# Which "Friends" star, if any, could carry a spin-off? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 20, 2002, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-friends-star-if-any-could-carry-a-spin-off/133022 "2002-10-20T00:03:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2002, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-friends-star-if-any-could-carry-a-spin-off/133022/1 "2002-10-20T00:03:50Z")
Ross, Rachel, Monica, and Chandler aren’t dynamic enough. While Phoebe is the funniest character imo, her humor might get old if it becomes the focus. The only character I could see pulling it off (and it’s still a stretch) is Joey. There are limitless types of foils for his character and his comic perspectivecould be exploited in tons of ways. What do you think? ---
**Author:** ![RexDart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b77776/32.png) [@RexDart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RexDart)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2002, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-friends-star-if-any-could-carry-a-spin-off/133022/2 "2002-10-20T00:11:06Z")
Monica and Chandler _together_, as a married couple, could be attempted. Not to say it would surely work, but it would be somewhat different approach to use two cast members in a spinoff, might have some success. I suspect that rather than spinoffs, they’ll just do their own unrelated shows. Their movie careers having never taken off (Ebert’s positive review of the latest Jennifer Aniston movie aside), I’m sure they’ll take plenty of chances on new series. Spinoffs are another beast entirely, and work best with peripheral characters that still have alot of potential development (Frasier, Maude, etc.) ---
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2002, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-friends-star-if-any-could-carry-a-spin-off/133022/3 "2002-10-20T00:22:58Z")
I’m inclined to agree with your suggestion of Joey, **KidC**. Yes, I know he is played by the weakest actor on the show. But that being said, my oservation about spin-offs is that the spun off person does not act so much as act as an anchor where the other people of the new show interact around him or her. The Joey character can pull this off. TV ---
**Author:** ![jmpride62](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c37758/32.png) [@jmpride62](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jmpride62)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2002, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-friends-star-if-any-could-carry-a-spin-off/133022/4 "2002-10-20T01:10:10Z")
Marcel the monkey would be the only logical choice assuming he’s available. ---
**Author:** ![Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laughing_Lagomorph)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2002, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-friends-star-if-any-could-carry-a-spin-off/133022/5 "2002-10-20T01:13:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by TV time \* > \*\*I’m inclined to agree with your suggestion of Joey, **KidC**. Yes, I know he is played by the weakest actor on the show… > > TV \*\* That’s funny, I would have said Courtney Cox was the weakest actor/tress on the show. Spinoffs have been tried with weaker characters than Joey, so it could happen. ---
**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:** [October 20, 2002, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-friends-star-if-any-could-carry-a-spin-off/133022/6 "2002-10-20T02:28:18Z")
If you’d asked several seasons ago, I would have voted for Rachel. The idea of a spoiled girl from Long Island dumping her fiance and learning to thrive on her own certainly has comic possibilities, and Jennifer Anniston is good enough in the role to carry it off. But now I think all the characters’ possibilities have been pretty much worked through. They’ve gotten all the development they can stand. Face it, after nine years of “I Love Lucy” would anyone have watched a series about Fred and Ethel? The problem with Joey is that he’s the basic hunky-but-dumb character from Central Casting. Now that his career is doing reasonably well, they can’t go back to the struggling actor storyline, and without Chandler, Rachel or Phoebe to play off, there’s not much left for the character. ---
**Author:** ![Tars\_Tarkas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tars\_Tarkas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tars_Tarkas)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2002, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-friends-star-if-any-could-carry-a-spin-off/133022/7 "2002-10-20T04:17:49Z")
Joey and Phoebie would be the easiest characters to do spin-offs with, as the other four all have relationship baggage and would require 2 cast members to keep going. Joey could easily move to Hollywood to do more acting, or Phoebie moves to Seattle to do a radio talk show…i mean radio commercials! yeah, that’s it… I’d enjoy _The Bings_, but i don’t think both actors would stay on TV, Matthew Perry has a potential movie career, in that i liked several of his films compared to maybe one film of each of the other actors (granted me liking a film in no way assures it being popular or good) ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2002, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-friends-star-if-any-could-carry-a-spin-off/133022/8 "2002-10-20T07:32:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tars Tarkas \* > \*\* Joey could easily move to Hollywood to do more acting, or Phoebie moves to Seattle to do a radio talk show… \*\* True story: Lisa Kudrow (Phoebe) was cast as the original character of Roz on Frazier. They filmed one or two episodes and then recast the character. Lisa was devistated, and then got the role on Mad About You, which led to her simultaneous role on Friends. There has already been some discussions about one character spinning off from Friends…and you guys are right…the character is JOEY. The original premise is that he moves to LA to star in a Dallas/Dynasty type nighttime soap opera that is cancelled after one episode. He remains in LA and the series takes up from there with him being the “bad” actor, and the people he meets along the way. Rachel (Mrs. Pitt) is most certainly the most talented of the six, but she probably will not need to work in television for awhile. Her career in films is not bad, and when there is a dry spell, my guess is her husband can probably float her a loan to cover her half of the mortgage. By the way…don’t believe the hype that this is the last season. Smart money suggests they might be convinced to do at least one more season after this one. Only one of the six is ready to call it quits, and that is not a given at this point. That one might be convinced to change their mind. ---
**Author:** ![Hoops](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hoops/32/6408_2.png) [@Hoops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoops)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2002, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-friends-star-if-any-could-carry-a-spin-off/133022/9 "2002-10-20T08:19:13Z")
Gunther moves to Minneapolis and becomes a hipper-than-thou underground DJ. Hilarity ensues! ---
**Author:** ![MrThompson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MrThompson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrThompson)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2002, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-friends-star-if-any-could-carry-a-spin-off/133022/10 "2002-10-20T11:26:55Z")
I seriously don’t think any of them could do it. Besides, I think it would destroy the whole “Friends” thing if they split up. Just let it go. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2002, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-friends-star-if-any-could-carry-a-spin-off/133022/11 "2002-10-20T11:39:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by KidCharlemagne \* > \*\*Ross, Rachel, Monica, and Chandler aren’t dynamic enough. While Phoebe is the funniest character imo, her humor might get old if it becomes the focus. The only character I could see pulling it off (and it’s still a stretch) is Joey. There are limitless types of foils for his character and his comic perspectivecould be exploited in tons of ways. What do you think? \*\* The guy who plays Joey is the least likely able to carry on any kind of solo performence. That guy should thank Satan or whoever got him that gig on Friends because I don’t think he’ll ever do anything else. Marc ---
**Author:** ![gex\_gex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/94ad74/32.png) [@gex\_gex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gex_gex)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2002, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-friends-star-if-any-could-carry-a-spin-off/133022/12 "2002-10-20T13:39:12Z")
Yep… spin-off featuring Joey… and here’s the plot: Joey decides that he needs to return to college… for some reason. He moves in to a stupid frat house and rooms with a couple of guys that are equally as dumb as he is… for some reason. Laugh it up as Joey goes on road trip after road trip, smokes bong after bong and fails class after class. It’s gold. Can’t miss. ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2002, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-friends-star-if-any-could-carry-a-spin-off/133022/13 "2002-10-20T13:51:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by kunilou \* > If you’d asked several seasons ago, I would have voted for Rachel. The idea of a spoiled girl from Long Island dumping her fiance and learning to thrive on her own certainly has comic possibilities, and Jennifer Anniston is good enough in the role to carry it off. \*Who can turn the world on with her smile? Who can take a nothing day, and suddenly make it all seem worthwhile? Well it’s you girl, and you should know it With each glance and every little movement you show it Love is all around, no need to waste it You can have a town, why don’t you take it You’re gonna make it after all You’re gonna make it after all How will you make it on your own? This world is awfully big, girl this time you’re all alone But it’s time you started living It’s time you let someone else do some giving Love is all around, no need to waste it You can have a town, why don’t you take it You’re gonna make it after all You’re gonna make it after all \* (Rachel tosses hat in the air) ---
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2002, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-friends-star-if-any-could-carry-a-spin-off/133022/14 "2002-10-20T14:07:02Z")
This just in from the Oct. 18, 2005 edition of _TV Guide_. > [@](#): > > \*\*This year’s hip new comedy that everybody is watching and has everybody talking is “Janice”! Yes, that twice divorced single mom from New York City living in that other “City” (Salt Lake City). Has become the toast of all cities from coast to coast. > > People are still talking about the first show in the series where Janice was arrested for verbally creating a scene in the Morman Tabernacle by saying “Oh my God” and then laughing in the sacred LDS building. A close second in popularity was last week’s show where she offers to give a free nail demonstration to a woman she meets in Temple Square and ends up in a polygamous community outside Salt Lake City. The scene where the ATF raid the compound and find Janice and the other wives fighting in the husband’s hottub is possibly one of the funniest scenes in television history, easily equal to the “I Love Lucy” grape stomping scene. > > This is a show that will be around for years."\*\* Just thought I’d share that with you. TV ---
**Author:** ![Iguana\_Boy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ed655f/32.png) [@Iguana\_Boy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iguana_Boy)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2002, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-friends-star-if-any-could-carry-a-spin-off/133022/15 "2002-10-20T16:38:42Z")
**Doghouse** - that’s what immediately sprang to my mind too! Joey could be the new Carlton the Doorman! ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2002, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-friends-star-if-any-could-carry-a-spin-off/133022/16 "2002-10-20T17:38:32Z")
Just feature 30 minutes of Monica’s apartment. Frustrated New Yorkers will tune in every week and dream about an affordable 1500 sq.ft. apartment with 2 bedrooms in downtown Manhattan. ---
**Author:** ![capelover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@capelover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capelover)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2002, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-friends-star-if-any-could-carry-a-spin-off/133022/17 "2002-10-20T19:33:12Z")
I hope NBC lets ‘Friends’ die when it’s time…I think we need only look to the stars’ film careers to see none of them could carry a spin-off… ‘Sienfeld’ comes to mind… ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2002, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-friends-star-if-any-could-carry-a-spin-off/133022/18 "2002-10-20T19:55:19Z")
I agree, “Gunther” all the way. **IB** Carlton was a star on “Rhoda”, not “The MTM Show”. (No votes for Ross yet. Hardly a surprise.) ---
**Author:** ![Joe\_Cool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecb155/32.png) [@Joe\_Cool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joe_Cool)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2002, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-friends-star-if-any-could-carry-a-spin-off/133022/19 "2002-10-21T06:34:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by capelover \* > \*\*I hope NBC lets ‘Friends’ die when it’s time…I think we need only look to the stars’ film careers to see none of them could carry a spin-off… ‘Sienfeld’ comes to mind… \*\* I agree completely - Friends is just like Seinfeld in that no one character carried it or was the focus. They are both ensemble shows, and no characters from either show will work without the rest. It would be like having Van Halen without David Lee Roth, Iron Maiden without Bruce Dickenson, or Metallica with short hair. sheesh. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2002, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-friends-star-if-any-could-carry-a-spin-off/133022/20 "2002-10-21T06:42:41Z")
I’d be happy to watch a cable show about Ross’s lesbian ex-wife and her partner. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-friends-star-if-any-could-carry-a-spin-off/133022.md?page=2)