# Re-watching Friends **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** tv-shows-scripted\ **Created:** [February 9, 2015, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-watching-friends/712251 "2015-02-09T20:16:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2026, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-watching-friends/712251/181 "2026-04-30T17:26:56Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > I’ve always thought _Friends_ was rather a poor man’s copycat version of _Seinfeld_ without the wit and originality. Yes, quite possibly, but I couldn’t stand any of the characters on Seinfeld. Maybe that was the point, but if so, I don’t get why they thought that was good or necessary. Why would I spend my time watching people I don’t like act stupid? On Friends, the characters often acted stupid, and sometimes I felt like I wanted to kick them, but they seemed more in the range of normal instead of hateful. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2026, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-watching-friends/712251/182 "2026-04-30T18:22:53Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > I’ve always thought _Friends_ was rather a poor man’s copycat version of _Seinfeld_ without the wit and originality. Other than being an ensemble sitcom on NBC Thursdays, I don’t really see anything from Friends copying Seinfeld. The characters are widely different, about 10 years younger, and there’s a lot more focus on relationships. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2026, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-watching-friends/712251/183 "2026-04-30T18:36:46Z")
> [@Cardigan](#): > > Sadly, this kind of fate seems to have followed most of the former Friends cast. > [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > If any of the stars of the big hit comedies like Friends or TBBT want to really act, either for personal fulfillment or to hone their craft or for whatever reason, I’m sure they would have no problem getting at least a few roles, in independent films or on stage, at least until they prove beyond a doubt that they really stink at acting. I’d say that, of the _Friends_ cast, Jennifer Aniston and Lisa Kudrow largely escaped that fate. Kudrow (my favorite actor of the six of them) has not only worked consistently, in film and TV, since _Friends_ ended, but she’s received critical acclaim for many of her acting roles, and she created – as well as starred in – two well-received and successful TV series (_Web Therapy_ and _The Comeback_). There’s no doubt that she will forever be, first and foremost, Phoebe Buffay in people’s minds, but she’s used the fame that that role gave her to build a strong post-_Friends_ career. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2026, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-watching-friends/712251/184 "2026-04-30T19:12:51Z")
I only ever saw it in passing, but I always wondered how they managed to snag that couch in the middle of a busy coffee shop. ---
**Author:** ![sciurophobic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@sciurophobic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciurophobic)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2026, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-watching-friends/712251/185 "2026-04-30T19:13:32Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > $20 million each for annual residuals! Could they BE any richer…? And yet they still find it necessary to do commercials for water, popcorn, and phone games. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2026, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-watching-friends/712251/186 "2026-04-30T22:09:33Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > I always wondered how they managed to snag that couch in the middle of a busy coffee shop. By the same TV logic that let a number of young people who were job-hopping or working minimum-wage jobs have extremely large Manhattan apartments. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2026, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-watching-friends/712251/187 "2026-05-01T01:37:46Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > If any of the stars of the big hit comedies like Friends or TBBT want to really act, either for personal fulfillment or to hone their craft or for whatever reason, I’m sure they would have no problem getting at least a few roles, in independent films or on stage Schwimmer has pretty much stopped doing TV and is doing stage work. Anniston and Kudrow, as noted, have had high-profile roles – Anniston has won two Lead Actress Emmy awards and two nominations for Critics Choice awards, while Kurdrow has racked up plenty of great reviews, particularly for her work in _The Opposite of Sex_. Matthew Perry had a recurring role in _West Wing_ before his demons caught up with him. Matt LeBlanc took five years off to care for a child with severe health problems, then came back and got good reviews for his work in _Episodes_.Even Courtney Cox has had a steady, if not particularly critically acclaimed career after _Friends_. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2026, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-watching-friends/712251/188 "2026-05-01T01:44:58Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > I only ever saw it in passing, but I always wondered how they managed to snag that couch in the middle of a busy coffee shop. Probably Gunther made sure others left it unoccupied. ---
**Author:** ![sciurophobic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@sciurophobic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciurophobic)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2026, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-watching-friends/712251/189 "2026-05-01T17:28:53Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > I only ever saw it in passing, but I always wondered how they managed to snag that couch in the middle of a busy coffee shop. They reserved it. There’s a sign on the table. [This Is Why the ‘Friends’ Couch Was Always Empty](https://www.bustle.com/articles/59138-the-central-perk-couch-on-friends-was-always-unoccupied-for-a-reason-you-never-noticed) ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2026, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-watching-friends/712251/190 "2026-05-01T18:22:46Z")
There was also a joke in a episode where they show up, the couch is taken, so they all crowd around a little table. ---
**Author:** ![fedman1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e495f1/32.png) [@fedman1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fedman1)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2026, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-watching-friends/712251/191 "2026-05-01T22:10:03Z")
and how many commercials now? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2026, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-watching-friends/712251/192 "2026-05-01T22:13:51Z")
> [@sciurophobic](#): > > > [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > > > I only ever saw it in passing, but I always wondered how they managed to snag that couch in the middle of a busy coffee shop. > > They reserved it. There’s a sign on the table. > > [This Is Why the ‘Friends’ Couch Was Always Empty](https://www.bustle.com/articles/59138-the-central-perk-couch-on-friends-was-always-unoccupied-for-a-reason-you-never-noticed) I suspect that New Yorkers would just ignore that reserved sign, if that group wasn’t there and there’s no other option. Or even if there are other options. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2026, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-watching-friends/712251/193 "2026-05-01T22:18:21Z")
Apparently, the owner leaves this prime seating vacant all day in the hopes the Friends will come in and drink a boatload of coffee. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2026, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-watching-friends/712251/194 "2026-05-01T22:19:22Z")
As I said, I suspect Gunther might scare off others from sitting there, but I doubt the owner cares. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2026, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-watching-friends/712251/195 "2026-05-01T22:21:27Z")
He will be forever excluded from the inner Friends circle no matter what he does for them. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2026, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-watching-friends/712251/196 "2026-05-07T18:43:12Z")
_The Independent_: Lisa Kudrow bluntly wades into intense _Friends_ fan debate: ‘He was horrible!’ (re: “We were on a break!”) > **[Lisa Kudrow bluntly wades into intense Friends fan debate: ‘He was horrible!’](https://www.aol.com/news/lisa-kudrow-bluntly-wades-intense-093838044.html)** > > Phoebe star pulled no punches with her view on the Ross and Rachel ‘break’ controversy ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2026, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-watching-friends/712251/197 "2026-05-08T11:59:35Z")
> [@Kent\_Clark](#): > > Matt LeBlanc took five years off to care for a child with severe health problems, then came back and got good reviews for his work in _Episodes_. He also hosted four series of British car show Top Gear after Clarkson et al left. Turns out Matt is a major gearhead. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2026, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-watching-friends/712251/198 "2026-05-08T12:03:12Z")
I thought he was very good on Top Gear. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2026, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-watching-friends/712251/199 "2026-05-08T12:10:26Z")
I’ve never seen him as host, but he was a great guest. And a fast one, too - he broke the track record on his first appearance. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2026, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-watching-friends/712251/200 "2026-05-11T18:56:21Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > Other than being an ensemble sitcom on NBC Thursdays, I don’t really see anything from Friends copying Seinfeld. The characters are widely different, about 10 years younger, and there’s a lot more focus on relationships. I suppose initially Friends was also a bit of a “show about nothing” where each episode seemed more or less a self-contained vignette about the day in the lives of a bunch of 20-somethings living in 1990s Manhattan. Later both shows tended to develop ongoing episode or even season-spanning character arcs or major life events. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-watching-friends/712251.md?page=9)