Noah Wyle is continuing to dominate television with the critically acclaimed Emmy-winning HBO Max drama The Pitt, which recently wrapped up its second season on the 2026 TV schedule. The show marks his return to the medical drama genre, following his role as Dr. John Carter on ER, which ended in 2009 after 15 seasons. While the role shot him to superstardom, there were rumors that he auditioned for fellow ‘90s NBC series Friends, and Wyle had an A+ reaction to that speculation.

Coincidentally, there are a couple of fun connections between Friends and ER. The two shows premiered in 1994, just days apart on the same network. Friends has a character named Rachel Green, one of the main friends played by Jennifer Aniston, while ER has a character named Rachel Greene, the daughter of Anthony Edwards’ Dr. Mark Greene, who is played by various child actors throughout the show’s run.

For some reason, fans also got the idea that another connection was made thanks to Wyle, thinking that, before landing Carter, he auditioned for David Schwimmer’s Ross Geller. That was not actually the case. Before ER, he actually turned his nose up at having a TV career, and his response to Variety regarding potentially auditioning for Friends is pretty great:

The fact that Wyle was so against doing television until he got ER, and the fact that that’s mostly what he’s done throughout his career, is pretty hilarious. It’s even more hilarious knowing that he actually went on to appear in Friends. Wyle and George Clooney guest-starred as doctors, different from Dr. John Carter and Dr. Doug Ross from ER, during the first season of Friends. It was likely a way for NBC to put eyes on both shows, which were just starting out, but it turned into a pretty memorable episode. And it makes me so happy that Wyle changed his tune about television.

Even though Wyle confirms that he never auditioned for Friends, it does make me wonder just how different things would be had that happened and he got the role of Ross. Friends and ER would be wildly different shows, and Schwimmer and Wyle would have wildly different careers. We probably wouldn’t have The Pitt, we wouldn’t have a lot of other shows and movies, too. It’s hard to imagine anyone else playing Ross and Carter, so I’m glad things ultimately worked out for both of them, especially Wyle.

So, with all that said and done, fans can look forward to a show that Wyle is definitely in, and that’s The Pitt. The show may be done with Season 2, but Season 3 is already on the way. The upcoming season will be streaming with an HBO Max subscription in early 2027, and considering the way that Season 2 ended, there is going to be a lot to catch up on, depending on how far ahead the time jump will be. Both seasons of The Pitt, as well as all seasons of Friends, are streaming on HBO Max.

When I think of Friends, I prefer to think of all the good things that make it one of the best sitcoms of all time — Chandler’s hilarious jokes, Phoebe’s most offbeat moments, Joey’s ever-growing food obsession, etc. However, for the sitcom’s six principal actors, the price of such monumental fame could be hard to deal with — particularly for Matthew Perry, David Schwimmer and Matt LeBlanc.

We all know about Matthew Perry’s struggles with addiction that ultimately led to his death in 2023 at age 54. He had opened up about his dark times in his memoir Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, which came out almost exactly one year before a ketamine overdose caused him to drown in his hot tub.

The Chandler Bing actor reflected on how bad his addiction was and how it could be tracked by his weight fluctuations throughout Friends’ 10 seasons. He said one time Jennifer Aniston even confronted him about his drinking, and Maggie Wheeler — who played Chandler’s ex-girlfriend Janice — said he talked to her about his struggles. Matthew Perry’s story came to a tragic end, but he wasn’t the only one who went through hard times.

David Schwimmer Had ‘Terrifying’ Fan Encounters That Made Him ‘Want To Hide’

While playing Ross Geller undoubtedly changed David Schwimmer’s life, he told the Making a Scene podcast in 2025 that it took him a long time to adjust to the kind of fame he and his co-stars experienced. Cars tracked his every move, people staked out his house, and that dang Friends theme song haunted him everywhere he went. He recalled a scary fan encounter he had one time, saying:

Back in 2016 he told THR’s Awards Chatter podcast that his fame messed with how he related to other people and how he moved through the world — including how he did his job. David Schwimmer said:

He also took the same approach as Jennifer Aniston after the show ended and took roles that were nothing like their Friends characters. David Schwimmer also turned to directing.

Matt LeBlanc Went Into Self-Imposed Exile

For Matt LeBlanc, his troubles went beyond not being able to separate himself from Joey Tribbiani (though that was definitely an issue too). The year that Friends ended, LeBlanc’s daughter was born, but within the first year, she began having seizures and was diagnosed with a form of dysplasia. Then he and his wife Melissa McKnight divorced in 2006.

That was around the time the Friends spinoff Joey was canceled, and Matt LeBlanc told The Mirror in 2016 that he went into hiding and basically told his agent to lose his number. He said:

Because he’s so well-known for his role on Friends, Matt LeBlanc told The Sun that it affects how people talk to him, saying:

But do they ever offer him meatball subs? It seems like that might be a perk.

It’s terrible to know that the price of fame was so high for the men on Friends, especially because in Matthew Perry’s case, some of that damage can never be undone.

However, if you prefer to keep your Friends fandom in a more optimistic headspace, just take a deep breath and fire up that HBO Max subscription for another rewatch or two.

There are some movie and TV debates that will never die, like the iconic Titanic raft debate or whether Tony really died at the end of The Sopranos. Arguably, one of the most well-known comes from Friends: Were Ross and Rachel on a break? Nearly 30 years after the infamous Season 3 episode aired, the cast of Friends is still being asked their opinions, and apparently, Lisa Kudrow has switched hers.

The Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion actress hit the red carpet for the return of her comedy The Comeback, in which Kudrow plays a sitcom actress desperately trying to stay relevant in the evolving TV industry. Season 3, Episode 1 will be available to stream starting March 22 with an HBO Max subscription, but Valerie Cherish’s career is not the only thing being revived by Kudrow. Entertainment Tonight asked Kudrow where she stands these days on whether Ross and Rachel were on a break, and the Easy A actress shared that she's updated her take:

There’s no one I would expect to give their blunt opinion more than Phoebe Buffay herself. You’ll notice Kudrow doesn’t explicitly say whether or not Ross and Rachel were on a break when he hooked up with “coffee shop” Chloe, but does it matter? He didn’t even wait a full 24 hours after his argument with Rachel to have a rebound fling with someone else.

So I have to say, I’m in agreement with Kudrow. The fact that his cop out line to cheating on Rachel has sparked this decades-long debate is ridiculous.

Not being able to admit fault for sleeping with another woman while his relationship status was unresolved speaks volumes about Ross as a person, and is one of several reasons why he’s kind of the worst. You really can’t plan a future with someone like that, which is why the man was divorced three times over the course of ten seasons!

The No Good Deed actress recently revealed on Jimmy Kimmel Live! last week that she’s almost completed her rewatch of Friends, and clearly, the years between filming the show and watching it have given her a fresh perspective on the infamous TV break-up.

Up until a few years ago, Kudrow said she couldn’t watch the beloved sitcom without getting the ick from seeing herself on TV. After Matthew Perry’s sudden death in 2023, the Mad About You actress said she started watching it for her late friend. She was even able to separate herself from her character Phoebe, and said she was most emotional during the episode "The One with Phoebe's Wedding." It makes my heart so full to know that even though Kudrow has moved on to other projects like The Comeback, Friends is still very near and dear to her.

Much like Ross and Rachel, The Comeback has been on-again-off-again for decades, and although HBO is toting this third installment as the final season, who really knows? Right when the world needs her, Valerie Cherish always seems to reappear. You can watch new episodes of The Comeback as they release weekly on the 2026 TV Schedule. Meanwhile, you can always go back and watch Friends on HBO Max.

I remember the first time I saw Ross and Monica’s dance in one of the most ridiculous episodes of Friends, and I distinctly recall the joy I felt as they busted a move on New Year’s Eve. Well, that same feeling came over me again when I watched Taylor Swift and Domhnall Gleeson dance in the “Opalite” music video. It turns out other Swifties were thinking about this too, because they can’t stop comparing the pop star’s silly dance to that scene from the legendary sitcom.

Right after the “Opalite” video was released, I knew it was one of my favorite Taylor Swift music videos, largely because of the dance she did at the end of it. It’s so funny and ridiculous, and there’s no denying its similarities to the dance Ross and Monica do in “The One with the Routine” (which is Season 6, Episode 10, and it’s available to stream with an HBO Max subscription). To prove that point, take a look at eventswithlana’s TikTok:

Ross and Monica’s moves even fit with “Opalite” perfectly!

Now, I have no clue if this was intentional. While Taylor Swift loves an Easter egg, I cannot confirm or deny if this is one. However, the serendipity here is wild, and it’s hard not to wonder if it was done on purpose.

I mean, along with the full commitment to silly choreo and the fact that Ross and Monica’s moves fit “Opalite,” the pop star did say she and the cast “made the effort to time travel back to the ‘90s,” in her Instagram post about the video. And it’s simply a fact that Friends was one of the best sitcoms of that era. So, in short, the parallels are paralleling in more ways than one, and fans are loving it.

Along with this TikTok and one particularly viral tweet from @everslay13 that featured the video of Ross and Monica and the caption “Opalite music video with no context,” lots of other fans pointed out this similarity too. Here are a few of the reactions that compared this iconic Friends moment to Swift and Gleeson’s dance:

• that Opalite dance sequence was giving Monica and Ross’ routine from friends #OpaliteMusicVideo -theveryfistnat
• This is just as iconic as the Monica and Ross dance routine omg #OpaliteMusicVideo -@sarahsromantics
• close enough. welcome back monica and ross! #opalite -@tswizzie4444
• this is such a monica and ross geller reference😭😭 -@everlikeme

Now that I’ve seen it, I can’t unsee it! This comparison is so spot on. Even though the moves are different, the vibes are certainly the same, and I love how shamelessly the pairs are dancing in both clips. Clearly, they love this routine, despite the reactions from others in their respective clips, and the joy radiating off them is infectious.

So, take this as your sign to choreograph a silly dance with a loved one or learn one of these. Clearly, they’re having a blast, and I love the fact that they radiate such similar positive energy that people can’t help but point it out.

The importance of February 13, 1997, cannot be overstated for what this date contributed to television history. It was on this Thursday night that Rachel Green suggested taking a break from boyfriend Ross Gellar, who went on to sleep with another woman that same night. The debate about whether Ross cheated or was single to do as he pleased has raged on for nearly three decades, and with Jennifer Aniston reviving the issue on social media, I fear there’s no end in sight. But whose side is she on anyway?

The question of whether or not Ross and Rachel were “on a break” was one that came up repeatedly throughout the remainder of the Friends’ 10 seasons — literally, David Schwimmer’s character even joked about it in the series finale. Time hasn’t done much to heal that divide amongst fans, either, and Jennifer Aniston provided proof of that recently when she reposted the following meme to Instagram Stories:

Jennifer Aniston must have found this meme pretty amusing, as someone displayed their “welcome” mat that asked others to weigh in on who was correct in the argument over whether or not Ross cheated. That’s admittedly a lot easier than writing an 18-page letter (FRONT AND BACK!) on whether or not he should take responsibility.

The photo shows a package on the “No” option, as in “not on a break,” suggesting the anonymous Amazon delivery person thinks Ross was in the wrong. The poster’s comment about needing to have a talk with that person leads me to believe that they disagree, and that Ross and Rachel were broken up when Ross brought Chloe back to his place that night.

So Jennifer Aniston happens upon this meme, finding it funny enough to share … Does this mean she also sides with Ross on the debate? That does seem to be the case. On the Friends reunion that aired in 2021, Aniston said definitively that yes, they were on a break.

It’s a bit surprising that the actress would take the side opposite her own character, but it’s hard to refute when Rachel was the one who suggested “a break from us.” She also told Monica they had broken up on their anniversary, and when she called Ross to reconcile, she asked if she could be his girlfriend again. I mean, honestly, it’s right there in the episode title: “The One Where Ross and Rachel Take a Break.”

(Don’t worry, though, it’s fair to still think Ross is the worst, in spite of the evidence supporting his argument.)

However, Jennifer Aniston hasn’t always stood by that belief. Following the reunion she seemed to backtrack on her comment by posting a photo in which she sported a ballcap that read, “We were SO not on a break!” And we wonder how this can still be in question so many years later.

It’s been 28 years since that fateful night — children who were not born when said break was taken are now able to give fully formed opinions on the debate — and it’s unlikely Friends fans will ever fully agree. If you want to rewatch how things went down (and how the debate showed itself for the rest of the series), all 10 seasons are available to stream with an HBO Max subscription.

In the entertainment business, sometimes actors happen upon a role that, for better or worse, sticks with them for the rest of their careers, and there’s no getting around it. That’s definitely the case for Jennifer Aniston and the cast of Friends. Despite the actress currently starring in another hit series (The Morning Show’s fourth season is airing on the 2025 TV schedule), to some, she will always be Rachel Green. So, with that in mind, she opened up about what that means and bluntly stated the chances of a Friends reboot.

Jennifer Aniston Opens Up About The ‘Lifetime Commitment’ The Cast Has With Friends

Thanks to endless reruns and the ability to stream all 10 seasons with an HBO Max subscription — not to mention lovable characters and jokes that somehow hit just as hard the 86th time as the first — Friends remains as popular as ever, despite having been off the air for 21 years. Jennifer Aniston and her colleagues likely couldn’t have predicted the level of success that would come from the NBC sitcom, and she told Harper’s Bazaar the experience bonded them together like a family, saying:

What I would give to be able to see that text chain!

I love to hear that the Friends stars still keep in touch, and Jennifer Aniston said she even had dinner a few weeks ago with Courteney Cox and Lisa Kudrow. As with any tight-knit group, it sounds like they — along with David Schwimmer, Matt LeBlanc and the late Matthew Perry — have had their ups and downs, but the six of them are bound together forever.

So will we ever get an update on the Central Perk coffee-drinkers?

Jennifer Aniston Shuts Down The Idea Of A Future Friends Revival

The six members of the main cast came together in 2021 for Friends: The Reunion, where they revisited the set, discussed whether Ross and Rachel were on a break and relived some of the show’s more iconic moments. As far as Jennifer Aniston is concerned, that’s all we’re going to get as far as a revival or reboot. She said since Matthew Perry’s death in 2022, there is no world where a sequel or remake could happen, giving a blunt, six-word response:

It’s tough to think that the six of them could never share the stage again, even if they wanted to, since the man who had the funniest lines as Chandler Bing drowned in his hot tub at age 54 after taking a large amount of ketamine.

However, even before Matthew Perry’s untimely death, the idea of a reboot or revival was shot down, and Courteney Cox also said the Friends cast wasn’t likely to do another reunion.

Friends fans will just have to settle for the glorious videos and photos the actors share when the besties do get together, as well as the knowledge that the actors have taken the words of their iconic theme song to heart and will always be there for each other.

Both the cast and fans have celebrated more than 30 years of Friends. Largely, that’s thanks to the series greatly influencing what TV friendship goals– whether platonic, romantic or friends-to-lovers–look like. Between the six, each relationship is as unique and special as the last, and also stands true of the show’s couples. Case and point: Chandler’s proposed storyline of cheating on Monica wouldn’t have equated Ross and Rachel's "on a break" arc, so, let’s dive into it.

The deep-cut trivia of Season 6’s planned script centered around Chandler Bing’s jealousy of Monica Gellar going out to lunch with ex-Richard Burke (Tom Selleck). Which surfaced after the death of Matthew Perry, through an interview with actor Lisa Cash, who was to play the other woman. She shared that Matthew Perry axed the cheating idea because he feared it would alter the show, and its fans' perception too much.

Now, Cash has revealed to NBC News why the late actor was spot on with the nixing. Agreeing with Perry’s stance on the alternate beat, she said if it had aired, it’d be entirely different from the longstanding R&R break discourse. In her explanation, she highlights that the status of the respective couples were in completely contrasting places and would’ve elicited a wildly different outcome, saying:

I agree with both of them. Regardless of where you lie between the break debate, there’s more gray area to maneuver in Ross’ decision. If Perry hadn’t convinced the writers to cut Chandler’s active cheating on Monica, while they were clearly together, the series may have taken a hard left turn and never bounced back.

And even for the some fans who disliked Chandler and Monica’s courtship, I believe the inevitable breakup would’ve altered too much. With the six being so interconnected, it would’ve bled into each dynamic with vast outcomes. And likely, could’ve led to Chandler being exiled, or cast as a villain. So, I’m personally glad that Lisa Cash, who was originally scripted to be a hotel employee who sleeps with Bing, was rerouted to be Ross and Rachel’s flight attendant.

If the bomb dropping Chandler Bing cheating scandal had been pulled off, who knows what kind of butterfly effect it absolutely would’ve had in television and movies, including this year’s ​2025 TV calendar. It certainly wouldn’t have read as ambiguously and endlessly debatable as the Ross and Rachel on a break moment. I, for one, am pleased not to know what could’ve been.

If you’d like to dive back into or check out Season 6, all of Friends is available to stream with a Max subscription.

Spoiler alert! This story discusses The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 3 through the August 6 episode. Stream the series with an Amazon Prime Video subscription if you need to catch up.

Over the past few weeks I have become completely enthralled with the saga that is Belly, Jeremiah and Conrad’s love triangle on The Summer I Turned Pretty. As the series inches toward its conclusion on the 2025 TV schedule, it’s nearly impossible to ignore how much some parts of Belly and Jeremiah’s relationship mirror Ross and Rachel’s on Friends. Fans’ reaction to this has been amazing, but I’m actually really upset about one parallel and what it means for Belly.

Season 3 of Jenny Han’s book-to-screen adaptation sees Belly (Lola Tung) and Jeremiah (Gavin Casalegno) planning their wedding on their own, after their respective parents chose not to be involved. During this whole ordeal, Belly decides she’s not going to study abroad in Paris, as previously planned, because she doesn’t want to be away from Jeremiah in the early months of their marriage. Fans were quick to point out the similarity the story has to Friends, with one posting:

In the final season of Friends, Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) gets an amazing job opportunity in Paris, which she ultimately doesn’t take in order to rekindle her relationship with Ross (David Schwimmer) seven seasons after they were first “on a break.”

I’ve read the entire The Summer I Turned Pretty series, and I was still shocked and upset when Belly decided to deprive herself of this opportunity. I mean, we even saw in “Last Dance” that Jeremiah isn’t going to be making any similar sacrifices to his own career for Belly’s sake.

However, that’s not the only comparison fans are making between the two series. Possibly even more obvious is the whole “we were on a break” situation. In Season 3, Belly learns that Jeremiah cheated on her over spring break when the two had temporarily split after a fight. It all played out in eerily similar fashion to when Ross admitted to sleeping with the girl from the copy place. One TikToker posted:

Seriously, down to Jeremiah and Ross being down on their knees, these two scenes are just duplicates, another fan said:

And it may not be Ross and Rachel, but Jeremiah’s apology/proposal was very Monica and Chandler in Season 5, when Matthew Perry’s character got down on one knee because he didn’t know how else to tell Monica (Courteney Cox) he was sorry for their fight.

At least Monica had the sense to say no! Some TSITP book fans had hoped Jeremiah wouldn’t apologize for cheating on Belly by asking her to be his wife, but at least the series ages them up a bit, and Steven’s accident does help to justify the grand gesture.

It really was the Ross and Rachel of it all that had fans posting to X things like:

• The fact that “The Summer I Turned Pretty” is using not one, but TWO “Friends’” tropes is crazy! Not just the, “We were on a break!” cheating debate, but Belly’s ALSO leaving for Paris at the end of the season?? They really said CTRL-C and CTRL-V. – MaryTylerMoreno
• This second episode of The Summer I Turned Pretty is literally just a Friends reenactment 💀 like ok Ross and Rachel. – duchessofchaos

So, the big question is, were Belly and Jeremiah on a break? Author Jenny Han and Lola Tung certainly have their thoughts on the matter, but regardless of whose side you fall on, there’s no questioning that the tides seem to be starting to turn for ole Isabel Conklin. After “Last Dance,” even formerly hardcore Team Jeremiah girlies are starting to convert to Team Conrad.

There’s still plenty of drama left in this series, so tune in to see who Belly ends up with and if Friends provides any more inspiration for her Fisher love triangle. New episodes drop each Wednesday on Prime Video.

It’s been over 20 years since Friends aired its final episodes and, as it remains one of the most rewatchable shows in TV history continues, behind-the-scenes stories continue to come out. We’ve gotten funny anecdotes — the epic prank pulled on Jennifer Aniston — as well as scary moments — Matt LeBlanc’s “genuinely frightening” injury. Now, Courteney Cox has revealed a sweet memory, as she recalled the pre-show ritual she and her co-stars had.

The six stars of Friends skyrocketed to fame in 1994, and going through that whole experience together — including famously negotiating their contracts as a group — formed a bond between them that continues today. It seems like that support for each other started pretty early, as Courteney Cox said at the Inc. 5000 conference (via People):

Somebody cue the Friends theme song, because wow! What a sweet way to center themselves before going out in front of the studio audience and showing their confidence in one another.

In addition to Courteney Cox, the ensemble included Jennifer Aniston, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, David Schwimmer and Matthew Perry, who passed away in 2023 in an accidental drowning caused by the “acute effects of ketamine.”

There are plenty of instances that prove the Friends co-stars’ pre-show huddle wasn’t just for show. For example, Matt LeBlanc helped Lisa Kudrow when she had problems playing Phoebe early on. Jennifer Aniston reached out to Matthew Perry about his addiction several times, as the actor explained before his death. The colleagues were together for a pretty significant decade of their lives, seeing each other through marriages, breakups, fertility issues and more.

It may have actually been director James Burrows who set the tone for the six actors to become lifelong pals. In his memoir, he recalled the fabled trip to Las Vegas that he treated them to ahead of Friends’ 1994 premiere, telling them this was their last shot at anonymity. He was right.

They stuck together after that, with Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox and Lisa Kudrow eating lunch together every day (though they didn’t have the viral salad that many have attributed to Aniston). Aniston became the godmother to Cox’s daughter, and the actresses still shout out each other’s birthdays and even get together every once in a while. Also, while there’s probably no pre-show huddle anymore, the actors have often made cameo appearances on each other’s projects.

Given how much the Friends actors make in residuals each year, they probably don’t even need to keep working; however, the actresses are all involved in some highly anticipated projects. Courteney Cox will reprise the role of Gale Weathers in Scream 7, set for release on the 2026 movie calendar. Lisa Kudrow also has big things happening next year, as it was recently announced she’ll return for a third and final season of The Comeback, and Jennifer Aniston will also return to the small screen as executive producer and star of The Morning Show Season 4.

While we wait for these to happen, we can always relive the days of yore (or yesteryear) by streaming all 10 seasons of Friends with an HBO Max subscription and imagining the sweet pre-show huddle that came before.

Press tours often give celebs the opportunity to show out when it comes to fashion, and it seems like outfits drawing inspiration from their movies is as trendy as ever. Margot Robbie made a Barbiecore splash while promoting Barbie, Zendaya channeled her inner tennis player for Challengers, and I’m admittedly still obsessed with Dakota Johnson’s spidery looks for Madame Web. Jonathan Bailey recently followed the same trend with a hilariously fitting Friends reference during his press tour for Jurassic World: Rebirth, necessitating his shared opinion on the enduring debate at the center of one of the most popular 90’s sitcoms.

Bailey was asked about his red carpet look at the London premiere of the latest dino-friendly blockbuster, topped off by his Friends baseball cap. He acknowledged that part of the inspiration came from the character Ross Gellar’s status as a paleontologist, the occupation shared by his Jurassic World: Rebirth character, Dr. Henry Loomis. In turn, Bailey was then asked by ExtraTV if he thought Loomis would agree with Ross' argument that he and Rachel were on a break during his alleged infidelity. Bailey laughed at the question, saying

People have been debating whether these two Friends characters were broken up when Ross decided to spend the night with another woman. In the show, the issue is never really resolved, with characters taking sides throughout the run of the show. However the issue persists, and fans have been weighing in even years after Friends came to a close in 2004. I guess, paleontologists have to stick together, and according to Bailey, they share the same relationship ethics, as he totally takes Ross’s side with this one.

Bailey also revealed that his fashion inspiration was more than just the paleontologist detail. His entire outfit drew a heavy 90s influence, and the Friends logo was also a call back to the decade when the OG Jurassic Park was released. Additionally, the look in question was intended to emulate Steven Spielberg, who is known for his hat/jacket combinations and was the director and mastermind behind the first two Jurassic films. I love how many hidden messages are in one press tour outfit, and how much thought Bailey is putting into his looks.

I love when actors get creative with their press tour fashion, especially when it connects so seamlessly to their characters. It was just one red carpet look, but the Bridgerton star found a way to reference 90s sitcoms, Spielberg, and the culture surrounding Jurassic Park. He also managed to give his two cents into the most enduring relationship debates on TV. You may not agree with him or his fellow paleontologist, but you can’t deny this is one of his best looks yet, and these fashion moments are something I definitely don’t need a break from.

When Jonathan Bailey isn’t rocking an iconic look at a movie premiere, he is starring in Jurassic World: Rebirth, which just landed in theaters nationwide. For more information on other exciting blockbusters heading to the big screen this summer, make sure to consult our 2025 movie release schedule.

Whatever else happens in David Schwimmer’s career, he will always be quite famous, thanks to his time on one of the most popular sitcoms of all time. Friends was a huge hit in its day, and even today, over 30 years after it debuted, it’s still incredibly popular. It was apparently so ubiquitous at one point that the Ross actor admitted even hearing the famous theme song would exhaust him. However, that all changed for a very sweet reason.

In addition to Friends being one of the best sitcoms of all time, its theme song, “I’ll Be There for You” by The Rembrandts, was equally iconic. Even if you didn’t watch the show during its initial run, you likely still knew the theme song quite well (I certainly did).

Appearing on the Making A Scene podcast, Schwimmer explained that hearing that theme was not a pleasant experience for a long time. He said…

It’s not all that surprising if the Friends theme song set off David Schwimmer for a long time. If there was anybody who had to hear the tune more than the rest of us, it was the cast of the show. Jennifer Aniston has said nobody in the cast really loved the track. And even if you like the song at the beginning, anything that you’re forced to hear over and over again for years is going to get old eventually.

Friends has remained popular over the years, even leading to fans getting incredibly upset when it leaves streaming platforms (you can catch the show now with a Max subscription). However, the sitcom and the song at least faded to a point where we didn’t see and hear it everywhere, which was likely a benefit for Schwimmer, giving him some separation from it all.

However, the show (and its theme) came back to him in recent years.

David Schwimmer says it was when his child was 9 years old (they’re 13 now) that they discovered Friends and started watching their dad’s show. Being re-introduced to the series through his child, Schwimmer says it completely changed his relationship to the comedy. He explained…

It’s nice to know that David Schwimmer’s relationship with his most famous work is strong once again. Of course, if his kid doesn’t hit the “Skip Intro” button when watching Friends, it’s possible he might start to hate the theme song again. However, for now, I'd like to imagine that the whole Schwimmer family is joyously doing the clap with the theme song every time it plays.

For the past 30 years that we’ve been enjoying Friends — one of the best sitcoms of all time — a lot has been said about how often the six main characters sat around drinking coffee at Central Perk rather than working. Another big question should have been how they managed to stay in shape despite rarely working out. The magic of A.I. has now reimagined our Friends as gym rats, and fans have some pretty clever reactions, including a great Joey callback.

Over the course of its 10 seasons (which can be streamed with a Max subscription), we saw hints of the group working on their fitness. One of Phoebe’s most hilarious moments involved her and Rachel going for a run, and Monica was determined to help Chandler lose a few pounds in Season 5. This Instagram post, however, takes things to a whole other level with the A.I. Check it out:

Why does Rachel (or A.I.’s version of Jennifer Aniston) look like she went full beast mode with Kim Kardashian’s trainer? Meanwhile, it looks like Courteney Cox’s Monica is ready to star in her own action movie franchise.

Then there’s Joey. Friends fans know how much Joey liked to eat, and despite this A.I. image of Matt LeBlanc’s soap opera actor looking quite juiced, fans like @sr9el came to the comments of the above post to recall one Season 10 quote where, after being shamed by Rachel’s sister Amy (Christina Applegate in her iconic guest role) over some pizza, Joey shouted:

I mean, don’t you remember how contentious a relationship Joey had with his weights? (“Damn you, 15s!”)

The above quote from “The One Where Rachel’s Sister Babysits” pops up quite a few times under the A.I. post, but it was far from the only clever retort. Many people (including @sofiamelone_ and @ ___bad90s_) recalled “The One With the Ballroom Dancing,” where Chandler (Matthew Perry) tried to get out of his gym membership:

In this A.I. alternate universe, Chandler couldn’t leave Ross without a spotter, and Ross clearly couldn’t say no to Maria, the Lycra spandex covered gym treat. However, fans were a little weary of the powerful paleontologist, saying:

• That’s clearly Russ. – ashleygreen026
• That ain’t Ross that’s Russ – youngsavagemydude

A.I. certainly does have a way of making the characters look just a little bit off — much like David Schwimmer’s alter ego in Season 2’s “The One With Russ.” My favorite part of the Ross image is the picture of himself that’s eerily popping out of the picture frame behind him. Yikes.

Last but not least, there’s Lisa Kudrow’s Phoebe, who looks like she’s been doing a lot more than just running away from Satan (the neighbor’s dog). Instagram user @_cnnr_0818_ might have won the comments with this simple but effective edit to Phoebe’s name, writing:

There are definitely instances of the misuse of artificial intelligence, but sometimes the technology can be used for some frivolous fun, like imagining the Harry Potter cast as Grey’s Anatomy doctors or as stars of The Office.

If seeing Ross, Rachel, Joey, Chandler, Phoebe and Monica as gym rats has you craving re-runs, you can stream all 10 seasons on Max, including Friends’ most ridiculous episodes.

Hosting Saturday Night Live is no small gig. It's a hard task, because each week a new talent is thrown into the high-octane well-oiled machine that is SNL, and that can be overwhelming. Plus, it's a major rite of passage too, which adds pressure. Recently, David Schwimmer got real about the challenges of hosting the iconic sketch comedy show, and with his story, he revealed a "big mistake" he made that made the cast angry.

Schwimmer hosted SNL back in 1995 as part of Season 21, and he was quite busy at the time, because he was also filming one of the best sitcoms, Friends. While appearing on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, the Ross actor shared the schedule he had the week he hosted, and it didn’t give him much time to rehearse for SNL, as he explained:

It sounds like Schwimmer tried his best to make it to SNL with plenty of time to spare, as he can’t exactly help when Friends films. However, considering he made it to New York with only two days until the show, people were not happy. Prep for each episode of SNL begins the Monday before the show for the writers, cast, and guest host, and it continues throughout the week. So missing most of the week is certainly not a good look, and when the actor eventually made it to Studio 8H, people weren’t happy:

It is good to know that David Schwimmer managed to get through his hosting gig, but it does not sound easy. Perhaps that also explains why he has never returned as host too.

He admitted he didn’t find out the reason why everyone was so angry at him until years later, and even now, he’s not sure if he should even accept an invitation to come back for the big anniversary special, as he said:

It's kind of wild to hear that Schwimmer wasn't aware of SNL's schedule, especially when you consider the fact that both the sketch show and Friends aired on NBC. You’d think it would be a no-brainer to give him a heads-up, especially since NBC knew of both schedules. The mystery remains as to why Schwimmer was never told, but at least he was finally able to get some closure. Plus, his being invited back for the 50^th anniversary special could be a good thing, even if he doesn’t think so.

As SNL creeps up on its 50^th anniversary, Schwimmer is creeping up on his 30^th anniversary hosting SNL, which will be in October. Since it seems like there is no bad blood between him and the show, assuming it wasn’t some intern just randomly emailing every single past host, perhaps he can host again in the future and redeem himself. In the meantime, those with a Peacock subscription can go back and watch his episode, along with every single episode of Saturday Night Live. Also, you can catch new episodes as they air on the 2025 TV schedule as well as the 50th anniversary on NBC.

While not every TV show cast gets along as well off-camera as they do on screen, one of the things that made the Friends cast so special — and one of the best sitcoms of all time — is just how close the six actors were in real life. When Matthew Perry died in October 2023 in a drowning due to the effects of ketamine, his former co-stars were “utterly devastated,” saying they’d lost not just a castmate but a family member. As hard as the year has been for those closest to the Chandler Bing actor, an insider said there’s actually one positive aspect that’s come from it.

If we’re looking at the Friends characters, it was probably Lisa Kudrow’s Phoebe Buffay who was best able to find the silver lining in every cloud, and while that’s an admittedly tall order in this case, if there’s any good that Kudrow, Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, David Schwimmer and Matt LeBlanc could take from Matthew Perry’s tragic passing at age 54, a source told Life&Style it’s this:

We’ve seen evidence of how close the six Friends leads have remained in the 20 years since its finale aired. Jennifer Aniston and Courteney Cox having dinner together, Lisa Kudrow getting lots of birthday love and all of them making cameo appearances on each other’s projects. Aniston even said she was texting with Matthew Perry the day he died.

However, it seems like the tragedy has only strengthened the bond of the five remaining cast members, and it sounds like now they’re keeping in touch pretty regularly. Lisa Kudrow even started rewatching Friends in Matthew Perry’s honor.

The actor who made us laugh so much as Chandler Bing even addressed how important they all were to each other during the Friends reunion in 2021 (available to stream with a Max subscription), saying that anytime they would run into one of the castmates at a party, “you apologized to the people you were with, but they had to understand you had met somebody special to you and you were going to talk to that person for the rest of the night.”

For someone who is being remembered as a man who embodied the “I’ll Be There for You” theme song, one would have to think Matthew Perry would be happy to know he was able to bring his friends together in this way. And if there are silver linings to be found, It’s also undeniable that the actor was able to help so many people by speaking candidly about his addictions. Perry will always be remembered for his role on Friends, but helping people was the legacy he hoped to leave behind.

In addition to streaming all 10 seasons of Friends on Max, you can continue to see the cast on new projects, and we’ve also compiled a list of the best Matthew Perry movies and shows to remember him by.

When you think about Matt LeBlanc’s portrayal of Joey Tribbiani on Friends — one of the best sitcoms of all time — you might recall his most hilarious quotes about food or the disgusting task of eating Rachel’s Thanksgiving trifle. David Schwimmer, however, has one not-so-fond memory. The actor who played Ross Gellar recalled one “genuinely frightening” incident that happened on the set of Friends that involved LeBlanc getting injured while shooting a scene.

David Schwimmer, who is set to star on the new season of Goosebumps on the 2025 TV schedule (streaming with either a Disney+ subscription or a Hulu subscription), recalled a pretty scary scene back when they were filming a Season 3 episode of Friends. In “The One Where No One’s Ready,” Joey and Chandler’s fight over a chair had quite a painful ending for Matt LeBlanc, as Schwimmer told EW:

If it weren’t for the fact that Matt LeBlanc was injured in the filming of that scene, it would actually be pretty funny that the characters’ childish argument ended in one of them getting hurt. Joey and Chandler (Matthew Perry) were being quite petty, with Joey stealing the chair cushions — “the essence of the chair” — when he went to get ready for Ross’ work event. He then realized that Chandler had hid all of his underwear and responded by putting on everything Chandler owned. “Could I BE wearing any more clothes?”

To have to see Matt LeBlanc hurt in such a way, however, must have been so unsettling for David Schwimmer and his co-stars — not only to see the dislocated shoulder, but to see how the injury affected LeBlanc. Schwimmer said he quickly called for help, continuing:

With Friends being one of the most rewatchable TV shows, some fans might not have realized that Matt LeBlanc actually hurt himself in that episode, but they likely remember the one that followed — “The One With the Jam.” At the beginning of that episode, Chandler is shown reacting to Joey supposedly dislocating his shoulder while jumping on the bed, thus explaining why his arm was in a sling for the rest of that episode.

More than two decades later, that’s one behind-the-scenes story that David Schwimmer hasn’t quite gotten over, as he emphasized:

If you want to relive one of David Schwimmer’s scariest moments from Friends (and Matt LeBlanc probably doesn’t love it either), all 10 seasons of Friends are available to stream with a Max subscription. You can also see Schwimmer when Goosebumps premieres on Friday, January 10 on Disney+ and Hulu.

Friends remains as one of the most rewatchable TV shows ever even years after it ended, and for good reason. The NBC sitcom has some of the most iconic and memorable moments, whether it’s the fun Thanksgiving episodes, hilarious off-beat Phoebe quotes, or what is perhaps one of the greatest TV twists and the greatest twist on Friends that wasn’t initially meant to be in the script.

A resurfaced interview with writer and producer Greg Malins via Reddit includes him talking about Ross’ wedding to Emily in the Season 4 finale. He shared that the ending of the wedding was something they had “struggled” with to figure out. And at a taping, David Schwimmer was meant to say “I got the cab waiting, Emily,” but it came out as “I got the cab waiting, Rachel” and he apologized. But that brain fart turned out to be brilliant because that’s when the writers knew that that’s what should happen, “We’re doing this.”

And so, “I, Ross, take thee Rachel” was born, and it only happened “because David flubbed his line,” Malins said. The fact that that line changed the course of Friends for the remainder of the series is pretty incredible, and all because of one little brain fart. It’s hard to imagine how different the show would have been if not for those five words, but it would be unrecognizable.

“The One With Ross’s Wedding” is one of the most ridiculous episodes of Friends but also one of the most iconic. Between Ross’ slip-up and Monica and Chandler sleeping together, it remains as one of the best finales on Friends and certainly the most memorable. The episode brought some significant changes for some characters, and even though there was a lot going on, that’s just what makes it pretty great.

Friends turned 30 this year, and thanks to the show streaming with a Max subscription, fans are able to look back at all of their favorite moments. There is always going to be the “What if?” of TV and luckily, people don’t have to wonder how different the show would be if not for David Schwimmer’s flub. It does make me wonder just how many other iconic moments were made because of a mistake, though.

Meanwhile, it’s very likely more tidbits will resurface during the Friends-themed game show, which will be coming to Max very soon. Only the biggest Friends fans will know just about everything and it should be fun to see who come out on top as the Ultimate Friends fan. For now, people can watch Friends on Max, as it’s a sitcom perfect for the next long binge with 10 seasons and many moments that you will never get tired of.

Friends may have centered around the six ever-present patrons of Central Perk, but the NBC sitcom was well-known for featuring side characters we still love today as well as an A+ list of guest stars. From Bruce Willis — whose family shared some sob-worthy photos from their Thanksgiving — to Julia Roberts, it was a treat to see who might pop up next on Friends. It turns out, though, that one of the series’ best guests didn’t think she was famous enough to pull off her cameo, and I’m shocked that she’d ever think such a thing.

Isabella Rossellini, who starred in the mystery thriller Conclave on the 2024 movie calendar, was brilliant in several movies in the late 1980s and early ‘90s, including Blue Velvet, Wild at Heart and Death Becomes Her. While these films definitely would have shared a fanbase with Friends, she still didn’t think she was well-known enough to appear on one of the best sitcoms of all time. Rossellini told EW:

I would have to respectfully disagree with the actress for not thinking she had enough recognition to pull off the cameo as herself. David Lynch was nominated for an Oscar for his 1986 neo-noir thriller Blue Velvet, which Isabella Rossellini starred in alongside Kyle MacLachlan, Dennis Hopper and Laura Dern, and Lynch also directed her and Dern in Wild at Heart in 1990. Death Becomes Her stands up to a rewatch to this day — not surprising given it won an Academy Award for visual effects and has been adapted into a Broadway play.

But even if you weren’t familiar with Isabella Rossellini before she strolled into Central Perk in the Season 3 episode “The One With Frank Jr.,” how could you not be a fan after watching her completely dismantle Ross (David Schwimmer)?

In the episode, Ross has come up with a list of five celebrities who he’d be allowed to sleep with even within the confines of his relationship with Rachel (Jennifer Aniston). Isabella Rossellini was a finalist, but Ross ultimately replaced her due to her being “too international,” and therefore less likely to run into him in his home country.

So who should happen to saunter into the coffee shop? None other than Isabella Rossellini, of course, so after getting the go-ahead from Rachel to add an “alternate” to his list, he approaches the actress and explains the situation. However, when Rossellini learns that she isn’t actually on the list, she hilariously tells Ross:

Honestly, her delivery of, “It’s laminated!” alone was award-worthy in my opinion.

Isabella Rossellini may not have thought she was famous enough for the role, but at least she didn’t experience what John Stamos did when he guest-starred. The Full House alum recalled the embarrassing moment when he made his entrance on Friends. He was told to pause for applause, but the applause never came. Matthew Perry stepped in to save him, but what a bruise to the ego.

If you want to check out Isabella Rossellini’s cameo, or any of the other most ridiculous Friends episodes, all 10 seasons can be streamed with a Max subscription.

It doesn’t matter how many years pass or how many great shows hit the 2024 TV schedule, Friends remains one of the most beloved sitcoms of all time. The NBC series celebrated its 30th anniversary this year, and it’s been fun to go down memory lane to recall stories like that Thanksgiving trifle being even grosser than we realized and how terrible it was for the stars to film that opening fountain scene. However, there are few things that could rival the epic prank that David Schwimmer and Cole Sprouse played on Jennifer Aniston in one Season 7 episode.

As one of the most rewatchable shows ever (available to stream with a Max subscription), Friends seems to have a never-ending number of behind-the-scenes lore for new generations of fans to uncover. One scene from “The One With the Truth About London” is making the rounds on Instagram, so check it out:

In the episode, Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) bonds with Ross’ son Ben (a young Cole Sprouse) by unwittingly teaching him the pranks she and her sisters used to pull on each other. With no siblings at that point in the show, Ben uses his newfound trickery against his parents — Carol, Susan and Ross (David Schwimmer) — which gets both Ben and Rachel in trouble.

The scene in question shows Ben seemingly pulling one last prank on his dad, with Ross losing his temper and chasing the boy into the hallway and up the stairs. David Schwimmer actually directed “The One With the Truth About London,” and apparently, Jennifer Aniston didn’t know a lifesize dummy of Ross had been crafted for the occasion. When the body flew down the stairs, her scream was real, and the story goes that Aniston actually broke character and shouted, “Oh my God, David!” which had to be edited out.

Watching the way she spun in panic at the sight of the dummy — and the glare she gave David Schwimmer after she realized what was happening — makes it pretty clear that she was not in the know.

It turns out that wasn’t the only one of Jennifer Aniston’s priceless unscripted reactions to make the final cut. In the Season 4 episode “The One With the Cuffs,” it was not written for Matthew Perry to hit himself in the head with the filing cabinet drawer while pantsless and handcuffed. Both of their reactions make that scene all the funnier.

The big 30th anniversary has come with some not-so-funny moments as well. The cast and crew have had to celebrate without Matthew Perry, who drowned at age 54 a year ago this month. And not all of the memories from the show have been good ones. Elliott Gould recalled how angry a producer got when he accidentally spoiled a huge season finale cliffhanger, and Tate Donovan has opened up about the real-life breakup he and Jennifer Aniston were going through when he played Rachel's love interest Joshua.

If you want to relive the most ridiculous Friends episodes that inspired all of these great behind-the-scenes stories, all 10 seasons can be found on Max, one of the best streaming services to subscribe to.

It’s pretty amazing to me that after 30 years of being obsessed with Friends, there continue to be bits of trivia and behind-the-scenes antics I haven’t heard. As one of the best sitcoms of all time, Friends delivered hundreds of laughs over the course of a decade, but the stories behind many of those scenes are often just as hilarious. Take “The One Where Ross Got High.” I just learned the full story behind the filming of that Thanksgiving trifle scene, and what Matt LeBlanc actually ate was so much worse than Rachel’s dessert.

Joey Tribbiani said some funny things about food during the NBC sitcom’s run, but one of the most memorable scenes came in Season 6, when Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) accidentally combined two recipes to make a dessert that was half English trifle, half Shepherd’s pie. Matt LeBlanc once talked about that scene in an interview on The Graham Norton Show, setting up the scene where the gang is trying not to let Rachel know she messed up the dessert. The actor recalled:

Now it’s important to note here that David Schwimmer and the others — including two of Friends’ most beloved side characters, Jack and Judy Gellar — weren’t actually eating a dish of beef and custard. Matt LeBlanc said what the actors had was mostly whipped cream and bananas. But I’d take jam-covered peas and onions any day over what happened next. LeBlanc continued:

So rather than ingesting a savory dish combined with a sweet dessert, Matt LeBlanc was eating whipped cream and bananas that had been in David Schwimmer’s mouth.

That is simply nauseating. To make it worse (or better, if you’re the “ignorance is bliss” type), nobody said a word to LeBlanc or questioned him on it. In fact, it wasn’t until much later that he even learned the truth.

Matt LeBlanc went on to say that they included that whole situation in the Season 6 blooper reel (which is a special feature on the DVD set), and it was only when they showed that at the wrap party that he realized he’d gotten more than he bargained for with David Schwimmer’s leftovers.

Yuck, yuck, yuck. A lot of Friends lore has been reported over the years, but none of the tales makes me want to gag as much as this trifle backstory. If you want to check that scene out, or any others, all 10 seasons of Friends can be streamed with a Max subscription.

We’ve seen time and time again how close the six main cast members of Friends are, even after the series — one of the best sitcoms of all time — ended in 2004. Jennifer Aniston and Courteney Cox, for instance, remain BFFs to this day, and Aniston even said she’d talked to Matthew Perry the morning of his death. For Perry and David Schwimmer, there seemed to be a lot of mutual respect between the actors. Marta Kauffman spoke recently about the compliment the Ross Gellar actor regularly paid to his late co-star, as she recalled how “special” the ensemble was.

The famed NBC comedy celebrated its 30th anniversary this month, which means there’s been a lot of reminiscing going on from the cast, crew and Friends’ best guest stars. The milestone, however, is somewhat bittersweet, as it comes less than a year after Matthew Perry’s death. Series creator Marta Kauffman recalled to TODAY how important Perry’s role as Chandler Bing was to the ensemble, as evidenced by David Schwimmer’s consistent praise. She said of Perry:

Of course, Chandler had some of the funniest lines on the show, but people have said over and over — especially since Matthew Perry’s passing — that the actor was even funnier in real life. David Schwimmer’s high opinion of his comedy likely meant a great deal to Perry, who dropped a bombshell during the cast’s 2021 reunion in admitting just how much pressure he felt to get laughs.

Matthew Perry held David Schwimmer’s performance in similarly high esteem, which The People v. O.J. Simpson actor was surprised to learn, as he recently admitted that Perry was “reserved” with him.

Each member of the cast contributed their own thing to the ensemble, and while everybody has their favorite character — Joey’s quotes about food were hilarious, and Phoebe was hilariously off-beat — Marta Kauffman said it was the combination that made the magic. She continued:

Fans remain obsessed with Friends (present company included), despite three decades having passed since its premiere. Interest in the iconic TV show is still so high that there’s a Friends-themed game show coming to Max.

However, sources have said the cast isn’t quite sure how to move forward in celebrating the series’ long-lasting success — and the 20th anniversary of its finale — without Matthew Perry. The actor was found dead in his hot tub on October 28, 2023, and it was later determined that he’d drowned after ingesting a large amount of ketamine. He was 54 years old.

Friends still remains one of the most rewatchable shows, and luckily for all of us fans, all 10 seasons are available to stream with a Max subscription, allowing us to honor Matthew Perry’s legacy and witness the love and respect that all six of them had and have for each other.

It’s been almost a year since Matthew Perry passed away, but his memory remains alive, thanks to the many people who knew and worked with him. We're also learning more about him, and his Friends co-star, David Schwimmer, just received a major revelation. More than two decades after the conclusion of the hit sitcom, Schwimmer just learned what Perry really thought of his acting, and it's quite heartwarming.

David Schwimmer was a guest on the Origins With Cush Jumbo podcast, where he opened up to the Criminal Record star about his upbringing, career and much more. When talk turned to Matthew Perry, Jumbo recalled working with him on The Good Fight, during which the two talked about Schwimmer and physical comedy. Per Jumbo, Perry had some serious praise for his former co-star when it comes to acting and comedy:

That's a very high compliment for an actor to receive, to say the least. It’s sweet that Cush Jumbo told David Schwimmer. I also love that and she herself has some lasting memories with Matthew Perry and was able to receive advice from him. What makes it even more sweet is the honest response that Schwimmer himself had to the compliments:

While it is sad that David Schwimmer never heard his friend and co-star directly telling him what he thinks about his acting, I'm glad he knows now. Just like with every Friends cast member, the certainly had some great moments as Ross, such as the fan-favorite “PIVOT” scene from one of the show's more ridiculous episodes. The actor revealed he had an inkling of what his co-star meant and, despite how long ago the sentiments were shared, it clearly still means a lot to him:

With the Friends finale having turned 20 this year, this long-held information feels even more surreal. If anything, it's an indication of just how much Matthew Perry respected his co-star and friend. The Friends cast went on to do many other projects following the end of the sitcom, but they still remained close. That was evident in the reunion special a few years ago.

I'd imagine that an anecdote like this latest one about Matthew Perry will certainly be cherished by fans as well as his collaborators. David Schwimmer now has yet another sweet reminder of his late buddy that he can hold onto, and I think that's wonderful. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to grab a tissue.

You can watch the two brilliant actors on the show, which has become more popular due to streaming, now. Friends is currently available to stream with a Max subscription.

Friends is considered one of the best sitcoms of all time, and it really did offer the roles of a lifetime to Jennifer Anison, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry and David Schwimmer back in 1994. While the actors will forever be associated with those characters, they have accomplished far more than portraying, Rachel, Monica, Phoebe, Joey, Chandler and Ross. Here are 32 other movies and TV shows that feature the main cast of Friends.

The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story

When Ryan Murphy tackled O.J. Simpson's trial for The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story, many were surprised that David Schwimmer was cast as Robert Kardashian. However, Schwimmer's portrayal of Simpson's best friend and attorney was praised by Kim Kardashian, who said it was "just done so well."

The Comeback

In Lisa Kudrow's first big TV role post-Friends, she starred as Valerie Cherish on HBO's The Comeback. The concept was actually pretty meta, featuring an actress (Valerie) joining a series in a humbling (and often cringeworthy) attempt to recapture the fame she'd previously found on another sitcom — all while a camera crew documents her journey for a fictional reality show.

Lost In Space

Around Friends' midpoint, Matt LeBlanc took some time to star in the 1998 sci-fi adventure Lost in Space. He plays Major Don West, a hotshot fighter pilot who is part of the crew that gets lost while attempting to lead a planet-wide emigration from a dying Earth.

Scream

Courteney Cox has found fame on several projects outside of the famed NBC sitcom, but arguably her next-most-recognized character after Monica Gellar is Gale Weathers in the Scream franchise. The cut-throat journalist holds the distinction of being the only main character to appear in every film through Scream VI, but thankfully Gale's infamous bangs did not survive all the sequels.

Fools Rush In

Matthew Perry may have had some hilarious lines as Chandler Bing, but he had some good moments outside of his and Joey's apartment as well. Amongst Perry's best movies is the romantic comedy Fools Rush In, which also stars Salma Hayek in a story of a would-be one-night-stand resulting in a pregnancy and the couple's efforts to make a marriage work despite having just met.

The Morning Show

Jennifer Aniston and her Friends sister Reese Witherspoon reunited in 2019 to executive produce and star on The Morning Show on Apple TV+. The workplace drama tackles issues straight from the headlines, as Aniston and Witherspoon play news anchors who are often right in the center of the turmoil.

Better Nate Than Ever

Better Nate than Ever is a coming-of-age story and celebration of musical theater, as 13-year-old Nate sneaks off to New York to audition for a Broadway show. Once in the Big Apple, he enlists the help of his estranged aunt Heidi (Lisa Kudrow), who has dreams of the Great White Way herself.

Dirt

Three years after Courteney Cox bid goodbye to Monica Gellar, she joined the cast of FX's Dirt as Lucy Spiller, the editor-in-chief of a sleazy tabloid. The show ended after two seasons, doomed by the 2007 writer's strike, a timeslot change, and other factors, but fans did get to see a fun guest appearance by Jennifer Aniston.

17 Again

In 17 Again, Matthew Perry plays 37-year-old Mike O'Donnell, who loses his job and is on the brink of divorce from his high school sweetheart Scarlet (Leslie Mann). After an accident, Mike finds himself back in his 17-year-old body (portrayed by Zac Efron) with the chance to relive his high school experience and perhaps make some changes to ensure a happier future.

Picture Perfect

The Friends cast periodically took part in other projects during the 10 years that the sitcom aired on NBC, and 1997's Pitch Perfect was one of those for Jennifer Aniston. In the rom-com, she plays the advertising executive Kate, who lies and says she's engaged to Jay Mohr's Nick in order to make it look like her life is more stable than it is. The only thing missing from these complicated relationship dynamics was someone shouting, "We were on a break!"

The Pallbearer

It's pretty obvious why the Friends stars were tapped for so many romantic comedies in the '90s. David Schwimmer, for his part, took a break from Ross Gellar to play Tom Thompson in 1996's The Pallbearer. Tom is a struggling twentysomething who agrees to be a pallbearer for a former classmate who has died, despite not remembering him. A strange love triangle forms between Tom, his high school crush and his late friend's mother.

Mad About You

Friends fans know that Phoebe Buffay was a twin, with Lisa Kudrow pulling double duty as both Phoebe and Ursula on eight episodes. What people may not know is that Ursula Buffay was a fully formed character on Friends' fellow NBC Must-See TV offering, Mad About You. Kudrow appeared as Phoebe's ditzy counterpart alongside Paul Reiser and Helen Hunt in 24 episodes from 1992 to 1998.

Episodes

Five years after Matt LeBlanc's Friends spinoff Joey was canceled, the actor returned to the sitcom space on Episodes. LeBlanc plays a fictionalized version of himself — a charming but arrogant actor who signs onto the American remake of the British series Pucks. LeBlanc was nominated for four Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actor during Episodes' run and won one of two Golden Globes for Best Actor that he was up for over those years.

Cougar Town

Premiering in 2009 and running for six seasons, Cougar Town stars Courteney Cox as Jules Cobb, a divorced woman in her 40s trying to reintegrate herself into the dating world. The role nabbed her a Golden Globe Award nomination in 2010, and Friends fans were surely delighted to see cameos from Jennifer Aniston, Lisa Kudrow and Matthew Perry.

The Odd Couple

In one of Matthew Perry's final TV roles, the man most famous as Chandler Bing took on another iconic comedic character in The Odd Couple's sloppy Oscar Madison. He starred in the CBS adaptation opposite Thomas Lennon, who played the obsessively clean Felix Unger. Sounds like he and Monica Gellar would have gotten along.

Cake

Jennifer Aniston has proven over the years that her talents stretch far beyond the spoiled Rachel Green, and her performance in 2015's Cake earned both critical praise and a Golden Globe nomination. The actress plays Claire Bennett, a woman who abuses pain medication to deal with the physical and emotional effects of the car accident that killed her son. After the suicide of a woman in her chronic pain support group, Claire forms a bond with her husband and son.

Romy And Michele's High School Reunion

In one of the best movies about female friendship, Lisa Kudrow stars alongside Mira Sorvino in Romy and Michele's High School Reunion. Ten years after graduating, Romy and Michele are roommates who haven't made much of their lives, but they decide to return to high school with fake stories of success in order to face the ex-classmates who bullied them. This 1997 comedy is a cult classic and features a great cast, not to mention an iconic dance from Alan Cumming.

Top Gear

Taking a step away from scripted TV, Matt LeBlanc got to show off his expertise as a car enthusiast when he signed on BBC's Top Gear as a co-host from 2016 to 2019. Even shooting episodes of this show abroad, LeBlanc wasn't able to escape the grasp of Joey Tribbiani, as he has said he once encountered a Moroccan group living in caves far from civilization who, upon seeing him, called him Joey and affected an accent to say, "How you doin'?"

Shining Vale

Courteney Cox has established herself both as a comedic actress on Friends and a scream queen in the Scream movies, and in the 2022 Starz series Shining Vale, she gets to show her expertise in both genres. In the horror comedy series, Cox plays Pat, who is convinced that something is going on in her dysfunctional family's home, with terrible things having taken place in the past.

Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip

In 2006 following the end of Friends, Matthew Perry signed on to Aaron Sorkin's NBC dramedy Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. The series depicted the behind-the-scenes antics of a live sketch comedy show similar to Saturday Night Live, but it was strangely made to compete with 30 Rock, a comedy with a very similar premise, which premiered on NBC only a month after Perry's project. Studio 60 was canceled after its first season.

Office Space

Office Space is considered one of the most Gen X movies of all time, and Jennifer Aniston perfectly embodies that spirit in her role as Joanna, the waitress who gets fed up for her lack of enthusiasm and flair.

Band Of Brothers

Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg teamed up for the powerful miniseries Band of Brothers, which was based on the nonfiction book by Stephen E. Ambrose and premiered on HBO on September 9, 2001. David Schwimmer was in the midst of his stint on Friends but found time to portray Herbert Sobel in the World War II saga that followed soldiers preparing to fight in one of the biggest military conflicts of all time.

Web Therapy

Years before telehealth was a common and necessary thing, Lisa Kudrow tackled the subject in her web series-turned-Showtime-show, Web Therapy. The actress portrays therapist Fiona Wallice, who offers abbreviated sessions to her clients via the Internet. The show utilized a computer screen POV, and featured a number of fun cameos over its four seasons on Showtime, including appearances from Courteney Cox, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry and David Schwimmer. If only Jennifer Aniston could have made it a clean sweep!

Man With A Plan

Matt LeBlanc found himself another sitcom in 2016, starring in Man with a Plan on CBS. He played Adam Burns, who must take on more responsibilities of raising his three kids when his wife Andi decides to go back to work. The series was largely panned by critics, who called it "bland and forgettable," among other things, but it still managed to air for four seasons.

Family Ties

Years before Monica Gellar would enter the realms of television history, Courteney Cox had a recurring role on Family Ties' sixth and seventh seasons. She played Lauren Miller, the girlfriend of Alex P. Keaton (Michael J. Fox) in 19 episodes from 1987 to 1989.

Go On

Matthew Perry took yet another stab at NBC sitcom glory in 2012 with Go On, where he played Ryan King, a sports radio talk show host struggling with the recent death of his wife. He joins an emotional support group, where he's introduced to a motley crew of characters and personalities. Despite being previewed following NBC's Olympics coverage and getting a boost from The Voice as a lead-in, the series was canceled after a single season.

The Good Girl

Jennifer Aniston really got about as far away from Rachel Green as she could in 2002's The Good Girl. Aniston stars as Justine, an employee at a small-town big box store who seems stuck in an unhappy marriage. She engages in an affair with the new cashier Holden (Jake Gyllenhaal), which ultimately ends in tragedy on multiple levels.

The Whole Nine Yards

Approximately halfway through his stint as Chandler Bing, Matthew Perry teamed up with Bruce Willis for the 2000 crime comedy The Whole Nine Yards. Perry plays a dentist named Oz who discovers that his new neighbor Jimmy (Willis) is a highly sought-after former hitman. Oz decides to go to Chicago to inform the mob of Jimmy's whereabouts in order to collect a reward. The pairing of these actors in this movie led to Willis' memorable guest appearance on Friends as the father of Ross' college student girlfriend.

Ace Ventura: Pet Detective

The same year that Friends debuted, Courteney Cox appeared alongside Jim Carrey in Ace Ventura: Pet Detective. She played Melissa Robinson, the publicist for the Miami Dolphins, as the zany animal detective is hired to find the team's dolphin mascot after an abduction.

Time Bandits

Lisa Kudrow has said it was "heaven" to work with Jemaine Clement, Iain Morris and Taika Waititi on the Apple TV+ adventure series Time Bandits. Kudrow portrays Penelope, the quasi-leader of a ragtag group of time-traveling thieves, in the 2024 adaptation of Terry Gilliam's 1981 film.

Lovesick

Ten years after Joey Tribbiani finally gave up his key to Monica's apartment, Matt LeBlanc starred in the rom-com Lovesick. In the 2000 movie, he portrayed Charlie Darby, a man who can't find love because of a psychological condition. He must figure out how to overcome this when he meets the girl of his dreams. The film was not well-received by critics, but Friends fans might find something to like in LeBlanc's performance.

The Break-Up

Ironically, The Break-Up inspired a real-life romance between its doomed couple, Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn. The 2006 rom-com sees Gary and Brooke end their relationship but remain roommates, as neither agrees to move out. It's funny. It's awkward. It's ultimately a little heartbreaking.

There’s no question that Friends is one of the best sitcoms of all time, but to make an ensemble work, there had to be great characters for Ross, Rachel, Monica, Chandler, Phoebe and Joey to interact with. One of the biggest figures in Ross’ life — and one of Friends’ most beloved side characters — was his ex-wife Carol Willick.

We learned in the series premiere that Carol and Ross divorced after she came out as gay, but as the former couple continued to be a part of each other’s lives, two different actresses played the role of Carol. Let’s take a look at why Anita Barone was replaced by Jane Sibbett on Friends.

Why Anita Barone Only Played Carol For One Episode

While Ross (David Schwimmer) set up his and Carol’s situation in the first episode, we actually first saw her in Episode 2, “The One with the Sonogram at the End.” Carol, played by Anita Barone, visits Ross at his museum job to inform him that she’s pregnant with his child. This leads to some pretty complicated emotions and a hilarious scene at the OB/GYN’s office between Schwimmer, Barone and Jessica Hecht, who played Carol’s lover Susan. However, that was the last time we saw Barone on Friends.

According to Express (UK), Anita Barone chose to leave Friends after that episode to try to land a bigger part on another series. She did end up portraying Jeff Foxworthy’s wife Karen on The Jeff Foxworthy Show, but when the series jumped from ABC to NBC after its first season, she was recast in that role by Ann Cusack. Barone has continued to make appearances — usually one-offs — on series as recently as 2023.

How Jane Sibbett Turned Carol Into A Recurring Character

Ross was married so many times on Friends, it’s kind of funny that he got an extra wife through casting. Of course the writers didn’t know that Ross was fated to have three divorces when Jane Sibbett was hired to replace Anita Barone as Carol Willick. Sibbett made her debut later in Season 1 and would go on to appear in at least one episode for the first seven seasons.

That’s not how it was originally planned, though. Jane Sibbett explained on the Back to the Best podcast in 2023 that she was hired to appear in just two episodes, but after “The One with the Candy Hearts,” which would have been her last appearance, showrunner Marta Kauffman loved what she brought to the character and decided to expand the part. Sibbett said:

Jane Sibbett would appear in 15 episodes overall in Friends’ 10 seasons, and in that time became an important figure in LGBTQ+ pop culture. In fact, Carol Willick and Susan Bunch’s wedding in Season 2 was the first lesbian wedding in TV history.

Some have speculated that Anita Barone is likely kicking herself for giving up a role on what would become such a huge series, but as Jane Sibbett said, it was only intended to be three episodes, so we really can’t fault Barone for setting her sights higher. If you want to relive the most ridiculous Friends episodes or all 16 of Carol Willick’s appearances, all 10 seasons are available to stream with a Max subscription.

As the investigation into the death of Matthew Perry remains ongoing, the actor’s longtime Friends co-star Lisa Kudrow is remembering the good times. She recently shared that she has been rewatching the beloved comedy series in honor of the late actor, and she has a lot of sweet things to say about the sitcom in retrospect.

Kudrow played Phoebe Buffay alongside Matthew Perry’s Chandler Bing for 10 seasons and 236 episodes of Friends. Here’s what Kudrow recently said about how she’s looking back at her friend:

Kudrow got to experience all our favorite Friends moments in real-time, but now she is getting the chance to see the episodes we’ve seen over and over, and perhaps attach to those episodes that really made us Matthew Perry fans. While Lisa Kudrow spoke to THR about her time watching one of the best sitcoms, she also said this:

I don’t know what’s more embarrassing, Kudrow watching her work in one of the best sitcoms of all time, or me wanting to rewatch the whole series (probably for the 20th time) with my Max subscription? While many of us can’t say we have hours and hours of recordings of a decade of our life to look back on, I’m sure many of us would spend some time looking back on it if we did.

It’s sweet to hear Kudrow is returning to Friends following the death of Matthew Perry, who sadly was on the list of actors we lost in 2023. He died back in October at the age of 54 from the acute effects of the anesthetic ketamine. This week, the law enforcement looking into his death told People the investigation is “nearing its conclusion” and believes “multiple people” should be charged for the actor’s death.

Following the Friends finale in 2004, the core cast has remained close. Jennifer Aniston even said that she was texting Perry the morning of his death. When speaking about his memory, Lisa Kudrow shared this as well:

Despite the sadness that comes with knowing that the Friends cast will never be completely reunited again and Perry’s life was cut too short, the actor certainly has left behind an incredible legacy, between Friends and being an advocate for others who struggled with addiction like he did.

Lisa Kudrow’s words about Matthew Perry came as the actress stars in a new series called Time Bandits created by Taika Waititi, Jemaine Clement and Iain Morris. The fantasy adventure series premieres on the 2024 TV schedule for those with an Apple TV+ subscription on July 24.

There are some actors whose entire careers are defined by their most iconic role or by their best performance (which are not always one and the same). There are also some actors who really only have one well-known role or acclaimed performance to their name, while the majority of their career continues to live in obscurity or even ridicule. The following are some notable examples of actors who never really got to shine beyond that movie or TV show that clicked.

Sam Worthington (The Avatar Movies)

Sam Worthington's performance as Jake Sully in 2009's Avatar and Avatar: The Way of Water from 2022 is not exactly "acclaimed." However, James Cameron's blockbuster sci-fi franchise is the only thing on the actor's resume that has managed to make a substantial connection with audiences and can be called a rousing success.

Hayden Christensen (Shattered Glass)

Playing Anakin Skywalker in the two latter installments of George Lucas' Star Wars prequel trilogy has earned Hayden Christensen equal amounts of fame and ridicule that has haunted him most of his career. That is because not enough people know about 2003's intense journalism drama Shattered Glass, in which he gives his best performance as real-life fraudulent reporter Stephen Glass.

Tom Arnold (True Lies)

For years, Tom Arnold's claim to fame was his marriage to Roseanne Barr and, when reviewing his filmography, it remains what he is best known for to this day. Yet, he does have the honor of playing Arnold Schwarzenegger's right-hand man in True Lies, a role he almost did not get, if not for the insistence of writer and director James Cameron.

Brandon Routh (Superman Returns)

Brandon Routh was relatively unknown when he was cast as Clark Kent in 2006’s Superman Returns — a role that should have earned immediate entry to the A-list. While he does have an amusing reputation for playing multiple comic book characters — including Todd Ingram in the Scott Pilgrim vs. the World cast — his one-time donning the old red and blues remains the peak of his fame.

Linda Blair (The Exorcist)

One of the top horror movie Scream Queens of all time is undeniably Linda Blair for her Academy Award-nominated role as Regan MacNeil in 1973’s The Exorcist. However, the demonically possessed 12-year-old is still the only character most mainstream audiences associate with the actor.

Stephen Baldwin (The Usual Suspects)

Stephen Baldwin has a scene-stealing turn as Michael McManus in the classic 1995 crime thriller, The Usual Suspects. However, because his remaining credits have never quite lived up to that performance — or the film itself — most would call him an unusual suspect for mainstream success these days.

Haley Joel Osment (The Sixth Sense)

Haley Joel Osment is still a steadily working actor, appearing in notable films like Kevin Smith’s Tusk and hit TV shows like The Boys. Yet, any time he does show up onscreen, we would not be surprised if he still regularly identified as “the kid who saw dead people in 1999’s The Sixth Sense.”

Lacey Chabert (Mean Girls)

You could argue that Lacey Chabert really did come close to making “fetch” happen with her standout role in 2004’s Mean Girls as Gretchen Wieners. While she has made a name for herself elsewhere with voice acting and leading several Hallmark Channel originals, the gossipy plastic is still the singular defining moment of her career.

Steven Seagal (Under Siege)

Even most of the fans who consider Steven Seagal to be one of the top action movie stars of the ‘90s might agree that he really only has one true quality film to his name: Under Siege. Both a critical and commercial success, director Andrew Davis’ Oscar-nominated 1992 thriller stars Seagal as a former Navy SEAL serving as a cook on a battleship taken over by terrorists.

Paul Hogan (Crocodile Dundee)

Can you name another character played by Paul Hogan who is not the title character from the 1986 fish-out-of-water movie classic, Crocodile Dundee? The eponymous Outback hunter was also the brainchild of the Australian actor, whose career has been almost completely overshadowed by the role.

Roddy Piper (They Live)

To be fair, the late “Rowdy” Roddy Piper’s main claim to fame was professional wrestling, but his subsequent film career was nowhere near close to on par with, say, Dwayne Johnson or John Cena. At least he can say that he was the star of one of John Carpenter’s best movies, They Live, in the memorable role of an impromptu alien hunter, John Nada.

Alicia Silverstone (Clueless)

Had 1997’s Batman & Robin been a hit, Alicia Silverstone could have been one of the best Batgirl actors ever and her career could have flourished from it. Instead, her breakthrough film role as Cher Horowitz in 1995’s Clueless is the single performance she is most acclaimed and recognized for.

Macaulay Culkin (Home Alone)

Macaulay Culkin’s career beyond child stardom has certainly had its highlights, such as his role in Party Monster, his appearance on American Horror Story Season 10, and his podcast, The Bunny Ears Podcast. However, after all these years, it is still difficult to see him as anyone other than the young, mischievous Kevin McCallister from the Home Alone movies.

Rupert Grint (The Harry Potter Movies)

We do not mean to discredit Rupert Grint’s performances in the Snatch TV show, M. Night Shyamalan’s Servant, or anything else he has done outside of the Harry Potter movies. However, the British actor will always be Ron Weasley in our hearts.

Jessica Alba (Sin City)

Anyone who does not love actor and entrepreneur Jessica Alba probably has not seen her performance as exotic dancer Nancy Callahan in 2005’s Sin City, which is the single most acclaimed title in her filmography. She did earn a Golden Globe nomination for a breakthrough role in Dark Angel, but that short-lived sci-fi series is largely forgotten these days.

Robert Englund (A Nightmare On Elm Street)

Playing Freddy Krueger in the A Nightmare on Elm Street franchise made Robert Englund a horror movie icon and earned him a long career of countless other spooky roles. Yet, have any of his subsequent credits — horror or otherwise — been nearly as popular as the grotesque, razor-glove-wielding boogeyman? Maybe in his dreams.

Edward Furlong (Terminator 2: Judgment Day)

Edward Furlong made a stunning acting debut in the pivotal role of a teenage John Connor in one of the greatest action movies of all time, 1991’s Terminator 2: Judgment Day. Unfortunately, his career never reached the same level of prowess or popularity again, which can be partially attributed to his history of substance abuse.

Rachael Leigh Cook (She's All That)

Actor and model Rachael Leigh Cook has had a steady career all her life. However, none of her credits have quite stood the test of time like the 1999 teen movie favorite, She’s All That, which spawned a Netflix original gender-swapped remake, He’s All That, in which she appeared in a new role.

Anthony Perkins (Psycho)

Anthony Perkins is considered one the biggest Hollywood stars of his time, but only for one role in particular: Norman Bates in one of the greatest horror movies of all time — Alfred Hitchcock’s 1960 classic, Psycho. He would actually reprise the murderous momma’s boy and motel manager twice more in 1983’s Psycho II and Psycho III, the latter of which he also directed three years later.

David Schwimmer (Friends)

Much of the Friends cast managed to outlive their roles on the hit sitcom with versatile projects that helped them avoid being typecast. We cannot quite say the same about David Schwimmer, whose distinct portrayal of Ross Gellar seems to follow him everywhere he goes.

Jaden Smith (The Pursuit Of Happyness)

Seven-year-old Jaden Smith made a promising debut as the onscreen son of his real-life father, Will Smith, in 2006’s The Pursuit of Happyness, but very few of his roles since have made a genuine impression on critics and audiences. That being said, the older he got, his acting roles became less frequent as he focused more on his music career.

Carrie Henn (Aliens)

If you ever wondered what happened to Newt from Aliens, she became one of the many child stars who walked away from Hollywood, but did so quicker than most, as the 1986 sci-fi classic is her only acting credit. So, in this case, we can call Carrie Henn — who went on to become a teacher — an acting “one-hit-wonder” by choice.

Alex Winter (The Bill & Ted Movies)

Alex Winter had such astonishing chemistry with Keanu Reeves as the dim-witted, titular heroes of the Bill & Ted movies. Yet, while Reeves climbed up the A-list, Winter never really found a role as popular as Bill S. Preston, Esq. He would find some success working as director in film and TV, however.

Fran Drescher (The Nanny)

Actor and comedian Fran Drescher earned rousing success when she co-created the hit sitcom The Nanny, in which she also starred as Fran Fine. The boisterous character remains her most famous role to date, as Drescher is better known today for being elected President of SAG-AFTRA in 2021.

Adam West (Batman)

The late Adam West is, undeniably, one of the most legendary live-action Batman actors, having played Bruce Wayne in the classic 1960s TV show, its feature-length spin-off, and two animated films decades later. However, he is really the only one in that club so far who can say that playing Batman is the singular defining role of his career.

Jon Heder (Napoleon Dynamite)

As the title hero of 2004’s Napoleon Dynamite, Jon Heder gave one of the most legendarily bizarre and uniquely funny performances in a comedy movie for its time, if not all time. The success of the indie sleeper hit would garner more roles for the actor, but none that earned nearly the same acclaim or notoriety.

Frankie Muniz (Malcolm In The Middle)

Playing the fourth-wall-breaking title role of Malcolm in the Middle in the early 2000s made Frankie Muniz one of the top child stars of his time, but his subsequent success later in life was decidedly hit or miss. He still acts to this day but has also taken up a career in NASCAR racing.

Patrick Fugit (Almost Famous)

Whatever happened to Patrick Fugit — the actor who launched his career in 2000 by leading the Almost Famous cast as young, aspiring music reporter William Miller? There’s a good chance you have seen him in one of his many credits over the years — such as Gone Girl or 2022’s Babylon — but just failed to recognize him. 

Katherine Heigl (Grey's Anatomy)

Katherine Heigl had a relatively successful run in movies, especially as the female lead of 2007’s Knocked Up, which she famously spoke negatively of. Said comments would actually have a negative impact on her career and, thus, her Emmy-winning role on in the Grey’s Anatomy cast as Dr. Izzie Stevens in the mid-2000s is still her most famous and commendable role.

Peter Ostrum (Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory)

At the end of 1971’s Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, poor Charlie Bucket becomes wealthy after the titular chocolatier (Gene Wilder) gives his factory to him. As for the actor who plays the lucky boy, Peter Ostrum, he immediately abandoned his acting career in favor of becoming a veterinarian.

Bo Derek (10)

Bo Derek is an undisputed legend in the modeling industry, but we cannot quite say the same about her acting career. She did have one acclaimed hit to her name, however, in the form of Blake Edwards’ Oscar-nominated, 1979 rom-com, 10, opposite Dudley Moore.

Justin Chatwin (War Of The Worlds)

If you are not sure who Justin Chatwin is, there are two movies we could name that could help you identify him. There is Steven Spielberg’s 2005 adaptation of War of the Worlds, in which he plays Tom Cruise’s onscreen son, and there is also 2009’s universally reviled live-action anime adaptation, Dragonball: Evolution, in which he was grossly miscast as Goku.

For the actors above who are still with us and are still interested in the craft, we hope to see them in another surefire hit soon enough.

As fans eagerly await the premiere of Bridgerton's third season on the 2024 TV schedule, the tantalizing dynamic between Luke Newton’s Colin Bridgerton and Nicola Coughlan’s Penelope Featherington is about to take center stage. The two have been friends throughout the first two seasons, with feelings clearly harbored by Penelope, but now it seems like it might be time for Colin to fall too. Their chemistry is electric, clearly blurring the lines between romance and friendship, much like Ross and Rachel in Friends. Newton recently made the TV couple comparison himself, and it’s making me hyped for the new season. 

In a recent interview with Deadline, the Bridgerton heartthrob teased the third season of the Netflix period drama and the relationship between Colin and Penelope. The two actors clearly took their time with the central relationship, and Newton even reflected on how their relationship dynamic extends to the other interconnected characters in Bridgerton. When asked to compare this season’s couple to another TV relationship, there was only one answer that came to mind for Newton: Ross and Rachel. He explained his choice, saying:

Much like Ross and Rachel on Friends, Colin and Penelope have danced around their feelings for each other in a slow burn that has captivated audiences in the first two seasons. Newton highlighted the similarities, pointing out that both couples share a deep-rooted friendship that complicates their romantic potential. Ross and Rachel’s relationship is a rollercoaster that extends many seasons, and as much as I love the endgame couple, I’m hoping for more from Penelope and Colin. Honestly, I'm crossing my fingers that once they figure out their feelings this season, they’ll be together forever. 

If Newton and Coughlan’s comments about the upcoming season are any indication, Season 3 may be the best Bridgerton story yet. The first season set the bar with Simon and Daphne’s whirlwind romance. The second season may have been even better, keeping fans on the edge of their seat with the enemies-to-lovers story centered around Anthony and Kate. I’m personally excited to see how Season 3 expands the lore between Colin and Penelope, and hopefully builds upon what the first two seasons set up.

As Bridgerton Season 3 prepares to grace our screens, fans can look forward to a friends-to-lovers romance that could be as iconic and enduring as Ross and Rachel’s, set against the opulent backdrop of Regency-era London.

I’m personally ready to swoon, because Colin and Penelope’s love story is about to reach new heights. There's nothing more romantic than Bridgerton, and the show has big shoes to fill. Ross and Rachel are one of the best television couples of all time, and hopefully, Polin can live up to their legacy. 

Fans won’t have to wait too long for Bridgerton, as Season 3 will be available to those with a Netflix subscription on May 16th, with the second half of the season coming soon after in June. For more information on other exciting series coming to the streamer, make sure to check out our upcoming Netflix project schedule. 

It’s hard to believe that two full decades have passed since Matthew Perry spoke the final line on Friends — a joke about where the six core characters could go for a cup of coffee. As the 20th anniversary of “The Last One” approaches on May 6, it will be a bittersweet day, falling less than a year after Perry died at age 54. Sources say the surviving cast members still want to celebrate the milestone, and they are allegedly figuring out the most appropriate way to do that without their Chandler.

The six stars of Friends — Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, David Schwimmer and Matthew Perry — all came together on-screen just one time after the 2004 series finale, for Friends: The Reunion (available to stream with a Max subscription). The knowledge that they can never do that again is reportedly weighing on the actors as they approach that 20-year milestone. According to an insider for US Weekly:  

Matthew Perry delivered some of Friends’ most hilarious quotes as Chandler Bing, and just like the sitcom couldn’t have existed without the statistical analysis and data reconfiguration expert, a formal reunion to mark the finale’s 20th anniversary wouldn’t be the same without Perry. 

The cast, however, is still in touch with each other “frequently,” the source reports. They have group chats and will get together one-on-one, with Jennifer Aniston and Courteney Cox apparently being in “constant contact.” The insider said Matthew Perry’s October 2023 passing was a wakeup call for the other five friends, explaining: 

The fact that they have Friends to thank for their success and the relationships formed through that shared 10-year experience isn’t lost on them, and that’s why they “most certainly” will be commemorating the May 6 anniversary. The source continued: 

The Friends cast paid tribute to Matthew Perry with a touching message after his death, and it will be interesting to see how they decide to handle this first big milestone fpr the show. 

If you want to honor the late actor, you can check out some of Matthew Perry’s best movie and TV appearances or relive some of Chandler’s best episodes. All 10 seasons of the sitcom can be streamed on Max (one of the best streaming services to purchase, per CinemaBlend staffers). 

After spending ten years playing the bumbling but lovable Ross Geller on the global sensation that was Friends, David Swimmer has returned to the small screen a number of times. He received an Emmy nomination for playing Robert Kardashian on The People vs O.J. Simpson, and he recently led the British sitcom, Intelligence. Now, however, he is coming back to play a kind of role he knows very well: a divorced dad and science professor. However this time, Schwimmer will not be playing Ross Geller, but another exciting character on a totally different type of TV show.

This is all happening because Disney+ renewed its Goosebumps series, according to a report published by Deadline, and Schwimmer is set to appear in it. 

The streamer teamed up with author R.L. Stine for the Goosebumps anthology series, which follows a different haunting adventure each season. The second season’s cast will be led by David Schwimmer, who will play Anthony. His character is a former botany professor and a single dad who is responsible for caring for his two teenagers over the summer. He will juggle his own responsibilities, as well as the chilling adventure the teenagers get pulled into while under his watch. 

Even though the Anthony character Schwimmer is set to portray is likely very different from Ross Geller, one can’t help but see the similarities between the two. Ross wasn’t a botany professor, but a paleontology professor who loved dinosaurs. He also was a single father, who had a child named Ben with his first wife Carol, who left him to marry a woman. Plus, he had a second child with Rachel, and they co-parented before getting together for good at the end of the series. Ross’s lack of luck in relationships is a running joke in the series, but based on this new character description, it seems like Goosebumps will be approaching this kind of character with a very different lens. 

Some plot details are still under wraps, but what we do know about Goosebumps Season 2 is that it is set to follow the teenage siblings as they identify a terrifying pattern of events, and try to solve the mystery. They discover a spooky tale surrounding four kids who went missing in the '90s and identify similarities in mysterious happenings around them in the present day.

The first season of Goosebumps starred Justin Long and Rachael Harris, and it received mostly positive reviews from critics, which likely helped greenlight a second season. So, here's hoping Schwimmer and the cast of Season 2 can keep the spooks coming.

While we really don’t know a lot about the second season of Goosebumps, this casting news gives fans a lot to be excited about. The season logline says that the characters will be uncovering strange happenings from 1994, which is the same year Friends aired its first episode. This may just be a coincidence, but I love all the small connections between this show and the one that made David Schwimmer a major TV star. We still don’t have an official release date for Season 2 of Goosebumps, but I’m waiting with bated breath to check it out when it hits streaming. 

Fans patiently awaiting Season 2 can revisit the first season of Goosebumps now with a Disney+ subscription. You can also revisit David Schwimmer’s iconic performance as Ross in Friends with a Max subscription. For more information on other exciting shows returning to the small screen in the near future, make sure to check out our 2024 TV schedule. 

When it comes to TV power couples, not only did Friends grace us with the iconic duo of Ross and Rachel, but Monica and Chandler had some super cute moments as well. While Jennifer Aniston and David Schwimmer’s characters took until the series finale in 2004 to finally come together for good, they seemed written in the stars from the beginning. Now fans think the showrunners might have dropped a clue confirming this early on, and also possibly hinted at the fates of Courteney Cox and Matthew Perry’s characters as well.

Thanks to Friends reruns being available to stream on demand with a Max subscription, viewers have continued to pick apart details of the sitcom decades after its final episode aired. We’re still fascinated by the story behind Ugly Naked Guy and how Joey’s classic “Could I be wearing any more clothes?” moment went down, and after rewatching the Season 3 episode “The One With the Football,” fans think there might have also been some intentional foreshadowing as to the series’ romances. 

Screenshots from that episode — in which Monica and Ross rekindle a rivalry over their childhood football games — have been making their rounds on social media, with fans noticing some interesting similarities in the clothing choices of the characters. As shown above, Rachel is sporting a backward Nike cap, as Ross wears a sweatshirt with the same logo. Similarly, Monica and Chandler — who started dating in Season 4 and remained together for the duration of the series — are both sporting New York Giants attire. See the photo below: 

This is a pretty fun theory, but it’s hard to say if this might have been an intentional move by the Friends crew. Ross and Rachel were already dating — i.e. not yet “on a break” — at this point in the series, and with their relationship being teased literally from the first episode of Season 1, this is hardly Easter egg material. 

Monica and Chandler, meanwhile, didn’t get together until the very end of Season 4, but Matthew Perry’s character floated the idea of dating Monica several times before they actually got together, including in Season 1’s “The One With the Birth,” which resulted in one of the series’ funniest Chandler Bing quotes.

Executive producer Scott Silveri confirmed in an interview with Vulture that the idea of pairing Monica and Chandler up had been bounced around since Season 2 when they noticed the on-screen chemistry between Courteney Cox and Matthew Perry; however, co-creator Marta Kauffman told Collider they weren’t sure the relationship would last longer than a one-night stand. It wasn’t until viewers reacted so positively to their coupling that Monica and Chandler became endgame, apparently, making any foreshadowing in Season 3 impossible.

Even if unintentional, it’s still a pretty cool detail, and hopefully fans will continue to discover new and fun things about Friends. In addition to the former NBC sitcom, there are a bunch of great shows to watch on Max, including original series like Hacks, The Flight Attendant and many more. 

It's hard to believe Entourage ended its eight-season run so long ago, in 2011 (not counting the less-than-well-recieved movie in 2015). For the length of the show, one thing that kept audiences coming back for more each week was the great celebrity cameos. What started as a trickle in the first season, became a flood towards the end, with big stars always showing up, usually with hilarious results. Here is our list of some of the funniest celebrity cameos on Entourage. 

Mark Wahlberg

It makes sense that Mark Wahlberg would be the first cameo on the show, appearing in the very first episode of Season 1. Entourage was (very) loosely based on his experiences in Hollywood as a young actor, and the Boogie Nights star was a producer of the show. 

David Schwimmer

A great thing about the cameos was that often the celebrities weren't afraid to poke a little fun at themselves. Take, for example, David Schwimmer's spot in the Season 6 episode "Running on E." Schwimmer sits in a pitch meeting with super agent Ari Gold's (Jeremy Piven) team and offer after offer is for the Friends star to play some sort of neurotic character for comedic effect. The frustration for Schwimmer is palpable. 

Peter Dinklage

One of the most common tropes on the show was the stars taking potshots at Ari. Ari was a character we all loved to hate, but it turns out most of the celebrities playing themselves also hated Ari. Peter Dinklage is one of those when he trades barbs with Ari at a party in the Season 2 "Sundance Kids."

John Stamos

John Stamos was the perfect type of celeb to show on Entourage. It was always fun to see how a cameo appearance might just be an opportunity to take down lovable loser Johnny Drama (Kevin Dillon). In a bit of a twist, after getting insulted by Stamos a few times, the two play an epic match of ping pong that ends predicably for Drama in the Season 7 episode "Tequila Sunrise." 

Jeffrey Tambor

Jeffrey Tambor plays a jerk like few others can in Hollywood. When he's playing a fictionalized version of himself being to jerk to his kids, it's comedy gold. Fictional life as a jerk and real life have blurred together for Tambor, but his appearance in Season 6 is still really funny. 

Matt Damon

Matt Damon takes charity very seriously, so his cameo on Entourage, in the Season 6 finale, fits perfectly. It's also a rare time that Vince (Adrian Grenier) is the one getting clowned when he tries to dodge both Damon and Bono into giving money to their charity to help children.  

Val Kilmer

Val Kilmer's guest spot on the show is a little different than most on this list. He doesn't play himself, but the role is so brief – and so funny – that it had to be included. In Season 1, the Top Gun: Maverick star plays a "sherpa" living in a giant house in Beverly Hills like a '60s hippie. 

Snoop Dogg

No one brings joy like Snoop Dogg. There is never a time when people are unhappy to see the legendary rapper show up somewhere on TV and Entourage is no exception. The brief interaction between Snoop, Vince, and Eric (Kevin Connolly), partly highlights the confusion of how to pronounce "Cannes" in the Season 4 episode "The Dream Team."

James Cameron

The Season 2 episode "Sundance Kids" really kicked the cameos on the show into overdrive and one of the best of the whole series is James Cameron. Vince is trying to land a role in his Aquaman movie, so Turtle and Drama try to help (and fail). The best part, though, is Cameron's interaction with a barista (played by This Is Us star Chrissy Metz). 

Tom Brady

Turtle (Jerry Ferrara) is a die-hard New York Giants fan, so when he meets Tom Brady at a charity golf tournament, he does what any self-respecting fan would do, he blows him off and refuses to shake his hand. It's brilliant. 

Martin Scorsese

Entourage proved just how big it was for celeb cameos when none other than Martin Scorsese appeared for a brief scene to offer Vince a role in his fictional The Great Gatsby movie in the finale of Season 5. You know you've made it when Scorsese gets involved. 

Scarlett Johansson

Season 1 ends with a big-time star appearance when the one and only Scarlett Johansson cameos on the phone with Vince, after Eric promises him to land a date with the superstar actress. It works, though it's the last time we'd see Johansson on the show. 

Stan Lee

Comic legend Stan Lee became the king of cameos with his iconic moments in the MCU universe for years, a streak that ended with his death in 2018. It's all too appropriate that we include him on this list, not only due to Lee's status as a cameo-king but because his quick role is just so funny as he can't quite place where he's seen Vince's adult film star girlfriend, Sasha Grey, before.

Lamar Odom

Entourage was replete with professional athletes throughout its run. Lamar Odom shows up pretty early in the show's run, in "An Offer Refused" in Season 2. The cameo is notable because of the way Drama gets obsessed with how men's calves look, including Odom's, which understandably freaks the NBA star out. 

Bono

Bono's appearance in the Season 6 finale is brilliant. He only appears via computer screen, as he's on a video call with Matt Damon and teams up with Damon to gang up on Vince to guilt him into getting on board with their charity. It's vintage Bono, pushing a charity but not taking himself as seriously as the world perceives him to be. 

Bobby Flay

Ari being a jerk to someone isn't a surprise, but Ari being a jerk to Bobby Flay is, pardon the pun, pure gold. Flay is great playing himself as the chef at his own restaurant, one of Ari's favorites, but the two bicker before Flay has had enough in the Season 8 episode "Whiz Kid." 

Sofia Vergara

Sofia Vergara's cameo is notable because she's not playing herself. While she herself is perfect for the role as a Colombian actress auditioning for the movie Medellin, it's funny because of how ridiculous the rest of Vince's team reacts to her. The first episode of Season 2 is one of the most unique, and funniest, of the show's run. 

M. Night Shyamalan

M. Night Shyamalan's appearance in the episode "Sorry, Harvey" in Season 4 is classic Entourage. Playing himself, he's angry at Ari for not reading his latest script and confronts the super agent to call him on it. It's the kind of cameo we've come to expect from this show, a major star fighting with Ari. 

Christina Aguilera

The Season 7 finale, "Lose Yourself" is one of the saddest of the show, for a few reasons. One is Ari throwing a lavish party for his wife to keep her from leaving him complete with Christina Aguilera singing "You Are Beautiful," only to have his wife not show.  Aguilera gets mad at Ari (naturally) and demands his Lakers playoffs tickets to keep performing. 

Adrian Peterson

NFL superstar Adrian Peterson selling a dinosaur skull. Is there anything more that needs to be said? The Season 7 episode "Tequila and Coke" has a great moment poking fun at people investing in fossils, and yes, Nic Cage gets a shout-out. 

Zac Efron

It's no surprise that Ari would be trying to steal a client from another agent, but what makes Zac Efron's cameo on Entourage so funny is his interaction with a fan while on the phone with Ari. A mom using her daughter to get Efron's autograph (and pushing for, um, more) is hilarious. 

Kanye West

Vince and his crew have no problem asking anyone for a favor. Kanye West is the victim of one of the most outlandish requests when they beg him for a ride on his private plane to France, even though Ye is headed for London in "No Cannes Do" from Season 4. The rapper is stunned and doesn't hide it, but still, who can turn down Vince? No one, not even Ye.

David Spade

David Spade is the perfect star for a cameo on Entourage. In his, he's got women on both arms and plays a total jerk. While he's surely not a jerk, he somehow has that public perception, which is what makes the cameo so much fun in the Season 8 episode titled "The Big Bang." Spade is just hilarious. 

Phil Mickelson

Phil Mickelson is clearly a good sport. Despite the show taking a shot at the pro golfer's failure at the 2006 U.S. Open, he later agreed to appear on the show, if only to show up Ari. A chance meeting on the golf course between Mickelson, and Kevin Dillon and Jerry Ferrara, led to the role. Kizmet. 

50 Cent

50 Cent makes one of the briefest cameos on the show, but it's one of the best. When he sees Turtle driving, he pulls up alongside and manages to take Turtle down a notch, despite the fancy ride he's driving in. Turtle has a rough time in his birthday episode, "One Car, Two Car, Red Car, Blue Car," from Season 6.

Aaron Sorkin

Aaron Sorkin's first cameo (he made two) on Entourage came in an episode named after him, "The Sorkin Notes" in Season 6. Sorkin is caught up in some drama in Ari's office that he wants no part of and is hilarious in a rare acting role for the writer and director. Now can we get that West Wing revival starring Sterling K. Brown that Sorkin had an idea for, please?

Dean Cain

Another very brief cameo comes from Dean Cain. The former Superman actor disrupts one of Drama's auditions, which crushes Drama, as he figures there's no one he can compete with Cain for the part. It's vintage Johnny Drama in the Season 6 episode "Scared Straight." It's another moment in which you can't help but feel terrible for Drama. 

Eminem

The Season 7 finale, "Lose Yourself," not only foreshadows Vince's downward spiral, but Eminem's cameo. In one of the lowest moments of Vince's life, he first insults Minka Kelly, then gets into a fistfight with Eminem. It's as sad as it is funny, a line the show walked brilliantly in the episode. 

Alex Rodriguez

How tragic would be to hear that you lost out on a ton of money from former Yankee Alex Rodriguez? That's what happens to Turtle when the shortstop-turned-third-baseman shows up on screen to tell Turtle that the tequila company he once owned a lot of stock in went public after he sold out. Ouch. 

Steve Nash

Poor Steve Nash. The NBA star was at the height of his fame when he was unwittingly cornered by Eric at his manager's office (Scott Caan). Eric dumps all of his girlfriend problems on the Canadian basketball player's feet in the Season 6 episode "Murphy's Lie," and all Nash can do is look stunned. 

Johnny Galecki

Johnny Galecki's role in Entourage was a little more than one cameo, it was more like three cameos over three episodes and he plays a fictionalized version of himself who makes Eric's life hell by dating Eric's ex-girlfriend Sloan (Emmanuelle Chriqui). This version of Galecki is terrible but completely hilarious. 

Jessica Simpson

As Ari tries to protect his client base, he's forced to go hat in hand to a client who's mad at him for not caring when her dog died. Jessica Simpson meets Ari at the door in "Bottoms Up" from Season 7, and in classic Entourage fashion, makes Ari look like the jerk that he is, despite his insincere attempt to gift another dog to Simpson. It sums up everything a great Entourage cameo should be. A big star, an unrepentant Ari, and some choice lines. 

This is a list that could be almost endless, and we didn't even get into the multiple cameos in the Entourage movie, one of which featured Channing Tatum that didn't actually happen. 

The “will they, won’t they” trope refers to when a TV show traces the blossoming romance of two central characters — such as Jim and Pam from the U.S. version of The Office cast or the two original lead Cheers characters, Sam and Diane. But, what about the characters who led a major storyline that involved the end of their relationship and, more specifically, the end of a marriage? We thought we would give some of the most iconic divorced TV characters their due by highlighting our favorites below.

Ross Gellar (Friends)

The ultimate TV divorcee — in sitcoms, at least — is easily Ross Gellar (David Schwimmer), who is splitting from his first wife, Carol, in the Friends pilot. In Season 4, his marriage to Emily Waltham (Helen Baxendale) is ruined during the ceremony because of his oft-debated history with Rachel (Jennifer Aniston), who later becomes his third wife by a drunken mistake in Vegas. 

Joyce Byers (Stranger Things)

Before Joyce Byers (Winona Ryder) and the rest of the Stranger Things cast faced off against Demagorgons and other creatures, she had another monster to contend with: her husband. The selfish, deceitful, and abusive Lonnie (Ross Partridge) did not even care about the disappearance of his own son, Will (Noah Schnapp), in Season 1 of the Netflix sci-fi drama and blamed Joyce, who eventually — and quite thankfully — found romance with longtime friend, Jim Hopper (David Harbour).

Don Draper (Mad Men)

The seemingly picture-perfect union of Don Draper and Betty Hofstadt (Mad Men cast members Jon Hamm and January Jones) came to an end by the AMC period drama’s fourth season after unsuccessful attempts to reconcile amid each other’s affairs. However, it was not the ad executive’s last or even first marriage. Previously, his union with Anna Draper (Melinda Page Hamilton) — widow of the man whose identity he stole — was annulled and he and his third wife, Megan Calvet (Jessica Pare), began to grow apart in the penultimate season.

Reba Hart (Reba)

One of the best country music singers-turned-actors, Reba McEntire, became sitcom royalty with her Golden Globe-nominated performance as the lead of her own comedy on The WB (and, later, The CW). Lasting six seasons, Reba was the story of a Southern single mother of three struggling to maintain a relationship with her ex-husband (played by Christopher Rich) and the woman he left her for (Melissa Peterman). Luckily, as the theme song says, she’s a survivor.

Seong Gi-hun (Squid Game)

In one of the best Netflix TV shows, Squid Game, the central protagonist Seong Gi-hun (Emmy winner Lee Jung-jae) chooses to leave for the deadly tournament after surviving the first round. But, after learning that his daughter is about to move to the United States with his ex-wife and her new husband, which is what convenes him to reenter the games. However, in the Season 1 finale, he ditches his chance to reconnect with his daughter in favor of taking down the tournament, which we will see playing when Season 2 of the South Korean hit premieres.

Frasier Crane (Cheers, Frasier)

On Cheers, Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer) meets and eventually weds fellow psychiatrist, Lilith (Bebe Neuwirth). After she left him for another man before later pleading reconciliation, the long-running series ended with their marriage facing an uncertain fate. When Frasier’s self-titled spin-off premiered, it was revealed that he had left for good before packing up for Seattle, where they would sometimes reunite, including on Paramount+’s revival series in 2023.

Toby Flenderson (The Office)

The HR representative at Dunder-Mifflin’s Scranton branch, Toby Flenderson (The Office writer Paul Lieberstein), is divorced — a fact his self-described enemy, branch manager Michael Scott (Steve Carell), often uses to taunt him. Toby and his ex-wife had a daughter named Sasha (Delaney Ruth Farrell), whom we meet in one of the most cringe-worthy episodes of The Office, “Take Your Daughter to Work Day.”

Dorothy Zbornak (The Golden Girls)

What led Dorothy Zbornak (Bea Arthur) to move in with her mother, Sophia (Estelle Getty), Blanche (Rue McClanahan), and Rose (Betty White) is her split from Stan (Herb Edelman). Nonetheless, Dorothy’s ex-husband would remain a recurring staple of The Golden Girls, and the former spouses’ lasting, yet imperfect, affection for one another made for a uniquely charming pair.

Bobby And Pam Ewing (Dallas)

The only thing as captivating as the mystery of who shot J.R. Ewing (Larry Hagman) on Dallas was the marriage of Bobby Ewing (Patrick Duffy) to Pamela (Victoria Principal), who comes from the rival Barnes family. The Romeo and Juliet-style romance which turned many against them was initially the central focus of the primetime soap (one of the most popular TV shows of its time), until the couple ended up turning against each other.

Kirk And Luann Van Houten (The Simpsons)

In Season 3 of The Simpsons, we meet Milhouse’s parents, Kirk (Hank Azaria) — one of the most popular Simpsons characters to enter the series late — and Luann Van Houten (Maggie Roswell). In Season 8 — after a disastrous game of Pictionary at Homer and Marge’s dinner party — the couple called it quits and Kirk’s many efforts to salvage their union — including penning a song called “Can I Borrow a Feeling” — could not redeem it, unfortunately.

Grace Adler (Will & Grace)

Interior designer Grace Adler (Will & Grace cast member Debra Messing) almost got married in the pilot before finally finding her match in Dr. Leo Marcus (Harry Connick, Jr.), until his one-night-stand on a Cambodian Doctors Without Borders assignment ruined things. While they managed to work things out, remarry, and raise their daughter together in the finale, the 2017 revival series (which ignores the previous series’ ender) reveals that Grace, unable to trust Leo for his past mistake, left him again.

Michael And Jane Mancini (Melrose Place)

At the beginning of Melrose Place, the heart and soul of the Beverly Hills, 90210 spin-off was surgeon Michael (Thomas Calabro) and fashion designer Jane Mancini (Josie Bissett). However, by Season 2, Michael’s suddenly villainous transformation — complete with a terrible attitude and adulterous habits — saw the end of the marriage.

Matt Foley (Saturday Night Live)

When Chris Farley’s most famous SNL character, Matt Foley, made his SNL debut — in a beloved sketch written by Bob Odenkirk — the motivational speaker provided three important facts about his life: he is 35, divorced, and lives in a van down by the river. In subsequent editions of the bit, we learn he has actually been married “thrice” and even winds up in jail for failing to pay alimony at one point.

Cleveland Brown (Family Guy)

One of the funniest Family Guy characters, Cleveland Brown (Arif Zahir, who replaced Mike Henry) was married to Loretta (Alex Borstein) until she was caught cheating with Quagmire (Seth MacFarlane). When he got his own spin-off, The Cleveland Show, he reunited with his childhood friend and secret crush, Donna Tubbs (Sanaa Lathan), and his dreams came true when they married.

Larry David (Curb Your Enthusiasm)

After years of putting up with the neurotic and selfish behavior of her husband, Larry David (creator Larry David), the final straw for Cheryl (Cheryl Hines) came late in Curb Your Enthusiasm’s sixth season when he was too preoccupied with a TiVo installer to comfort her during a turbulent flight over the phone. Larry would later attempt a few schemes to win her back, including casting her as the wife of a character he inspired, George Costanza (Jason Alexander), for an in-show Seinfeld cast reunion special. 

Alan Harper (Two And A Half Men)

Initially, the premise of the long-running CBS sitcom, Two and a Half Men, saw Charlie Harper (Charlie Sheen) reluctantly take in his brother, Alan (Jon Cryer), and nephew, Jake (Angus T. Jones), after Alan’s wife, Judith (Marin Hinkle) kicks him out. Alan later meets and marries the young, ditzy Kandi (April Bowlby) in an impromptu ceremony, but she splits with him because of — as it is eventually revealed — their differing opinions on having children… and his ear, nose, and chest hair.

Selina Meyer (Veep)

For, just about, the entire duration of their 12-year marriage, Andrew Meyer (David Pasquesi) cheated on his wife, Selina (Emmy winner Julia Louis-Dreyfus) almost constantly. Still, upon their reunion on Veep — a show Parks and Rec fans will love —  the attraction between them remains strong, which results in some increasingly ridiculous hijinks behind the scenes of Selina’s political career.

Lucious And Cookie Lyon (Empire)

We learn at the beginning of Empire that Lucious Lyon (Terrence Howard) divorced Cookie (Taraji P. Henson) while she was still in prison — kicking off a volatile personal and professional relationship between the music industry magnates upon her release. While they would remarry in Season 4, the sixth and final season began with them separated before, eventually, finalizing their second split.

Maura And Shelly Pfefferman (Transparent)

At the beginning of Amazon’s Emmy-winning dramedy, Transparent, Maura Pfefferman (Jeffrey Tambor) — then known as “Morton” — revealed to her wife, Shelley (Judith Light) that she was transgender, Shelley could not accept this news and opted to split up. Eventually, however, despite a brief chance at rekindling their romance, they prove to be much stronger friends.

Jules Cobb (Cougar Town)

After the series finale, Friends cast member Courteney Cox’s most successful follow-up was an ABC (later TBS) original sitcom called Cougar Town. She played Jules Cobb: a single, forty-something mother to Travis (Dan Byrd) — whom she had with ex-husband, Bobby (Brian Van Holt) — who eventually remarries when she falls for her neighbor, Grayson Ellis (Josh Hopkins).

Lou Grant (The Mary Tyler Moore Show)

One of the first TV characters depicted as a divorcé was Lou Grant, portrayed by the late Ed Asner to multi-Emmy-winning acclaim on The Mary Tyler Moore and on his more dramatic self-titled spin-off. The TV news producer’s marriage to Edie (Priscilla Morrill) ends roughly halfway through the series, but they remain in touch and Lou even attends Edie’s nuptials to Howard Gordon.

Erica Kane (All My Children)

One of the most notorious divorcés in TV history is Erica Kane, played by the legendary Susan Lucci on All My Children. Over the course of four decades on the ABC daytime soap opera, the businesswoman was seen tying the knot a staggering eleven times.

Angela Bower (Who's The Boss?)

Years before Judith Light portrayed a divorcé on Transparent, she played single mother Angela Bower on the hit ABC sitcom, Who’s the Boss? The advertising executive would eventually find love again with her widowed live-in housekeeper, Tony Micelle (Tony Danza).

Rhoda Morgenstern (Rhoda)

When Valerie Harper left the Mary Tyler Moore Show to star in her own spin-off, Rhoda, the title character would meet and marry a divorced man named Joe Gerard (David Groh). Their relationship would only last a couple more years and we discovered much later in a 2000 TV movie called Mary and Rhoda that she found a new French husband named Jean-Pierre Rousseau, but that marriage did not last either.

Niles Crane (Frasier)

Arguably the funniest recurring gag in Frasier is that Niles Crane’s (David Hyde Pierce) wife, Maris, is never once seen — due to the characters’ increasingly bizarre descriptions making her impossible to cast — even after their marriage falls apart in Season 4. Thankfully, Niles would later fall in love with his brother’s housekeeper, Daphne (Jane Leeves).

Angela Martin (The Office)

After her engagement to Andy Bernard (Ed Helms) ends due to her affair with Dwight Schrute (Rainn Wilson), Angela Martin’s (Angela Kinsey) marriage to state senator Robert Lipton (Jack Coleman) ends due to his affair with Oscar Martinez (Oscar Nunez) in the final season of The Office. Soon after, she and Dwight finally and openly admit their love for each other and wed in the series finale, which actually counts as their second after Dwight fooled her into a marriage while she was still engaged to Andy.

Alexis Morrell (Dynasty)

Much of the most intense drama on the long-running primetime soap opera, Dynasty — which was later rebooted for The CW — stemmed from the relationship between former spouses Alexis Morrell (Joan Collins) and Blake Carrington (John Forsyth). The marriage was actually the first of four for the socialite, who also went on to marry Cecil Colby, Dex Dexter, and Sean Rowan.

Bill Dauterive (King Of The Hill)

For all 13 seasons of King of the Hill, Bill Dauterive (voiced by Stephen Root) never quite got over his ex-wife, Leonare (Ellen Barkin). There was a time in Season 5 when he had a chance at finding love again with former Texas governor Ann Richards (voicing herself), which ultimately went nowhere, but was almost ruined by one of Leonare’s schemes.

Mike and Gloria Stivic (All In The Family)

The conservative Archie Bunker (Carroll O’Connor) would constantly butt heads with the more liberal Mike Stivic (future filmmaker Rob Reiner), who was married to his daughter, Gloria. However, by the end of the groundbreaking run of All in the Family, the couple separated. Archie initially assumed it was by Mike’s doing, until Gloria admitted to her own infidelity.

Mr. Big (Sex And The City)

The classic “will they, won’t they” relationship between Carrie Bradshaw (Sex and the City cast lead Sarah Jessica Parker) and John James “Mr. Big” Preston (Chris Noth), would eventually result in marriage (until his death, as revealed in the sequel series, And Just Like That…), which was the entrepreneur’s third. He was previously married to a woman named Barbara and, during a time when he and Carrie were apart, married a younger woman named Natasha (Bridget Moynahan).

Louie (Louie)

Much like in real life, Louis C.K.’s fictionalized version of himself in the acclaimed FX series, Louie, is a divorced comedian. In fact, one of its sharpest elements is its almost tragically hilarious depiction of single parenthood from his perspective.

Henry VIII (The Tudors)

Borrowed straight from the history books, Showtime’s The Tudors incorporates a truly heinous depiction of a marriage ending. Because divorce is against her religion, Catherine (Maria Doyle Kennedy) has her marriage to King Henry VIII (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) annulled due to his obsession with Anne Boleyn (Natalie Dormer). As a result, she is exiled. 

Breaking up is hard to do, but in the case of these divorced characters, it made for great television.

Weeks ago, the world sadly lost actor and comedian Matthew Perry, who died at 54 after being found unresponsive in his hot tub on October 28. Tributes for the beloved star have since poured in from fans and celebrities alike. Of course, many were most interested in hearing from his fellow Friends cast members. In time, Perry’s co-stars released a joint statement in which they lamented his passing, and they’re now starting to share their own personal recollections of him. Jennifer Aniston and David Schwimmer are the latest to do so, as they penned emotional tributes to their friend and colleague after Courteney Cox shared a message of her own. 

Jennifer Aniston did not hold back when taking to Instagram to share her thoughts on her longtime colleague’s death. The Rachel Green actress' post included a long caption, in which she made note of the “insane wave of emotions” she’s been feeling. She also explained how sitting in grief has allowed her to experience the “moments of joy and gratitude for having loved someone that deep.” The Emmy winner eventually went on to discuss how her late friend used to love to make people laugh. You can see Aniston's message in its entirety down below as well as a sweet photo, text and a notable clip from the show featuring their characters:

That tribute was emotional enough, but David Schwimmer’s is also enough to evoke a tear or two. In addition to sharing an A+ snapshot of his Ross Geller and Matthew Perry’s Chandler Bing, Schwimmer recalled his co-star’s comedic talents as well as his warm heart. Schwimmer said it was Perry’s kindness and generosity that allowed the cast to “create a family out of six strangers.” And what was particularly sweet is that the actor finished his eulogy with an A+ joke that would make Perry (and Chandler) proud:

Lisa Kudrow, the actress who so brilliantly played Phoebe Buffay for 10 seasons, sung the Fools Rush In star's praises as well. She took to Instagram to drop a vintage photo of her and her co-star as well as some sweet words of thanks. She expressed gratitude to the late actor for his ability to make people laugh, his "open heart" and dedication to his job even amid his addiction struggles. The post can be found below:

Courteney Cox (who played Monica Geller) also got sentimental while remembering her faux husband on Instagram. The relationship between Monica and Chandler was incredibly special to fans, and Cox’s post summed it up perfectly. She expressed her gratitude over having been able to work with her former co-star and also shared a clip. The snippet of footage is the famous moment the couple’s tryst in London was revealed. Take a look for yourself down below:

This trio of stars aren't the only veterans from Friends (which is available for Max subscribers) to speak out about the 17 Again alum individually. Lead cast member and Joey Tribbiani portrayer Matt LeBlanc previously shared a tribute that included some sweet and nostalgic photos. In the caption of his Instagram post, LeBlanc also reflected on the good times he had while working with the man who played his character’s best pal. Series guest stars Selma Blair and Paget Brewster also paid their respects with beautiful messages.

The sheer amount of love Matthew Perry has received over these past few weeks has been nothing short of heartwarming. It’s honestly still somewhat surreal knowing that he’s no longer with us. However, Perry’s greatest TV and theatrical works -- including the Friends episodes that could make anyone a Perry fan -- will absolutely continue to be enjoyed for years to come, and it seems evident that the bond he shared with Jennifer Aniston, David Schwimmer and the rest of his co-stars will stand the test of time. 

We here at CinemaBlend continue to extend our condolences to the family and loved ones of Matthew Perry.

In the beginning, the cast of Friends reportedly made $22,500 per episode, by the end all six actors famously had astounding salaries of $1 million per episode. However, at one point, all of these stars were not set to make the same amount of money. It turns out that David Schwimmer and Jennifer Aniston actually played a big role in helping the ensemble eventually get to their gigantic paydays, as the late Matthew Perry revealed in his book. 

As many reflect on and pay tribute to Matthew Perry, including his fellow Friends alums, discussions about the legacy of Friends and just how popular it was (and still is) have been reignited. Along with that, the crew’s famously high salaries have been explained, and thanks to the Chandler actor’s book, it’s also been revealed how the crew was able to stand together, and make it so they were all paid equally. 

David Schwimmer Had The Idea For The Cast To Negotiate Salaries As A Group 

In Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing, Perry wrote about how the Ross Geller actor was considered the big star of the show. However, instead of taking a larger raise than his co-stars, Schwimmer approached the cast and proposed the idea that they all negotiate their salaries as a unit. 

After Season 1 of Friends, as reported in The Guardian, David Schwimmer and Jennifer Aniston were earning more than Perry, Matt LeBlanc, Lisa Kudrow and Courteney Cox because of the buzz around Ross and Rachel’s relationship. When Season 3 rolled around, Schwimmer asked Aniston if she’d be willing to take a pay cut, so all six members of the ensemble could receive equal pay. In his memoir (via The Guardian), the Chandler Bing actor gave big props to his co-star for making this choice, as he wrote:

Later on, Perry wrote about how grateful he was to Schwimmer and that decision made during the early seasons of Friends. He explained:

In the end, the cast went on to famously make $1 million per episode during the last two years of the show. Series co-creator Marta Kauffman called the salaries “ridiculous.” However, considering how beloved the show was, and how much appreciation there still is for the series, it seems like it was worth every penny to pay all six actors so much.  

By The Last Seasons, The Friends Cast Was Making $1 Million Per Episode 

By the time Friends entered into its later seasons, the cast had become bonafide superstars, and the show had been a pop culture phenomenon for years. In an interview with the Huffington Post Matt LeBlanc commented on how the ensemble ended up making $1 million per episode, saying:

The Joey Tribbiani actor went on to say that if anyone is in a position to get a raise, and they don’t, they’re “stupid.” He then explained that he and his castmates were “in a position” where they could “pull it off,” so they did. 

By the end of its run, the stars of the hit sitcom were making $1,100,040 per episode, and it was in big part thanks to David Schwimmer and Jennifer Aniston deciding to take a pay cut early on and stand in solidarity with their colleagues. To this day, the Friends cast still makes money in royalties, and the story of their incredible salaries is legendary.

To go back and watch all eight seasons of Friends, all you need is a Max subscription. 

The Friends cast lost a member with the passing of Matthew Perry at the age of 54 at his home on October 28. He played Chandler Bing through ten seasons of the beloved comedy, alongside Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, and David Schwimmer. Now, two days after the sad news, his former castmates have joined together with a touching message about their friend. 

In a joint statement (via People), the surviving members of the Friends cast said:

The message from the five stars follows guest stars like Selma Blair and Paget Brewster speaking out about Matthew Perry, and establishes that this will not be the only time that Aniston, Cox, Kudrow, LeBlanc, and Schwimmer address the tragedy. The sad news comes just over two years after the six leads came together for Friends: The Reunion.

When Perry's death was first reported, it was said that he drowned in his jacuzzi following cardiac arrest, with no drugs or foul play involved. The sitcom legend had been open about health struggles in the past, including an accident when he was given 2% chance of survival and his addictions throughout the seasons of Friends. He credited Jennifer Aniston for reaching out to him.

In his memoir that released almost exactly one year prior to his death, Perry also expressed that he hoped Friends was not remembered as his biggest accomplishment in life, as (via The Wrap) he "did try to help other people." He wrote that "the best thing about me is if an alcoholic or drug addict comes up to me and says, 'Will you help me?'" According to the actor, his response was always "'Yes, I know how to do that.'" That could involve helping in a group setting, or one on one. 

For their part, Friends co-creators Marta Kauffman and David Crane, along with former executive producer Kevin Bright, commended Perry for his performances as Chandler Bing was well as what he brought to the show with his personality behind-the-scenes. In a joint statement (via People) on October 29, they said: 

Matthew Perry was clearly beloved for his work on screen as well as his presence and personality off-screen, and fans have been posting messages of their own on social media ever since the news broke. TBS is running a marathon of episodes that showcase his character from November 1 - November 5. Our thoughts here at CinemaBlend are with the family, friends, and loved ones of Perry in this difficult time.

My all-time favorite episode of Friends, and I think this is the case for many, is “The One With The Embryos” from Season 4. While it’s named after the storyline regarding Phoebe and her pregnancy, the part of the episode that sticks with me is the silly trivia contest that led to Chandler and Joey switching apartments with Monica and Rachel after they made a bet. It’s a hilarious game of whits that leads to one of the most jarring and hysterical plot points when the boys join the list of people to live in Monica’s apartment, and the story behind how this episode came to be makes it even better. 

The Trivia Contest Was Born Out Of An Effort To Save Money And The Pad O’ Guys 

Sometimes the best ideas are born out of limitations, and that’s exactly what happened with this episode of Friends. In an oral history about “The One with the Embryos” for TV Guide, executive producer and director Kevin S. Bright opened up about how the idea for the trivia contest, and ultimately trading apartments, came to be. He said:

Amy Toomin Straus, a co-producer and co-writer on the episode, then said the writers were told that if they could get the entire cast of Friends in one room, “it’s like magic.” So, that’s essentially what they did. This led to Seth Kurland, another co-producer and writer, explaining how he came up with the idea for the trivia game Ross moderates and Chandler, Monica, Rachel and Joey play. He said:

So, the idea for the trivia game, which led to some of the most iconic quotes from Friends that fans still reference – “Miss Chanandler Bong” and “That’s not even a word!” are staples in my vocabulary – came from an effort to cut costs and a random story about a few of the writers. That alone makes this episode even, better, but there is more to how this hilarious story, and the eventual apartment switch, came together. 

The Friends Crew Fully Decided To Commit To The Bit Of Switching Apartments

One of the reasons this storyline works so well, and is my favorite, is because the cast and crew fully committed to the bit. The exaggerated reactions the girls have to getting questions wrong, Ross’s seriousness as the game show host, and the boys’ glee about winning all come together to make a gloriously hilarious episode that culminates in one of the best and most unique bits of the show: they switch apartments. 

David Crane, the show’s co-creator and executive producer, explained why they decided to not just make the apartment switch a gag, and actually go through with the flip to TV Guide, saying:

I’m so happy they owned it! The bit was truly hysterical, and the creativity behind it, plus the dedication to pulling it off is one of the many reasons why Friends is one of the best ‘90s sitcoms. Seeing all the boys' furniture in the girls' apartment was so jarring, especially against those purple walls, and the same can be said about Monica and Rachel moving into Chandler and Joey’s place. Greg J. Grande, the set decorator, explained why just the set changes made the sequence so funny, and it makes complete sense. He said:

John Shaffner, a production designer, also weighed in on the set decisions made to pull off the apartment switch, and he noted how it feels like the boys are “trespassing” when they move in. That feeling of misplacement really makes the entire situation wild, and incredibly funny. He said:

I think one of the reasons this episode is a favorite of mine comes down to how goofy the premise is. I feel like my friends and I would totally do a trivia game like this, and place a funky bet on it. However, I’m not sure if we’d go through with it. The fact that the Friends actually switched apartments, and this bottle episode became the biggest gag of Season 4, is a major reason why it’s not only hysterical but truly legendary.  

The one with the trivia contest, the switching of apartments, and the embryos is a top-tier episode of Friends. Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry and David Schwimmer gave it their all, brought the funny, and the writers and crew created a story and a set that amplified their hilarious performances. Overall, this episode, which started in an effort to save money, ended up being one of the most unique installments of Friends, and even though it’s been decades since it aired, it’s still regarded by me and many others as one of the comedy’s best storylines. 

You can stream “The One with the Embryos” (which is Season 4, Episode 12) and all of Friends with a Max subscription. 

Retired Friends writer Patty Lin has been spilling the tea on her experience in Hollywood in her new memoir, End Credits: How I Broke Up With Hollywood. In it, she details everything that happened in her career as a screenwriter, including the good, the bad, and the ugly. Having joined the writing team at Friends for Season 7, Lin discussed what it was really like behind the scenes. Although it sounded absolutely miserable for the most part, she did open up about a high point she had, and it was all thanks to David Schwimmer. 

Via Us Weekly, Lin talked about her time as an extra in the Season 7 episode “The One With All the Candy” and how Schimmer's kindness made it a little easier. She said:

Even though it was a small gesture, a little kindness goes a long way. Considering Patty Lin didn’t have the best time while working on Friends, it’s nice to know that she has this moment to look back on. The fact that it was Schwimmer who was kind is certainly notable. Directing and acting at the same time can likely add pressure to not only said actor but everyone on set.

Lin has been pretty open about her experiences in her new memoir. Since she’s worked on shows like Freaks and Geeks and Desperate Housewives, along with Friends, she has a lot to say. She retired after working on Breaking Bad in 2008, and even though it’s been 15 years, that isn’t stopping her from telling the world about what it’s really like writing on some of the biggest shows, some of which are the best shows streaming on Max. Even in the midst of some bad times, there are some good memories that Lin has from her career, and the memoir proves it. 

Meanwhile, Patty Lin hasn’t been the only one who has been open about her Friends experience as of late. Jennifer Aniston recently discussed her Friends audition, admitting she auditioned and landed the role the same day, despite many actresses in the running for Rachel. Clearly, the right call was made because it’s hard to imagine anyone but Aniston playing Rachel. Not to mention, Rachel's ‘do surely wouldn’t have been as iconic if it was on any other actress’ head. 

Hollywood can be a brutal place. Even if a show seems like the perfect job, it may not always look like that. It is good to look at the bright side of things, though. While Lin’s End Credits: How I Broke Up With Hollywood mostly details her experience as a screenwriter (and it’s not pretty), even just little moments make all the difference.

For 10 years in the ‘90s and early aughts, the writers on Friends had their work cut out for them, tasked with providing funny and memorable storylines for Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry and David Schwimmer. Somehow, they succeeded in not only making lifelong stars out of the show's main six but in creating a universe that included a long manifest of A-plus guest stars and beloved recurring characters. One of the most iconic of those was Ugly Naked Guy. So who exactly was this “unattractive nude man”? What happened to him, and why didn’t we ever see his face?

What’s notable about Ugly Naked Guy is that while he was talked about several times in the first five seasons of Friends, he was actually only seen twice, and both times his face was hidden. So let’s dive into the story behind one of the sitcom’s most enigmatic characters. 

Who Played Ugly Naked Guy, And Why Didn’t We Get To See His Face? 

First things first, the character of Ugly Naked Guy was the man who lived in the building across from Monica Gellar’s apartment. The gang often watched him through the window, commenting on whatever he was up to — playing the cello, using a Thighmaster, trying out Gravity Boots, etc. The actor, however, was an uncredited extra, and until 2016 — 17 years after his final appearance on Friends — nobody even remembered the actor’s name. 

Enter Todd Van Luling of the Huffington Post, who went on a yearlong quest to solve the mystery. He followed the Ugly Naked trail back to Jon Haugen, and all those years later, Haugen explained why his identity remained hidden for so long, saying: 

Friends producer Todd Stevens provided even more clarity as to why they kept the character uncredited, including why his face was never seen. Stevens told Van Luling: 

It’s true that Ugly Naked Guy wasn’t the kindest name the group could have picked, and I can see why there was apprehension to have an actor’s name and face associated with the character and all of his exhibitionist hobbies. But that begs the question … 

Was Ugly Naked Guy Really Naked? 

Ugly Naked Guy made physical appearances in two episodes: Season 3’s “The One With the Giant Poking Device” and Season 5’s “The One Where Everybody Finds Out.” In that latter episode, the unnamed character was moving out, and as Ross Gellar hoped to snatch up the apartment for himself, he attempted to bond with Ugly Naked Guy by stripping down. The extended version of the episode showed the two disrobed men sitting together and enjoying a basket of mini muffins. As for whether they were really nude or not, Jon Haugen revealed to the Huffington Post: 

It makes sense that Jon Haugen and David Schwimmer weren’t actually naked during shooting, but the production made it look realistic enough that the scene was kept off of the original NBC broadcast. 

How Was Jon Haugen Cast As Ugly Naked Guy? 

When the decision was made to find an extra to play the subject of the group’s voyeurism, there was likely no expectation that the character would become as iconic as he did. So how did Jon Haugen happen upon the opportunity? Executive producer Kevin Bright gave some insight on the casting process, saying on the DVD commentary for “The One Where Everybody Finds Out”: 

I can imagine that was one of the stranger casting processes anyone on either side of the table ever had to do. With the emphasis being on what the actors looked like in their boxer shorts rather than any actual acting prowess, the actors had to actually audition in their underwear. Even though the job only resulted in two episodes’ worth of work, Jon Haugen at least has lifelong bragging rights. 

What Happened To Ugly Naked Guy? 

As previously mentioned, the decision was made in Season 5 to have Ugly Naked Guy move, with Ross taking the apartment across from his sister. This served two purposes, the creators said in the episode commentary. For one thing, they felt it was time to move on from the “Ugly Naked” jokes. David Crane said: 

Marta Kauffman concurred and added that while Ugly Naked Guy had served them well as a source of humor, having Ross and Monica be able to see into each other’s apartments served as an even-better setup for stories and jokes in the latter half of the series. Ugly Naked Guy may have moved out, but Friends fans will never forget what he contributed to the early seasons. You can see a compilation of “Ugly Naked” jokes below: 

Ugly Naked Guy may seem like sort of a thankless role, with only two appearances over 10 years, an objectively unflattering nickname, not having his face shown or his name in the credits. Jon Haugen, however, didn't see it that way. He said he loved the character and had nothing but great memories of the cast and crew, telling the HuffPost: 

You can revisit Ugly Naked Guy’s episodes of Friends, or any of your other favorites, as all 10 seasons — and the 2021 reunion special — are available to stream with a Max subscription. Be sure to also check out our 2023 TV schedule to find out about all of the upcoming television and streaming premieres. 

There are popular TV shows, and then there’s Friends. The comedy series was a sensation, which ran for a whopping ten seasons and won its cast a number of Emmy noms and wins. Fans followed the will-they-won’t-they surrounding Ross and Rachel during that time, which ended in them finally getting back together in the series finale. And Jennifer Aniston reflected on that big Friends kiss with David Schwimmer.

The series finale of Friends saw Monica move out of her beloved apartment to start a family in the suburbs with Chandler. We also saw Rachel leaving New York, before getting off the plane and choosing Ross. Their reunion kiss was steamy, and Aniston shared what it was like filming the lip lock while appearing on Live With Kelly and Mark back in March(via Page Six). When asked about the kiss, she offered:

Well, there you have it. Not all stage/film kisses are created equal; Millie Bobby Brown called her Stranger Things co-star a bad kisser. But it’s more than understandable if the actors don’t enjoy smooching in front of a set full of crew members. But despite this, Jennifer Aniston seems to have enjoyed that iconic last kiss with David Schwimmer’s Ross. No wonder it looked so good!

During that same interview on Live with Kelly and Mark, Kelly Ripa pointed out that Aniston and Schwimmer had crushes on each other while working on Friends for those years. The Morning Show actress confirmed this, saying:

While Joaquin Phoenix and other actors are known for going method for acting projects, it turns out that Jennifer Aniston and David Schwimmer kind of did this during Friends’ decade long run on the air. Whatever they did it worked, as fans anxiously awaited every new episode of the comedy to find out if Ross and Rachel would end up together.

For those who need a reminder, you can check out the clip with the finale kiss from Friends’ finale episode below. Titled “The Last One”, we got the answers to all of our questions, and Rachel/Ross shippers got the happy ending they’d waited for.

Despite the years that have passed, Friends remains part of the pop culture landscape. There are plenty of fans who re-watch the series, and the cast of actors recently taped a reunion special, although Aniston admitted it was creepy. After all, they were basically transported back in time.

Friends is streaming on Max. Be sure to check out the TV premiere list to plan your next binge watch.

Not all social media filters are created equal. There have been some truly frightening experiences out there when Instagram or TikTok purports to be able to turn users into a celebrity, swap their genders or otherwise alter their image. Just take the viral Friends filter that Courteney Cox tried out on herself: You know it’s pretty bad if even she couldn’t figure out which of her faces was supposed to be Monica. One aging filter, however, which a TikTok user applied to the same sitcom’s cast, returned some eerily accurate images.

The popularity of Friends has not waned that much in the two decades since its final episode aired on NBC in 2004, thanks in large part to near-constant reruns on cable and the entire series available to stream on Max. The familiarity of Jennifer Aniston, Matthew Perry and the rest of the cast’s characters make them popular subjects for many A.I.-generated images, and the below TikTok video almost makes it look like the actors today were digitally inserted into old scenes! Check it out: 

The cool thing about this using the aging filter on the Friends cast is that we actually know what those actors look like now, since it’s been nearly 30 years since the show’s premiere. It’s also been only a couple of years since the cast reunited on the old set, giving a strange familiarity to the digitally aged characters in the TikTok video. 

When an artist used artificial intelligence to reimagine the Friends characters as kids, the comparisons were not quite as accurate (or easily comparable).

Lisa Kudrow’s Phoebe and David Schwimmer’s Ross, to me, look the most like their real-life portrayers, but it seemed like everyone in the comments had their own opinion about who looked the most accurate. Strangely enough — or perhaps not strange at all — Jennifer Aniston didn’t pop up much in the post, and when she did, it didn’t appear that her Rachel had gotten any older. Many people amusingly pointed out that the technology even nailed that aspect of the actors’ current looks. Some of the comments included:

• Even the filter says Jennifer Aniston never ages. – Ally Garrard
• Wait .. Jennifer Aniston did not age 🤔 – Shann_McC
• My girl aged like the finest wine 😭✋ – regulus_black_cant_swim
• frkn Rachel!!! I need to know her skin care! PRONTO – alea.8g

Others didn’t like what the filter meant for their own futures, as the Friends cast seemed to prove they were getting a pretty accurate prediction of what they will look like in the decades to come. TikTok users wrote: 

• If it’s this accurate it means I-😭😭😭😭😭 – fiiloeee
• I started saving up for plastic surgery since I saw mine 😂 – TheHolicraft
• Wait.. If this is actually accurate. BRO I DON’T WANNA GET OLD I LOOK DEAD – zainabazharr_
• Oh hell no. I saw myself. 😂😂😂😂😂😂 Oh no – Audrine Rosnovski

As Jennifer Aniston says, aging is inevitable, and there’s always the chance that the years will be kinder to you than the filter. If you want to catch all of the Friends back in their earlier decades, all 10 seasons of the comedy are available with an HBO Max subscription. 

After over 30 years in the business, Friends actress Jennifer Aniston has been open about the realities of aging in Hollywood. She even recently got a rude awakening, when she was informed that Cole Sprouse — who was 7 when he played Ross Gellar’s son Ben on the beloved sitcom — is now 30 years old. Yes, it’s been nearly two decades since Rachel Green and the other Central Perk patrons last graced our television sets via NBC, but thanks to the magic of artificial intelligence, we can now imagine what those characters looked like decades earlier — as toddlers! So how close did the A.I. come to the actors’ actual childhood pics?

London residents Luca and Anna Allievi recently used A.I. technology to recreate Ross, Rachel, Monica Gellar, Joey Tribbiani, Chandler Bing and Phoebe Buffay as little kids. So we wondered how those creations compared to actual photographs of Jennifer Aniston and the rest when they were youngsters. Let’s take a look at what we could find. First, check out these stunning A.I. creations: 

It’s actually frightening how much those artificial toddlers resemble the Friends characters, down to their hairstyles and clothing options. But how do they compare to the actors? Jennifer Aniston shared an old photo of herself with her parents to Instagram, which we can compare to the one above: 

While A.I. Toddler Rachel looked like she came straight from hair and makeup with that stylishly messy ‘do, young Jennifer Aniston was rocking some serious bangs that don’t do justice to the woman whose “The Rachel” hairstyle would become a phenomenon. Their faces, however, definitely have some similarities, and somehow their expressions are identical!

When it comes to A.I. Toddler Phoebe, her bright clothes and blonde waves are instantly recognizable as the “Smelly Cat” songstress. Young Lisa Kudrow, however, was actually brunette:

While Lisa Kudrow was not a toddler in this photo with her parents, you can still see that her face looks a lot like the A.I.-created image, and the length and style of her hair are the same in each pic!

For A.I. Toddler Monica, meanwhile, it is all. about. the. eyes. The technology captured those big blue stunners that make the photo identifiable as Courteney Cox’s character. But how does it compare to her actual childhood photos? Take a look:

Not bad! I’m blown away by the side-part she’s got in both pics, even if Courteney Cox’s eyes aren’t as piercing in the photo of what appears to have been her first acting gig, according to the actress’ caption. 

And what about Monica’s brother, A.I. Toddler Ross? You can just hear the downtrodden, “Hi,” wanting to escape from Luca and Anna Allievi’s creation, but young David Schwimmer didn’t have Ross’ three divorces hanging over his young head and was therefore in much higher spirits in a childhood photo he shared:

The expressions may be different — as well as the hair, with David Schwimmer seemingly sporting the popular bowl cut — but again, look at the eyes!

Obviously the artists were recreating the Friends characters as toddlers, not the actors, but it’s really cool to be able to look back at what Jennifer Aniston and her co-stars looked like as kids to gauge the accuracy of the Allievis and the software they used. I’d say they did a pretty impressive job!

If you want to relive any of the old Friends episodes on streaming, all 10 seasons and the reunion special are available with an HBO Max subscription (now just Max). You can also keep up with everything new coming to TV and streaming with our 2023 TV schedule. 

When it comes to Apple TV+, they’ve been coming out with hit after hit, whether it be the famous Ted Lasso, or the award-winning Severance, there’s plenty on the streaming service to love. And now, they’re back with the latest ensemble series, Extrapolations. 

The TV show is an anthology drama series that shows the effects of climate change across the world, from different characters that are somehow all connected. In any show like this, there are many stars that you have probably seen somewhere before. Here is where you might have spotted the Extrapolations cast. 

Kit Harington (Nicholas Bilton)

First up on the list is Kit Harington, who plays Nicholas Bilton in Extrapolations. Harington is primarily known for his role as Jon Snow in the Game of Thrones cast, but he’s also had roles in shows such as Gunpowder, and was in movies like Pompeii as well as Eternals. 

Daveed Diggs (Rabbi Marshall Zucker)

Daveed Diggs portrays Rabbi Marshall Zucker in Extrapolations, and the actor has been on a grind recently with his shows and movies. While Diggs is primarily known for his role in the Hamilton cast, he’s the star of Snowpiercer, and was also in big movies such as Soul and Blindspotting. 

Sienna Miller (Rebecca) 

Next up is Sienna Miller, who plays Rebecca. Miller has been in films such as The Lost City of Z, Foxcatcher, American Woman, and G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra. She was also in the TV film, The Girl. 

Meryl Streep (Eve)

Portraying Eve in Extrapolations is Meryl Streep, a name that I’m sure we are all very familiar with. Streep has been in so many movies that it’s hard to even keep track sometimes. I’m sure that somehow, someway, you have heard of her, so let’s go over some of her best roles and where you’ve seen her before.  

Streep got started back in the 1970s on the stage, but later on moved into movies and TV with films such as Julia, Kramer vs. Kramer, Sophie’s Choice, Out of Africa, Death Becomes Her, The Bridges of Madison Country, The Post, Little Women, The Devil Wears Prada, Into the Woods, The Hours, and more. If you want to hear something crazy, she holds the record for the most nominations by an actress for the Academy Awards – 21. 

Besides movies, Streep has done a lot in television, as well. She had a lead role in the miniseries, Holocaust, as well as a starring part in the second season of Big Little Lies. She was also a part of the miniseries, Angels in America, which won her a Primetime Emmy award. 

Michael Gandolfini (Rowan)

The son of James Gandolfini, Michael Gandolfini portrays Rowan in the series. He’s been in films such as Ocean’s 8, and portrayed the younger version of Tony Soprano in The Many Saints of Newark on HBO Max. He is also going to be in Beau is Afraid, coming out later in 2023.

Heather Graham (Hannah)

Moving on, we take a look at Heather Graham, who plays Hannah. She’s been in many films that you might recognize her from, such as Six Degrees of Separation, Boogie Nights, Bowfinger, Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, Horns and more. She also had a supporting role in Twin Peaks, and was in the shows Scrubs and Californication. 

Tahar Rahim (Omar) 

Tahar Rahim portrays Omar in Extrapolations, and this actor has already been all over in movies and television. Rahim is mainly known for his role as Judas in the film Mary Magdalene, as well as his big part in The Looming Tower, but he’s also been in movies such as The French Prophet, and the miniseries, The Serpent.

Matthew Rhys (Junior) 

Moving on, we take a look at Matthew Rhys, who plays Junior. Rhys is primarily known for his starring role in the famed drama, The Americans, but he’s also been in films such as The Edge of Love, The Post, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, and more. He’s also the titular character in Perry Mason, and has done voice work in the underrated animated show, The Owl House. 

David Schwimmer (Harris Goldblatt) 

Harris Goldblatt is played by David Schwimmer, and I’m pretty sure most of us are aware of Schwimmer from his time as part of the Friends cast. However, he has plenty of movie work under his belt, including the Madagascar series, Nothing But the Truth, The Pallbearer and more. He was also a part of Band of Brothers, and was one of the stars of The People vs. O.J. Simpson. 

Diane Lane (Martha)

Next up is Diane Lane, who plays Martha and has been in many, many movies. Some of her biggest hits have been Man of Steel, The Cotton Club, Streets of Fire, The Lady Beware, and Hollywoodland. 

Edward Norton (Jonathan) 

Edward Norton plays Jonathan, and he has been around in the film industry for some time. Recently, he was a part of the Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery cast, and was also the lead in The Incredible Hulk, but has starred in many other movies, like Fight Club, Bourne Legacy, and The Grand Budapest Hotel, among others. 

Mia Maestro (Mariama)

Moving on, we have Mia Maestro, who plays Mariama in Extrapolations. Maestro is primarily known for her role in shows such as The Strain and Alias, as well as her parts in The Twilight Saga, and her role in Frida.

Indira Varma (Gita) 

Indira Varma plays Gita and was also a part of the Game of Thrones cast, but has been in other television roles such as on Obi-Wan Kenobi, the Amazon original, Carnival Row, Luther, Human Target and more. She was also in movies like Silent Hours and the Disney+ original movie, The One and Only Ivan. 

Adarsh Gourav (Guarav)

Next up on the list is Adarsh Gourav, who plays Guarav in Extrapolations. The actor is primarily known for his work in Bollywood, as he’s appeared in many Hindi films, but he was also in the American film, The White Tiger in 2020. He was also a part of the online web series, Hostel Daze. 

Keri Russell (Olivia Drew)

Another big name here is Keri Russell, who plays Olivia Drew. Russell is also known from her starring role in The Americans (alongside her real-life partner, Matthew Rhys), as well as her breakout starring role on the college show, Felicity, but has since appeared in many other shows and movies. Most recently, she starred in Cocaine Bear, but has also appeared in films such as Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, We Were Soldiers, and more. 

Gemma Chan (Natasha)

Moving on, we take a look at Gemma Chan, who plays Natasha. Chan was also a part of the Eternals cast, but has appeared in many other movies, such as Don’t Worry Darling, Crazy Rich Asians, Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them, Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit and more. She was also a part of the Humans television series. 

Marion Cotillard (Sylvie)

Marion Cotillard is a French actress who plays Sylvie on Extrapolations. Cotillard is primarily known for her Academy Award-winning role in La Vie en Rose, but has been in many other movies such as Taxi, Inception, The Immigrant, Midnight in Paris, The Dark Knight Rises and others. 

Eiza Gonzalez (Elodie)

Next up on the list is Eiza Gonzalez, who plays Elodie in Extrapolations. The young actress was primarily known for her role in Spanish telenovelas for many years, but has since started to break into Hollywood with many roles in movies such as Baby Driver, I Care A Lot, Godzilla vs. Kong, and 2022’s Ambulance. 

Tobey Maguire (Nicolas) 

You’d really have to be living under a rock to not know who Tobey Maguire is, and thankfully, he’s back in action in Extrapolations, where he plays Nicolas. Maguire is primarily known for his years as Spider-Man, where he played Peter Parker for three films and reprised the role in Spider-Man: No Way Home, but he’s done plenty in the acting industry besides that. 

His biggest roles besides Spider-Man include those in The Great Gatsby, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Pleasantville, The Cider House Rules, Brothers, and many more. He was also recently in 2022’s Babylon, which was nominated for an Academy Award. 

Forest Whitaker (Augustin)

Last but not least, we take a look at Forest Whitaker, who has been in the industry for some time and appeared in many, many big-time movies. He plays Augustin in Extrapolations. Some of Whitaker’s biggest roles thus far have included parts in movies like Platoon, The Great Debaters, The Butler, Respect, The Crying Game, Good Morning Vietnam, and The Last King of Scotland. 

Whitaker has also appeared in such big films like Rogue One: A Star Wars Series, and was also in Black Panther. Currently, he stars in the series, Godfather of Harlem. 

Keep in mind that this isn’t even the complete cast, so if you’re at all interested in seeing anyone else that might not be on this list, be sure to check it out at Apple TV+. Either way, Extrapolations is looking to be an intense show – and with an even more intense cast list. It’ll still be fun, that’s for sure.  

A ton of A-list guest stars came and went over the 10 years that Friends was on the air, including Bruce Willis, Julia Roberts, Tom Selleck and George Clooney. But as Season 10 wound down, and the six core actors filmed their final scenes in Monica and Rachel’s purple, rent-controlled apartment, there was only one outsider who’d earned a place in the inner circle. Paul Rudd was featured in Friends’ 2004 series finale, playing Phoebe’s husband Mike, and the actor recently spoke about why he felt “strange” about being included.

Whether he was flirting with the guy from the children’s charity to get their donation back or calmly explaining why Phoebe couldn’t keep rats as pets, Mike Hannigan was the perfect complement to Lisa Kudrow’s kooky character. He added stability to her life without taking the spotlight. To be part of the final episode, though, felt weird because of what the experience meant for actors who’d been together for a decade. He told the hosts of Heart Breakfast:  

Paul Rudd made his Friends debut in the third episode of Season 9 and appeared in 16 altogether over the final two seasons. In “The Last One,” Mike is there with the whole gang, when Monica (Courteney Cox) and Chandler (Matthew Perry) come home from the hospital with their twins. That’s when we learn what Pheobe’s future holds, as she and Mike decide to start trying to have their own baby.

As important a moment as it was to put a bow on Phoebe’s story, the eternally youthful-looking actor seemingly felt a little awkward, given how poignant a time it was for the other actors. He continued: 

It seems the Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania star had the same philosophy off-screen as on — not wanting to take the attention away from the main cast. He knew what the moment meant for Jennifer Aniston, David Schwimmer, Matt LeBlanc and the rest, and he was just trying to stay out of the way.

Matthew Perry wrote in his memoir Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing that when the first AD yelled “that’s a wrap” on the series, “tears sprang from almost everyone’s eyes." Jennifer Aniston, in particular, seemed to have had some intense emotions surrounding the end of Friends’ run — which, incidentally, coincided with the end of her marriage to Brad Pitt — and Perry recalled the Rachel portrayer crying so hard he “was amazed she had any water left in her entire body.”

I can definitely see how Paul Rudd might have felt like an interloper during that emotional series finale — the same way his daughter felt about him being on Friends in general — no matter how important it was that Mike was there for Phoebe. You can relive the series finale or any of your favorite episodes, as all 10 seasons of Friends and the reunion special are available to stream with an HBO Max subscription. 

Monica and Rachel’s apartment on Friends is one of the most recognizable locations in television history. The unbelievably spacious two-bedroom abode boasted beautiful purple walls and a balcony (even if their only view was into Ugly Naked Guy’s apartment). As far-fetched as it seemed that these 20-somethings could score such a lovely living area — albeit with help from Monica’s grandmother — what was even more implausible was the comically low amount they forked over for rent each month. Nearly three decades since the NBC sitcom premiered, just what would it cost to live in such an establishment in 2022?

Because of rent stabilization established in the 1940s, Monica was able to move into her grandmother’s old apartment for the low, low price of just $200 a month. This proves Chandler was right when, in the series finale, he commented that rent control made living there a “friggin’ steal.” 

So how much would that same apartment cost today? Hoval, an interior design institute, estimates (via Fox 10 Phoenix) that a two-bedroom apartment in Manhattan’s West Village today would put you out about $6,554 a month. That’s almost three years of rent in Monica and Rachel’s time.

All six of the main characters lived there at some point, and why wouldn’t they? Splitting the rent between two roommates makes that monthly bill just $100, and it suddenly makes a lot more sense why they were able to spend so much time drinking coffee at Central Perk, rather than, you know, working. Central Perk waitresses and freelance massage therapists likely aren’t pulling in the $3,200 it would take to make their half of what that rent would be today.

It also makes one realize just how high the stakes were when Monica and Rachel were forced to switch apartments with Joey and Chandler after they lost a game to see which roommates knew more about the other pair in Season 4’s “The One With the Embryos.” Check out that classic moment:

Monica’s trademark, “Nooooooo!” at the end of that clip really takes on a new meaning when you realize she just gambled on paying $100 a month to live there. Over the course of 10 seasons, we saw different combinations of the Central Perk 6 taking up residence in the apartment. Monica (Courteney Cox) met Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow) when they lived there together before the events of the sitcom. Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) moved in in the series premiere after running out on her wedding day.

We later saw Joey (Matt LeBlanc) and Chandler (Matthew Perry) temporarly lived there after winning the apartment from the girls, and Chandler moved in with Monica after they became a couple. In the series finale, Monica pointed out that Ross (David Schwimmer) had also lived there for a summer before college, when he was pursuing a career in dance. (Between that and Chandler’s history as a mime, the potential exists for a really interesting series, should Friends ever be reimagined as a drama.)

For now, fans can revisit all 10 seasons of Friends, including 2021’s Friends: The Reunion, with an HBO Max subscription, and check out our 2022 TV schedule to see what other series are premiering soon. 

Former Friends star Matthew Perry apparently has a lot to say in his upcoming memoir, Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing. Ahead of the book’s November 1 release, fans have already gleaned some knowledge about how bad his addiction got on the set of the ‘90s sitcom, and that Jennifer Aniston once confronted him about his drinking. Despite the fact that stories will be regaled about events that happened during this extremely important decade of the six actors’ lives, Perry said he doesn’t think that his co-stars will read his memoir.

Well, none of them other than Lisa Kudrow, that is. The actress who played Phoebe Buffay read an advance copy of Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing, so that she could write the book’s introduction. As for Jennifer Aniston, Matt LeBlanc, Courteney Cox and David Schwimmer, however, they aren’t likely to do the same, Matthew Perry told GQ: 

Matthew Perry has said he thinks his memoir will help other people who are struggling with addiction. Longtime fans of the show, meanwhile, will be interested to learn more about the man who played the hilarious Chandler Bing — as well as get some good behind-the-scenes stories about Friends, including the wild way he convinced Julia Roberts to make a guest appearance on the sitcom. But Perry said his former colleagues don’t really have a reason to read it.

The argument could be made that they were there alongside Matthew Perry for those 10 years, and therefore already know the stories he’s going to tell. However, Lisa Kudrow and Jennifer Aniston expressed disbelief during their 2021 reunion special, when the actor opened up about how much anxiety he had over being able to make the audience laugh. It's probably safe to assume there will be things in the book that he never revealed to his co-stars.

You’d think the other four actors would at least be curious to see what Matthew Perry wrote about them, as he had promised not to sugarcoat anything, including his feelings about his castmates. The actor has already had to issue an apology for apparently dragging Keanu Reeves in the memoir, so it definitely looks like Perry isn’t pulling any punches.

Whether or not the rest of the Friends cast reads the book, fans are likely to experience a whole range of emotions, as Matthew Perry describes a time that being on the show possibly saved his life during a medical emergency but also reportedly describes having a crush on Jennifer Aniston.

Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing will be available on Tuesday, November 1, and in the meantime, you can stream all 10 seasons of the iconic sitcom, including Friends: The Reunion, with an HBO Max subscription. 

Grey’s Anatomy is putting a lot of stock into its rookie cast members, as Season 19 marked a new beginning for the ABC hit. Ellen Pompeo is preparing to take a step back from the series, and the writers have taken the opportunity to refocus on the teaching aspect of the hospital, introducing five first-year residents to serve as part of the main cast going forward. Midori Francis joined the Shonda-verse as Mika Yasuda, and while Grey’s fans are excited to see how her character develops on the longtime medical drama, there’s another classic primetime staple Midori’s always wanted to have a part in.

Midori Francis, like so many of us, was a fan of the NBC sitcom Friends, but being the actress that she is, she wasn’t content to merely watch the episodes over and over again in syndication (or with an HBO Max subscription). Rather, Francis thought up a way she could incorporate herself into that world, telling InStyle: 

It’s actually kind of a genius idea, because nobody would blink an eye if Ross Gellar (who was played by David Schwimmer) was revealed to have had a secret marriage. HIs character had already been married and divorced three times at the end of Friends’ 10-season run, and I’m pretty sure we’re supposed to assume he and Jennifer Aniston’s Rachel would remarry after the series finale. (Unless, of course, they were on a break). 

That plot twist on the original series would lend itself to a Friends reimagining that’s more dramatic than comedic (much like the show-within-a-show on Hulu’s Reboot, which you should be watching, if you’re not). I don’t know how serious Midori Francis still is about the idea that she conceived in her youth, but I’m just saying I’d watch it. 

Not that I’d want to lose the actress from Grey’s Anatomy. The first episodes of Season 19 are slowly filling in the new characters’ backstories, and Mika Yasuda has already cemented her fun personality within the show. The new surgeon is living out of her van, comes from a family of nine children, and tends to put her foot in her mouth with her dark sense of humor. Which technically sounds like she could be a Friends character already.

Alongside Mika Yasuda, Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital has added Simone Griffith (Alexis Floyd), Blue Kwan (Harry Shum Jr.), Jules Millin (Adelaide Kane) and Lucas Adams (Niko Terho), who was revealed in the season premiere to be the favorite nephew of one Derek Shepherd, aka McDreamy. Lucas’ familial ties to the hospital are something the intern wants to keep hidden from his fellow first-years, to the point that he preferred to let Blue think he was sleeping with Amelia Shepherd (Caterina Scorsone) rather than admit that she’s his aunt. That's the kind of boneheaded move I might expect more from a sitcom like Friends, but it’s also the beauty of having new and mistake-prone interns on Grey’s Anatomy. 

If you want to see Midori Francis and the rest in action, new Season 19 episodes air at 9 p.m. ET Thursdays on ABC, and you can check out what other shows are premiering soon with our 2022 TV schedule. 

Back on Season 7 of Friends, in “The One With Monica’s Thunder,” Monica accused Rachel of stealing her thunder by kissing Ross on the same night that she and Chandler got engaged. Well, fast forward to present day, and the Rachel actress is getting a taste of her own medicine. Jennifer Aniston posted a pic of herself in the shower in promotion of her haircare line, which led to an amusing exchange between her and David Schwimmer, when her on-screen “lobster” attempted to one-up her with his own bathroom-centric post.

Jennifer Aniston, who played Rachel Green on the classic NBC sitcom, took to Instagram to promote her LolaVie products with a steamy photo of herself rinsing shampoo out of her hair. Check out her post below:

While her Friends co-star Lisa Kudrow (the latest victim/perpetrator of the “rude celebrities” trend) showed her support via the simple comment, “Ohh,” David Schwimmer drew attention to it by responding in kind with his own lather-licious shower post. Responding to Jennifer Aniston's tease in her caption, “Something’s coming 9.8.22,” Schwimmer channeled his inner Ross Gellar and hilariously replied on his own Instagram, “a towel I hope??” as he appeared to be struggling with a face full of soap:

These dueling shower pics are giving this Friends fan life! It’s so much fun to see that the actors are still friends in real life, regardless of the sitcom ending nearly two decades ago, and I love that they’re so supportive of each other’s projects. (Not a euphamism, I don't think.) 

Jennifer Aniston, however, joked that David Schwimmer wasn’t helping with her promotion, but rather drawing attention away from it, as she referenced that old Friends storyline by commenting:

Any die-hard Friends fan can appreciate this callback to Season 7, as well as Season 1’s “The One With the Boobies,” in which multiple shower hijinks ensued. 

In that episode Chandler accidentally saw Rachel naked post-shower. She tried to go “tit for tat,” so to speak, but ended up walking in on a showering Joey, who then burst in on Monica. When Monica tried to retaliate, she got an eyeful of Joey’s dad, and if those characters didn’t start locking the damn bathroom door after that, I just don’t know what to tell you. (Was it possibly this kind of ridiculousness that made Kanye West say Friends wasn’t funny?)

At least Jennifer Aniston and David Schwimmer’s latest social media banter was unrelated to the epic and ongoing “We were on a break!” argument, and it was decidedly less creepy than when Courteney Cox experimented with the Friends face filter on her own social media. 

It’s unlikely all six actors will come together again after last year’s Friends: The Reunion, so these fun little social media exchanges will have to satisfy fans who still can’t get enough of the beloved sitcom. But we can always rewatch all 10 seasons, including the reunion special, on streaming with a subscription to HBO Max. 

The cast of the classic ‘90s sitcom Friends thrilled fans last year when they got together for the first time on screen since the 2004 series finale for Friends: The Reunion. There were some truly fun moments for fans — including a fashion show with celebrities like Cara Delevingne recreating some unforgettable wardrobe moments, and Lady Gaga joining Lisa Kudrow to sing “Smelly Cat.” But going back to that set after 17 years also packed an emotional punch for the six actors, and Jennifer Aniston explained what was “so creepy” about the experience.

Jennifer Aniston spoke to Sebastian Stan for Variety’s “Actors on Actors” series, where she talked about reuniting with Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer, Matt LeBlanc, and Matthew Perry in front of the camera for the first time since Friends went off the air after ten seasons. When the Pam & Tommy actor asked Aniston what it was like to see everyone in that setting again, she said it was emotional beyond what they’d anticipated:

It must have been off-putting to return to that set that was so preserved in time, even though the actors had all gone on to other experiences — both good and bad — in the years that followed. Jennifer Aniston previously spoke about getting so emotional that she had to walk out, and how the special made her feel “a little melancholy” when thinking about how young and optimistic they were when the show ended in 2004. Despite all that, she said, she “wouldn’t change a lick of it”:

This nostalgic look at the past followed Jennifer Aniston’s recent comments on The Ellen DeGeneres Show as a guest on the final episode. The Rachel Green actress had been Ellen DeGeneres’ first interview 19 seasons ago and made frequent appearances on the show. The host asked the actress’ advice on how to handle the end of such a substantial era in her life, Aniston gamely recalled that with the ending of Friends also came the end of her marriage to Brad Pitt, so she dealt with it by starting therapy.

Friends: The Reunion may have been more than the actors were ready for, and even Courteney Cox has said they’re unlikely to do that again. That’s truly a shame for diehard fans, but at least we can continue to rewatch the 10 seasons in syndication and on HBO Max. Be sure to check out some of the other best shows on HBO Max while you’re at it!

When Friends premiered back in 1994, there’s no way its stars could have predicted the level of fame the show would bring them. While Courteney Cox was relatively well-known, thanks to her appearance in Bruce Springsteen’s “Dancing in the Dark” music video, the careers of all six actors — who also included Jennifer Aniston, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry and David Schwimmer — skyrocketed only after the launch of the NBC sitcom. Ahead of the first season, the new group of friends famously went away on a bonding trip, where one of the Central Perk crew proved hilariously unlucky.

There’s a story in Friends lore that famed television director James Burrows took the six cast members to Las Vegas ahead of the show’s premiere. Unlike the Season 5 episodes that would follow, nobody got drunkenly married or found their hand twin (I’m assuming). But Burrows did recount what happened in his upcoming memoir Directed by James Burrows (via ET), recalling how he predicted the enormous success that was about to befall the group:

I can imagine it would be pretty hard to believe you could go from anonymity to international fame as quickly as these actors did. Courteney Cox, however, might have had some inkling of what was about to happen, as it’s said she made a pretty big purchase following her audition to play Monica Gellar. Matt LeBlanc, meanwhile, has famously said he was down to $11 before he got the role of Joey Tribbiani, and according to James Burrows, his money trouble continued when they reached Sin City: 

It’s amusing to think about a time when $200 would be a lot of money for any one of those actors — especially considering how many millions they make each year off of royalties — but it's really funny to imagine Matt LeBlanc losing all of his money in one fell swoop. I’m surprised that story didn’t make it into Joey’s plotline in “The One in Vegas.” The director said all six of them did pay him back after the trip.

James Burrows was certainly right that the six of them would never be able to go into public together unnoticed ever again, but he said the trip did more than provide them with one last opportunity for anonymity. It was also about bonding, and their tight off-screen relationships proved important over the years as they went through salary negotiations together.

Friends was on the air for 10 years, though, so it wasn’t foosball and coffee houses the whole time. The actors endured a number of personal obstacles over the years, including divorce, fertility struggles and substance abuse problems. Matthew Perry has his own memoir coming out this year that promises not to sugarcoat the tougher times. Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing is due for a November 1 release, and until then, all 10 seasons of Friends, including the 2021 reunion special, is available for streaming with an HBO Max subscription. 

The world of social media filters has come a long way since the days of simply changing a photo’s tone or giving someone cat whiskers. These days you can really go down a rabbit hole of different animated scenarios. Some are admittedly kind of cool, but more than a few could be described as truly disturbing. A new Friends face filter that’s going viral definitely falls into the latter category, and after seeing Courteney Cox test drive the filters of her iconic character’s face — as well as those of her five co-stars —  let’s just say Michael Flatley, Lord of the Dance isn’t the only thing scaring the bejesus out of me.

Courteney Cox posted a video on Instagram trying out each of the six Friends filters — including, of course, Monica — and giving her opinion of her friends’ likenesses. What was the verdict? Well, if Janice’s laugh was enough to make Chandler's balls jump back up inside his body, just wait until he sees his wife’s face morphed with his own. That is the “If They Mated” that nobody needed to see! Check out the terrifying post below:

“I’ll be there for you” sounds more like a threat all of a sudden than anything that will bring me any kind of nostalgic comfort. Y’all, that is just not right. They’re doing my Friends dirty! 

The Ross filter was straight out of a horror movie. Courteney Cox noted that the Joey filter looked pretty good with her earrings, and she gave a solid “How you doin’?” But the filters for Rachel, Monica and Phoebe were indistinguishable. It’s not a good sign when the actress who played the character can’t even find her own face in the filters. Cox playfully slammed the app as being “one of the worst”:

Hasn’t Courteney Cox been haunted enough? The Shining Vale actress noted that the Chandler filter looks like he has rosacea, and honestly, why is his face so much pinker than the other five characters? Matthew Perry should dedicate a whole chapter of his upcoming tell-all book to the injustice that filter did to his face! 

In the end it seemed like the app started to drain Courteney Cox of her self-confidence, as she continued to wonder which was the Monica filter. She went back to the one that was most likely her, much to her displeasure, given the shape of its mouth. She said:

Well I’d say the filter was all in good fun, but honestly I might have nightmares about Courteney Cox-as-Ross. I hope these images aren’t used as inspiration, should Friends ever be rebooted as a drama. If you need to go rewatch some classic episodes to scrub that terrifying video from your mind, all 10 seasons of Friends, including Friends: The Reunion, are available for streaming with an HBO Max subscription. Also be sure to check out our 2022 TV Schedule to see what new and returning shows are premiering soon.

Friends, the iconic NBC sitcom that premiered in 1994 and ran for 10 seasons, became a phenomenon around the world that continues today. Fans are still buying the merch and quoting the lines and arguing over whether or not Ross and Rachel were on a break. So it didn’t get past viewers when the contestants on the British version of The Chase all shared names with the actors who portrayed our famous coffee-drinking New Yorkers. The reason why, however, actually makes total sense.

On the British version of The Chase, which was adapted in the U.S. in 2013 for four seasons on the Game Show Network before being revived on ABC in 2021, four strangers form a team to compete against a professional quiz master. The Sun reports that showrunners have been known to give the team members names that connect them somehow. Eagle-eyed fans were quick to spot the pattern on the January 3 episode, which featured Matt, Jennifer, Courtney and David:

Although viewers likely know by now to watch out for the fun connections, it’s still pretty impressive that Friends fans were able to pick this one out, since the first names of Matt LeBlanc, Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox and David Schwimmer are pretty common. The Chase also used the more traditional spelling of “Courtney,” which could have further thrown a die-hard Friends fan.

It’s also not the first time The Chase paid homage to the sitcom, which honored its loyal British fanbase in Season 4. In 1998, the production traveled to London to film the two-part finale, “The One with Ross’ Wedding,” in which Ross famously said Rachel’s name during his wedding vows instead of wife-to-be Emily. In 2017, The Chase featured an episode of the game show with a team of contestants named Rachael, Ross, Phoebe and Joey. Perhaps Monica and Chandler were off having some private time, as London was where their relationship started, after all.

Other famous connections on the British game show include a nod to the royal grandchildren, as a September 2021 episode featured Archie, Louis, Charlotte and George. In November, the show honored some legendary singers with the team of Prince, Tina, Elvis and Adele. The Chase got creative in December 2020, when it created a team of Ginger, Roger, Fred and Alistair, clearly a shoutout to the dancing Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire. 

The American version of The Chase — which features teams of three rather than four — doesn’t seem to have followed suit on its creative team-naming tactics, which is kind of a shame. I do see, though, how it’s a little strange to change the name of your contestants for the sake of an Easter egg. If you want to catch The Chase on this side of the pond, the Season 2 winter premiere starts at 10 p.m. ET Wednesday, January 5, on ABC. Check out our 2022 TV Schedule to see what else is coming back this month.