22nd September, 1994: Five friends, three guys and two women, all in their mid-20’s meet in a coffee shop in New York City, talking about their relationship woes. One of the guys is recently separated from his lesbian ex-wife and laments his fate. He exclaims,” I don’t want to be single! I just want to be married again!”
At that very moment a young, beautiful woman walks into the shop, wearing a gorgeous wedding gown.
Another friend immediately responds, “And I just want a million dollars!”
This is just the first three minutes of the Pilot episodes of Friends. One of the most iconic opening scenes in TV history, it led to 10 seasons of comedic scenarios and heartwarming stories as we got to see how the lives of Monica, Rachel, Phoebe, Chandler, Joey, and Ross turned out.
Friends aired on NBC from September 22, 1994 to May 6, 2004 and received acclaim throughout its run. It became one of the most popular television shows of all time. Its reruns still get huge audiences while younger generations still continue to discover the show.
While the ratings are impressive, the cultural impact of Friends is even greater.
Many of the hairstyles used by characters ended up becoming trends like the Rachel cut. Many of the catchphrases like Joey’s “How you doin” became a part of normal speak. Phoebe’s flakiness and Ross’s mannerisms are still a matter of popular memes while Chandler is king of modern sarcasm.
The six main stars of the show were instantly catapulted into worldwide fame. All of them went on to have successful careers, even after the show ended. 30 years later, they probably cannot walk outside without being recognized by fans, all expect Matthew Perry (RIP).
The show gave a voice to individuals with an unconventional career and presented the idea of family being inclusive of a set of good friends. It potrayed a new way of living and marked a change in American culture.
Friends redefined the concept of “Hangout Sitcoms” with groups of adult friends who are funny and have dynamic character traits. Some of the popular sitcoms of the 21st century like How I Met Your Mother, The Big Bang Theory, and New Girl followed the same template to varying degrees of success.
Central Perk, the coffee shop prevalent throughout the series has become a cultural icon with replicas popping up in multiple cities, from Hollywood to Chandigarh. It is one of the most iconic fictional locations ever.
Outside media and entertainment, Friends had varying successes in education. The show has helped many non-English speakers from across the world improve their English. Notable individuals who credit Friends with their English speaking ability include former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp and BTS member RM.
Did the writers know how popular their creation would turn out to be? I guess every artist and writer lives under the delusion that their work is the greatest, but I’m sure even they would have been stunned by the response. It is amazing how a small idea can turn into something so big.
Multiple memes, a reunion special, and even a failed Indian remake later, Friends is still running strong. Not bad for a bunch of adults without even a PLAA
