Friends (1994-2004) - Case StudyContent
Friends is an American Sitcom about the lives of 6 friends who live in Manhattan. Friends is probably one of the most watched TV series in the world, spanning for 10 series, with a total of 236 episodes.
Characters:
Jenifer Aniston as Rachel Green
David Schwimmer as Ross GellerCourteney Cox as Monica Geller
Matthew Perry as Chandler Bing
Lisa Kudrow as Pheobe Buffer
Matt Le Blanc as Joey Tribbiani
Production Process
Friends was created by Kevin S. Bright, Marta Kauffman and David Crane. Their original idea was to call the show 'Friends like Us' and also "Insomnia Café" in November 1993. However, after numerous new ideas with NBC, they finally named the show 'Friends.' They presented the idea to Bright, a man who they had worked with before, and together they pitched a seven-page treatment of the series to TV giants NBC. After several script rewrites and changes, the series was finally named "Friends" and premiered on NBC's coveted Thursday 8:30 pm timeslot. Friends was set in the Warner Bros studio in Burbank, California to a live studio audience. The writers thought that having six equal characters would be more appealing than having two main characters. The first season was shot on Stage 5 at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, California. Although Friends is shot in a studio, Friends is set in New York. The creator of Friends, Kevin Bright, thought that the episodes were "less funny" when shot outside of the studio. He thought the live studio audience played a vital part.
Form
The show lasts for around 20-22 minutes per episode, the usual duration for a sitcom. The show uses circular narrative as, most of the time the show starts off in the apartment or starts off in local coffee shop 'Central Perks', the show also ends up again, in either the apartment or Central Perks. Most episodes have a storyline for each one, with all characters in each episode. However, there has also been some 2 part storylines, which consist of a story lasting for 2 episodes. For example, The One with the Rumour had two episodes for this storyline and The One with Monica and Chandlers wedding lasted two episodes.
Friends doesn't really have a specific point of view, the characters are all equal and the point of view is of everyone, not just one specific person. As friends is such a natural and realistic show, the show doesn't have any hero's or villains. Certain episodes may have a hero in it or villain, Although, people may have their own view on a hero or villain, the whole show doesn't tend to have a hero or villain.
The mise-en-scene
The setting is very normal, just like an apartment would look like, with the sofa, TV, kitchen area, just like any ordinary apartment. The lighting is ambient, very natural. The lighting doesn't change too much, it gets darker to represent night time and that's about it. The costume portray the personalities of the characters. Fore example, Rachel is wearing white, which could represent that's she's quite timid and girly. Chandler and Joey are wearing brown colours to represent their masculine nature. the dominant colour of the set is a light colour, as its the most natural and realistic. The humour is a mixture of visual humour, character traits and verbal gags. For example, when Joey says 'What d'ya have against the duck?' This is a very Joey like thing to say as he's portrayed as the dumb character and is usually the character with who gets the most laughs as he is the dumbest. Visual humour is portrayed when Ross asks the question: 'In what part of the body did Monica get a pencil stuck at aged 14?' Chandler then whispers an answer in his ear and Ross immediately says 'No!' at this point we imagine what Chandler might have said and automatically laugh at what his answer could've been due to Chandler being Chandler, we then laugh when Ross says 'No.'
Most of the scenes are quite lengthy, but are edited to ensure that the audience laugh at the appropriate times. The scenes don't really build suspense as its a comedy sitcom and suspense as its mostly laughs.
Friends has aired on different channels in the UK, including Channel 4, Sky1, E4, and Comedy Central UK. Friends was originally aired on the terrestrial Channel 4 from 1995 onwards.
The pilot of friends aired on 22nd September 1994 and was watched by 22 million Americans.
The opening themes to Friends is 'I'll be there for you' by the Rembrandts and has become one of the most recognised songs to date. The song was co written by producers Marta Kauffman, David Crane and Marta's Husband. Along with, Phil Solem and Danny Wilde from the band. The song was originally offered to Rock Gods R.E.M and They Might Be Giants.
The friends series finale was watched by 52.5 million Americans, making the fourth most watched television series in history and the most watched episode of the decade.
The show was nominated for 63 Primetime Emmy Awards
The show is aired on various different channels in UK such as: Channel 4, Comedy Central, Sky 1 and E4.
| Season | Season premiere | Season finale | TV season | Viewers in millions) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 22, 1994 | May 18, 1995 | 1994–95 | 24.3 | |
| 2 | September 21, 1995 | May 16, 1996 | 1995–96 | 29.4 | |
| 3 | September 19, 1996 | May 15, 1997 | 1996–97 | 25.0 | |
| 4 | September 25, 1997 | May 7, 1998 | 1997–98 | 24.1 | |
| 5 | September 24, 1998 | May 20, 1999 | 1998–99 | 23.5 | |
| 6 | September 23, 1999 | May 18, 2000 | 1999–2000 | 20.7 | |
| 7 | October 12, 2000 | May 17, 2001 | 2000–01 | 20.2 | |
| 8 | September 27, 2001 | May 16, 2002 | 2001–02 | 24.5 | |
| 9 | September 26, 2002 | May 15, 2003 | 2002–03 | 21.6 | |
| 10 | September 25, 2003 | May 6, 2004 | 2003–04 | 22.8 |
Production Process
Purpose
The purpose of Friends is to Entertain, as its an entertainment programme. Friends is a comedy due to the amount of gags/jokes. They use visual comedy by having a character like Joey. Joey is a bit dumb and slow, which most of the jokes are about him or about his actions.
Friends was aired at various times between 8:30pm-9:00pm, 9:00pm-9:30pm and 9:30pm-10:00pm in the US. In America, this is classed pre watershed as it was broadcasted before 10:00pm. However, when broadcasted in Britain it was classed as post watershed as Friends was aired after 9:00pm, programmes shown after 9:00pm in the UK are classed as post water shed as they're deemed for adults.
Genre/Audience
Friends is a sitcom typically aimed at older teenagers and adults. A big part of Friends is the Comedy aspect to it due to the many jokes and references. It's also a comedy due to some of the cast that is involved. E.g.- Matt Le Blanc and Matthew Perry are commonly known in comedy shows, While Jenifer Aniston and Courteney Cox are usually recognised in Romantic/drama shows/movies.
Friends is structured in a particular way. A typical episode starts off with a clip of either the group, or certain people(s). This clip usually sets the tone of the episode and usually has a pun of some sort. The titles then role, with the famous 'Ill be there for You' theme tune. The episode then flows, usually set in the house and generally, the cast or some of the cast, end up in the coffee shop, Central Perks or again in the apartment again. Finally, the show ends with another clip of the cast. I like the way the creators add a clip at the beginning and end of the episode, as the clip at the beginning really sets the episode off and the clip at the end closes the show. The show lasts for around 20-22 minutes per episode, the usual duration for a sitcom. These are the elements that make up the formal conventions of Friends.
First of all, both shows are set in the city of New York. Even though Friends isn't actually filmed there, but filmed in front of a live TV audience in California, Friends is all about friendship and about what the friends get up to. (Hence the name 'Friends') Similarly, How I met Your Mother is also about Ted's best friends. Characterisation plays a huge part in both sitcoms. Characters that appear in both programs, have similar personalities. For example, Ted (HIMYM) is very much a like Ross. (Friends) Two other characters that are almost identical are Robin (HIMYM) and Rachel (Friends), both very sweet and kind. As well as all the characters being very similar, there is also an aspect of a 'will they wont they' relationship between a couple in each sitcom. Between Rachel and Ross and then between Ted and Robin.
Another programme very much like Friends is the programme 'Seinfeld.' Seinfeld was an American sitcom aired between 1989-1998 and was a highly popular show, just like Friends. The show is about Jerry Seinfeld and his friends going through everyday life. Both shows share the same, friendly humour. Both programmes were filmed in front of a live studio audience. Similarly they are both set in New York and about a group of friends.
Stylistic conventions
The stylistic conventions of Friends include the highly distinct setting. The setting is very relaxed and natural. The famous apartment that Monica and her 3 friends live in, the purple door, Central Perks coffee shop and Joey and Chandlers apartment. Not forgetting the famous overlook of NYC. The setting really does make the show. People who aren't even fans of the show immediately identify the scenery. The six different characters are all portrayed equally, the show doesn't just focus around one person but all the different characters. They all have a different personality, which makes the show funnier and more diverse. Monica is like the mother of all the characters, she's bossing but in a caring way. Ross is her older sibling who is very clumsy and is in love with Rachel. Rachel is very likeable and caring even though she can act spoilt at times. Joey is very dim but enjoys the attention he gets of females. Phoebe is very peculiar and idiotic, but she can be a very warm hearted person. Finally, Chandler is very sarcastic and is the one who tells all the jokes. Each cast member has their own individual personality and the audience can relate to each one of the characters.
This clip is the end of one episode of Friends. This due to the credits at the end of the clip and also because the Friends are gathered at Central Perks. This clip helps justify the way friends is structured, as the group are all together and in the coffee shop, one of the places they usually get together at the end of an episode.
This is another clip to shows the structure of Friends. In the clip above, it shows the group gathered in the coffee shop Central Perks, one of the places the group usually end up in at the end of an episode. In this clip its showing that Friends are gathered in the apartment together. Notice that all the end clips are usually of them all either in Central perks or the apartment. This shows a circular narrative, as they end up in the same two places almost at the end of every episode.
If you have watched many episodes of Friends, the majority of episodes the group end up in either Central Perks or the apartment. As well as this, every episode title starts off with 'The one that..', again showing circular narrative. The reason they start off with 'The one that..' could be because the audience usually remember the episodes by saying do you remember the one that? So its easier for the audience to remember certain episodes.
Meaning
During the beginning of Friends, the cast were all young and single. Throughout the many episodes and series of the show, the cast began to settle down in their own unique way. Ross had a child named Ben with ex wife Carol. Also, he had another child with Rachel Green, named Emily. As well as this, Monica and Chandler got married. Being one of the most immature members of the cast, for Chandler, this was a big commitment and finally a time to start maturing. Even though at the start they are close, the cast became even closer towards the final episodes, both through their characters and their actual selves.
All the characters in Friends had relatively well paid jobs in the sitcom. Rachel worked for Ralph Lauren, Ross was a professor at the local University, Chandler was a statistical analysis and data reconfiguration executive. While, Monica was a Chef, Joey was an actor and Phoebe was a masseuse. All well paid jobs, some of them well paid than others, however, they were jobs and quite good ones. None of the characters looked as if they were struggling for money or desperate in anyway shape or form. As you can see from their lifestyle and their homes, they didn't have the normal battle for money as other people may have had. Their apartments were clean and spacious, looked like any other normal apartment would for people their age. Except Phoebe in some circumstances, as she used to be homeless. As well as this, in a variety of episodes, Chandler is seen borrowing money off Joey. All of their lives were pretty comfortable, they were happy to loan each other money, which could suggest the closeness of all their relationships. They all had pretty close relationships, even if there were the odd falling out. Ross and Rachel were on and off for six years, but all that changed when Rachel and Joey kissed. Rachel and Ross also have a child together, called Emily. Monica and Chandlers relationship soared in the middle of the season, they previously hid their relationship from the other cast members, maybe due to embarrassment, which suggests the closeness of their relationships at this point in the season. Which resulted in them having children. However, Monica and Chandler can't conceive children, so they have to adopt. The birth mother ends up having twins called Jack and Erica.
Ownership
The series was produced by Bright/Kauffman/Crane Productions, in association with Warner Bros.Television in the media conglomerate Time Warner. Friends was firstly found on NBC, which is a commercial operating model as it has advertisements throughout the program. Friends was premiered on NBC's coveted on Thursday 22nd September 1994, at 8:30pm. Warner Bros made many films and TV series before the production of Friends such as, Dallas, The Dukes of Hazard and Free Willy.
The filming was in front of a live studio audience in the Warner Bros Studio in California.
Casting
The original contracts for the first series cast members were paid $22,500 each episode. The stars were paid $75,000 per episode in season three, $85,000 in season four, $100,000 in season five, $125,000 in season six, $750,000 in seasons seven and eight, and rapidly rose to $1 million in seasons nine and ten.
Having worked with David Swchimmer previously, producers Kauffman, Bright and Crane wrote the character Ross with David in mind. He was then the first actor cast. Courteney Cox wanted to play the role of Monica however, producers had other ideas and wanted her to play the character of Rachel because of her 'Cheery and upbeat' energy. After Cox's audition Kauffman, Bright and Crane agreed that she would get the role of Monica. Matt Le Blanc's audition of the character 'Joey' was different, the producers never imagined Joey to be a dim character. However, it was found to be a major source of comedy. Le Blanc also gave Joey a heart which the writers didn't intend realise he had until after the audition. Although, the producers didn't want Le banc for the role, they were told by the network to give him the role. Aniston, Perry and Kudrow were casted based on the quality of their auditions.
Competition
When friends was first released, Chicago Hope was one of Friends' main rival programmes. CBS is also a rival channel for Warner Bros as they released a similar product called 'Chicago Hope' in the mid 90's, the same era as Friends. Chicago Hope is a programme about the lives of a group of people who work in a hospital. This programme was a major threat to Warner Bros as its similar to the programme Friends and was aired at a similar time to Friends.
Present day rivals, will include How I Met Your Mother, as the programmes are quite similar and are aired on different channels at similar times.
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Running up to the season finale Friends, NBC charged up to $2 million per 30 second advertisement of Friends, due to the enormous amount of people expected tot tune into the finale. As well as this, there was pre and post programs related to Friends. Before the 9pm season finale, there was an hour long tribute program dedicated to the cast of Friends. Then after the season finale at 10pm, the cast of Friends appeared on "The Tonight Show"
Merchandise
All ten series have been released on DVD, either separately or in one whole box set. In September 1995, 'Friends Original Soundtrack' the soundtrack was released, containing the hit single 'Ill be there for you' plus, other songs from past, present and future episodes. The DVD board game 'Scene It?' has also released a Friends version. The Friends theme tune 'Ill be there for You" sold 500,000 copies in 1995. Also, they have released a Friends edition of 'Scene It?' 
Season 1-10 was released in the US on November 15th 2005. Warner Brothers created a limited edition box called "The One With All Ten Seasons" which fitted in all individual ten seasons into a wooden and black case, with a plastic door with a picture of all the Friends on it. A year later, Warner Brothers released 'The Complete Series' cased in a red box with an exclusive booklet about the show, cast and original pilot pitch. Unlike the previous collection, the DVDs were not individually boxed by season, this collection organised 40 discs into volumes sorted by how many episodes per disc, and are spilt up by a disc holder for each cast member. This collection was released on 12th November 2007 in the UK.DVD Box set Sales
| The Complete First Season | April 30, 2002 | October 25, 2004 | October 4, 2006 |
| The Complete Second Season | September 3, 2002 | October 25, 2004 | October 4, 2006 |
| The Complete Third Season | April 1, 2003 | October 25, 2004 | October 4, 2006 |
| The Complete Fourth Season | July 15, 2003 | October 25, 2004 | October 4, 2006 |
| The Complete Fifth Season | November 4, 2003 | October 25, 2004 | October 4, 2006 |
| The Complete Sixth Season | January 27, 2004 | October 25, 2004 | October 4, 2006 |
| The Complete Seventh Season | April 6, 2004 | October 25, 2004 | October 4, 2006 |
| The Complete Eighth Season | November 9, 2004 | October 25, 2004 | October 4, 2006 |
| The Complete Ninth Season | March 8, 2005 | October 25, 2004 | October 4, 2006 |
| The Complete Tenth Season | November 15, 2005 | October 25, 2004 | October 4, 2006 |
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Life after Friends
Jenifer Aniston- Is probably one of the most famous movie stars on the planet and has been in a string of movies such as Bruce Almighty, Marley and Me and most recently, We're The Millers. Aniston is also well known for her relationship with movie God Brad Pitt.
Courteney Cox missed out on a role in hit TV series Desperate Housewives and has been relatively obscure ever since. She was in U.S. TV drama Dirt - cancelled after two series.
David Schwimmer- Has had many theatrical roles including the play 'Some Girls' in London alongside comic Catherine Tate. He also directed 2007 British film Run Fatboy Run.
Matt Le Blanc- Matt Le Blanc went on to work on the hit TV show called 'Joey' carrying on his role from friends. The show lasted two seasons between 2004-2006.
Lisa Kudrow- Has had many small roles in big films such as PS I love You and Easy A.
Matthew Perry- Starred in 17 again, famous for his breakdown and many trips to rehab.
