Whether you loved or hated Friends, you have to admit it is a phenomenon. Tonight at 9p on Reelz, we learn more about the sitcom on Friends: Behind Closed Doors. Throughout the two hour episode, we will hear from people who worked on the show, journalistic fans, and the original cast from old interviews. They will tell stories we have never heard, share details that will shock you and answer so many questions you did not know you wanted the answer to.
They will tell us how they cast all six friends. Who auditioned for Monica and Chandler and did not get the role? They wanted Jennifer Aniston for Monica and Courteney Cox for Rachel. Both actresses convinced them to do otherwise. Who came in with an injured nose? Which actress came close to playing Rachel but did not get the part because she was pregnant? Who went up to then-President of the NBC, Warren Littlefield, just before Friends and asked if it is ever going to happen to her? Which actors had other commitments? One was committed to a pilot that did not get picked up. While one of the actresses was on another show at the time and the other network would not let her go. Therefore, NBC screwed with CBS to make sure that show got cancelled. How? You have to watch to find out.
The network thought the cast was too young, so they wanted to add a seventh friend who was older. They thought a cop buddy would help bring in the older audience. The creators did not like that, so they added their parents instead. Which actress started on the show 2 days after giving birth? She literally got home from the hospital with her son and they asked her to be on the set the next day. She was not stupid, she agreed to do it. Lauren Tom, who played Ross’ girlfriend Julie, says the live audience booed her when they filmed her scenes. While she got booed, which scene got the most applauds?
Did you know season 8 was supposed to be its last? What made them agree to do a ninth season? Did you know Matthew Perry and Julia Roberts briefly dated around the time she appeared on the show? What storyline did the cast hate? Hint we hated it too.
These are just a few of the many things you will learn on this special. Fans of the show, and people like me who are so over it, will enjoy it. Whether you watched every episode or if you just heard of it, you will enjoy it because it gives you insight into how a show like this comes about.
