The sitcom Friends, created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, is one of the most-watched TV shows of all time. Airing on NBC from September 1994 to May 2004, the comedy sitcom left its prominent mark on television history. Directed by James Burrows, the series was nominated for 62 Primetime Emmy Awards throughout its ten seasons, winning the Outstanding Comedy Series award in 2002 for its eighth season. With the great choice of characters, well-scripted humor and positivity, Friends creates a sense of relatability as it remains relevant and funny for today’s society.
Friends represents the daily life of six friends: paleontologist Ross Geller (David Schwimmer), chef Monica Geller (Courteney Cox), waitress Rachel Green (Jennifer Aniston), masseuse and musician Phoebe Buffay (Lisa Kudrow), actor Joey Tribbiani (Matt LeBlanc) and statistical analyst Chandler Bing (Matthew Perry). Every day, friends gather at Central Perk or at Monica’s apartment to discuss their ongoing drama, joke around and go on adventures together. The romantic storylines of the characters add to the story and create a base for humor and sarcasm.
Living in this fast-developing world, it is hard to believe that a TV series that aired in the previous century can still be one of the most popular and beloved sitcoms. The success of Friends is mainly due to the well-written script that is positive, entertaining and simple. The script revolves around the six characters, each of which brings colors to the show.
The diversity of the characters creates relatability for the audience and allows everyone to find a favorite character. From weirdo Phoebe to nerdy Ross and organized Monica, you have a great opportunity to select a personage who is close to your heart. Having pure friendship and real love as the main topics, the sitcom unfolds different humorous and positive stories.
When speaking about humor, it is hard not to emphasize Chandler Bing’s character. Chandler (my favorite) is the sitcom’s most sarcastic and funny personage. He has jokes for every occasion, and having the best sense of humor, his character could lead the whole sitcom alone.
The characters could not succeed without the help of the unique and stylish costumes, the colorful and creative set, and the timeless soundtrack. Friends aired at the start of a new fashion era, highlighting the importance of trendy costumes for the creation of memorable characters. Considering Jennifer Aniston, the first thing that comes to mind is her character’s stylish costumes and the amazing blonde hairstyle that is famous with the name “Rachel’s Cut.” The costume designers did not save effort also for the impressive holiday costumes. No fan can forget Ross’s “Holiday Armadillo” costume or Chandler’s rabbit costume for Halloween. The costume crew proved that small details and attributes are very important for creating unforgettable characters.
I believe that the set design is one of the most important factors, as it is responsible for the overall image of the sitcom. The set is so cozy and comfortable that it almost does not look like a set. Even though the whole set is 4-5 rooms in Warner Brothers Ranch in California, the apartments look like actual ones, and the cafe looks so real that people used to search for the cafe in LA. The main characters’ homes correspond to their nature and help to learn more about them. For example, Monica’s spotless and tidy apartment represents her “neat freak” personality. Joey’s house talks more about the boys’ careless lifestyle. And the cafe represents the daily life of New Yorkers.
Even if you are not familiar with Friends, there is a big possibility that you have heard the sitcom’s timeless soundtrack, and if I turn on the song right now, you will be able to clap in the right places. The soundtrack “I’ll Be There For You” by Rembrandts is a very positive and catchy song that awakens happy emotions.
Assessing the cinematography and the camerawork, it is evident that Friends did not save money and effort to create a product that will not lose its value even decades later. Shooting on film at 30 frames per second, you can get a rich look of color and contrast without having to convert the material from the cinema-standard 24 fsp. Compared to the other shows of the time, Friends has a higher quality, which may be one reason that contributed to its popularity. The editing of the sitcom is very smooth and it is also done in a modern way.
Friends can be ranked among the classics of TV shows. If you want to forget about your problems, enjoy your well-deserved evening after a long working day, or laugh until you cry, Friends is a good match for you!
