essay about friends tv show

The “Friends” TV Show as a Cultural Artifact Essay

The cultural artifact selected for this assignment is the TV show “Friends,” which aired in the 1990s. The intended audience is men and women between the ages of 15 and 20 or the ones who were born after the 2000s. The intended audience is of different ethnicities and can differ culturally. The reason for this is that “Friends” is a relatable show for adolescents. In it, the authors show the everyday struggles of young men and women, which can make it easier for the audience members to understand how to deal with challenges. Although “Friends” itself is not culturally diverse, since all of the main characters are white, people of different ethnicities can still benefit from watching this TV series. The lack of cultural diversity was considered normal in the 1990s when the show was filmed (Morris; Smith). Culturally, people who were born and grew up in America, and especially those who live in big cities such as New York, would be the intended audience because the main characters live in a large city. Linguistically, those whose native language is English would be the intended audience. “Friends” are a culturally significant artifact since this show was one of the most viewed when it aired and it should be seen by younger generations.

The rhetorical strategy to reach the intended audience would be antagonage. An antanagoge is a combination of negative and positive remarks. This rhetorical method can be used to portray a problem and its eventual remedy (“10 Commonly Used”). This tactic may allow one to have a well-developed and convincing approach to communication, both in writing and in speech. In the case of “Friends,” the anatagonage would mean explaining the issues with representation and diversity on the show and then addressing its positive elements. Next, for structure, it is best to use the standard approach of an introduction with some background information, main part, and conclusion. The conclusion should summarize the remarks made in the main part of the text. The main body should contain references to the show’s episodes and the current social problems. The language should be simple English to ensure that the audience can easily understand the text. This approach will be the most effective for reaching the audience because “Friends” has already been criticized in popular media. Additionally, using a standard structure and simple language is suitable for the audience between the ages of 15 and 20.

Works Cited

Morris, Wesley. “‘Friends’ Is Turning 25. Here’s Why We Can’t Stop Watching it.” The New York Times.

Smith, Kristin. “There For Us? Why Friends Is Still Culturally Relevant.” Plugged In, 2019.

“10 Commonly Used Rhetorical Strategies (With Examples).” Indeed Career Guide , 2022.

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• "Friends" Reflected Change in American Society, Among First TV Shows to Portray "Youth on Their Own," says UB Pop-Culture Expert

"Friends" Reflected Change in American Society, Among First TV Shows to Portray "Youth on Their Own," says UB Pop-Culture Expert

By john dellacontrada.

Release Date: April 16, 2004 This content is archived.

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The sitcom "Friends," which is ending its 10-year run on TV next month, will be remembered as one of those rare shows that marked a change in American culture, according to a pop-culture expert at the University at Buffalo.

"'Friends,' stands out as a sign that we are now living in a culture where youth rules, where the image of youth has become the dominant image of our culture," says Elayne Rapping, Ph.D., professor of American studies in the UB College of Arts and Sciences.

"'Friends' will be remembered as the show that made America aware that being in your 20s is really being in the prime of life," Rapping adds.

Other cultural landmarks from TV-land include the Mary Tyler Moor Show, for its depiction of the single working woman, and the O.J. Simpson trial for the way it exposed race and class tensions in this country, says Rapping who teaches a course on "Television and Society" and is author of "Law and Justice as Seen on TV."

"Friends" and "Beverly Hills 90210," according to Rapping, were among the first shows to depict young people who were very much on their own, without significant parental interaction. Prior sitcoms were almost always centered on the lives of nuclear families, where father and mother knew best, Rapping says.

"The characters in 'Friends' and '90210' pretty much were running their own lives and looked to each other for moral guidance," Rapping says. "They constructed their own family among each other.

"This became a dominant theme on many sitcoms, and reflected a mainstream trend in our society," she says.

This theme, according to Rapping, grew partly from an awareness that, for the first time in American history, a generation of young people would not be better off than its parents.

"And so you had sitcoms like 'Friends' and 'Seinfeld,' where the characters lived in apartments, not in houses, where the characters were not upwardly mobile, and where they had the same friends forever and never grew up," Rapping points out.

The premise of these shows, Rapping says, often centered on trivial matters in the characters' lives -- sending the message that it's okay to not be serious about anything because nothing really bad is likely to happen in a young person's life.

Since 9/11 -- and with the country's current economic problems -- that attitude has changed, which may be one reason why sitcoms like "Friends" are not in style anymore and are in decline as a major ratings draw, Rapping says.

"What we are seeing now instead is the immense popularity of TV reality shows, with their depictions of corporate, cut-throat values, whose characters are concerned solely with competing and getting ahead of other people.

"That's the opposite of what 'Friends' was about," she says.

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Why “Friends” is one of the best series of all time

By Alexandre Marain

Vogue reveals why Friends is still a cult series worldwide, 25 years after it was first broadcast.

1. For its 10 seasons and 236 episodes

In the space of 10 years, Friends became one of the most popular TV series in history. It tells the story of the sometimes complicated, and always funny, everyday lives of six close friends - Monica, Rachel, Phoebe, Ross, Chandler, and Joey . In all, 236 episodes were produced, all of which you can watch now on Netflix before the streaming platform removes them in early 2020.

2. For its hilarious and relatable characters

Monica 's neurosis, Rachel 's passion for fashion, Joey 's charming stupidity, Chandler 's sarcastic jokes, Ross 's bad luck stricken love life, Phoebe 's timeless songs such as Smelly Cat ... Each character has their unique qualities. Friends fans essentially grew up with these characters, often relating to them and their complicated, crazy lives.

3. For its life lessons

Despite the humor and sarcasm that mark the series, each Friends episode essentially ends with a life lesson. The most important of which, of course, is to always count on your friends, and to not care so much about other people's opinions. However, the most important life lesson came from Ross , who helped viewers learn that they should NEVER wear leather pants on a first date.

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4. For its celebrity cameos

The Friends series featured numerous cameos from some of today's biggest names in Hollywood. Among the most well-known: Brad Pitt , who played an old friend of Ross's, Danny DeVito , who played a stripper during Phoebe's bachelorette party, also David Arquette, Kristin Davis, Alec Baldwin, Dakota Fanning , and even Winona Ryder , who plays a lead role in Netflix 's Stranger Things .

5. For the iconic 1990s style

It's worth knowing that Rachel 's long bob haircut, worn during the first two seasons, was so beloved that it earned its own nickname ( "The Rachel" ), and was subsequently adopted by a host of young women across the globe. Friends put 1990s style on the map, a style which continues to inspire today's fashion trends. From white tank tops with Levi 's jeans, slip-dresses, and starter jackets to good ol' dad shoes and platform flip flops, the series showcased the best.

6. For its timeless theme song and opening credits

"I'll be there for you, (Cause you're there for me too)". .. It's impossible to mention Friends without mentioning these iconic lyrics, which I'm sure we've all heard a few hundred times. This refrain from The Rembrandts, written exclusively for Friends and composed by Allee Willis, who passed away on 24th December 2019, is still stuck in our heads even 15 years later. Only a few hours the song's completion, the Friends cast filmed the opening scene, which was shot in the heart of Warner Bros Studios .

Translated by Zoe Hofmann and Isabella Martin

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How ‘Friends’ became a cultural phenomenon and top moments to see ahead of the reunion special

Entertainment ott.

Fans from UAE can watch the ‘Friends’ reunion special on May 27 on OSN

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The One Where They Become Famous

By Bindu Rai, Entertainment Editor

It’s hard to recall a time when ‘Friends’ wasn’t a part of our lives. First aired on September 22, 1994, the sitcom opened to negative reviews before turning into a cultural phenomenon and changing television history forever.

At its peak, the six lead stars of the series, namely Jennifer Aniston (Rachel Green), Courteney Cox (Monica Geller), Lisa Kudrow (Phoebe Buffay), Matt LeBlanc (Joey Tribbiani), Matthew Perry (Chandler Bing), and David Schwimmer (Ross Geller), were the highest paid actors on television, famously negotiating their contracts together for a better and equal pay out.

When the series finally bowed out on May 6, 2004, more than 52 million Americans watched the finale, with countless others watching ‘Friends’ even today through reruns on TV and across streaming platforms in several markets across the globe, including Netflix in the UAE.

While the answer perhaps lies somewhere in between the reasons shared, the series made the stars overnight sensations, while sparking trends including Aniston’s hairstyle that became ‘The Rachel’ and Joey’s catchphrase ‘How you doin’? catapulting itself into one of the most used pick-up lines around.

With the much-delayed cast reunion coming at a time when the world needs a bit of cheer on the tails of a global pandemic, here’s a look at everything we know about the unscripted episode and our favourite moments from ‘Friends’ over 10 seasons.

The One with the Reunion

‘Friends: The Reunion’, which is titled ‘The One Where They Get Back Together’, will reunite the six lead cast members in an unscripted special that is being hosted by actor-comedian James Corden.

Aniston, Cox, Perry and the gang have reunited for the first time in 17 years on the original Warner Bros soundstage, Stage 24 for the one-time special.

The trailer has given fans a glimpse of what is to come, with the cast doing a walkthrough the set that served as Monica’s loft in New York, while also appearing to play a version of that infamous quiz in season 4 of the show that saw the Geller sibling and her roommate Rachel lose the apartment to Chandler and Joey.

The cast also appear to do a reading from one of the most famous episodes of the show, ‘The One Where Everyone Finds Out’ that saw the group learn that Monica and Chandler were secretly dating.

Along the way, some cast regulars do make an appearance, including Tom Selleck who played Monica’s much older boyfriend Richard Burke, along with Maggie Wheeler who played the annoying Janice “Oh my god” Hosenstein.

Several celebrity guests are also set to make an appearance including Cara Delevingne, David Beckham, Justin Bieber, Reese Witherspoon, Lady Gaga, BTS and many more.

Gulf News editors pick their favourite moments from ‘Friends’

I’m not quite sure when ‘Friends’ became a part of my life. Maybe it was a familiar face that gave me comfort when I was studying thousands of miles away from home. Or perhaps when they got me laughing till I cried, when the only option available was to curl up and weep. They became my friends, somehow, sharing hope, joy and little bit of snark as the years went by. Today, life has come full circle with ‘Friends’ giving me a reason to bond with my 12-year-old niece who is just discovering that bit of magic that has held millions under its spell.

The One with the Cop: Ross Geller screaming “Pivot, PIVOT!” is pure television gold that continues to draw the laughs even today with equal abandon. The scene, which aired on season five of the series, is also perhaps one of the most real moments of ‘Friends’. Three friends struggling to carry a too-large couch up a narrow flight of stairs in New York; what could go wrong? With Chandler Bing and Rachel Green in on the struggle, the endless command to ‘Pivot’ by Ross leaves us in splits even today. David Schwimmer went on record to say that was the funniest moment of ‘Friends’ he ever shot.

The One With Unagi: Chandler Bing probably had the wittiest lines on the show but it was Schwimmer who emerged as the funniest actor. ‘The One With Unagi’, which aired on season six of the series, saw Rachel and Phoebe all charged up after returning from a self-defence class. But Ross being Ross thought it was time to take matters into his own hands, what with his own expertise in “Ka-Ra-Tay”. Which is when he decides to got into the concept of “Unagi”, which he describes as a state of complete awareness. A few scenes later, watching him get beaten up by the girls is a riot.

The One Where No One’s Ready : One of the best moments in season three. Ross is anxious to reach a work function on time and is eager for the friends to get ready for the big event. But that’s the night Chandler decides to hide all of Joey’s underwear. In retaliation, Joey puts on all of Chandler’s clothes that he can get his hands on. The chemistry between Joey and Chandler is pure perfection. And watching Joey mouth that famous line: “Could I be wearing any more clothes?” still leaves us in splits.

By Jennifer Barreto, Assitant Editor, Features

Would I be considered a fan of ‘Friends’? Maybe not. I can’t recall exact quotes from the series nor can I tell you what happened in particular seasons. However, whether I like it or not, the show has been a part of my life in some way or the other. It was the one show that was always playing on TV as reruns so it was my constant friend when I was bored and had nothing else to watch. When I was stressed out and wanted to give my brain a break, I knew I could watch any random episode and get a few laughs out it. Also, as someone who has a fascination for the 80s and 90s, the show is a source of wonder for me — I want to see all the fashion, the kitschy interior decor and — of course — the hairstyles. I wouldn’t say that ‘Friends’ has impacted my life in a major way, but it’s certainly always there for me when I need it.

The One on the Last Night: In this episode, Rachel is packing her stuff to prepare to move out of the apartment she shares with Monica. In typical BFF fashion, they end up arguing. However, they quickly make up as they remember all the things they love about each other. It’s touching and special because we’ve seen their relationship bloom through the show in that very apartment and things are going to change. We know Monica is preparing to enter her new life with Chandler and that her friendship with Rachel will still be strong, but it’s hard not to tear up as they close this chapter as flatmates.

The One Where Ross Got High: Who can forget the epic fail that was Rachel making the beef trifle? It all begins with Monica letting Rachel make the dessert for Thanksgiving. What the culinary challenged Rach was not prepared for, however, was the cookbook pages to be stuck together leading to her adding the wrong ingredients to the layered dish. Need a reminder of when went into the trifle-Shepherd’s pie hybrid? There were ladyfingers, jam, custard, raspberries, beef sauteed with peas and onions, bananas and then whipped cream. The episode is a comedy of errors and you can see the gags coming from a mile away, but it’s still so much fun to watch.

By Manjusha Radhakrishnan Assistant Editor, Features

There’s an adage that goes something on the lines of ‘You can never choose your family, but you can always choose your friends’. I couldn’t agree more as I chose to spend a good part of my 20s in the company of ‘Friends’, the fictional but fabulous sextet. It’s safe to say that ‘Friends’ ruined it for me as I began to look for these fabulous six — Ross, Rachel, Monica, Phoebe, Joey or Chandler — prototypes in the potential friends I meet. This good-looking bunch, who entertained us for a whopping 10 seasons, may have lacked boundaries in their friendship, but their series made us realise that it’s OK if your friends are your soulmates for life. Their camaraderie and the way they used to pull each other’s chains with a mix of sarcasm and genuine love for each other made them the portrait of how fulfilling comrades in life can get. Thank you universe, for gifting us ‘Friends’. Family may shape our identity, but they taught us how wonderful companions and camaraderie can be.

The One Where Everybody Finds Out: Monica and Chandler are secretly dating, but Rachel and Phoebe are intent on making them admit that they are seeing each other clandestinely. The scenes in which Phoebe pretends to be attracted to Chandler to arm-twist him into admitting that he’s romantically involved with her best friend Monica is comic gold. When Chandler eventually caves in and declares that he loves Monica and is not merely dating her will melt even the most hardened, cynical hearts. Plus, Phoebe’s questionable art of seduction and her idea of feminine wiles will just make you laugh. “The messers becomes the mess-ies” is my favourite one-liner as Phoebe manages to win the battle of wills.

The One With The Embryos: Ross as this stoic and wicked quiz master who puts together questions for his friends on how well they know each other is hilarious. Monica and Rachel are in one team, while Chandler and Joey are in the opposition. The manner in which the quiz heats up and the stakes become high — when a super-aggressive Monica puts her fancy apartment as a winner is one of the highlights. The questions are smart and funny and makes you wonder how is that none of his friends know what job Chandler holds? Their collective dynamic, their co-dependence, their chemistry with each other is what shone through.

By Shyama Krishna Kumar, Pages Editor

Although the ‘Friends’ originally aired at a time when I absolutely should have been all over a show like that, somehow the cultural zeitgeist completely passed me by. It was only as a full-grown almost-30-year-old that I finally found myself being pulled into the superhit show that almost anyone and everyone was constantly quoting stuff from. And it’s safe to say I’ve never looked back. What’s not to like about a show that tells the story of six friends who through the ups and downs of fresh adulthood together? Whether its work, love or just plain goofing around, the nostalgia for a time when we had fewer cares and a cup of coffee with friends could make everything right is definitely strong.

The One With All The Resolutions: I will forever stand by the fact that no one on the ‘Friends’ cast can be funnier than David Schwimmer. In this episode, Ross is still dealing with his divorce with Emily, and decides to start the New Year by making the resolution to try something new every day. On this particular day, he tries leather pants on his first date with one Elizabeth Hornawaggle, only to use the bathroom at one point in the date and realise he can’t get his pants back on. The ensuing hilarity features Ross desperately calling Joey for help, and some of the best physical humour of the entire show.

The One with the Rumor: ‘Friends’ was always known for its impressive roster of guest stars. But no other guest generated quite as much hype as Brad Pitt, who at the time was married to Jennifer Aniston. Appearing in the show as one of Ross’ old schoolmates, Will Colbert, the Thanksgiving episode revealed that Ross and Colbert were on a ‘I Hate Rachel’ club in high school, and that the two were responsible for spreading the rumour that Rachel was a hermaphrodite (the show was later criticised for deeply insulting the intersex community). However, the episode stands out for Pitt’s standout performance and playing completely against type as he rages against his real-life wife. A memorable quote from his character: “Look at her standing there with those yams. My two greatest enemies, Ross. Rachel Green and complex carbohydrates”.

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Screen Rant

Friends: 5 times the show defied social norms (& 5 it didn't).

In many ways, Friends was ahead of its time and often defied social norms. But the show wasn't without its faults, and still a product of the 90s.

The mega-hit sitcom, Friends focuses on the group dynamics of 6 characters going through everyday life and working towards social stability. Their day-to-day activities showcased a variety of social interactions and subsequently reflected the changing cultural and social norms.

RELATED:  Friends: 10 Most Relatable Moments From The Show

Take, say, Sandra Green who went straight from her father's house to the sorority house to her husband's house. Her daughter, Rachel, on the other hand, lived life on her own terms. But much has been written about Friends and its inability to reduce prejudices. Compelling arguments can be constructed for both sides.

Defy: Phoebe Followed Her Own Rhythm

Out of the group of closely-knit people,  Phoebe Buffay always marched to the beat of a different drum . She acted independently and once checkmated Ross in his attempt to convince her about evolution. She resisted Pottery Barn for a long time because she didn't like her stuff to be mass-produced.

Phoebe's biggest wishes were world peace and good things for the rainforest. She refused to conform to traditional "acceptable" standards of conduct and abstained from lying about her childhood experiences in front of Mike's upper east side parents.

Didn't Defy: Distinct Expectations For Boys & Girls

Season 1's "The One with the Sonogram at the End" was an insight into how prejudiced the Gellers were towards Monica . At the end of the dinner, she was distressed by the long list of damaging expectations her parent's placed on her.

Judy and Jack Geller couldn't stop fawning over Ross, whereas they had low expectations for their daughter. Jack set a limit to Monica's potential by pointing out "people like Ross needed to shoot for the stars" and thanked God their daughter wasn't "trying to have it all." Judy refused to eat Monica's food, and she actively lied to her friends about her daughter's profession.

Defy: Adoption

After struggling with infertility as a couple, Monica and Chandler decided to adopt. The birth mother was a young girl named Erica who reasonably put her babies (originally baby) for adoption because she knew she didn't have the adequate means to care for them.

RELATED:  Friends: 5 Reasons Monica & Chandler Are The Best Couple (& 5 Reasons They're The Worst)

Friends accurately portrayed the real-life struggles of the Bings' adoption journey. Monica and Chandler met with the adoptive parents, Bill and Colleen, to familiarize themselves with the process. The show normalized adoption by considering various aspects of the deal and by creating a welcoming and loving environment for baby Erica and Jack.

Didn't Defy: Traditional Age Gap

Friends  adopted a hypocritical stance on the acceptable age difference between men and women. Initially, Monica and Richard Burke's romance was looked down up, but her friends eventually came around. He was her family's ophthalmologist, her father's close friend, and they were 21 years apart in age.

By contrast, Tag and Rachel's age difference was negligible. She had a meltdown on her 30th birthday and suddenly realized she was too old to be dating a 24-year-old with a different set of priorities. All things considered, Tag and Rachel's age gap acted as a barrier in their relationship, but not so much in Monica and Richard's where the main point of contention was to have or not to have kids.

Defy: Sharing Wedding Expenses

Friends set a positive example by having Jack and Judy pay for half of Ross's wedding to Emily. It is by no means mandatory nor any longer acceptable for the bride's parents to bear the entire cost of the wedding. "To h*ll with tradition. We're happy to do it," said Jack as Stephen Waltham handed him his share of the bill.

Although Emily's father tried to take advantage of Jack and basically charged him for re-modeling his house, the show nonetheless set a good example by doing away with the traditional norms.

Didn't Defy: Ross And Rachel's Pretend Marriage

At Geller's 35th marriage anniversary, Ross and Rachel were amused to watch people walk up to them and congratulate them on the baby and wedding. They were whisked away by Judy who forced them to pretend to be married. "While we think it's simply marvelous that you're having this baby out of wedlock, some of our friends are less open-minded. Which is why we told them you're married," she said.

RELATED: Friends: 10 Ways Ross & Rachel Are The Worst Sitcom Couple

Friends  squandered an excellent opportunity to dismantle the taboo surrounding single-parent families, and instead, had Ross and Rachel go along with the lie and make outlandish stories about their wedding.

Defy: Surrogate Motherhood

Phoebe's friends and her birth mother were hesitant about her agreeing to be a surrogate mother for Frank and Alice. She defended her position by saying the gift of life was the greatest gift of all. Everyone advised her to think it through but regardless professed their love and support.

Frank and Alice were able to rely on Phoebe's altruism and the show explored another dimension of motherhood. Phoebe did the greatest thing by helping her brother and sister-in-law have children. She did put her body through a lot, but in the end, she happily gave the triplets away.

Didn't Defy: Idealization Of Marriage

Friends,  on the whole, reinforces the idea of marriage and sees it as a stepping stone to a successful life. Throughout the course of the show, Ross idealizes the concept of marriage and yet fails to uphold its sanctity.

For people like Chandler, Rachel, and Phoebe marriage was never really on their radar. While Chandler fell in love and in due time wanted to be with the woman of her dreams , Rachel and Phoebe made bizarre marriage deals with Joey and Ross. Phoebe almost said yes to David because Mike wouldn't remarry, and Rachel felt a pang of jealousy when Monica got engaged.

Defy: Workplace Segregation

Season 4's "The One With Phoebe's Uterus" was an eye-opener in that it went beyond the usual group dynamics by showing conflict in the workplace. During Joey's stint as a tour guide at Ross's museum, he realized the scientists and tour guides couldn't eat lunch together due to employment segregation.

It was Ross who drew everyone's attention to the unacceptable nature of the division . He invited Joey to sit with him and called upon everyone to break down barriers.

Didn't Defy: Lack Of Higher Education

Joey, unlike the rest of his friends, skipped college education and went into the acting business. The Geller siblings and Rachel Green came from affluent families and benefitted from their social capital . Joey and Phoebe, on the other hand, grew up poor in America. He had seven sisters and only one out of those (Dina) had access to higher education.

In "The One Where Chandler Doesn't Like Dogs," Ross shamed Joey for his lack of education, by saying "It's kind of disgraceful that a group of well-educated adults and Joey can't name all the states." While Phoebe compensated for her lack of formal education by learning skills and languages, the fact of the matter is Joey didn't need to go to college to get into acting, much less be censured for it.

NEXT:  Friends: Joey's 5 Best (& 5 Worst) Story Arcs

38 Fun Friends TV Show Facts You Never Knew

How many of these fun friends facts did you already know.

Friends is one of the most popular TV shows of all time. Even though it ended nearly 20 years ago, the antics of Ross, Joey, Monica, Phoebe, Chandler and Rachel are still some of the most watched on TV! We've got some of the best trivia facts about the gang here - how many of these fun Friends facts did you already know?

1. Apart from New York, Friends has another link to Spider-Man!

At one point in the show, Monica was employed at the Moodance Diner. Nothing amazing about that. BUT it's the same diner that Mary Jane from the Spider-Man movies (played by actor Kirsten Dunst) worked at as a waitress! With great orders comes great responsibility! Order up!

2. Joey wasn't very nice originally!

When Friends was being written, the character of Joey was nowhere near as nice as we know him now. The actor who played him – Matt LeBlanc – asked why people would want to be friends with him, so they changed the way he treated people . How you doin'?

3. The art in Central Perk changed regularly!

Every few episodes, the paintings and pictures hanging on the wall of the cafe changed to keep things looking fresh! Have you noticed the paintings change?

4. Gunther worked in a coffee shop before Friends!

Before he earned the role of Gunther, actor James Michael Tyler worked as a barista in The Bourgeois Pig in Los Angeles. No wonder he looked a natural serving coffee for the thirsty customers at Central Perk!

5. Joey's PIN number was genius!

During the show, Joey revealed that he wrote his bank card's PIN on a cashpoint in case he forgot it. But the number – 5639 – actually spells out Joey on certain keypads!

6. The iconic golden frame happened by accident!

The golden picture frame that hangs on Monica's apartment door is truly a design icon. The prop was originally a mirror until a member of the crew working on the show accidentally broke it. Seven years bad luck for them but an accessory which became an integral part of the set!

7. Friends wasn't really filmed in New York!

Despite appearing to be the most New York show about young adults living in New York ever made, the programme wasn't actually filmed in the city. It was actually filmed mostly in Los Angeles, some 2,793 miles away!

8. Ross has a middle name!

Do you know the character's middle names? Chandler: Muriel. Joey: Francis. Rachel: Karen. But do you know Ross's middle name? It was never revealed in the show, but according to one of the show's creators, David Crane, it's Eustace!

9. Friends wasn't called Friends!

Originally, different name suggestions included: Six of One, Friends Like Us and Insomnia Café. In the end, they went with the simplest option, and we can all agree its the best! Insomnia Café doesn't really roll off the tongue...

10. Phoebe's twin was originally on another show.

You probably remember Urusula as Phoebe's mean twin, who was always messing with her life. But you may not know her origin story! Lisa Kudrow played a waitress called Ursula on another sitcom called Mad About You. Since Lisa was appearing on both shows at the same time, and both were set in New York, the writers decided it would be funny to make Ursula a character on Friends too, as Phoebe's evil twin!

11. You can visit Central Perk in real life!

Central Perk (Like Central Park, geddit?) is sadly not a real cafe. BUT you can visit replicas of it, in Liverpool and China!

12. Marcel the monkey is a girl.

She's called Katie and she's a pretty prolific actor, she's also been in 30 Rock among other things. Katie is a capuchin monkey, who are famous for being featured in films and tv because of their clever ability to learn tricks and expressions.

13. The show was filmed in LA.

Yup, not a single shot is filmed in New York! Even though it's arguably one of the most famous sitcoms set in The Big Apple, it was all filmed in Hollywood, California. The only exception is the shots of the apartments from the outside. They're real, and you can go and see them in Manhattan!

14. Phoebe and Chandler weren't meant to be main characters originally.

In early drafts of the scripts, there were only four main Friends. Phoebe and Chandler were only going to be recurring characters, but luckily they ended up in the main cast! It's safe to say that without Phoebe's weirdness and Chandler's jokes, it would be a completely different show.

15. Lisa Kudrow was pregnant in real life.

When Phoebe gets pregnant with triplets, this was because Lisa Kudrow was pregnant in real life and they needed to hide it! She wasn't pregnant with triplets, so she had to be padded, but that's a real baby bump!

16. Ross is the same age for 3 years.

He's 29 for three seasons... which is 60 episodes, and covers three years! Must have been born on a leap year! He's also not sure when his birthday is; sometimes it's October, sometimes December.

17. Jennifer Aniston nearly didn't do the final season.

The last season of Friends is maybe one of the best, giving it's characters great send offs and memorable episodes. However, Jennifer Aniston was originally hesitant about appearing in season 10. She was pretty exhausted from all the filming and fame, but luckily she agreed to do one more season! It wouldn't have been the same without her!

18. Courtney Cox nearly played Rachel.

Originally, Courtney cox was up for the role of Rachel, while Jennifer Aniston was up for the role of Monica. Courtney felt she related more to Monica, and Jennifer agreed! Can you imagine it the other way round?

19. Some very famous people have guest starred in the show!

Over the years a lot of famous people have guest starred on the show, including Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts and Reese Witherspoon! You might also notice Hugh Laurie as Rachel's grumpy plane companion, Freddie Prinze Jnr as a nanny, and Robin Williams as a Central Perk customer!

20. Matt Le Blanc was broke when he landed the role!

When the cast landed the roles, they had no idea just how rich they would become! This is especially true for Matt Le Blanc, who only had $11 in the whole world when he got the part. Apparently he spent his first pay check on a hot meal! Safe to say he'll never have to worry about that again!

21. Gunther was never meant to be a speaking character!

Gunther, the coffee shop waiter with a big crush on Rachel, was not actually meant to be a speaking role. He was just a background extra, but in season two he finally gets a line, and the writers realised how funny he was. And his peroxide blonde hair? Apparently he had to dye it every day!

22. The white dog statue actually belonged to Jennifer Aniston!

If you know Friends, you know the dog statue - a giant white dog that belongs to Chandler and Joey, and occasionally moves flats. Apparently it was a good luck present, it was originally a good luck present to Jennifer from some friends. She must have thought it would look better on set because that's where it turned up!

23. Ellen DeGeneres was nearly cast as Phoebe!

It's crazy to think of anyone else in the Friends roles, but before Lisa was cast lots of other actors were considered for the part, including Kathy Griffin, Jane Lynch and talk show host Ellen DeGeneres. In fact, producers offered her the role, but she turned it down!

24. Every episode is called 'The One With...' except the pilot!

You might have noticed that all of the shows episodes are entitled 'The One With...'. The shows creators figured that most people wouldn't remember what the episodes were called, but would just say 'The one with this funny thing that happened', so they made it easier by just naming all the episodes after their most memorable moments! Except of course the pilot, which is just called 'The Pilot'.

25. Monica's apartment changed numbers!

Monica's apartment is number 5 in early episodes, but it then changes to 20. Magic! Apparently this was because the creators realised the number didn't match the exterior shots, where Monica obviously lives quite high up. So they changed it to make more sense and hope no one noticed....well, they did!

26. Carol was played by two different people!

Carol, Ross's ex wife and mother to his son Ben, has changed a bit since she first appeared! In the earlier episodes she was played by Anita Barone and then from season 2 onwards by Jane Sibbett.

27. Matthew Perry's dad has a cameo in the show!

Matthew's dad also play's a dad, but not Chandler's! Instead, he plays Rachel's boyfriend Joshua's dad in 'The One With Rachel's New Dress' He's not the only cast family member to appear on the show - When Lisa Kudrow needed a double for playing Ursula, her sister stepped in!

28. The credits sequence was shot in the middle of the night!

The famous fountain scene (Which, like everything else, was not filmed in New York, but in California) was filmed very early in the morning in order to make sure the area wasn't busy. It was filmed at 4am to be precise! Everyone looks pretty peppy considered how tired they must be!

29. The big orange sofa in Central Perk was found in a studio basement!

The Friends sofa has to be one of the most famous sofas in TV, but it wasn't bought especially for the show. Instead, someone found it in a studio basement in Hollywood. Who knows was it was used for before the show? It has since gone on to become one of the most famous pieces of furniture in history!

30. David Schwimmer directed 10 episodes of the show!

David Schwimmer is multi talented and directed 10 episodes of the show, including The One with All the Candy, The One with the Red Sweater, and The One with the Truth About London. Since then he has gone on to direct many other things, including films.

31. And Matthew Perry was allowed in the writers room!

Chandler is famous for being the witty, sarcastic member of the group. Matthew Perry had a hand in this, not only did he play Chandler, he also helped to write him! He was the only cast member allowed to add jokes and suggestions to the script.

32. The fridge worked!

Monica's fridge can be seen in almost every episode, and it was actually plugged in! During long days of filming, the cast and crew kept snacks and drinks in there so they wouldn't have to go to the green room. Smart!

33. Monica and Chandler were only supposed to get together for one episode!

Monica and Chandler get together during the group's trip to London, and originally it was just meant to be a one-off joke. However, it turned out that the actors had real chemistry together, and the audience liked it so much that the creators decided to keep them together, as a more relaxed, and maybe healthier version of Ross and Rachel.

34. The Friends always reserved the couch at Central Perk!

Have you ever wondered why the Friends always get the best seats in Central Perk? Well, it's not just artistic licence, they actually reserve them! You can see a little sign on the table if you look closely. As to why they always seem to be there even though they all have day jobs, that's never really explained...

35. Jennifer Aniston hated 'The Rachel' haircut!

Rachel's long straight hair become one of the most famous things about Friends, and was a popular hairstyle in the 90s and early 2000s. But Rachel Aniston didn't actually like it very much! To be fair, it does look like it would get in your eyes a lot!

36. The finale was the fourth most watched TV finale in USA TV history!

The Friend's finale was one of the most anticipated episodes of TV ever, and naturally a lot of people wanted to see how it ended! Millions of people tuned in, 52 million to be precise! Even then, it's not actually the most watched episode of the show, which was 52.9 million for one in 1996

37. Lisa Kudrow hated the guitar at first!

Phoebe is famous for her, erm, unique guitar skills, but when Lisa Kudrow first had to learn, she didn't enjoy it at all. Over time, however, she got better and started to enjoy it. She even wrote Phoebe's famous song, 'Smelly Cat'!

38. David Schwimmer was cast first and was always in mind for the role!

Everyone on Friends had to audition for their parts, and no character was written with any actor in mind, except one; Ross. The creators knew they wanted David from day one, and he didn't even have to audition. Let's face it, can you imagine anyone else playing our favourite palaeontologist and keyboard enthusiast?

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How to Write a TV Show Title in an Essay: In APA, MLA, and more

Writing TV Show Title in Different Formats

Precision and adherence to formatting styles are paramount in the academic writing arena. One often overlooked aspect is how to write a TV show title within an essay while following specific style guidelines, such as APA, MLA, and more. 

Mostly, this guide will illuminate the importance of proper formatting and how to incorporate captivating TV show titles into your essays seamlessly. It ensures your writing is academically sound and engaging for your readers.

Now, let’s dive into the nuances of formatting TV show titles in different styles, ensuring your essays shine clearly and professionally.

Basic Rules for TV Show Title Formatting

1. capitalization rules.

Regardless of the formatting style (APA, MLA, etc.), always capitalize the first and last words of the TV show title. For example, in the title “Breaking Bad,” both “Breaking” and “Bad” would be capitalized.

Major words within the TV show title should also be capitalized. These include nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs. In “Game of Thrones,” “Game” and “Thrones” are major words and should be capitalized.

In most formatting styles, small words like conjunctions (e.g., “and,” “or”), prepositions (e.g., “in,” “on”), and articles (e.g., “the,” “a”) are not capitalized unless they are the first or last words of the title. For example, “The Office” follows this rule.

2. Use of Italics

Using italics correctly for TV show titles in your essays is crucial to distinguish them from the rest of the text. Here’s when and how to use italics:

When to Use Italics:

• Total Titles:  Italicize the full title of a TV show when mentioned in your essay. For example, “Friends” should be written as Friends.
• Episode Titles:  Italicize individual episode titles when discussing specific episodes within the TV show. For example, “The One with the Prom Video” from Friends.
• Series Names:  When you refer to the name of the TV series as a whole, it should also be italicized. For example, “The overarching storyline in Game of Thrones is captivating.”
• Titles within Titles:  If a TV show title appears within the title of another work, italicize both. For example, “The Simpsons parody in Family Guy was hilarious.”

3. Using Quotation Marks

Quotation marks are used for specific instances when referencing TV show titles in your essays. So, when do you use quotation marks? 

Episode Titles: Use double quotation marks to enclose the titles of individual TV show episodes, like “The One with the Prom Video” from “Friends.”

If a character within a TV show quotes something or if you’re discussing dialogue from the show, use single quotation marks inside double quotation marks.

4. Punctuation and TV Show Titles

When it comes to punctuation and TV show titles in your essays, it’s essential to handle them correctly for clarity and consistency:

Punctuation marks that are part of the TV show’s title should be included. For example, “Grey’s Anatomy.”

When using a TV show title at the end of a sentence, the ending punctuation (such as a period or comma) comes after the title. For instance, “I enjoy watching ‘Breaking Bad’.”

Special characters and symbols within TV show titles should be retained as they appear in the original title.

For example, “Law & Order: SVU” should be written exactly as shown, including the ampersand (&).

Tips when Incorporating TV Show Titles in Essay Text

Proper integration.

Properly integrating TV show titles into your essay is essential for a seamless and grammatically correct presentation. To achieve this:

Introduce the title with a clear context, such as “In the popular TV show ‘Breaking Bad,’…”

Ensure that the title is grammatically integrated into your sentence structure. For example, “The characters of ‘Friends’ exhibit various personality traits.”

Verb Tense and TV Show Titles

Matching verb tense with the timing of TV show titles is essential to maintain consistency and clarity in your writing:

Use the present tense when discussing events or actions in the TV show. For example, “In ‘The Office,’ Jim pranks Dwight.”

Use the past tense when referring to events or actions within the show. For instance, “In the last episode of ‘Breaking Bad,’ Walter White faced a crucial decision.”

Citing TV Shows in Different Citation Styles

Structure of the citation:  In an MLA citation , include the TV show’s title in italics, the season and episode number (if applicable), the director’s name, the production company, and the broadcast year. For example: “Breaking Bad, created by Vince Gilligan, AMC, 2008-2013.”

In-text citations:  In MLA, parenthetical in-text citations should include the title of the episode or TV show in quotation marks. 

Citing TV shows in APA style: In APA, reference TV shows as part of the broader category of audiovisual materials. Include the title in italics, the production company, and the year. For example: “The Crown, Left Bank Pictures, 2016-present.”

Including TV show titles in the reference list: In your reference list, TV show titles should be italicized, and the format should follow APA guidelines for audiovisual materials.

Chicago Style

In Chicago style, you can use footnotes or endnotes to cite TV shows. Include the title in italics, the episode title (if applicable), the production company, and the year. In your bibliography, list the TV show similarly.

Common Mistakes to Avoid when Writing Film Titles

When writing film titles, there are common mistakes that writers should avoid to maintain clarity and accuracy in their work:

Incorrect Capitalization

One of the most prevalent errors is failing to capitalize words appropriately within film titles. Writers may capitalize minor words like prepositions or articles when they should not be.

For example, writing “The Lord of The Rings” instead of “The Lord of the Rings” is a common mistake.

Misuse of Italics or Quotation Marks

It is essential to use either italics or quotation marks consistently, depending on your style guide. Mixing them or omitting them altogether can lead to confusion.

For instance, writing “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” instead of “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” or “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” is incorrect.

Inconsistent Formatting

Ensuring uniformity in formatting is crucial. Writers sometimes use different styles for the same film title throughout their work, which can be distracting. Consistency is key.

Ignoring Special Characters

Some films include special characters or symbols in their titles, such as “&” or “-” (“Men in Black” or “Spider-Man”). Neglecting these characters can result in inaccuracies.

Omitting Necessary Details

Failing to provide additional details like release years or directors for clarity can be a mistake. For example, “The Matrix” could refer to the original 1999 film or its sequels.

Improper Punctuation

Please place punctuation marks within film titles, such as commas or colons, to avoid misunderstandings. Writers should follow the proper punctuation rules for titles.

Incomplete Titles

Abbreviating film titles without clear context can confuse readers. For example, “The Empire Strikes Back” should not be shortened to “Empire Strikes Back” without proper introduction.

Understanding how to format and integrate TV show titles in your essays is vital for precise and consistent writing. Proper capitalization, italics or quotation marks, verb tense, and citation styles are crucial.

Avoiding common mistakes, such as inconsistent formatting or ignoring special characters, ensures accuracy.

As you navigate the world of TV show titles in academic writing, remember to adhere to the style guide you use, whether it’s MLA, APA, or Chicago.

You not only maintain academic integrity but also enhance the readability and professionalism of your essays. So, use TV show titles effectively to elevate the quality of your academic work.

Josh Jasen or JJ as we fondly call him, is a senior academic editor at Grade Bees in charge of the writing department. When not managing complex essays and academic writing tasks, Josh is busy advising students on how to pass assignments. In his spare time, he loves playing football or walking with his dog around the park.

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