What Made FRIENDS An Iconic Sitcom? | OSSA Movies Essay

Summary

The iconic TV show 'Friends' was created by Marta Kauffman and David Crane, who crafted characters and humor that resonated with audiences for decades. The show's success was built on its relatable themes of friendship, love, and career struggles, set against the backdrop of New York City in the 90s. Despite initial doubts from the cast and executives, the duo's unique approach to sitcom storytelling, focusing on a group of friends rather than a traditional family, struck a chord with viewers. The show's humor, character dynamics, and the chemistry between the six main actors contributed to its enduring appeal, making 'Friends' a timeless classic.

Takeaways

• 😀 The creators of 'Friends', Marta Kauffman and David Crane, were able to captivate audiences and make the show timelessly relatable.
• 🎭 The casting of 'Friends' was considered a 'miracle' due to the perfect chemistry between the six main actors.
• 📜 The original concept of 'Friends' was deemed risky and was not initially well-received, even by the cast.
• 🤝 The show's focus on friendship over familial relationships was a revolutionary approach for its time.
• 😂 The humor in 'Friends' was not solely from Kauffman and Crane; it involved a team of at least 12 writers to create the funny lines.
• 📺 The show's setting and props were meticulously detailed to create a believable world, contributing to its appeal.
• 👥 The characters' differences and interactions were used to create humor, a fundamental aspect of good comedy.
• ❤️ The romantic storylines, particularly Ross and Rachel's, were expertly crafted to keep viewers engaged throughout the series.
• 🌟 'Friends' resonates with millennials because it portrays the freedom and struggles of being in your 20s, mirroring a modern life stage.
• 🏡 The show's appeal lies in its ability to make viewers feel like the characters are their friends, providing comfort and relatability.

Q & A

Who are Marta Kauffman and David Crane, and what is their significance to the show 'Friends'?

Marta Kauffman and David Crane are the creators of the iconic TV show 'Friends.' They are often referred to as the 'parents' of the show, responsible for its creation and development.

How did Marta Kauffman and David Crane meet?

Marta Kauffman and David Crane met while acting in the same play during their early student years, where they discovered that their individual creativity complemented each other perfectly.

What was the initial concept of 'Friends' that Marta and David had in mind?

The initial concept of 'Friends' was centered around a group of people who do nothing but be friends, focusing on their lives as single individuals in the city where their friends are their family.

How did the show 'Friends' differ from traditional sitcoms of its time?

Unlike traditional sitcoms that promoted nuclear families, 'Friends' focused on a group of friends who formed their own chosen family, emphasizing friendship over familial ties.

What was the casting process like for 'Friends', and why was it considered a 'miracle'?

The casting process for 'Friends' was considered a 'miracle' because it was extremely difficult to find six actors who were not only individually perfect for their roles but also had great on-screen chemistry with each other.

Why did Matt LeBlanc initially think the script for 'Friends' was not good?

Matt LeBlanc thought the script for 'Friends' was not good because the concept of a show about friends doing nothing but hanging out was considered risky and too general at the time.

How did the writers of 'Friends' approach humor in the show?

The writers of 'Friends' approached humor by relying on the basics of incongruity, creating funny situations by putting very different characters together and having them interact.

What was the role of the live audience in shaping the humor of 'Friends'?

The live audience played a crucial role in shaping the humor of 'Friends' by providing immediate feedback on jokes. If a joke didn't work, the writers would quickly huddle and come up with a new one.

Why do you think 'Friends' continues to be popular among millennials even after nearly three decades since its premiere?

'Friends' continues to be popular among millennials because it portrays a relatable period of 20-something freedom, with characters experiencing the ups and downs of life, providing a sense of comfort and familiarity.

How did the show 'Friends' handle the relationship between Ross and Rachel throughout its ten seasons?

The show 'Friends' handled the relationship between Ross and Rachel by exploring various stages of their relationship, including being friends, romantic partners, enemies, and even married with a child, while keeping the audience engaged and invested in their story.

What is the significance of the behind-the-scenes details in making 'Friends' feel real and relatable?

The behind-the-scenes details, such as changing props, posters, and set decorations, contributed to the show's realism and relatability, making the Central Perk and other settings feel like real places where the characters lived and interacted.

Outlines

00:00

🎬 The Creation of an Iconic Show: Friends

This paragraph delves into the mysterious success of 'Friends,' a show that continues to captivate audiences even decades after its premiere. The creators, Marta Kauffman and David Crane, are likened to the 'parents' of the show, having met during their acting days and later combining their creative strengths in writing. Despite initial doubts about the show's concept—focusing on a group of friends doing 'nothing' but living their lives—the duo's persistence paid off. The show's appeal lies in its relatable portrayal of friendship, love, and the pivotal years of one's 20s, where friends become family. The humor, though not the creators' forte, was enhanced by a team of writers, and the show's setting and characters resonated with viewers, making it a timeless classic.

05:02

😂 The Humor and Magic Behind Friends

The second paragraph focuses on the humor and the magical casting that made 'Friends' an iconic sitcom. It reveals that Kauffman and Crane weren't naturally adept at writing comedy but surrounded themselves with talented joke writers. The show relied on a large team of writers to craft the funny lines, and even executives would intervene to ensure the humor resonated with live audiences. The paragraph also discusses the show's meticulous attention to detail, including set design and props, which contributed to the show's realism. Furthermore, it highlights the importance of the cast's chemistry and the relatable, funny characters they portrayed. The show's use of romantic storylines and the 'will-they-won't-they' dynamic, particularly between Ross and Rachel, kept viewers engaged throughout its ten seasons.

10:03

🌟 The Timeless Appeal of Friends

The final paragraph emphasizes the timeless appeal of 'Friends' and its reflection of the dreams and struggles of younger generations. It acknowledges the show's portrayal of the 20-something life phase, marked by freedom, exploration, and the postponement of traditional milestones like marriage and children. The show is praised for its honest depiction of the challenges faced during this period, such as heartbreaks and career setbacks, while also celebrating the enduring bonds of friendship. The characters' journeys and their ability to find humor in adversity make 'Friends' a comforting watch, capable of lifting spirits even on difficult days, which is a key factor in its enduring popularity.

Keywords

💡Friends

The term 'Friends' refers to the iconic American television sitcom that aired from 1994 to 2004. The show is central to the video's theme, which explores the creation and enduring popularity of the series. It is used to discuss the show's unique approach to storytelling, focusing on a group of friends navigating life, love, and careers in New York City. The video mentions how the creators, Marta Kauffman and David Crane, shaped the characters and the show's concept, which resonated with audiences and made it a cultural phenomenon.

💡Marta Kauffman and David Crane

Marta Kauffman and David Crane are the co-creators of 'Friends.' They are highlighted in the video as the duo responsible for developing the show's concept and characters. Their collaboration is described as a perfect match, with Kauffman focusing on the emotional aspects and Crane on the analytical side. The video discusses their journey from failed actors and writers to the creators of one of the most beloved TV shows, emphasizing their role in defining the show's unique portrayal of friendship and family.

💡Millennials

Millennials are mentioned in the context of the video as a generation that has embraced 'Friends' even decades after its premiere. The term is used to illustrate the show's timeless appeal and its ability to connect with a younger audience. The video suggests that the themes of friendship, love, and the struggles of young adulthood resonate with millennials, who find the show relatable and comforting, contributing to its ongoing popularity.

💡Iconic

The term 'iconic' is used to describe the status of 'Friends' in popular culture. It refers to the show's enduring influence and recognition, which has made it a symbol of 1990s sitcoms. The video discusses how the show's unique concept, humor, and character development contributed to its iconic status, making it a classic that continues to be re-watched and celebrated by fans.

💡Casting

Casting is a critical aspect of the video's discussion on the success of 'Friends.' It refers to the process of selecting the six main actors who portrayed the show's characters. The video emphasizes the 'miracle' of finding not only actors who were right for their roles but also had chemistry with each other, which was crucial for the show's dynamic and appeal. The casting is described as a significant factor in making the characters feel like real friends to the audience.

💡Storytelling

Storytelling in the context of the video pertains to the narrative techniques used in 'Friends' to engage viewers. It involves the development of plotlines, character arcs, and the show's overall narrative structure. The video praises the creators for their ability to tell compelling stories, such as the will-they-won't-they dynamic between Ross and Rachel, which kept audiences invested in the show over ten seasons.

💡Humor

Humor is a key element of 'Friends' and is discussed in the video as a fundamental aspect of the show's appeal. It refers to the comedic situations, dialogue, and character interactions that make the show funny. The video notes that while Kauffman and Crane may not have been the best joke writers, they surrounded themselves with talented comedy writers, resulting in a sitcom with accessible and relatable humor that contributed to its widespread popularity.

💡Incongruity

Incongruity is a comedic principle mentioned in the video that 'Friends' utilized effectively. It refers to the humor that arises from the juxtaposition of contrasting elements or characters. The video gives examples of how pairing characters with different personalities, like Ross and Phoebe or Chandler and Joey, creates humorous and entertaining dynamics that are central to the show's comedic success.

💡Central Perk

Central Perk is the fictional coffee shop in 'Friends' where the characters often hang out. It serves as a central location for many of the show's scenes and is symbolic of the characters' social hub. The video discusses how the detailed set design, including changing props like posters and fruit, made Central Perk feel real and contributed to the show's immersive quality, enhancing viewers' connection to the characters and their world.

💡Character Development

Character development refers to the evolution of the characters throughout the series. The video highlights how the creators and writers of 'Friends' made the characters relatable and engaging by giving them distinct personalities, growth arcs, and storylines. This development is crucial for maintaining audience interest and investment in the characters' lives, as seen in the video's discussion of the show's ability to portray realistic friendships and personal growth.

Highlights

The creators of 'Friends' managed to captivate audiences with a show that remains popular for its re-watch value.

The show's appeal spans generations, with millennials embracing 'Friends' even decades after its premiere.

Marta Kauffman and David Crane, the creators, had a unique dynamic that shaped the characters and the show's direction.

The initial concept of 'Friends' was considered risky and faced skepticism from both the cast and executives.

The show's premise, focusing on friendship rather than family, was a groundbreaking approach for its time.

The humor in 'Friends' was a collaborative effort, requiring multiple writers to create the funny lines.

The show's success was due in part to the behind-the-scenes work, including constant re-editing and rewrites.

The casting of 'Friends' is often described as a 'miracle' due to the exceptional chemistry between the six main actors.

The characters in 'Friends' are relatable and funny, crafted with a keen eye for comedy and romance.

The show's portrayal of the 20-something life resonates with younger generations seeking freedom and exploration.

Despite the challenges faced by the characters, 'Friends' teaches the value of humor and friendship in overcoming life's obstacles.

The show's iconic status is attributed to its ability to make viewers feel connected to the characters as friends.

The creators' early failures in acting and writing musicals laid the groundwork for their eventual success with 'Friends'.

The show's setting and props were meticulously changed to maintain the illusion of a real, lived-in world.

The storylines in 'Friends' were not always perfect, with creators acknowledging areas that could have been improved.

The show's humor often relied on the incongruity of its characters, highlighting their differences for comedic effect.

The romantic storylines, particularly Ross and Rachel's, were expertly crafted to keep viewers engaged and invested.

The show's legacy is one of providing comfort and laughter, making it a go-to for viewers seeking a pick-me-up.

Transcripts

isn't it mysterious how the friends

showrunners created a show that fans

still re-watch hundreds of times

yeah joey just pressed something on the

remote and it just

came on more so the creators even got

millennials to fall in love with friends

after nearly three decades since it

premiered

how perfect cast genius writing yes

and no the show had some other hidden

ingredients

all right no joey we swore we'd never

tell

prepare to hear how the kaufman crane

duo shaped the friends characters

and we kind of went [ __ ]

none of this is working how the main

concept of the show was not acceptable

even for the cast

matt leblanc says that he thought the

script sucked and how invisible

backstage details

actually defined the friends phenomenon

there are like 150 people waiting for

the new version of this

that has to be at the stage at 8 30 in

the morning

ready let's go do we dare

we dare

the very first special ingredient of

friends that could never be repeated is

this duo uh we're not we're not people

ask that you need to talk to an american

culture person

unlike the famous six marta kaufman and

david crane could easily go unnoticed

walking down the streets of new york and

that's rather weird

knowing that they are basically the

parents of one of the most iconic shows

that has ever existed

the story of how these two met each

other is comedy itself

he was a street urchin yes and marta was

a [ __ ]

and well they were acting in the same

play and those were their roles

right from their early student years

marta and david understood that their

individual creativity complemented each

other

perfectly i don't know we just we found

ourselves finishing each other's

sentences

really early on and that's usually a

really good sign that helped a lot on

the set of friends

where david was responsible for the more

analytical side

and marta more dealt with the emotional

aspect but even their perfect match

couldn't save them from drama

first they failed as actors then as

writers of

pretty weird musicals it took them quite

a while to enter the world of tv shows

and even then they wrote project after

project none of which were ever picked

up for pilots

basically the early friends draft was

also something that marta and david

didn't have much hope in

especially of the risky too general idea

of the show

just think about it how would you sell a

show about

uh a group of people who do

nothing they're just being friends you

know but it turned out that this was

another secret ingredient that we will

explore next what secrets oh no no

joey i'm not gonna tell you because i am

an excellent secret keeper

you tell me later you already know after

graduation david and marta lived in new

york and had a group of six friends

they were all each other's best friends

and they hung out

all the time of course this point in

their lives inspired the idea for

friends

it's about sex love relationships

careers

the 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 this was an original

treatment pitching which had a very

very basic concept i mean the writers

still make fun of us because it's like

oh when you're in your 20s your friends

your family

but that's the show but the genius of

the kaufman crane duo was that they made

something so simple

extremely truthful and relatable this

show is easy to watch anywhere

anytime and with anyone it might not

have the most intelligent jokes you know

no

i know but they are damn funny they're

accessible and they provide a level of

comfort

but not everyone was fond of this idea

even the cast themselves

matt leblanc says that he thought the

script sucked

and the warner brothers executives also

thought that the concept needed adapting

but not because it was too simple more

because of its revolutionary approach

what you see before friends tv shows

mainly promoted nuclear families

all in the family family matters family

ties you see a pattern here

when the showrunners wanted to change

the formula the maximum that they were

allowed to do was add a twist to the

family dynamic but keep the same format

that's how we met a weird alien who eats

cats in the family

or a giant sasquatch in the henderson

family but for marta and david

it wasn't enough they wanted something

different

and so they decided from now on you're

not defined by your family you can

create a family of your own

but i'm okay really the gray

i've got magic beans in fact none of the

friends are in relationships at the

beginning of the show

which was totally crazy for the

beginning of the 90s

more so in the show friendship often

presents itself as something even more

important than romantic relationships

you know boyfriends and girlfriends are

gonna come and go but this

is for life i mean it's the end of an

era i know

it was definitely a breath of fresh air

but still a different concept alone

wasn't enough to make friends iconic

another essential aspect of the great

show

and especially the sitcom is the humor

and this might come as a shock but

actually david and marta aren't the best

comedy riders

we don't really write good jokes we're

they're much better

joke writers than we are what yep that's

true

but that's okay because we've always

been with people who did write really

good jokes

friends needed at least 12 riders in the

room to come up with the funny lines

there are 12 of us because the way life

works is

you're not always on today i might not

be at my funniest for whatever reason

but you know what

that was not enough to please the

standards of the show runners

a whole set of executives were ready to

jump in whenever a joke didn't show the

expected results in front of the live

audience

if a joke doesn't work you just see this

whole group of smart people just get in

this huddle and then they come out and

they

tell you a joke everyone was involved in

the process of reaching the

best results in the behind the scenes

documentary this is made clear when lisa

kudrow suggests asking the audience

about a joke from the current scene to

clarify whether it's funny or not

if you want to be sure

but sometimes there were nights when

nothing went as it should

none of this is working according to

producers there were times when out of

14

scenes they had seven rewrites right on

the set the quality behind the scenes of

friends was unprecedented

constant re-editing was also common i

don't love that joke

i feel like it's cheap

recalling memories decades after the

show ended david and marta still

feel that some storylines could have

been done better uh i don't think i've

seen it since

since it aired uh if i watched it now

are these are there beats right really

we were okay with that that was okay

but hey ten years of constant laughs is

not an easy task

and a big part of the show's success was

practically left behind the scenes

though we might not actively notice the

props changing how the coffee shop

posters or the titles on joey's doors

change or that the fruit is different

every day

but actually it's exactly those little

things that made us believe that the

central perk and the entire set

was real monica i don't know

okay those were definitely crucial

aspects that helped make the show a hit

but we can't avoid the elephant in the

room and pretend that the magic between

these guys didn't play a huge role in

making friends what it is today

as david schwimmer once shared with

vanity fair the miracle is the casting

having been on the other side of it now

in terms of directing and producing

to find one magical actor who is just

right for the role is difficult enough

but to find six and then to have them

actually have chemistry with each other

is just kind of a miracle

these are my friends these are my family

besides the natural charisma of the cast

the writers also did an incredible job

in making the characters relatable and

funny

the show brilliantly uses the core of

any good comedy

it relies on the basics of incongruity

this simply means that the more

different the characters are the funnier

it is to watch them together put ross

and phoebe in one scene and it's already

hilarious

but you don't you don't believe in

evolution no not really

give chandler and joy a subject to

discuss and you have this

what the hell happened how are you

locked in or where the hell's all of our

stuff

well this guy came by to look at the

unit and he said he didn't think it was

big enough to fit a grown man

you got involuntarily i was trying to

make a sound

the friends writers proved themselves to

not only be masters of comedy

but pretty good experts in romance as

well yes there's obviously a reason why

ross and rachel went on a break for so

many years but the real trick is to show

the audience everything they wanted

about ross and rachel while having them

separated

and still keep the final intrigue of

whether they will

or won't be together in the end just

look throughout the 10 seasons

they were friends a romantic couple

enemies in an open relationship married

living together they even raised a

daughter we got the full story of their

relationship

and yet we all craved to see the moment

when rachel got off the plane

oh my god did she get off the plane did

you get off the plane

that is called good storytelling

and this is one of the reasons why

millennials watch the show today

nearly 30 years after the premiere other

than that

friends also translates an ultimate

dream for the younger generations

recent decades show a fundamental shift

in the importance of your 20s

and the desire to postpone settling down

getting married and having kids

friends portrays this period of

20-something freedom

beautifully

and it's not like the show presents this

period as carefree and easy

no we see broken hearts divorces failed

career plans and

unplanned pregnancies what friends

teaches us is that we will survive

through all the struggles if we have a

bit of a sense of humor and a good

friend besides us

someone who will share our every concern

from sex problems to anxiety about adult

life

phoebe what do you have a plan

i don't even have a plan it's fine to

grow up and have a family

or don't have three divorces or change

your career entirely

but most importantly throughout all

these years the

characters of the show became our

friends and that's why when you're

having a shitty day

month or even a year an episode of

friends still warms up our hearts

that's what makes it truly iconic if you

want to know more secrets about

friends be sure to check these videos

out as well and thank you for staying

[Music]

awesome