When Will Dish Get Hbo Again
So, no one told you the fanbase was gonna be this way, huh? Friends, which turned 25 two years ago, was named the second-most streamed show in the earth by Nielsen. To appease diehard viewers, Netflix even paid WarnerMedia a staggering $100 million for an boosted 12 months of streaming rights.
But, these days, HBO is the streaming service that's winning the game (and the lightning round) when information technology comes to Friends content. Namely, the reunion fans take hoped for since the show's finale is finally coming to laissez passer on HBO and HBO Max on Th, May 27. That'due south correct — yous can stream it at present.
Appropriately titled "The One Where They Go Back Together," the official trailer for the Friends reunion shows all six stars — Jennifer Aniston (Rachel), Courteney Cox (Monica), Lisa Kudrow (Phoebe), Matt LeBlanc (Joey), Matthew Perry (Chandler), and David Schwimmer (Ross) — on the evidence's original soundstage in Burbank. In improver to giving fans a candid await at their real-life friendships, the cast tests their knowledge of the prove, revisits some beloved sets, and partakes in a few sure-to-be-funny table reads. And, yep, there'due south a live studio audience — at least for the interview portions.
Without a doubt, this laugh-out-loud sitcom created an idealized version of what it'south like to navigate life with your all-time friends in your 20s — so much and so that it has become television's version of condolement food. Luckily, there are notwithstanding some backside-the-scenes secrets that even the most passionate Friends fanatics don't know — and nosotros're taking a look at them aslope the release of HBO's Friends reunion. Could we BE any more excited?!
It Wasn't Ever Called Friends
What's in a proper noun? Well, a lot, especially if your sitcom becomes one of the most beloved TV shows of all fourth dimension. But before creators settled on Friends, quite a few unlike titles were thrown around behind the scenes.
When the show was pitched, creators titled it "Insomnia Café," just that chop-chop changed to the more straightforward "Friends Similar Us." After the airplane pilot had been ordered, an NBC exec slapped the name "Across the Hall" on the bear witness, and while the pilot was existence filmed, the sitcom was dubbed "Half-dozen of One." In the end, the simplest title won out — thank goodness.
The Episode Naming Convention Was Done for One Reason…
Upon reflection, the sitcom's episode naming convention seems pretty brilliant. When you're chatting with pals about Television, it's often difficult to recall the names of episodes, making information technology easier to say, "Oh, it's the one with the football," or whatever detail stands out virtually.
Every bit fans know, each episode is titled "The One with the ___," but this vernacular naming convention wasn't necessarily done out of cleverness. "Nosotros'd been on plenty shows where people spent so much fourth dimension trying to come up with clever, punning titles," co-creator David Crane told Today. "So, I thought of the way you lot always talk about an episode." Information technology'southward not lazy, per se, simply information technology'south certainly efficient.
Matt LeBlanc Was Broke Before Landing the Show
Before landing his now iconic function of Joey Tribbiani, Matt LeBlanc was the epitome of the struggling player stereotype. Living from gig to gig, LeBlanc had only $eleven in his banking company account when he nailed his Friends audience.
In an interview with Conan O'Brien, LeBlanc recalled that he was almost at the end of his rope — he could barely beget food — and was looking to supplement his income with a second job in the food service industry. Of form, things worked out for the thespian, whose net worth now totals $80 one thousand thousand.
The Terminal Episode Proved Nightmarish for the Makeup Section
When you think of Friends, an extensive hair and makeup budget isn't exactly something that comes to mind. Given the "mundane" nature of the bear witness — twenty-somethings navigating life in New York — the costumes weren't exactly extravagant either.
However, when shooting the serial finale, the hair and makeup department had their work cut out for them. Overwhelmed that things were finally wrapping upwardly, the cast kept crying betwixt scenes. "I don't think we [ever took] more fourth dimension in hair and makeup," Jennifer Aniston told Oprah during a group interview with the cast.
The Bandage Bonded on a Trip to Las Vegas
While the series of episodes set up in Las Vegas are iconic, fans will be delighted to know that the cast enjoyed Nevada'south infamous Strip together long before those storylines came to fruition. Before shooting the pilot, managing director James Burrows took the six main cast members on a trip to Vegas, assuring them that this was their last run a risk to savor anonymity.
Reportedly, Burrows was so certain Friends would launch the 6 actors into superstardom, he lent them money for gambling. The trip proved to be a great bonding moment for the bandage, who would famously huddle upwards, similar a squad getting pumped, earlier shooting episodes. A cherry on tiptop of the sundae? Those Vegas-based episodes are a nod to the trip that started it all.
I Notable Side Character Got His Part by Gamble
Known but as Gunther, this salty, Rachel-loving barista from Central Perk rapidly became a fan-favorite side graphic symbol. Even the duck and the chick have nothing on James Michael Tyler's blonde-haired, tie-wearing coffee connoisseur.
Notwithstanding, what fans might not realize is that Tyler landed his office for a rather practical reason. Co-ordinate to Comedy Primal, he was bandage as a nameless extra, just, when the show needed someone to work the espresso machine, Tyler stepped forrad. That's right — knowing how to brew a fine loving cup of coffee can help you snag an iconic office.
One of the Friends Well-nigh Didn't Render for the Final Flavour
Despite making $1 million dollars per episode, breakout star Jennifer Aniston well-nigh didn't render for the sitcom's final season. An international star in her own right, she was landing film roles and in the middle of her tabloid-loved spousal relationship to superstar Brad Pitt.
Aniston was hesitant to return for a 10th flavour, because she wanted Friends to leave on top. At the end of the 9th season, ratings looked proficient, and fans were still clamoring for the sitcom. On a personal level, she wasn't certain she could play Rachel for much longer, which, in the end, led to a substantially shorter final season.
Phoebe's Pregnancy Storyline Wasn't Planned
Over the years, many sitcoms have worked effectually actors' real-life pregnancies in interesting ways. Fellow '90s sitcom Seinfeld made a habit of putting big objects in front of Julie Louis-Dreyfus' character to conceal her baby bump. When Lisa Kudrow was meaning, Friends took a unlike approach.
Instead of hiding her behind ready dressings or giving her overly big sweaters to wear, the Friends team decided to write a pregnancy storyline for Phoebe, Kudrow's grapheme. Since Phoebe wasn't dating anyone seriously at the time, writers had to go creative, which led to the wild plotline of Phoebe acting as a surrogate for her brother and his wife.
NBC Didn't Desire the Hangout to exist a Coffee Store
Back when the show's creators pitched Friends to NBC, information technology was kind of a gamble. Although TV shows about aimless twenty-somethings living in New York — or a comparable city — are a dime a dozen now, this focus was entirely new at the time. Needless to say, execs gave creators quite a few notes.
Beginning, NBC execs idea the coffee shop was too "hip." Now, in a time of hipster cafes and locally roasted coffee, that seems like a weird note to give, simply NBC thought it would be more relatable if the creators traded Primal Perk for a diner. Another note? NBC suggested adding a wise, advice-giving graphic symbol, but, luckily, "Pat the Cop," was nixed by the Friends creative team.
Courteney Cox Was Offered a Different Role Initially
Although diehards now can't imagine other actors stepping into one of the iconic vi roles, the Friends casting process wasn't and then cut-and-dry in the beginning. Will & Grace star Eric McCormack auditioned for Ross, even though the part was allegedly written with David Schwimmer in mind.
Several future guest stars initially auditioned for leading roles: The Simpsons Hank Azaria tried out for Joey, Glee's Jane Lynch tried her paw at Phoebe and The Mandalorian showrunner Jon Favreau auditioned for Chandler. Mayhap the strangest? Producers idea Courteney Cox would make a great Rachel, but, luckily, Cox, who was 1 of the most well-known actors on the show at the time, really wanted to play Monica.
One Large Chemical element of the Serial Finale Was Planned from the Outset
Fans today still either bemoan or gloat Rachel's conclusion to get off the plane to Paris, thus sacrificing her dream career for Ross. Withal, the sitcom's ultimate volition-they-won't-they couple ending up together was non-negotiable for the evidence's co-creators, David Crane and Marta Kauffman.
"The merely thing we absolutely knew from very early on was that nosotros had to get Ross and Rachel together," Crane said to Entertainment Weekly. "We had [jerked] the audience around for ten years with their 'will they or won't they,' and nosotros didn't run into any advantage in frustrating them." To keep this under wraps, producers claimed they filmed the real ending without a studio audience. Although information technology was untrue, this was a smart way to keep audiences guessing.
Matt LeBlanc Desperately Injured Himself on Set
Nearly fans will recall a 3rd-season episode in which Joey wears a sling, something that's explained away as an injury the character sustained while jumping on his bed. While this fits with Joey'due south personality to a "T," the injury actually had existent-life origins.
While on set up, Matt LeBlanc filmed a scene that involved both him and Matthew Perry running for a comfy chair. The two ended up colliding, and, while comical, it too resulted in LeBlanc's very existent shoulder injury. When it happened, we can't help but wonder if anyone on set asked him, "How you doin'?"
Lisa Kudrow Was Sued for Breach of Contract
Although Friends came to an end in 2004, Lisa Kudrow was still dealing with the backwash in 2008. That year, she ended her contract with her longtime manager Scott Howard, then he sued her, challenge Kudrow however owed him residuals for Friends reruns.
Kudrow claimed that she didn't owe him annihilation — peculiarly not the whopping 10% he was asking for — after the contract dissolved. Nonetheless, the judge ended up siding with Howard in 2014, awarding him a cool $one.6 million. Of class, that's chump alter to Kudrow, who is worth about $90 meg.
David Schwimmer's Neighbors Hated Him
Fifty-fifty celebrities who are pop the world over have to bargain with the same day-to-day troubles as us average Joes. In 2010, David Schwimmer purchased a townhouse in New York's East Hamlet and decided to tear down the building for a renovation.
The townhouse had stood intact since 1852, so it wasn't really surprising when anonymous neighbors had a bone to pick with the Friends star. The neighbor in question spray-painted "Ross Is Not Cool" in giant messages on the construction site fence. (Mature, right?) Just like his sitcom character, Schwimmer wasn't the near popular person in the neighborhood.
And One Friend Was Arrested…
While some celebrities deal with the difficult-partying lifestyle at the height of their careers, others take that route a tad earlier. Matt LeBlanc was ane of those early bloomers: He was arrested twice for drunk driving, something he kept a secret until after Friends wrapped.
"When I was young and stupid [the arrests happened]," LeBlanc confessed to the hosts of Top Gear, a show about cars. "I wasn't driving fast, just crooked." Luckily for LeBlanc, keeping tight-lipped about the incidents meant that the press never dug up his mugshots, which would take been some bad PR for a show that presented such a squeaky-clean version of life.
Jennifer Aniston Hated "The Rachel"
If you didn't live through the '90s, you'll never sympathize just how popular "The Rachel" was at the time. Named afterwards Jennifer Anniston's iconic short, layered hairstyle, the style prompted women across the country to rush into salons, asking for the look. Despite it being popular with fans and fellow celebs alike, Aniston actually hated the cut.
"[Information technology] was kind of cringey for me," Aniston admitted, later calculation that information technology was "the ugliest haircut I've always seen." Aniston's hairstylist, Chris McMillan, admitted that The Rachel was actually built-in from a mistake. McMillan confessed to taking "a bit of light-green" before Aniston's appointment, which led to him accidentally buzzing her hair. Needless to say, his creative problem-solving led to an unrivaled hairstyle tendency.
David Schwimmer Struggled with Fame
Of the half dozen main cast members, David Schwimmer has ever been the to the lowest degree likely to enjoy the limelight. In fact, he struggled with his newfound fame — and with being so associated with his character — to the indicate that he has shied away from on-screen roles once Friends ended.
"Information technology was pretty jarring, and it messed with my human relationship to other people in a way that took years, I think, for me to kind of arrange to and become comfortable with," Schwimmer admitted. "It fabricated me want to hide under a baseball cap." Meanwhile, Matt LeBlanc found himself having a almost-nervous breakdown after the show — and the failed spin-off Joey — ended, even telling his agent, "Please lose my number for a few years."
There Was One Matter Lisa Kudrow Refused to Do…
10-time Emmy nominee (and one-time winner) Lisa Kudrow is a woman of many talents. All the same, in that location is one skill she refused to option up, despite what Phoebe's grapheme clarification called for initially.
While fans take a soft spot for Phoebe's terrible guitar playing — "Smelly Cat," anyone? — the writers wrote her to be a talented musician. Funnily plenty, Kudrow hated playing the guitar and refused to learn in those early seasons, fifty-fifty subsequently the Friends crew called in a tutor for her. "I wasn't getting it," Kudrow said, recalling her failed attempts to learn guitar. "I think I even asked, 'What if she plays the bongos?'"
A Lot of Suffering Went into the Now Iconic Opening Credits
The show's title sequence is ane of its most iconic features, but when it came to shooting the montage, the actors were put through the wringer. The shoot started at four in the forenoon, and, by Burbank, California, standards, it was a cold morning. Exhausted, Jennifer Aniston had a hard fourth dimension grasping the concept — formal wear, umbrellas, splashing in a fountain? — but all that hurting and suffering and freezing paid off.
Not only is the title sequence amazing, but it's nearly impossible to carve up the backing song from the sitcom. When Friends' creators asked the Rembrandts to write a theme song, the ring quickly churned out "I'll Be At that place for You." Originally, the song was only long enough for the credits, but the ring had to complete a full track to stop radio DJs from cobbling together their own "full versions."
The Bandage Wanted to Reject a Now Classic Plot Line
In "The One with the Cat," a feline friend emerges from Phoebe's guitar case, causing the hapless musician to call up that the cat in question is a reincarnation of her late female parent. Certain, Phoebe has had her fair share of weird plot lines, simply for the bandage and writers, this one felt a fiddling too weird.
Allegedly, the episode made the cut because information technology was pitched by co-creator Marta Kauffman after the passing of her ain mother. Needless to say, no one felt comfortable voicing their criticisms. When information technology came to some other storyline, even so, the bandage did speak up: Most of the cast members, including Matt LeBlanc, hated the Rachel/Joey pairing and the ensuing love story.
Jennifer Aniston Didn't Invite Her Castmates to Her Nuptials
When she married Brad Pitt, Jennifer Aniston cordially sent hymeneals invitations to her Friends co-stars. Yet, despite however beingness close off-screen, the guys didn't quite make the cut when it came to Aniston'south marriage to Justin Theroux in 2015.
It was a modest wedding — just seventy guests — so while Matthew Perry said he was surprised to have been skipped over, he was all the same happy for the couple. Aniston, who is the godmother of Courteney Cox's daughter and who still keeps upwardly a grouping text thread with Cox and Kudrow, did invite the women of Friends to her 2d wedding.
The Testify Didn't Fare Too Well at the Emmys
Despite having half-dozen top-billed actors and legions of fans, Friends didn't fare all that well when it came to awards season. After a decade on the air — and hordes of extremely zealous fans — the show walked away with merely four Emmy wins, one for Outstanding One-act Series in 2002, ane for Directing in a Comedy Series in 1996, and two for acting.
Of the half dozen stars, just Jennifer Aniston and Lisa Kudrow nabbed Emmys. Aniston won for Lead Actress in 2002 and Kudrow, despite having the same billing as Aniston, won for Supporting Actress in 1998. Surprisingly, the but Friends cast fellow member to not receive an Emmy nomination was Courteney Cox. Meanwhile, only Aniston, Kudrow, and LeBlanc received Golden Globe nominations — and Aniston was the only victor, winning in 2003.
While Filming the Prove, Matthew Perry Navigated Living with Addiction
Navigating newfound fame tin can prove difficult, but some of the Friends cast members struggled more than than others. For Matthew Perry, dealing with a new mode of life led to addiction. Although his addictions were kept under wraps at the time, Perry has since been pretty aboveboard about his recovery.
Between seasons three and 6, Perry was addicted to both alcohol and pills — although the former addiction started well before the Friends fame prepare in. The actor noted that he was often "painfully hungover" on prepare, leading him to check into rehab a few times. These days, a sober Perry has dedicated his time to helping other addicts detect back up and navigate the recovery process.
Co-Creators Wanted to Pair an Unlikely Couple Together…
Although Ross and Rachel ended up being the show'southward primal pairing, producers initially had another ability couple in mind. According to co-creator Marta Kauffman, they had intended to accept Monica and Joey get together considering "they simply seemed the most sexual of the characters."
Luckily, Monica concluded up with Chandler — and the residue is history. Nonetheless, it'due south clear that the minds behind Friends e'er saw Monica as a sexual practice-positive, confident character. In the very first episode, Monica slept with someone after their first engagement, which NBC execs thought would turn viewers off. Thankfully, the studio audience had no problem with Monica'south decision and loved her simply as she was written.
The Cast Was Agape of One of Their Co-Stars at Outset
While Joey is a lovable, teddy behave-like guy, Matt LeBlanc's castmates didn't see him that mode in the beginning. In fact, they were a piffling intimidated by him. Reportedly, LeBlanc's past — a stint as a model and being raised by a rough-and-tough mechanic — made the other actors a chip wary.
Non to mention, the only thing they knew about LeBlanc'due south on-screen persona was that he was a real womanizer. "I was scared of that type of guy," Jennifer Aniston recalled. "He thinks it'south very funny now. And, actually, he can sit down down and condolement me just similar Courteney or Lisa could."
As far as actually scary castmates become, the duck might have the cake: Lisa Kudrow was terrified of birds and hated having to share the screen with an actual duck.
An Airdrome Scene Was Cut After 9/11
Even on her honeymoon, Monica is the Type-A, slightly pushy character we all know and dear. During the episode, she and Chandler finish up competing with another couple, who seem to be but one step ahead of the Geller-Bings the whole trip. Although the storyline works well, it wasn't the initial premise.
In the original version, Monica and Chandler got bumped to showtime class, simply to be pulled aside by airport security. Chandler, being Chandler, made a joke about a bomb. The episode was slated to air just two weeks after the events of ix/xi, so NBC chop-chop called for reshoots. After on, the original scenes were released then that fans could enjoy them.
The Cast Banded Together to Ask for Pay Raises
One of the great things about Friends? The six core characters all received equal billing throughout the run of the evidence. In fact, the writers initially had a pie nautical chart taped to the wall so they could even out the number of lines and jokes for each grapheme.
During the first season, the actors each fabricated $22,000 per episode, giving them equal budgetary footing likewise. The 2nd season saw them beingness paid unevenly, which led to the vi actors banding together to demand equal pay for flavor three. Led past David Schwimmer, the cast teamed upwards again to negotiate for college last season salaries. The outcome? Each player made a whopping $1 million per episode.
Matthew Perry Almost Went with a Different Pilot
At the time, David Schwimmer, an Fifty.A. Law alum who had just concluded a run on a short-lived show called Monty, and Courteney Cox, who was known for Family Ties and Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, were the most well known of the 6 friends. However, it was Matthew Perry who became a hot article during pilot season.
The aforementioned year Perry landed Friends, he shot the pilot for LAX 2194, a bear witness about aerodrome baggage handlers who worked for aliens. Hoping this intergalactic travel evidence wouldn't brand information technology, Friends showrunners took a take chances and cast Perry. Could in that location Exist a safer bet? We recall not.
Ii of the Six Friends Were Almost Supporting Characters
While the cast concluded up getting equal billing — and equal pay — the evidence wasn't ever conceived as having 6 starring roles. In fact, co-creator Marta Kauffman and David Crane had wanted the story to focus on iv of the friends: Rachel, Ross, Monica, and Joey. (This probably explains their early on, misguided desire to pair Monica with Joey.)
That's right — Phoebe and Chandler were meant to be supporting characters. Thankfully, things changed during the casting process, and the writers developed all vi of the now-dearest "Friends" on equal footing. This is made even more perplexing when you larn that the part of Phoebe, and then a supporting role, was offered to the wildly pop comedian Ellen DeGeneres.
The Iconic Frame on the Door Was an Advertizing Hoc Decision
The flat that Monica inherits is iconic for then many reasons. Not only is it the dream New York apartment — at that place's so much closet infinite! — but since and so many of the Friends live there at some indicate and continue to drop in often, it'south brimming full of memories. Imperial paint aside, the most memorable feature of the flat is that yellowish picture frame hanging over the door's peephole.
Originally, the frame was serving its typical purpose, but someone knocked into the table it was resting on and broke the frame'south drinking glass. Set director Greg Grande got creative and decided to utilize it as some door decor. There are plenty of apartment fun facts, but our favorite — and Joey's favorite — is that the refrigerator actually worked and was used to store beverages and snacks for the cast and crew.
Source: https://www.ask.com/entertainment/friends-bts-tv-secrets?utm_content=params%3Ao%3D740004%26ad%3DdirN%26qo%3DserpIndex
0 Response to "When Will Dish Get Hbo Again"
Post a Comment