delicate china right now, and we're speeding toward a brick wall."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gilbert, Matthew |date=January 15, 2004 |title=''Friends'' end painful, cast says |work=[[The Boston Globe]] |url=https://www.boston.com/ae/tv/articles/2004/01/15/friends_end_painful_cast_says/ |url-status=live |access-date=January 5, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090121013328/http://www.boston.com/ae/tv/articles/2004/01/15/friends_end_painful_cast_says/ |archive-date=January 21, 2009}}</ref>]]

The series's creators completed the first draft of the hour-long finale in January 2004, four months before its original airing. Crane, Kauffman and Bright watched the finales of other sitcoms to prepare the episode's outline, paying attention to what worked and what did not. They liked the ones that stayed true to the series, deeming "[[The Last Show (The Mary Tyler Moore Show)|The Last Show]]", the finale of ''[[The Mary Tyler Moore Show]]'' to be the gold standard. Crane, Kauffman, and Bright had difficulty writing the finale. They did not want to do "something high concept, or take the show out of the show."<ref name="friendfinale2" /> The most critical parts of the finale were shot without an audience and with a minimum number of crew members. The main cast enjoyed the finale and were confident that the fans would react similarly:<ref name="friendfinale2">{{Cite news |last=Hartlaub, Peter |date=January 15, 2004 |title=''Friends'' challenge&nbsp;- finding right words to say goodbye |work=San Francisco Chronicle |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/01/15/DDGPB49B2D1.DTL&type=printable |url-status=live |access-date=December 28, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090123083513/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2004%2F01%2F15%2FDDGPB49B2D1.DTL&type=printable |archive-date=January 23, 2009}}</ref>

NBC heavily promoted the series finale, which was preceded by weeks of media hype.<ref name="friendsfinalepost">{{Cite news |last=Shales, Tom |date=May 7, 2004 |title=A Big Hug Goodbye to ''Friends'' and Maybe to the Sitcom |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A7176-2004May7.html |url-status=live |access-date=December 28, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107055436/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A7176-2004May7.html |archive-date=November 7, 2012}}</ref> Local NBC affiliates organized viewing parties around the U.S., including an event at [[Universal CityWalk]] featuring a special broadcast of the finale on an outdoor [[70 mm film#Astrovision (10/70)|Astrovision]] screen.<ref name="castnames">{{Cite web |date=May 5, 2004 |title=''Friends'' heads for much-hyped farewell |url=http://www.expressindia.com/news/fullstory.php?newsid=31095#compstory |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090129120529/http://www.expressindia.com/news/fullstory.php?newsid=31095#compstory |archive-date=January 29, 2009 |access-date=December 19, 2008 |website=The Indian Express}}</ref> The finale was the subject of two episodes of ''[[Dateline NBC]]'', one of which ran for two hours. A one-hour retrospective of clips from previous episodes was shown before the airing of the episode. Following the finale, ''[[The Tonight Show with Jay Leno]]'' was filmed on the set of the ''Friends''<nowiki>'</nowiki> Central Perk coffee house, which featured the cast as guests.<ref name="finalefox">{{Cite news |date=May 7, 2004 |title=Estimated 51.1M Tune in for ''Friends'' Finale |work=Fox News Channel |url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,119305,00.html |url-status=dead |access-date=December 28, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081217151358/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0%2C2933%2C119305%2C00.html |archive-date=December 17, 2008}}</ref><ref name="finaletodayguest">{{Cite news |last=Oldenburg, Ann |date=May 5, 2004 |title=And now, the one where ''Friends'' says goodbye |work=USA Today |url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2004-05-05-friends-farewell-main_x.htm |url-status=live |access-date=December 28, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120114000759/http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2004-05-05-friends-farewell-main_x.htm |archive-date=January 14, 2012}}</ref> The advertising rates for the finale averaged $2 million for 30 seconds of commercial time, breaking the record held by the [[The Finale (Seinfeld)|''Seinfeld'' finale]] at $1.7 million.<ref name="castnames" />

In the U.S., 52.5 million viewers watched the finale on May 6, 2004, making it the most-watched entertainment telecast since the ''Seinfeld'' finale in 1998.<ref name="finalefox" /> The finale was the fifth most-watched series finale in television history, only behind the finales of ''[[M*A*S*H (TV series)|M*A*S*H]]'' ("[[Goodbye, Farewell and Amen]]"), ''[[Cheers]]'' ("[[One for the Road (Cheers)|One for the Road]]"), ''[[The Fugitive (1963 TV series)|The Fugitive]]'' ("The Judgment"), and ''Seinfeld'', which were respectively watched by 105, 80.4, 78.0 and 76.3 million viewers.<ref>Chareunsy, D. (2020, May 20). End of the road: Top 10 most-watched scripted-TV series finales of all time. Retrieved September 21, 2022, from https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2020/may/19/end-of-the-road-top-10-most-watched-scripted-tv-se/ {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220921100138/https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2020/may/19/end-of-the-road-top-10-most-watched-scripted-tv-se/ |date=September 21, 2022 }}</ref> The retrospective episode was watched by fewer than 36 million viewers, and the finale was the second most-watched television broadcast of the year in the United States, only behind the [[Super Bowl]].<ref name="finalefox" /> Following the finales of ''Friends'' and ''[[Frasier]]'', media critics speculated about the fate of the sitcom genre. Opinions varied between a signalling of the end of the sitcom genre, a small decline in the large history of the genre,<ref name="castnames" /> and a general reduction of scripted television in favor of reality shows.<ref name="friendsfinalepost" />

{{Main|Friends: The Reunion}}

Early reviews of the series were mixed;<ref>{{Cite news |last=Middis |first=Jessie |date=September 22, 2021 |title=Why Friends' first episode was 'The one with the mixed reviews' |url=https://uk.news.yahoo.com/on-this-day-why-critics-slammed-friends-when-it-premiered-013102084-084618164.html |access-date=November 18, 2024 |work=[[Yahoo News|Yahoo News UK]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Viruet |first=Pilot |date=September 4, 2014 |title='Friends' Doesn't Deserve Your Nostalgia |url=https://www.flavorwire.com/475487/friends-doesnt-deserve-your-nostalgia |access-date=November 18, 2024 |work=[[Flavorwire]] |quote=The show premiered in 1994 with a rather unimpressive pilot and an uneven first season that received mixed reviews}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=James |first=Emily St. |author-link=Emily St. James |date=September 9, 2014 |title=Today is the 10th anniversary of the sitcom Joey. How are you doing? |url=https://www.vox.com/2014/9/9/6126361/joey-sitcom-10-nbc-matt-leblanc |access-date=November 18, 2024 |work=[[Vox (website)|Vox]] |quote=Friends, which received decidedly mixed reviews when it debuted in 1994}}</ref> the first season holds a [[Metacritic]] score of 65 out of 100, based on 24 sampled reviews, indicating "generally favourable reviews".<ref name="Metacritic">{{Cite web |title=Friends Season 1 |url=https://www.metacritic.com/tv/friends |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140516111958/http://www.metacritic.com/tv/friends |archive-date=May 16, 2014 |access-date=March 29, 2014 |publisher=[[Metacritic]]}} </ref> Tom Feran of ''[[The Plain Dealer]]'' wrote that the series traded "vaguely and less successfully on the hanging-out style of ''Seinfeld''",<ref>Feran, Tom (September 22, 1994). "New Series Softens Dabney Coleman—A Little", ''[[The Plain Dealer]]'', [[Advance Publications|Newhouse Newspapers]]. Retrieved on January 4, 2009.</ref> while Ann Hodges of the ''[[Houston Chronicle]]'' called it "the new ''Seinfeld'' wannabe, but it will never be as funny as ''Seinfeld''."<ref name="Hodges">Hodges, Ann (September 22, 1994). "[https://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl/1994_1227698/nbc-sitcoms-make-thursday-less-funny.html NBC sitcoms make Thursday less funny] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130226224328/http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl/1994_1227698/nbc-sitcoms-make-thursday-less-funny.html |date=February 26, 2013 }}", ''[[Houston Chronicle]]'', [[Hearst Corporation|Hearst Newspapers]]. Retrieved on January 4, 2009.</ref> In the ''[[Los Angeles Daily News]]'', [[Ray Richmond]] named the series as "one of the brighter comedies of the new season",<ref name="rayreview">Richmond, Ray (September 22, 1994). "[http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=LA&p_theme=la&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EF66B174A1CE015&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D Season Premiere of ''Friends'' Leaves Room to Grow] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181125074053/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=LA&p_theme=la&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EF66B174A1CE015&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D |date=November 25, 2018 }}", (Registration required). ''[[Los Angeles Daily News]]'', [[Los Angeles Newspaper Group]]. Retrieved on January 4, 2009.</ref> and the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' called it "flat-out the best comedy series of the new season."<ref>Rosenberg, Howard (September 22, 1994). "[https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-09-22-ca-41409-story.html NBC's Strongest Evening of the Week Has Its Weak Spot] ", ''The Los Angeles Times'', [[Tribune Company]]. Retrieved on January 4, 2009.</ref>

{{Main|List of awards and nominations received by Friends}}

* Season 1: {{cite web

* Season 2: {{cite web

* Season 3: {{cite web

* Season 4: {{cite magazine

* Season 5: {{cite web

* Season 6: {{cite news

* Season 7: {{cite magazine

* Season 8: {{cite web

* Season 9: {{cite web

* Season 10: {{cite web

! scope="col" style="padding:0 8px;" rowspan="2" | Season

! scope="col" style="padding:0 8px;" rowspan="2" | Timeslot

! scope="col" style="padding:0 8px;" rowspan="2" | Season premiere

! scope="col" style="padding:0 8px;" rowspan="2" | Season finale

! scope="col" style="padding:0 8px;" rowspan="2" | TV season

! scope="col" style="padding:0 8px;" rowspan="2" | Rank

! scope="col" style="padding:0 8px;" rowspan="2" | Viewers<br />(in millions)

! scope="col" style="padding:0 8px;" colspan="2" | Most-watched episode

| rowspan="9"| Thursday 8:00&nbsp;pm

Because of syndication revenue, ''Friends'' continues to generate approximately $1 billion each year for [[Warner Bros.|Warner Bros]]. That translates into about $20 million in annual residuals each for Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry and David Schwimmer, who each get 2% of syndication income for ''Friends''.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Thompson|first=Arienne|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/entertainthis/2015/02/27/youll-never-believe-how-much-money-the-friends-cast-still-earns-today/77593556/|title=You'll never believe how much money the 'Friends' cast STILL earns today|work=USA Today|access-date=April 5, 2018|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180405093541/https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/entertainthis/2015/02/27/youll-never-believe-how-much-money-the-friends-cast-still-earns-today/77593556/|archive-date=April 5, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Setofcentralperk1.JPG|thumb|right|The set of Central Perk at Warner Bros. Studios]]

<!-- Another image of Central Perk [[File:Friends Central Perk couch.jpg|thumb|Central Perk couch as displayed on the Warner Bros. Studios Tour]] -->

 

Readers of ''[[TV Guide]]'' voted the cast of ''Friends'' their Best Comedy cast of all time, ranking at 29% of the votes, beating ''[[Seinfeld]]'', which registered 18%.<ref>"Your Favorite TV Casts", ''[[TV Guide]]'', January 3, 2011, page 11</ref> A poll undertaken by ''[[60 Minutes]]'' and ''[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]'' named ''Friends'' the third-greatest sitcom of all time.<ref>{{cite web |date=December 3, 2012 |title=Is 'Seinfeld' The Greatest Sitcom Ever? |url=https://deadline.com/2012/12/seinfeld-greatest-sitcom-cbs-vanity-fair-poll-381644/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002050050/http://www.deadline.com/2012/12/seinfeld-greatest-sitcom-cbs-vanity-fair-poll/ |archive-date=October 2, 2013 |access-date=September 30, 2013 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref> In 2014, the series was ranked by ''[[Mundo Estranho]]'' the Best TV Series of All Time.<ref>{{cite web |date=October 28, 2014 |title=As 100 Melhores Séries da História, segundo jornalistas brasileiros! |work=Ligado em Série |url=http://www.ligadoemserie.com.br/2014/10/as-100-melhores-series-da-historia-segundo-jornalistas-brasileiros/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141031141139/http://www.ligadoemserie.com.br/2014/10/as-100-melhores-series-da-historia-segundo-jornalistas-brasileiros/ |archive-date=October 31, 2014 |access-date=November 1, 2014 |language=pt}}</ref> A 2015 survey by ''The Hollywood Reporter'' of 2,800 actors, producers, directors, and other industry people named ''Friends'' as their No. 1 favorite show.<ref name="thr20150916">{{Cite news |date=September 16, 2015 |title=Hollywood's 100 Favorite TV Shows |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/best-tv-shows-ever-top-819499/item/friends-hollywoods-100-favorite-tv-821361 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190717030112/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/best-tv-shows-ever-top-819499/item/friends-hollywoods-100-favorite-tv-821361 |archive-date=July 17, 2019 |access-date=July 17, 2019 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en}}</ref>

The Central Perk coffee house, one of the principal settings of the series, is part of the [[Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood]]. People sometimes propose marriage on the couch, and many tourists cry when they sit on it.{{r|sternbergh20160321}} The coffee house has inspired various imitations worldwide. In 2006, Iranian businessman Mojtaba Asadian started a Central Perk [[franchising|franchise]], registering the name in 32 countries. The decor of the coffee houses is inspired by ''Friends'', featuring replica couches, counters, neon signage and bricks. The coffee houses contain paintings of the various characters from the series, and televisions playing ''Friends'' episodes. James Michael Tyler, who plays Gunther, the Central Perk manager in the series, attended the grand opening of the [[Dubai]] café, where he worked as a waiter.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/06/05/08/10038500.html |title=Where ''Friends'' hang out |access-date=December 30, 2008 |author=Kalsi, Jyoti |date=May 8, 2006 |newspaper=[[Gulf News]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080708052016/http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/06/05/08/10038500.html |archive-date = July 8, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Central Perk was rebuilt as part of a museum exhibit at Warner Bros. Studios and was shown on ''[[The Ellen DeGeneres Show]]'' in October 2008 when Jennifer Aniston visited the set for the first time since the series finale in 2004.<ref>{{cite episode |title=''The Ellen DeGeneres Show'': Lisa Kudrow/Natasha Bedingfield/Jalen Testerman |series=The Ellen DeGeneres Show |series-link=The Ellen DeGeneres Show |credits=[[Ellen DeGeneres]] (host) |network=NBC |airdate=October 16, 2008 |season=6 |number=29 }}</ref> From September 24 to October 7, 2009, a Central Perk replica was on Broadwick Street, [[Soho]], London. The coffee house sold coffee to customers and featured a display of ''Friends'' memorabilia and [[prop]]s, such as the Geller Cup from the season three episode "The One with the Football".<ref>{{cite news|author=Thorley, Chantelle |date=September 15, 2009 |url=http://www.eventmagazine.co.uk/news/search/938562/London-celebrate-15-years-Friends-Central-Perk-pop-up/ |title=London to celebrate 15 years of Friends with Central Perk pop-up |work=Event |publisher=Haymarket Media |access-date=September 22, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100410130417/http://www.eventmagazine.co.uk/news/search/938562/London-celebrate-15-years-Friends-Central-Perk-pop-up |archive-date=April 10, 2010 }}</ref> In [[Beijing]], business owner Du Xin opened a coffee shop named Central Perk in March 2010.<ref>Hong, Haolan and Jo Ling Kent. "[http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/07/02/friends.china.central.perk/index.html 'Friends' in China: 'Central Perk' hits Beijing] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304072853/http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/07/02/friends.china.central.perk/index.html |date=March 4, 2016 }}." ''[[CNN]]''. July 2, 2010. Retrieved on July 4, 2010.</ref>

 

 

In India, there are six ''Friends''-themed cafes which feature many icons from the original TV series, including Chandler and Joey's ugly dog statue, the orange sofa, the purple door of Monica and Rachel's apartment, and Phoebe's pink bicycle. One named Central Perk is in [[Chandigarh]], [[Kolkata]]; one named F.R.I.E.N.D.S. Cafe in [[West Bengal]], and the others are in [[Delhi]], [[Gurgaon]]; [[Bhubaneswar]], [[Odisha]]; and [[Pune]], [[Maharashtra]].<ref>{{citation |title=These Cafes in India Are Based On Your Favourite 'Friends' TV Show |date=August 4, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Tiwari |first1=Shwali |title=India Now Has 5 F.R.I.E.N.D.S Themed Cafes, But There's A Catch |url=http://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/india-now-has-5-f-r-i-e-n-d-s-themed-cafes-but-there-s-a-catch-262485.html |publisher=India Times |access-date=February 11, 2017 |date=September 27, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211160603/http://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/india-now-has-5-f-r-i-e-n-d-s-themed-cafes-but-there-s-a-catch-262485.html |archive-date=February 11, 2017 }}</ref>

In August 2019, [[Lego]] launched a Central Perk Lego set to mark the show's 25 anniversary.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.gizmodo.co.uk/2019/08/legos-friends-central-perk-set-is-out-today-and-could-we-be-anymore-excited/|title=Lego's Friends Central Perk Set is Out Next Month And Could We BE Anymore Excited|last=Pritchard|first=Tom|date=August 6, 2019|work=[[Gizmondo]] UK|access-date=August 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190808182628/https://www.gizmodo.co.uk/2019/08/legos-friends-central-perk-set-is-out-today-and-could-we-be-anymore-excited/|archive-date=August 8, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

After the produced pilot lived up to NBC's hopes, the series premiered with the name ''Friends'' on September 22, 1994, in the coveted Thursday 8:30 p.m. time slot. The pilot aired between ''[[Mad About You]]'' and ''Seinfeld'',<ref name="friendsorigin" /> and was watched by almost 22 million American viewers.<ref name="creators">{{Cite web |last=Lauer |first=Matt |author-link=Matt Lauer |date=May 5, 2004 |title='Friends' Creators Share Show's Beginnings |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna4899445 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002171335/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/4899445/ns/dateline_nbc-newsmakers/t/friends-creators-share-shows-beginnings/ |archive-date=October 2, 2013 |access-date=May 5, 2004 |website=[[Dateline NBC]]}}</ref> The series was a huge success throughout its run and was a staple of NBC's Thursday night line-up, dubbed by the network as [[Must See TV]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/ustv/a13025/nbc-elaborates-on-friends-finale-plans.html |title=NBC elaborates on ''Friends'' finale plans |access-date=December 31, 2008 |author=Welsh, James |date=January 15, 2004 |website=[[Digital Spy]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090121212505/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/ustv/a13025/nbc-elaborates-on-friends-finale-plans.html |archive-date=January 21, 2009 }}</ref>  

Having already made huge success in the United States, ''Friends'' producers decided to air the show in Europe. It premiered in the United Kingdom on April 28, 1995.<ref>Edition: 65,253 The Times April 28, 1995</ref> Season 1 was broadcast until September 1995 on [[Channel 4]] at 9:30 PM on Friday nights, and immediately was a success. The popularity of the show allowed "[[I'll Be There for You (The Rembrandts song)|I'll Be There for You]]" the theme song by [[the Rembrandts]] to hit number 3 on the [[UK Singles Chart]]s in September 1995.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Official Singles Chart Top 100 &#124; Official Charts Company |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/19950903/7501/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116035559/https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/19950903/7501/ |archive-date=November 16, 2020 |access-date=April 25, 2020 |website=www.officialcharts.com}}</ref>

When Crane told reporters in 2001 that the ninth season was a possibility, critics believed that he was posturing and that at least two of the cast members would not sign on for another season.<ref name="plottwists" /> When it was confirmed that ''Friends'' would return for a ninth season, the news was mainly about the amount of money—$7 million per episode—that it took to bring the series back for another season.<ref name="plottwists" /> After year-long expectations that the ninth season would be the series' last, NBC signed a deal in late December 2002 to bring the series back for a final tenth season. The series' creative team did not want to extend negotiations into the next year and wanted to start writing the rest of the ninth-season episodes and a potential series finale.<ref name="friendsseason10" /> NBC agreed to pay $10 million to Warner Bros. for the production of each tenth-season episode, the highest price in television history for a 30-minute series.<ref name="friendsreviews">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/low/entertainment/3689029.stm |title=''Friends'' climax watched by 51&nbsp;m |access-date=January 1, 2009 |date=May 7, 2004 |work=BBC News |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090205020628/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/low/entertainment/3689029.stm |archive-date=February 5, 2009 }}</ref> Although NBC was unable to bring in enough advertising revenue from commercials to cover the costs, the series was integral to the Thursday night schedule, which brought high ratings and profits to the other television series.<ref name="friendsseason10">{{cite news|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9803E4DF163CF932A15751C1A9649C8B63 |title=NBC Close to a Deal to Keep ''Friends'' for Another Season |access-date=December 29, 2008 |author=Carter, Bill |date=December 21, 2002 |work=[[The New York Times]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090122075303/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9803E4DF163CF932A15751C1A9649C8B63 |archive-date=January 22, 2009 }}</ref> The cast demanded that the tenth season be reduced from the usual 24 episodes to 18 episodes to allow them to work on outside projects.<ref name="friendsoverstay">{{cite news|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2003/SHOWBIZ/TV/01/09/ew.hot.friends/ |title=Is ''Friends'' overstaying its welcome? |access-date=January 1, 2008 |author=Bonin, Liane |date=January 9, 2003 |work=CNN|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090122070102/http://edition.cnn.com/2003/SHOWBIZ/TV/01/09/ew.hot.friends/ |archive-date=January 22, 2009 }}</ref>

In fall 2001, Warner Bros. Domestic Cable made a deal with sister network TBS (both were owned by [[WarnerMedia|Time Warner]]) to air the series in rerun syndication. Warner Bros. Domestic Cable announced that it had sold additional cable rights to ''Friends'' to Nick at Nite which began airing in the fall of 2011 (unlike the TBS and broadcast syndication airings, Nick at Nite broadcasts of the series, which began airing as part of a seven-night launch marathon on September 5, 2011, replace the end credit [[post-credits scene|tag scenes]] with [[Marginalized closing credits|marginalized credits]] featuring promotions for the series and other Nick at Nite programs). Warner Bros. was expected to make $200 million in license fees and advertising from the deal. Nick at Nite paid $500,000 per episode to air the episodes after 6 pm. ET for six years through fall 2017. In syndication until 2005, ''Friends'' had earned $4 million per episode in cash license fees for a total of $944 million.<ref>{{cite news |author=Dempsey, John |title=Friends of ''Friends'' |url=https://variety.com/2005/scene/markets-festivals/friends-of-friends-1117925752/ |date=July 11, 2005 |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |access-date=September 3, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119160918/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117925752.html?cs=1&s=h&p=0 |archive-date=January 19, 2012 }}</ref>

In 1999, a second soundtrack album entitled ''Friends Again'' was released.<ref>{{cite web |date=January 16, 1999 |title=''Friends Again'': Various Artists |url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000023YA0 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116035556/https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000023YA0 |archive-date=November 16, 2020 |access-date=January 3, 2009 |website=Amazon}}</ref> Other merchandise includes a ''Friends'' version of the DVD game ''[[Scene It?]]'', and a quiz video game for [[PlayStation 2]] and [[PC game|PC]] entitled ''Friends: The One with All the Trivia''.<ref>{{cite web |title=''Friends: The One With All the Trivia'' |url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000B6H21S |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116035507/https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000B6H21S |archive-date=November 16, 2020 |access-date=January 3, 2009 |website=Amazon}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=''Friends: The One With All the Trivia'' |url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000AMFEHM |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626211400/https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000AMFEHM |archive-date=June 26, 2019 |access-date=October 8, 2009 |website=Amazon}}</ref> On September 28, 2009, a box set was released in the UK celebrating the show's 15th anniversary. The box set contained extended episodes, an episode guide, and original special features.<ref>{{cite web |date=September 28, 2009 |title=Friends – Season 1–10 Complete Collection 15th Anniversary DVD: Amazon.co.uk: Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, David Schwimmer, James Michael Tyler, Elliott Gould, Maggie Wheeler, Christina Pickles, Paul Rudd, Jane Sibbett, David Crane, Marta Kauffman: DVD |url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B002CYIR0M/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116035541/https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B002CYIR0M/ |archive-date=November 16, 2020 |access-date=July 26, 2010 |publisher=Amazon.co.uk}}</ref>

{{Main|Joey (TV series)}}

After the series finale in 2004, LeBlanc signed on for the spin-off series, ''[[Joey (TV series)|Joey]]'', following Joey's move to Los Angeles to pursue his acting career. Kauffman and Crane were not interested in the spin-off, although Bright agreed to executive produce the series with [[Scott Silveri]] and [[Shana Goldberg-Meehan]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2003-07-23-joey_x.htm |title=NBC has sitcom plans for ''Friends'' pal Joey |access-date=December 30, 2008 |author=Levin, Gary |date=July 24, 2003 |work=USA Today |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090124143800/http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2003-07-23-joey_x.htm |archive-date=January 24, 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref> NBC heavily promoted ''Joey'' and gave it ''Friends''<nowiki>'</nowiki> Thursday 8:00 pm timeslot.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/TV/09/10/joey.debut/ |title=''Joey'' finds new friends on NBC |access-date=January 4, 2009 |date=September 10, 2004 |work=CNN|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090122070106/http://edition.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/TV/09/10/joey.debut/ |archive-date=January 22, 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www2.jsonline.com/enter/tvradio/jul04/242989.asp |title=''Joey'' co-star looking for sitcom laughs |access-date=January 4, 2009 |author=Weintraub, Joanne |date=July 11, 2004 |newspaper=[[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060209060112/http://www.jsonline.com/enter/tvradio/jul04/242989.asp |archive-date=February 9, 2006 }}</ref>

The pilot was watched by 18.6 million American viewers,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A13051-2004Sep10.html |title=''Joey'' & ''The Apprentice'': Downright Unfriendly |access-date=December 30, 2008 |author=de Moraes, Lisa |date=September 11, 2004 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111134349/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A13051-2004Sep10.html |archive-date=November 11, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> but ratings continually decreased throughout the series's two seasons, averaging 10.2 million viewers in the first season and 7.1 million in the second.<ref name="friendsjoeystuff" /> The final broadcast episode on March 7, 2006, was watched by 7.09 million viewers;<ref>{{cite web|publisher=[[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] Medianet|date=March 21, 2006|url=http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=032106_05|title= Weekly Program Rankings|access-date=December 30, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090120204556/http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=032106_05|archive-date=January 20, 2009}}</ref> NBC cancelled the series on May 15, 2006, after two seasons, leaving eight episodes unaired.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/15/AR2006051500555.html |title=NBC Betting on Aaron Sorkin's New Drama |access-date=December 30, 2008 |author=Bauder, David |date=May 15, 2006 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111134417/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/15/AR2006051500555.html |archive-date=November 11, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> Bright blamed the collaboration between NBC executives, the studio and other producers for quickly ruining the series:<ref name="friendsjoeystuff">{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/tv--radio/friendly-art-of-funny/2006/12/05/1165080950967.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap2 |title=Friendly art of funny |access-date=December 30, 2008 |author=Ryan, Suzanne C. |date=December 7, 2006 |work=[[The Age]] |location=Melbourne, Australia |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090825080619/http://www.theage.com.au/news/tv--radio/friendly-art-of-funny/2006/12/05/1165080950967.html?page=fullpage |archive-date=August 25, 2009 }}</ref>

{{EmmyAward ComedySeries 2001–2025}}

{{TopUSTVShows}}{{Former NBC original programming}}{{Portal bar|United States|1990s|2000s|Television}}

[[Category:American English-language television shows]]