Keep ahead of your fellow Friends fans by committing these little known facts to memory:

1. Original names for the show included “Once Upon a Time in the West Village”, “Across the Hall”, and “Friends Like Us” before deciding on “Friends”.

2. Original storylines focused around only six of the friends – Monica, Ross, Rachel, and Joey. Producers were so pleased with the performances of Phoebe and Chandler that they added them more prominently to the show.

3. In the first couple of episodes Chandler and Joey’s apartment number was #4 and Monica and Rachel’s apartment number was #5. However, in the later episodes, they are 19 and 20 respectively because the producers noted that 4 and 5 corresponded to apartments on lower floors and the Friends’ apartments were higher up the building.

4. Courteney Cox was originally asked to play Rachel, but she asked to play Monica instead after reading the parts.

5. None of the scenes in Friends were ever shot in New York.

Lisa Kudrow reunites with her Friends co-star Courteney Cox in her new TV show – but plays a nasty character.

The 46-year-old actress – who played dippy hippy Phoebe Buffay in Friends – will play mean dermatologist Dr Amy Evans in Cougar Town, who Courteney’s character Jules visits despite her harsh bedside manner as she is such a good doctor.

According to The Sun, Lisa gives Courteney’s face a good prodding before injecting her Botox.

Executive producer Bill Lawrence said: “They didn’t want to play friends.

“Lisa plays a dermatologist who is a horrible, horrible person, but Courteney goes to her because she’s the best.

“The sight of them playing people who dislike each other intensely was very funny for me to watch.”

The blonde star is returning the favour after Courteney made a cameo on her internet TV series Web Therapy as an internet psychic.

Cougar Town launches in the UK next March on Living. Lisa’s episode airs in the US in January.

“Cougar Town” star Courteney Cox is ecstatic about her first Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a TV Comedy — and she has dessert plans to celebrate!

“I actually have plans with my girlfriend,” Cox, 45, dished to “Extra.” “My close friend from ‘Friends.’”

That “girlfriend” is her former “Friends” co-star, Jennifer Aniston.

“You and Jennifer will be partying this evening?” asked “Extra’s” Terri Seymour while handing over Sprinkles cupcakes.

Said Cox, “I don’t know about partying!”

“Well, drinking champagne and eating cupcakes,” Seymour added.

“Eating the cupcakes for sure!” laughed Cox.

The show airs Jan. 17.

The first season was shot on Stage 5 at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, California. The NBC executives had worried that the coffee house setting was too hip and asked for the series to be set in a diner, but eventually consented to the coffee house concept. The opening title sequence was filmed in a fountain at the Warner Bros. Ranch at 4:00 am, while it was particularly cold for a Burbank morning. At the beginning of the second season, production moved to the larger Stage 24, which was renamed “The Friends Stage” after the series finale. Filming for the series began in 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; a hired comedian entertained the studio audience between takes. 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.

Although the producers always wanted to find the right stories to take advantage of being on location, Friends was never shot in New York. Bright felt that filming outside the studio made episodes less funny, even when shooting on the lot outside, and that the live audience was an integral part of the series.When the series was criticized for incorrectly depicting New York, with the financially struggling group of friends being able to afford huge apartments, Bright noted that the set had to be big enough for the cameras, lighting, and “for the audience to be able to see what’s going on”; the apartments also needed to provide a place for the actors to execute the funny scripts.The fourth season finale was shot on location in London because the producers were aware of the series’ large following in the UK. The scenes were shot in a studio with three audiences of 500 each, the show’s largest audiences throughout its run. The fifth season finale, set in Las Vegas, was filmed at Warner Bros. Studios, although Bright encountered people who thought it was filmed on location.

Chicago Sun-Times’ Ginny Holbert found Joey and Rachel’s characteristics to be underdeveloped, while Richmond commended the cast as a “likeable, youth ensemble” with “good chemistry” Robert Bianco of USA Today was complimentary of Schwimmer, calling him “terrific”. He also praised the female leads, but was concerned that Perry’s role as Chandler was “undefined” and that LeBlanc was “relying too much on the same brain-dead stud routine that was already tired the last two times he tried it”. The authors of Friends Like Us: The Unofficial Guide to Friends thought that the cast was “trying just a little too hard”, in particular Perry and Schwimmer.

As the series progressed, reviews became more positive, and Friends became one of the most popular sitcoms of its time. Critics commended the series for its consistently sharp writing and the chemistry between the main actors. Noel Holston of Newsday, who had dismissed the pilot as a “so-so Seinfeld wannabe” in 1994, reneged his review after rewatching the episode, and felt like writing an apology to the writers. Heather Havrilesky of Salon.com thought that the series “hit its stride” in the second season. Havrilesky found the character-specific jokes and situations “could reliably make you laugh out loud a few times each episode”, and the quality of writing allowed the stories to be “original and innovative”. Bill Carter of The New York Times called the eighth season a “truly stunning comeback”. Carter found that by “generating new hot story lines and high-decibel laughs”, the series made its way “back into the hearts of its fans”. However, Liane Bonin of Entertainment Weekly felt that the direction of the ninth season was a “disappointing buzzkill”, criticizing it for the non-stop celebrity guest spots and going into jump the shark territory. Although disappointed with the season, Bonin noted that “the writing [was] still sharp”. Havrilesky thought that the tenth season was “alarmingly awful, far worse than you would ever imagine a show that was once so good could be.” Friends was featured on Time’s list of “The 100 Best TV Shows of All-Time”, saying, “the well-hidden secret of this show was that it called itself Friends, and was really about family.

“It may have been impossible for any one episode to live up to the hype and expectations built up around the Friends finale, but this hour probably came as close as fans could have reasonably hoped. Ultimately, the two-hour package did exactly what it was supposed to do. It wrapped up the story while reminding us why we liked the show and will miss it.”
— Robert Bianco of USA Today on the series finale.
Reviews of the series finale were mixed to positive. USA Today’s Robert Bianco described the finale as entertaining and satisfying, and praised it for deftly mixing emotion and humor while showcasing each of the stars. Sarah Rodman of the Boston Herald praised Aniston and Schwimmer for their acting, but felt that their characters’ reunion was “a bit too neat, even if it was what most of the show’s legions of fans wanted.” Roger Catlin of The Hartford Courant felt that newcomers to the series would be “surprised at how laughless the affair could be, and how nearly every strained gag depends on the sheer stupidity of its characters.” Ken Parish Perkins, writing for Fort Worth Star-Telegram, pointed out that the finale was “more touching than comical, more satisfying in terms of closure than knee-slappingly funny.”

Aniston’s hairstyle was nicknamed “The Rachel”, and copied around the world. Joey’s catchphrase, “How you doin’?”, has become a popular part of Western English slang, often used as a pick-up line or when greeting friends.

The series has also impacted on the English language, according to a study by a linguistics professor at the University of Toronto. The professor found that the characters used so as an adjective more often than other intensifiers, such as very and really.

The professor believed that although the preference had already made its way into the American vernacular, usage on the series may have accelerate the change. Following the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the United States, ratings increased 17% over the previous season as viewers tuned in for comfort.

The Central Perk coffee house, one of the principal settings of the series, has inspired various imitations worldwide. In 2006, Iranian businessman Mojtaba Asadian started a Central Perk franchise, registering the name in 32 countries. The decor of the coffee houses are inspired by the one in Friends, featuring replica couches, counters, neon signage and bricks.

The coffee houses also contain paintings of the various characters from the series, and televisions playing Friends’ episodes. James Michael Tyler, who plays the Central Perk waiter in the series, Gunther, attended the grand opening of the Dubai cafe, where he worked as a waiter.

As part of a museum exhibit at Warner Bros. Studios, Central Perk was rebuilt and shown on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in October 2008. Lisa Kudrow revisited the set for the first time after the series finale in 2004

Friends Reunite

updated 1:22 p.m. ET, Thurs., Dec . 3, 2009
LOS ANGELES – Lisa Kudrow and Courteney Cox have reunited — but don’t expect them to be “Friends.”

The former co-stars will appear back together again on the small screen on Courteney’s new ABC single-camera sitcom “Cougar Town,” with Lisa guest-starring as a mean-spirited dermatologist.

“They didn’t want to play friends,” executive producer Bill Lawrence told Entertainment Weekly’s Michael Ausiello. “[Lisa] plays a dermatologist who is a horrible, horrible person, but [Courteney] goes to her because she’s the best.”

And seeing the two face off, he said, should be comedy gold.

“The [sight] of them playing people who dislike each other intensely was very funny for me to watch,” Bill said.

It’s not the first time a former “Friend” has appeared in a Courteney TV project. In 2007, Jennifer Aniston appeared in a multi-episode arc on the second season of Courteney’s FX drama, “Dirt.”

Lisa’s “Cougar Town” episode is expected to air early next year.

This is a great way to test you knowledge of the most successful TV Sitcom ever

It is categorized by difficulty level, so let’s see how well you know your Friends!

http://www.absurdtrivia.com/trivia/friends-trivia/

Check it out.

Thanks!

September 18th, 2009

Courtney Cox was originally asked to play Rachel, but she asked to play Monica instead after reading the parts.

When Matt LeBlanc auditioned for the role he only had $11 dollars to his name. When the cast got their paychecks, the first thing that Jennifer Aniston bought was a car. Matt LeBlanc bought a hot dinner.

In the last few months of shooting Friends, Courtney Cox became pregnant, but, seeing as Monica wasn’t supposed to be able to have a baby, they covered up her pregnancy by making her wear baggy clothes while shooting the show so no one could tell.

Courtesy of www.danmeth.com

Here’s a handy map for the rest of the world, pointing out the exact location of NYC sitcoms. Oddly enough, these were all probably filmed in California.

Ever wonder where your favorite New-York-based sitcom took place?

Dan Meth, creator of the Streamy-award-nominated cartoon The Meth Minute, did the research, and came up with this nifty map.

Friends looks about right, but I always thought I always thought Seinfeld was further south

DID YOU KNOW THAT ?

The characters of Ross’s ex-wife Carol and her girlfriend Susan are based on the godmothers to Kauffman’s daughter.

The one and only time they took the Central Perk set down was in TOI Vegas, in which they needed it for The Caesar’s Palace

Central Perk, is based on the Manhattan Cafe in New York’s West Village.

Joey hurting his arm (falling of his bed in TOW The Jam) was not part of the storyboard, it was just thrown in as Matt dislocated his shoulder on the set.

Courtney Cox originally read to play the part of Rachel.

Other titles considered for the series included “Once upon a time in the West Village”, “Insomnia Cafe” and “Across the Hall”. The original title “Friends Like Us” was shortened to the current one-worder.

A break up scene was written for Ross and Julie, but the writers decided to skip it, because everyone’s hearts would be with Ross and Julie if they kept it in, instead of with Ross and Rachel.

It took Matt LeBlanc twelve times to open Phoebe’s blouse correctly in TOW Everyone Finds Out

The opening footage of the cast dancing around a fountain was filmed on the Warner Bros. lot in LA at five o’clock in the morning.

The golden frame around the peephole on the door was originally a mirror which one of the crew accidentally smashed. But because it still looked good they decided to leave it there. (get one of your own!)

Helen Baxendale, who played Emily, was pregnant while filming the part. This is why they decided that Ross should get divorce. If you noticed, they only showed her from the shoulders up when she was in London telling Ross never to see Rachel again.

When Ursula is on the show, Lisa Kudrow’s sister doubles for the shoulder shots

At the end of TOW Five Steaks And An Eggplant, Joey was supposed to pick up the phone and say ‘Bob here’ but it was so funny that they left it like that. The same happened with the pillow dropped in TOW George Setphanopoulos.

Does the Friends set look familiar?  Well, it’s where the popular ABC show Full House was taped.

The fist line of dialogue in the very first, pilot episode of Friends was: “There’s nothing to tell.”

The whole cast huddles together before each episode to wish each other luck. This made frequent guest star Tom Selleck feel a bit left out.

The cast apparently gets on as well in real life as they do on screen. They play poker and Scrabble together, and the girls often shop with each other. The rumour that they had made a pact never to sleep together is untrue.

Monica and Chandler’s relationship was going to last a couple of episodes but when the writers saw how big of a hit they were, they decided to keep them together longer.

DID YOU KNOW THAT ? …

TOW George Stephanopolous…

* When Phoebe, Monica and Rachel were out on the balcony, Rachel knocks her pillow over the edge. That wasn’t really supposed to happen, but they left it in anyway.
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TOW Five Steaks and an Eggplant…

* Matt LeBlanc was according to script supposed to grab the phone when Jade called and say “Bob here!”. But when jumped for the phone he missed and fell and the editors chose to go with that instead of Joey answering the phone.

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TOW Phoebe’s Husband…

* A cut line: When Rachel is jealous of Julie, she says with a phony voice “Julie’s so smart, Julie’s so special”. Originally she added “Does she put on a cape and fight crimes at night?”

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TOW the Baby on the Bus…

* Giovanni Ribisi (Frank Jr) appeared in this episode as the guy who drops a condom in Phoebe’s guitar case.

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TO After the Superbowl Pt 2…

* Monkey and Katie (the monkeys who played Marcel) actually played the monkey in “Outbreak”.

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TOW the Ultimate Fighting Champion…

* You remember the appearance Billy Crystal and Robin Williams did in the beginning of “TOW the Ultimate Fighting Champion”?? That wasn’t in the original script. They were by coincidence in the same building-, or the one across the street from where “Friends” is shot and the writers asked if they wanted to make a guest appearance. This was apparently the day of shooting, so it was just quickly thrown in.

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TOW Rachel’s New Dress…

* Joshua Bergen’s dad was played by Matthew Perry’s dad.

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TOW Ross’s Wedding…

* A cut line: It was the scene when Rachel realized she still loves Ross. Originally it was:
Phoebe: “God, that would be like telling Monica, “Hey, you like things clean.” Or, you know, hey Joey, you’re gay.
Rachel: What!?
Phoebe: Oh, please, she’s always got a broom in her hand.

But they just kept it at:
Phoebe: God, that would be like telling Monica, “Hey, you like things clean.”

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TOW Everyone Finds Out…

* This is what Chandler and Monica says at the start when Phoebe sees them through the window:
Ch: Look, we have to talk. Your shirt is really bugging me.
Mon: Wow, that’s so weird ’cause your pants are really bugging me.
Ch: Well, let’s make each other happy and get rid of them.

* One of the reasons the audience laughed so much in this episode is when Joey told Phoebe it wasn’t the first time he opened a blouse like that is that it took MLB around twelve times to get it open.

* A Chandler and Monica line that was never used:
Ch: Why is it so hard to believe that Phoebe is attracted to me?
Mon: It’s not. I believe all the girls are attracted to you because you’re part bunny.

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TO In Vegas…

* The one and only time they’ve taken down the Central Perk stage was in “TO in Vegas” when they needed that part of the stage for Caesar’s Palace.

* Phoebe says Joey’s pin number is 5639. If you look at the letters under the numbers on a telephone, 5639 spells out ‘Joey’.

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TO After Vegas…

* To commemorate Courteney Cox’s marriage to David Arquette, the entire cast is credited with Arquette after their names.

* In the original script for “TO After Vegas” Monica’s reply to Chandler’s “oh my god, is EVERYBODY getting married?” “I don’t know, but we were next!”.

* The editor has got laughs on a computer that he can add to the episodes. This was, for example, used when Rachel said “this is not a marriage, this is the world’s worst hangover”. In that case they used it because the next line was over-laughter. JA continued to speak before the audience quieted. They changed the laughter into a shorter one because they couldn’t use one where JA had waited because that would take too long.

* After Chandler tells Joey that the waitress isn’t coming ’cause it’s a buffet, Joey’s reply in the original script wasn’t “oh, here’s where I win all my money back!”, it was “and it’s in trouble”.

* The writers and producers weren’t sure weather people would understand that Phoebe had once gotten married in Vegas and they ended up having to ask the audience.

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TOW Ross’s Library Book…

* Australian swimmer, Ian Thorpe, was an extra in Central Perk. You can clearly see him sitting at a table near the right of the screen talking to a woman.

DID YOU KNOW THAT…?

Friends Fountain – Large circular fountain seen on the situation comedy FRIENDS/NBC/1994-2004.

At the opening and closing of each episode, the cast of the series is seen dancing and frolicking in a fountain. This activity is counterbalanced by the lyrics from the theme song “Ill Be There For You” written by Allee Willis and performed by The Rembrandts.

At the end of the spot, the show’s cast members pull out multi-colored umbrellas and pop them open. Reportedly, these fountain hijinx took place at 5 O’clock one morning.

One might assume that the fountain is located in New York City where the TV characters lived, but in reality, the fountain is located at the Warner Ranch at 401 N. Hollywood Way, about a half mile from the studio in Burbank, California where the series was filmed

DID YOU KNOW THAT…?

In the last few months of shooting Friends, Courtney Cox became pregnant, but, seeing as Monica wasn’t supposed to be able to have a baby, they covered up her pregnancy by making her wear baggy clothes while shooting the show so no one could tell.

At one point, Jennifer Aniston was shooting this series, Bruce Almighty (2003) and Along Came Polly (2004) at the same time.

30-second commercial spots to take place in the final ever episode sold in the UK for 1.2 million GB pounds (approx $1.8 million), the most expensive commercial slots of any TV program in England with the exception of sports.

No Friend ever made more money doing the show than any others. They started out making $22,500 per episode and ended up making $1million per show. All negotiations were done in unison. Kudrow said, “The six of us are far stronger than just one person.”

The refrigerators in Monica’s and Joey’s apartments actually worked. Monica’s was filled with water and other drinks for the cast and crew. Joey’s was usually virtually empty, unless the inside of the fridge was going to be seen in a specific scene.

Before the show was cast, the main love interest was intended to be Monica and Joey.

In the first couple of episodes Chandler and Joey’s apartment number was #4 and Monica and Rachel’s apartment number was #5. However, in the later episodes, they are 19 and 20 respectively because the producers noted that 4 and 5 corresponded to apartments on lower floors and the Friends’ apartments were higher up the building.