and casting Friends, 36–37
and critics’ reactions to premiere, 78
and Donovan, 186
early acting career of, 49–50
and Emmy awards snub, 270
Emmy dress of, 136
and fat suit for prom video episode, 120
and film roles, 100–101
and first read-through of pilot script, 50
and Friends movie rumors, 307–8
and life after Friends, 302, 308
and Monica’s OCD-like tendencies, 82
and notes on performance, 50, 84
on The Oprah Winfrey Show, 98
pregnancy of, 172
and product promotions, 102
relationships with costars, 73
and Rolling Stone cover, 99
See also Monica
Crane, David
background of, 16–18
and back nine/eleven shows picked up by NBC, 86–87
and Bright, 20–21
casting Friends, 27–32, 34–38, 40–46
and Chandler, 22
and contract negotiations, 279
and critics’ reactions to premiere, 77–79
and drama/comedy balance, 168, 292
and Dream On, 7, 15, 16, 18–19, 70
and ensemble casts, 15
and Episodes, 299
focus on Friends, 151
and gender parity, 22, 318
and Jesse, 151
and Joey, 298
and Joey and Chandler relationship, 216
Kauffman’s friendship with, 16–17
and Kudrow’s work on Mad About You, 64
and last scene in Central Perk, 285
and last season of show, 282, 283, 284
and lesbian wedding episode, 113, 114
and Minnesota proposal, 214
and Monica and Chandler storyline, 212, 226
and Monica/Joey dynamic, 37, 38
and NBC meeting, 23
on “The One After the Superbowl,” 110
overhearing fans discuss show, 97
and Pat the Cop, 25–26, 96
and Penn, 198
and Perry’s substance abuse, 225
on Phoebe’s personality, 34
and Phoebe’s pregnancy, 173, 176
and pilot for Friends, 49, 53, 54
and pitches for 1994 pilot season, 14, 15–16, 21
and pitch for Friends, 21–24
and post–Super Bowl episode, 108
and product promotions, 101, 102
and Rachel and Joey storyline, 254–55
and Rolling Stone cover, 99
and Ross and Rachel storyline, 89, 142, 207–8, 295–96
and script changes on set, 192–93
and September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, 267–68
and series finale, 286, 290, 295–96
and sex scene in the museum, 140
and sexuality in comedy, 216
shingles of, 286
and shooting an episode, 194
on slow reveal of past lives, 182–83
and “Smelly Cat” song, 163
and standards division of NBC, 110–11
storytelling priorities of, 254
and success of show, 99, 105–6
and theme song of Friends, 105
and titles for episodes, 70
and tone meetings with directors, 188
and trivia game episode, 174
and Veronica’s Closet, 149–50
work commute of, 159–60
and writing staff recruitment, 66, 68, 69–70
and writing team, 150, 153–55, 156–57, 161, 162–64, 168, 176, 284–85
“creative necessity,” 249
creators of Friends. See Crane, David; Kauffman, Marta
credit sequence, 65–66, 79–80, 311
critics’ reactions to Friends, 77–79, 109–10, 183, 288–89, 290–92
The Crying Game, 10
cultural/societal context of Friends, 10–11, 267–70, 320
Curtis, Michael, 191
Dateline, 289, 290
Dattilo, Kristin, 200–201
David, Larry, 9, 12
DeGeneres, Ellen, 113
The Dick Van Dyke Show, 17
directors of Friends, 194–95. See also Burrows, James
diversity struggles of Friends
attempts to address, 103
and casting Friends, 28–29
criticism of, 102–4
and Friends! The Musical Parody, 324
and new generation of fans, 315
and The Oprah Winfrey Show, 98–99
and Snoop Dogg’s “audition,” 290
Dogg, Snoop, 290
dog sculpture of Joey/Chandler, 179, 287
Donovan, Tate, 185
Bright’s work on, 18, 20
Cox’s work on, 50
and critics’ reactions to Friends, 78, 79
Gertz’s work on, 43
Greenstein and Strauss’s work on, 53–54, 70
Kauffman/Crane’s work on, 7, 15, 16, 18–19, 70
Perry’s work on, 44
titles for episodes, 70
Duffy, Mike, 104
East West Records, 105
Ed, 100, 147
Ellen, 113, 114
Emmy awards, 195, 270–71
Endrst, James, 79
English language, watching Friends as means of learning, 309
ensemble spirit of Friends
and Burrows’s emphasis on collaboration, 73
and contract negotiations, 145–49, 278–79, 280
and Cox, 50
and first read-through of pilot script, 50
and Perry’s substance abuse, 225
as priority for Kauffman/Crane, 15
and Schwimmer, 31, 145–46
Entertainment Weekly, 77, 79, 148, 281
Episodes, 299–300, 308, 315
episode titling formula, 70–71
ER, 31, 35, 103, 278
Estelle (Joey’s agent), 92
ethnic backgrounds of characters, 110
Fairchild, Morgan, 228
Family Album, 14, 15, 69, 126
family-oriented television series, 11–12
Family Ties, 12, 36, 50
fans of Friends
and Central Perk, 1–2
in China, 308–9
and contradictions in series, 317–18
criticisms of show, 313–19
devotion of, 3, 192, 201, 311–12
and emotional relatability of Friends, 4
enthusiasm for show, 97–98
identification with characters, 312
in London, 211–13
new generation of, 4, 312–23
overheard discussing show in public, 97
pilgrimages to West Village, 1–3
Father Knows Best, 12
Favreau, Jon, 44, 198–99
Featherstone, Angela, 141
film roles for Friends stars, 100–101
5 Morton Street, 3
Fools Rush In, 100
Forrest Gump, 10
Fox, 16, 21, 23, 24, 104
frame on Monica’s door, 128
Frasier, 33–34, 288, 289
Friedman, Seth, 17
Friends movie (rumored), 307, 315
Friends! The Musical Parody, 323–26
“friend zone, the,” 85
Fusco, Cosimo, 86
Gable, June, 92
Garofalo, Janeane, 36
gay tropes in Joey and Cha
ndler’s relationship, 91. See also queer stories on Friends
Generation X, 62, 66, 134
Gertz, Jami, 43
Gilpin, Peri, 34
Gingrich, Candace, 112–13
Gingrich, Newt, 113
Goldberg-Meehan, Shana, 158, 207, 244, 297–98
Goodacre, Jill, 86
Gould, Elliott, 228
Grammer, Kelsey, 33–34
Grande, Greg, 83, 125–28, 132, 211
Greenstein, Jeff
and Dream On, 53–54, 70
on Joey’s character, 80
on Latin lover trope, 162
and Pat the Cop, 26
and pilot for Friends, 53
and Ross and Rachel relationship, 89, 120
story ideas drawn from personal life of, 71–72
on writing staff, 70
Grier, David Alan, 20
Griffin, Kathy, 35
Groundlings improv troupe, 33
guest performers, 108–9, 195–201, 270
Gunther
and new generation of fans, 323
and real vs. imaginary geography of NYC, 3
unrequited love for Rachel, 94–95, 141, 285
Hagerty, Mike, 287
Halvorson, Gary, 194
Hankin, Larry, 216
Hanks, Tom, 10
Happy Days, 57
Haynes, Todd, 10
HBO, 20
Hecht, Jessica, 113, 114, 309–10
Heckles, Mr. (neighbor), 216
Home Improvement, 13
Homicide: Life on the Street, 103
Hunt, Helen, 277, 280, 281
“I’ll Be There for You” theme song, 65–66, 104–5
In Living Color, 20
Insomnia Café, 7, 126
Insomnia Café pitch, 23–25
Isaak, Chris, 108, 200
“It’s Raining Men” (Weather Girls), 20
Jacobson, Danny, 34, 64
Janice (Chandler’s girlfriend), 94–95
Janollari, David, 45
Jesse, 150, 298
Jewish backgrounds of characters, 110
Joey
apartment of, 82–83, 91, 179, 180
and career/workplace scenes, 83–84
and casting Friends, 27, 28, 37–40
and Chandler, 90–92, 135, 166, 215–16, 286
character development of, 80–81
and Charlie, 262, 263
and costume design, 133
dog sculpture of, 179, 287
and female friends, 40
on “the friend zone,” 85
and “How you doin’?” 87
kindness of, 256–57, 260
and lesbian wedding episode, 114
and Monica, 37, 38, 40
and Monica and Chandler storyline, 218, 219–21
past life of, 181–82
performance in Lucille Lortel Theatre, 2, 3
and pilot for Friends, 55, 57
and poker-game episode, 88
and prom video episode, 120, 121
and Rachel’s trifle, 194
and Ross and Rachel storyline, 89, 260, 285, 293–94
and season one’s plot ideas, 70
and series finale, 285, 286, 287
and sexual content, 112
and trivia game episode, 174–75, 177–78, 179
and Vegas episode, 233
Joey and Rachel, 254–61, 262–65, 281, 313–14
Joey series spinoff, 297–99, 304
Johnson, Lorna, 27–28
Jones, Sebastian, 166
Josephson, Nancy, 17–18
Junge, Alexa, 69–70, 82, 158, 167–68
Kanner, Ellie
and casting Chandler, 45
and casting Joey, 38
and casting Monica, 36, 37
and casting Phoebe, 35
and casting Rachel, 40–41, 42
and casting Ross, 30–31, 32
and general process of casting, 28
initial lists for casting show, 28
reaction to pilot script, 27
and Schwimmer’s refusal to read for Friends, 30
Kathy (Joey’s girlfriend), 92, 209, 214
Kauffman, Marta
background of, 16–18
and back nine/eleven shows picked up by NBC, 86–87
and “bitch” term, 22, 37–38
and Bright, 20–21
casting Friends, 27–32, 35–41, 43–45
and contract negotiations, 279
and costume design, 131, 132, 134
and Couples, 29, 31
Crane’s friendship with, 16–17
and critics’ reactions to premiere, 77–79
and development of characters, 22
and drama/comedy balance, 168, 292
and Dream On, 7, 15, 16, 18–19, 70
and ensemble casts, 15
family life of, 160, 191
and fans of Friends, 97–98
and gender divide in comic risk taking, 73
and gender parity, 22, 318
high school English teacher of, 17
and Jesse, 151
and Joey and Chandler relationship, 216
and last scene in Central Perk, 285
and last season of show, 282, 284
and life after Friends, 302–3
and Lyle, 244
McGuire’s designs for, 136
and Monica/Joey dynamic, 37, 38
and Monica’s character, 81
and NBC meeting, 23
and Ohlmeyer’s questionnaire, 63
and Pat the Cop, 25–26, 96
and Perry’s substance abuse, 225
on Phoebe’s personality, 34
and pilot for Friends, 48, 49, 53, 54
and pitches for 1994 pilot season, 7, 14, 15–16, 21
and pitch for Friends, 21–24
and post–Super Bowl episode, 108
and product promotions, 101
and prom video episode, 121–22
and punitive schedule of writers, 160
at rehearsals, 190–91
and Ross and Rachel storyline, 142, 207–8
and Ross’s baby, 88
and September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, 268
and series finale, 286
and sexuality in comedy, 216
and Shabbat candles on set, 191
and shooting an episode, 194
and standards division of NBC, 111
and success of show, 106
and theme song, 65, 105
and titles for episodes, 70
and tone meetings with directors, 188
and Veronica’s Closet, 149, 150
and writing staff recruitment, 66, 68, 69–70
and writing team, 153, 154–55, 156–57, 161, 163, 168, 284
Kern, Brad, 249
Klarik, Jeffrey
and Crane’s work commute, 159–60
and Crane’s work on Veronica’s Closet, 150
and Episodes, 299
and Kudrow’s work on Mad About You, 34
overhearing fans discuss show, 97
and pilot for Friends, 53
and September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, 268
and title suggestions for show, 25
Kreamer, Ellen, 150, 158
Kudrow, Lisa
background of, 33
and casting Phoebe, 34, 35
and contract negotiations, 278, 280
and critics’ reactions to premiere, 78
ditzy persona of, 33
and Donovan, 186
early acting career of, 33–36
Emmy award of, 270
and first read-through of pilot script, 49
on Friends movie rumors, 307
and life after Friends, 300–301, 308
and Mad About You, 33, 34, 35–36, 64
and McGuire, 136
and Perry’s substance abuse, 224
pregnancy of, 171–72, 234
and product promotions, 102
relationships with costars, 73
and script changes on set, 193, 194
wedding dress of, 136
See also Phoebe
Kurland, Seth, 173
Lagana, David, 157
Landis, John, 20
Lansbury, Angela, 8
The Larry Sanders Show, 16
La Salle, Eriq, 278
“Last One, The” 293
last season of Friends, 283–92
critics’ reactions to, 288–89, 290–92
and last scene in Central Perk, 285
and Monica and Chandler storyline, 284
planning, 282–83
and Ross and Rachel storyline, 283, 285, 293–96
and series finale, 285–88, 290–91
Smithsonian’s request for memorabilia from show, 288
and Tonight Show’s sendoff, 290
and wrap party, 288
and writing team, 284–85
Late Night with Conan O’Brien, 289
Law and Order, 159
LAX 2194, 44, 45
Lear, Norman, 18, 23
Leave It to Beaver, 12
LeBlanc, Matt
background of, 38–39
and casting Joey, 38
and children of crew members, 191
and Donovan, 187
and Emmy awards snub, 270
and Episodes, 299–300, 308
and fans of Friends, 98
and film roles, 100
and Joey series spinoff, 297
and lesbian wedding episode, 113
and life after Friends, 297, 299–300, 308
and poking device, 190
on stardom’s costs, 305
and writing team’s jokes, 162
See also Joey
Lembeck, Michael, 108–9, 199, 270
Leno, Jay, 290
Leoni, Téa, 42
lesbian wedding episode, 113–14, 115–16
life after Friends, 297–310
Littlefield, Warren
on apartment scenes, 25
and audience for Friends, 74
background of, 9
and casting Friends, 31, 46
and contract negotiations, 146
making omelets for team, 87
and overnight ratings, 13
and pilot for Friends, 24–25
and pitch for Friends, 23–25
and potential loss of Aniston to CBS, 46–47
as president of NBC, 9
and set design of show, 126–27
and title of show, 25
and youth market, 8–9, 10, 11, 13–14, 291