The year is 1994. I wasn’t born yet and Brazil had just won the FIFA World Cup in USA beating Italy on penalties. Not so far away in the Los Angeles area, Marta Kauffman and David Crane started developing a TV pilot for the fall season. They pitched a show about a group of 6 friends in their 20s living in New York City. The idea for the series was conceived when Crane and Kauffman began thinking about the time when they had finished college and started living by themselves in New York. Friends was a very unique show of that time. It started airing at a time when Jerry Seinfeld was dominating television. His show Seinfeld is one of the greatest sitcoms I have ever watched. You can argue that the 80s and 90s was a golden age of television for NBC with shows like Cheers, Seinfeld and Frasier lapping up the awards. Then came this show about a group of 6 friends living in New York City. There wasn’t really anything special about this show early on. It seemed like a very nonchalant show. Then slowly as the series progressed, it became a special part of my life. Till this day, Friends is my favourite show of all time.
” It’s about sex, love, relationships, careers, a time in your life when everything’s possible. And it’s about friendship because when you’re single and in the city, your friends are your family. “
— The original treatment used by Crane, Kauffman and Bright to pitch the series to NBC
I first watched this show back in 2010 when I was 15. Granted, I couldn’t understand some of the jokes but this show resonated a lot with me and was probably the reason why I kept watching it. The earlier season were arguably the best seasons of this show but there wasn’t really a bad season. Every season was a solid 7/10 which was a rare achievement for a show that lasted 10 years. This show introduced me to American pop culture and I haven’t looked back.
Ross and Rachel were probably the first couple on television that I shipped and I was ecstatic when they finally get together in season 2 only for Ross to screw it up a year later. (You were on a break buddy but that doesn’t mean you can sleep with someone else). I was so damn pissed at him but then came Monica and Chandler, arguably my favourite couple on the show. They are so different from each other yet they looked perfect together. I do relate a lot with Chandler more than the other characters. So, I was ecstatic when they broke that boundary in London and he got his girl. Joey is the one character we all need in our life. He is one person who’d do anything for his friends. Phoebe is weird and I just love her for the way she is. Why be normal when you can be weird. Phoebe taught me that.
I could literally go on and on about this show but let me tell you why this is one of the most significant and cultural landmarks in the history of pop culture. It has the most simplistic theme in life. The core is and always was about friendship and love. Those two are the most beautiful things in life. This is the reason why everyone found it relatable and probably why they loved it as well. Deep down, aren’t we all looking for that special someone to watch Friends with eh ? And another thing which I learned was that, sometimes it’s okay to be confused and not knowing what you want to do in life. I know I’ll get there eventually. The 20s are the period where you are trying new stuff and shaping your future. Mistakes will be made but it’s better to make them now and learn from them.
Thank you Ms Kauffman and Mr Crane for creating this show. This show gave me laughs and tears and hopefully everyone in future generations will continue to watch it and make a quintessential staple in the world. Do watch the show if you haven’t already. Thanks y’all. Take care.
Doc On The Bloc 