CHAPTER 12
Interviews with Jill Condon, Amy Toomin Straus, David Crane, Marta Kauffman, Andrew Reich, Wil Calhoun, and Ira Ungerleider, conducted by the author.
CHAPTER 13
Interviews with Tate Donovan, Todd Stevens, Marta Kauffman, David Crane, Marjorie Coster-Praytor, Michael Curtis, Debra McGuire, Adam Chase, Andrew Reich, Jeff Strauss, Kevin Bright, Michael Lembeck, and Kristin Dattilo, conducted by the author.
CHAPTER 14
Interviews with Greg Malins and David Crane, conducted by the author.
CHAPTER 15
Interviews with Kevin Bright, Jill Condon, Greg Grande, Todd Stevens, David Crane, Adam Chase, and Wil Calhoun, conducted by the author.
David Hochman and Dave Karger, “Fool’s Paradise,” Entertainment Weekly, January 24, 1997.
CHAPTER 17
Interview with Amaani Lyle, conducted by the author.
“California Supreme Court Rejects ‘Friends’ Lawsuit, Defends Sanctity of Writers’ Room,” Gawker, April 20, 2006.
Ronan Farrow, “Les Moonves and CBS Face Allegations of Sexual Misconduct,” New Yorker, August 6 and 13, 2018.
Maureen Ryan, “‘NCIS: New Orleans’ Producer Investigated Again, Even as CBS Renews Overall Deal,” Hollywood Reporter, June 15, 2018.
Writers Guild of America West message, May 22, 2018.
CHAPTER 18
Interview with David Crane, conducted by the author.
CHAPTER 19
Interviews with David Crane, Marta Kauffman, and Kevin Bright, conducted by the author.
“Portraits of Grief: William F. Burke Jr.,” New York Times, November 11, 2001.
CHAPTER 21
Interviews with Todd Stevens, David Crane, and Kevin Bright, conducted by the author.
Warren Littlefield, Top of the Rock: Inside the Rise and Fall of Must See TV (Anchor, 2013).
Lynette Rice, “The ‘Friends’ Stars’ Contracts Run Out This Season,” Entertainment Weekly, February 28, 2000.
Lynette Rice, “Funny Money,” Entertainment Weekly, May 26, 2000.
Lynette Rice and Dan Snierson, “Friends or Foes,” Entertainment Weekly, February 9, 2001.
Lynette Rice and Thom Geier, “‘Friends’ Forever?,” Entertainment Weekly, February 15, 2002.
CHAPTER 22
Interviews with David Crane, Marjorie Coster-Praytor, Adam Chase, Ted Cohen, Sherry Bilsing, Marta Kauffman, Jeff Greenstein, Mike Hagerty, Andrew Reich, and Kevin Bright, conducted by the author.
Tom Shales, “A Big Hug Goodbye to ‘Friends’ and Maybe to the Sitcom,” Washington Post, May 7, 2004.
Alessandra Stanley, “Twilight of the Sitcom Gods (Cue the Strings),” New York Times, May 6, 2004.
Chris Suellentrop, “Friends: A Great Soap Opera Masquerading as a Great Sitcom,” Slate, May 5, 2004.
CHAPTER 23
Interview with David Crane, conducted by the author.
CHAPTER 24
Interviews with Kevin Bright, David Crane, Debra McGuire, Roger Christiansen, and Jessica Hecht, conducted by the author.
Warren Littlefield, Top of the Rock: Inside the Rise and Fall of Must See TV (Anchor, 2013).
Hasani Gittens, “Jennifer in Legal Chest War,” New York Post, February 22, 2007.
Louisa Lim, “‘Friends’ Will Be There for You at Beijing’s Central Perk,” NPR, January 23, 2013.
Jackie Strause, “‘Friends’ Takes ‘Sex and the City’ Avenue,” New York Post, July 2, 2008.
James Wagner, “‘Friends,’ the Sitcom That’s Still a Hit in Major League Baseball,” New York Times, September 18, 2017.
“Had to Be Dad Brad or Out,” Yahoo! Travel, January 9, 2005.
“Jen’s Big Secret: Pregnant,” Us Weekly, September 30, 2013.
CHAPTER 25
Interviews with Kaily Smith and Wil Calhoun, conducted by the author.
@clairewillett Twitter feed.
Kat George, “703 Outfits Rachel Wore on ‘Friends,’ Ranked from Worst to Best (Yes, That’s Every Single Outfit),” Bustle, May 19, 2015.
Ruth Graham, “Chandler Bing Is the Worst Thing About Watching Friends in 2015,” Slate, January 22, 2015.
Ilana Kaplan, “Friends: 10 Times the Classic Sitcom Was Problematic,” Independent, January 22, 2018.
Christopher Rosa, “Sorry to Ruin Your Fond Memories, but Friends Was Homophobic AF,” VH1.com, September 16, 2015.
Adam Sternbergh, “Is ‘Friends’ Still the Most Popular Show on TV?,” New York, March 20, 2016.
Marie Telling, “I Tried Rachel’s Meat Trifle from Friends and It Was Pretty Awful,” BuzzFeed, November 22, 2016.
“12 Friends Plot Holes Still Keeping People Up at Night,” Cosmopolitan UK, January 17, 2018.
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
INDEX
The page numbers in this index refer to the printed version of this book. The link provided will take you to the beginning of that print page. You may need to scroll forward from that location to find the corresponding reference on your e-reader.
Note: Friends characters can be found alphabetized under their first names, including Chandler, Joey, Monica, Phoebe, Rachel, Ross, and others.
ABC, 13, 15–16, 44, 45, 104
Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, 50
advertisers and youth market, 8–9, 10
Agassi, Andre, 108–9
Alexander, Stacy, 38
Alley, Kirstie, 149
A . . . My Name Is Alice (off-Broadway revue), 17–18, 69
Anders, Allison, 10
Aniston, Jennifer
background of, 42
and casting Rachel, 41
and contract negotiations, 148, 279
and contract with Muddling Through, 41, 42, 43, 46–47
and Donovan, 186, 187
and Emmy nominations/award, 270, 271
and film roles, 100
and Friends movie rumors, 307–8
and last scene in Central Perk, 285
and life after Friends, 305–6, 308
media’s treatment of, 305–6
and product promotions, 102
and prom video with fake nose, 120–21
and the Rachel haircut, 128–30
and Rachel identity, 306
relationships with costars, 73
Schwimmer’s chemistry with, 51, 54, 56
and shooting episodes, 194
vulnerability portrayed in romantic scenes, 119
weight loss of, 41
See also Rachel
apartments of characters
Littlefield’s request for more scenes in, 25
and real vs. imaginary geography of NYC, 2–3
and series finale, 286–87
and set design of show, 82–83, 124–25, 126, 127–28
and trivia game episode, 173–74, 177–78, 179, 180
Applegate, Christina, 150–51
Arthur, musical version of, 18
Astrof, Jeff, 68–69, 98, 153–54, 159–60, 161–63
audiences
anticipation of premiere, 74
commitment to show, 177, 192
and contract negotiations of cast, 148
Crane’s commitment to, 254
and last scene in Central Perk, 285
in London, 212–13
mass market, 8, 10
present for shooting episodes, 109, 192, 193, 199–201, 285
and Ross and Rachel storyline, 84
for series finale, 290
and shift away from family shows, 12
trends in size of, 299
youth market, 8–9, 10
See also fans of Friends
Austen, Jane, 89, 120
Azar
ia, Hank, 38
Balcer, René, 159
Baldwin, Alex, 198
Barone, Anita, 73
Beckman, Preston, 46–47, 61
Ben (Ross’s child), 88, 211, 274, 318
Benben, Brian, 15
Benson, Robby, 31
Berkley, Elizabeth, 40
Bierko, Craig, 44
The Big Bang Theory, 299
Bilsing, Sherry, 284
“bitch” (term avoided in scripts), 22, 37–38
Black, Shane, 173
Borkow, Michael, 166–67
Boyd, Julianne, 17
Boyd, Todd, 104
Boyle, Brian, 166
Branson, Richard, 210–11, 212
Brewster, Paget, 92
Bright, Jackie, 19
Bright, Kevin
background of, 19–21
and Burrows, 54, 106, 107, 195
and casting Friends, 27, 28, 29, 32, 44–45
on coffeehouse culture, 62
and color palette of show, 124, 125
and contract negotiations, 279, 282
directorial role of, 194–95
and Dream On, 18, 20
and editing of episode, 194
family life of, 303–4
and Gertz, 43
and guest performers, 196
and Jesse, 151
and Joey, 297–98, 304
and last scene in Central Perk, 285
and life after Friends, 303–4
and London episodes, 210–11
partnership with Kauffman and Crane, 20–21
and Perry’s substance abuse, 225
and pilot for Friends, 50, 54, 58, 62
and pitches for 1994 pilot season, 21
and September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, 268, 269
and starlight in museum scene, 139
and telethon appearance of cast, 102
and theme song of Friends, 65
on title change to Friends, 63
and title/credit sequence, 65, 79–80
and Veronica’s Closet, 149, 150
and VHS sales, 210
and wrap party, 288
Brooks, James L., 67
The Brothers McMullen, 100
Burrows, James
approach with actors, 48–49
camaraderie cultivated by, 73–74
and casting Ross, 31
and cast trip to Vegas, 73–74
on catchphrases, 87
and chemistry of ensemble, 51
criticisms of, 106–7
direction of pilot, 47–49, 50–51
directorial style of, 54–55, 195
dressing room of, 73
expertise in sitcom medium, 47, 55, 106
and first read-through of pilot script, 47–49
and Kudrow’s work on Frasier, 34
ongoing role in Friends, 107–8
and post and beam on set, 108, 125
and prom video episode, 120–22
and set design of show, 124
and shooting an episode, 191
and success of show, 106
understanding of television industry, 72–73
and window shot in pilot, 58
Butler, Kerry, 66
Calhoun, Wil, 176, 217–18, 312
Cardinal, Eric, 62
Carlock, Robert, 158
Carol (ex-wife of Ross)
and gay stereotypes, 318
lesbian relationship of, 30, 85
and pilot for Friends, 30, 55
pregnancy/childbirth of, 59, 70, 88
and sexual content, 115
wedding dress of, 135–36
wedding of, 113, 114, 115–16
Caroline in the City, 104
Casey, Peter, 33–34
Cash, Johnny, 19
casting Friends, 27–51
and buzz around show, 35
casting Chandler, 43–46
casting Joey, 37–40
casting Monica, 36–37
casting Phoebe, 34–35
casting Rachel, 27, 28, 36–37, 40–41, 42–43, 46–47
casting Ross, 27, 28, 29–32
challenges of, 32
and diversity struggles of show, 28–29, 102–4
headshots received for, 28
success of, 51
cast of Friends
camaraderie of, 73–74, 187, 280
chemistry of, 47, 48, 51
contract negotiations, 145–49, 277–82
and costs of stardom, 74, 187, 197, 211–12, 305
and costume design, 134–35
and film roles, 100–101
and gender divide in comic risk taking, 73
guest performers, 108–9, 195–98
and last scene in Central Perk, 285
and Las Vegas trip, 73–74
and notes on performance, 84
on The Oprah Winfrey Show, 98–99
and product promotions, 101–2
and Rachel and Joey storyline, 255
and Rolling Stone cover, 99
and script changes, 188, 193–94
and series finale, 285, 286
and success of show, 105
telethon appearance of, 102
and television stardom, 100
weekly watch parties of, 84
and writing team, 162, 163–64, 211
See also ensemble spirit of Friends; specific cast members
Cates, Gilbert, 19
Cates, Joseph, 19
CBS
Aniston’s contract with, 41, 42, 43
and Family Album, 14, 15
and Kauffman/Crane’s pilot pitches, 14
and Muddling Through, 41, 42, 43, 46–47
Central Perk
and fans of show, 1–2, 319
and Gunther’s unrequited love for Rachel, 94–95, 141, 285
last scene in, 285
and Leno show, 290
and new generation of fans, 314
and pilot for Friends, 25, 55
and real vs. imaginary geography of NYC, 2, 3
and set design of show, 125, 126–27
Chandler
apartment of, 3, 82–83, 91, 179, 180
and casting Friends, 27, 28, 43–46
and costume design, 133
creation of character, 22
effeminacy of, 214–15
emotional/sexual frustrations of, 214–15, 216
and Janice, 94–95
and jellyfish storyline, 209
and Joey, 90–92, 135, 166, 215–16, 286
language rhythms used by, 87
and lesbian wedding episode, 114
making whip-cracking noise, 167
and Monica (see Monica and Chandler)
and Monica’s prom video footage, 120
originally envisioned as gay, 22
past life of, 181
and pilot for Friends, 55–56
and poker-game episode, 88
and prom video episode, 121
and Rachel and Joey storyline, 263
role of, 43–44
and Ross and Rachel storyline, 89, 142
sarcasm of, 72
and series finale, 286, 287
and sexual content, 112
as Thanksgiving pessimist, 72
transgender father of, 228, 315
trapped in ATM, 86
and trivia game episode, 174–75, 176–78, 179
and Vegas episode, 233
wedding ring of, 288
characters on Friends
and costume design, 131–37
fans’ identification with, 312
and friends of Kauffman and Crane, 21
and gender parity, 22, 318
Jewish backgrounds of, 110
language/conversational styles of, 87
past lives of, 180–83
and Pat the Cop (proposed character), 25–26, 62, 96
and pitch for Friends, 21–22
professional lives of, 83–84
See also specific characters
Chase, Adam
background of, 66–67
on intensity of writers’ room, 159
and Lyle, 241, 242, 244
making whip-cracking noise, 167
and Marcel the monkey, 92–93
and Monica’s character, 81–82
and punitive schedule of writers, 154–55
recruited by Kauffman and Crane, 68
and script changes on set, 193
and “Smelly Cat” song, 163–64
story ideas drawn from personal life of, 165–66
and success of show, 99, 106
on writing process, 163
Cheers
Friends modeled on, 149, 168
Kudrow’s work on, 33
and NBC’s dominance, 9
Sam-and-Diane romance of, 84, 117
series finale of, 290
chemistry of Friends cast, 47, 48, 51
Chinese fans of Friends, 308–9
Christiansen, Roger, 308–9
The Class, 299
Coca-Cola, 101–2
coffee shops and coffeehouse culture, 11, 62
Cohen, Ted, 165, 284
Coleman-Schwimmer, Arlene, 145, 147, 148
color palette of Friends, 124, 125
The Comeback, 300–301
commercials featuring Friends characters, 101–2
Condon, Jill
and cast members, 211
and London episodes, 211
and Monica and Chandler storyline, 208–9, 212–13
and Phoebe’s pregnancy, 173, 176, 180
and trivia game episode, 177, 179, 180
contract negotiations, 145–49, 277–82
contradictions in series, 317–18
Copperfield, David, 19
The Cosby Show, 9, 12
Coster-Praytor, Marjorie, 86–87, 190, 283, 288
costume design, 131–37, 308, 314
couch-moving sequence, 165
Couples, 29, 31
Cox, Courteney
background of, 49