The “Friends” finale marks more than the departure of one of the longest-running and most successful sitcoms in television history. Passing with it from center stage in American popular culture is one of the most enduring and uplifting themes that prime-time TV has ever offered: the celebration of community.
“Friends is about that time in your life when your friends are your family. There’s a lot of heart in that idea,” said David Crane, the series’ co-creator.
As much as the series has been criticized for its lack of social reality in terms of diversity, cost of living, crime and gridlock, it was that very lack of reality, along with its promise of safe harbor among friends, that gave it a second life after 9/11. This was a New York where people loved each other and made babies, not a New York where hate-filled zealots crashed planes into towers.
Perhaps “Friends” was too safe and nice to ever be considered a great sitcom. But it captured the promise of community as well as any series in TV history. Just as Mary Tyler Moore did it for Baby Boomers, so did “Friends” do it for Generation X.
“Friends” has a breezy, sophisticated tone that recalls “The Dick Van Dyke Show” and an affection for sight gags, if not slapstick, that’s reminiscent of “I Love Lucy.” It isn’t the lines but how they’re delivered that’s funny. If you don’t believe it, try telling someone a “joke” you heard on “Friends.”
During a recent conference call to discuss Thursday’s “Friends” finale, a reporter asked Crane and co-creator Marta Kauffman about “Friends’ ” place in TV history.
“It’s such a daunting question for us because it is so not what we tend to focus on,” Crane said. “I’d like to hope that years from now, people can look at the reruns–because they’re apparently going to be there years from now–and say, ‘That is still a really funny show.’ “
“Friends” didn’t have some grand mission. Unlike “All in the Family,” it didn’t wade into the issues of its day with epithets flying. Unlike “M*A*S*H,” it didn’t tweak our conscience or challenge cliches of patriotism and war. Unlike “The Cosby Show,” it wasn’t out to rescue a race from negative stereotypes or parents from ridicule.
Even though “Friends” is the most popular sitcom of the past 10 years, it has had little discernible impact on TV, much less the larger culture, unless you count innumerable failed attempts to clone it (or innumerable magazine covers and stories about the actors’ personal lives–or hairstyles). It was a reliably genial sitcom about a klatch of young adults who were there for each other, no more, no less.
“Basically, they are just nice people that you want to be around,” explained Matthew Perry of the show’s appeal.
“Friends” is a throwback to a time when nobody–well, nobody except a handful of grumpy critics–really expected half-hour comedies to be anything more than effervescent amusement.
“There’s an emotional component to the show that we can never lose sight of,” Crane said, “because I think the shows you tire of the fastest are the ones where you don’t really invest [in the characters] on some level.”
– – –
Their future’s so bright
Friend: Jennifer Aniston
In the works: An untitled comedy about a woman who discovers her family was the real-life inspiration for “The Graduate,” “Diary” and “Gambit,” a remake of the 1966 British caper.
Star power: Aniston proved her acting range in “The Good Girl” and already has major feature films lined up. People magazine put her on the cover of its “50 Most Beautiful” people issue, and she gets to wake up next to Brad Pitt every morning. She’s the hottest “Friend” and will only get hotter.
Character quote: “And hey! Just so you know. It’s NOT that common, it DOESN’T ‘happen to every guy,’ and it IS a big deal!”–Rachel
FRIEND: Courteney Cox
IN THE WORKS: Cox and husband David Arquette are the creators and producers behind “Mix it Up,” an interior design show that premiered on WE Network in October 2003.
STAR POWER: After trying in vitro fertilization, she is expecting her first child. Cox–who wanted to be an architect while growing up and enjoys remodeling and decorating homes–may choose to focus on her family, home projects and decorating show in the near future.
Character quote: “This has been like my dream ever since I got my first Easy-Bake Oven and opened Easy Monica’s Bakery!”–Monica
FRIEND: Lisa Kudrow
IN THE WORKS: Kudrow will co-star in “Happy Ending” with Jennifer Garner and “Living and Breathing” with Mena Suvari. She’s also producing two pilots this season–an untitled CBS comedy starring Aisha Tyler and a UPN drama called “Beck and Call.”
STAR POWER: Sharing the silver screen with mega movie stars–including Billy Crystal, Robert De Niro, Diane Keaton and Meg Ryan–has given Kudrow’s star power a boost and proved she can play beyond Phoebe. Whether she’s behind the camera or on the big screen, we’ll be hearing more from her.
CHARACTER QUOTE: “I just gave birth to three children, and I will not let them be raised in a world where Joey is right.”–Phoebe
FRIEND: Matt Le Blanc
IN THE WORKS: Headlining “Friends” spinoff “Joey” on NBC next fall.
STAR POWER: Le Blanc has the least big-screen success of any of the “Friends.” NBC pinning most of its post- “Friends” survival on his shoulders might prove too much for him to handle. Didn’t they learn anything from “Coupling”?
CHARACTER QUOTE: “How YOU doin’ ?” –Joey
FRIEND: Matthew Perry
IN THE WORKS: Set to produce and star in “The Beginning of Wisdom” with his dad, John Bennett Perry; expected to shoot indie drama “Fever,” plus a two-picture deal with Paramount.
STAR POWER: After struggling with drug addiction, Perry has cleaned up his act, maintained his weight and is actually funny in real life. Plus, he’s kinda cute. His deal with Paramount bodes well for his future.
CHARACTER QUOTE: “I can handle it–handle’s my middle name. Actually it’s the middle part of my first name.”–Chandler
FRIEND: David Schwimmer
IN THE WORKS: Starring in indie drama “Duane Hopwood” and “Madagascar”; developing sitcom “Home and Hardware” for NBC starring Alyson Hannigan; reportedly set to direct “Nevermind Nirvana,” an NBC sitcom centered around an Indian family.
STAR POWER: The Lookingglass co-founder’s adaptation and direction of Studs Terkel’s “Race” for the company’s new theater generated a lot of local buzz. Schwimmer looks like he plans to leverage his directing experience and may have his greatest success behind the camera. Keep a look out for the Northwestern alum who likes to spend time in Chicago.
CHARACTER QUOTE: We were on a break!”–Ross
Time to bond
Go to chicagotribune.com/ friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday to check out running commentary about the show, and post your own thoughts on the “Friends” message board.
———-
If you want to say farewell to “Friends” with friends, metromix knows where the viewing parties are. Page 21
