is Friends still that popular?

Tipsy McSwagger · 01-10-2014 8:14am

paleoperson wrote: »

yeah, long ago when I was younger I liked Frasier. As I've grown up and become more wise to the world, I've realized how unrealistic and silly it all is. I no longer find it funny at all. You can be unrealistic and good, but with something like The Big Bang Theory the joke is supposed to be on their exaggerated personalities. Frasier is just unrealistic in places there is no joke.

3rd Rock from the Sun is for me the best American sitcom of all time.

Aliens from another planet living as humans are more realistic than a shrink living in a fancy apartment in Seattle?

Tarzana · 01-10-2014 9:36am

FunLover18 wrote: »

Is not every single character in Friends a cliché stereotype? Bimbo waitress, good looking actor, woman obsessed with cleaning and having babies, the kooky hippy, the nerd who gets the girl, the funny one. And Friends has its fair share of set up storylines.

Aye, but is Friends ever really cited as one of the smartest shows out there? You missed my point.

SherlockWatson · 01-10-2014 2:29pm

Tipsy McSwagger wrote: »

Aliens from another planet living as humans are more realistic than a shrink living in a fancy apartment in Seattle?

You must have missed this part -

paleoperson wrote: »

You can be unrealistic and good

D.Q · 01-10-2014 2:37pm

Tarzana wrote: »

Aye, but is Friends ever really cited as one of the smartest shows out there? You missed my point.

I dont know where this "Frasier is a smart show" sentiment comes from. The CHARACTERS are smart, but the show itself is just a sitcom. It has clever dialogue.

Friends just veers too much into the cheesy side of things for me. Its perfect hangover tv, dont think, and laugh every so often.

Saipanne · 01-10-2014 2:40pm

I've come to appreciate Friends, of late. Great show.

NufcNavan · 01-10-2014 2:43pm

Pheobe should have been checked into the mental ward after she started storing rats in the same place where she kept and prepared her food.

Ridiculous character.

As I've said here before, the show as a whole peaked and then started to go into decline after Ross' wedding in London.

I think the actors/actresses got lazy in the last few seasons and just hammed up their stereotypes. The only exception was Jennifer Anniston who was the only one who had a respectable career outside of Friends at the time.

Saipanne · 01-10-2014 2:45pm

NufcNavan wrote: »

Pheobe should have been checked into the mental ward after she started storing rats in the same place where she kept and prepared her food.

Ridiculous character.

Yeah, but the whole show is fairly silly. It's a comedy, not a drama.

NufcNavan · 01-10-2014 2:49pm

Saipanne wrote: »

Yeah, but the whole show is fairly silly. It's a comedy, not a drama.

So? Doesn't mean humans suddenly do not behave like humans.

Joey was so stupid by the end that he couldn't even replicate sound, something a 1 year old can do.

Saipanne · 01-10-2014 2:56pm

NufcNavan wrote: »

So? Doesn't mean humans suddenly do not behave like humans.

Joey was so stupid by the end that he couldn't even replicate sound, something a 1 year old can do.

Actually, in the world of the imagined, anything goes. If it were up to people like you, we'd just have documentaries, reality shows and paintings of fruit.

Tarzana · 01-10-2014 3:05pm

D.Q wrote: »

I dont know where this "Frasier is a smart show" sentiment comes from. The CHARACTERS are smart, but the show itself is just a sitcom. It has clever dialogue.

Friends just veers too much into the cheesy side of things for me. Its perfect hangover tv, dont think, and laugh every so often.

Friends can definitely be frequently cloying. That turns off a lot of people understandably. And I think it distracts from the sharp humour the show frequently displays.

Frasier is quite clever but not as clever as its made out to be. Daphne's awful family being a case in point.

But I thoroughly enjoy both shows.

micks_address · 01-10-2014 3:29pm

Interestingly our 11 year old son finds friends hilarious. We've had a few debates about whether it's all suitable but most I'd harmless. At the moment he's watching fresh Prince. I guess somethings age well

NufcNavan · 01-10-2014 3:48pm

Saipanne wrote: »

Actually, in the world of the imagined, anything goes. If it were up to people like you, we'd just have documentaries, reality shows and paintings of fruit.

People like me, lol.

So Joey speaking like a spaz is hilarious then, despite it being completely out of character from the rest of the show? Joey was always dim but clever in a way. He progressed into being an out and out gob****e by the last season.

I have no problem with artistic license, but there's a difference between that and jumping the shark with silly and unrealistic storylines (Joey speaking French, Pheobes attraction to rats etc.)

Saipanne · 01-10-2014 4:01pm

NufcNavan wrote: »

People like me, lol.

So Joey speaking like a spaz is hilarious then, despite it being completely out of character from the rest of the show? Joey was always dim but clever in a way. He progressed into being an out and out gob****e by the last season.

I have no problem with artistic license, but there's a difference between that and jumping the shark with silly and unrealistic storylines (Joey speaking French, Pheobes attraction to rats etc.)

No, there is no difference. That's the point I made.

NufcNavan · 01-10-2014 4:53pm

Saipanne wrote: »

No, there is no difference. That's the point I made.

You said "anything goes". If that's the case then there's no need for directors. Might as well let a child do it.

ElWalrus · 01-10-2014 5:26pm

I suppose it's obvious its not as popular these days as it was during its heyday, but for me (and perhaps particular age-groups) there is a certain kind of nostalgia attached to the first couple of seasons. It was one of those shows that you grew up with, which is harder to see happening these days given the way a lot of people's TV viewing habits are now (on-demand tv/binging on box-sets).

Also, I guess it kind of offered you an idealized version of the future 20-something life, you know, out on your own but doing ok, proper dating as opposed to trying to score in a nightclub you got into with a fake id, close group of friends who got your back, etc. All of this fitted in nicely with an optimistic teenage outlook. All the while being funny with a largely likable and believable cast. Until they went to England anyway:pac:.

Show went downhill after that all right, but at that stage you were invested so the show ploughed on on the back of its previously gained popularity. Just my €0.02 anyway.:cool:

Frank Lee Midere · 01-10-2014 5:49pm

Tarzana wrote: »

Friends can definitely be frequently cloying. That turns off a lot of people understandably. And I think it distracts from the sharp humour the show frequently displays.

Frasier is quite clever but not as clever as its made out to be. Daphne's awful family being a case in point.

But I thoroughly enjoy both shows.

A lot of the cleverness in Fraiser was not the comedy but the name dropping. Niles and Fraiser used to make jokes which referenced Opera stars or obscure authors, as to whether these jokes were funny on their own terms ( or just funny because they referenced obscure people) I don't think anybody really could tell.

Not that it was bad but there was nothing going on if Fraiser wasn't in the scene. Unlike other ensemble comedies - and it has a large cast - the main character had to be there at all times. Or it wasn't funny. Niles and Daphne. Shoot me. Roz and a boyfriend. I am turning over.

Fraiser and anybody was funny.

Dirty Dingus McGee · 01-10-2014 8:39pm

Frank Lee Midere wrote: »

A lot of the cleverness in Fraiser was not the comedy but the name dropping. Niles and Fraiser used to make jokes which referenced Opera stars or obscure authors, as to whether these jokes were funny on their own terms ( or just funny because they referenced obscure people) I don't think anybody really could tell.

Not that it was bad but there was nothing going on if Fraiser wasn't in the scene. Unlike other ensemble comedies - and it has a large cast - the main character had to be there at all times. Or it wasn't funny. Niles and Daphne. Shoot me. Roz and a boyfriend. I am turning over.

Fraiser and anybody was funny.

One of the best episodes "Moon Dance" barely featured Frasier at all.Some people consider Niles silent scene at the start of the 3 Valentines episode to be the best in the shows history.So I don't think having Frasier present at all times was essential to the show.

Frasier's humour was very sharp and contained a lot of dry wit compared to most other sitcoms. Thats why it was considered to be clever.

dark crystal · 01-10-2014 10:31pm

IvySlayer wrote: »

Unagi
Pivot
Keyboard
Bagpipes
Suntan
British Accent

:pac:

White teeth!

Ross became my favourite character after Chandler lost his mojo after getting with Monica.

On a sidenote, who was everyone's favourite guest star? For me, it has to be Adam Goldberg as Chandler's short-lived housemate, crazy Eddie Menuek. The episode where he accuses Chander of sleeping with his ex and killing his fish is one of my all time favourites.

D.Q · 01-10-2014 10:33pm

Tarzana wrote: »

Friends can definitely be frequently cloying. That turns off a lot of people understandably. And I think it distracts from the sharp humour the show frequently displays.

Frasier is quite clever but not as clever as its made out to be. Daphne's awful family being a case in point.

But I thoroughly enjoy both shows.

yeah absolutely. I really enjoy them both for what they are. Any episode of friends pre monica/chandler is generally good for a laugh, and plenty after too, but the sappy side definitely started coming into it after they got together. I suppose I prefer the Seinfeld mantra of "no one ever learns a lesson, and no one ever hugs."

D.Q · 01-10-2014 10:34pm

dark crystal wrote: »

White teeth!

Ross became my favourite character after Chandler lost his mojo after getting with Monica.

On a sidenote, who was everyone's favourite guest star? For me, it has to be Adam Goldberg as Chandler's short-lived housemate, crazy Eddie Menuek. The episode where he accuses Chander of sleeping with his ex and killing his fish is one of my all time favourites.

yep. Absolutely. Those few episodes with Eddies arrival, and joeys eventual return to the apt are my favourite friends episodes by far.

RosyLily · 01-10-2014 11:50pm

I watch Friends for the nostalgic, fuzzy feeling. It's like an old blanket that you break out when you need a pick me up.:)

I like the episode after Rachel finds out about Ross and the copy girl, when they're in the apartment arguing and the others hide in the bedroom. Funny and tugs on the heartstrings a bit. The one where no one's ready is also great.

Eddie and Richard would be my favourite guest stars. "I'm a fruit drying manic!!!"

Completely disagree with the Comedy Central choice of best episode! The last one?! Really?!

darkdubh · 02-10-2014 9:28am

Never liked Friends.I can't watch anything with Jennifer Aniston in it to this day.

dougal · 02-10-2014 9:40am

Friends is so popular still that they made a whole remake of the show and called it How I met your mother.
They just left out the Phoebe character.

phasers · 02-10-2014 11:42am

dougal wrote: »

Friends is so popular still that they made a whole remake of the show and called it How I met your mother.
They just left out the Phoebe character.

I always thought Lily and Robin were the three girls' personalities combined. Lily had a bit of Phoebe's kookiness and Robin had her cocky attitude.

paleoperson · 02-10-2014 1:28pm

darkdubh wrote: »

Never liked Friends.I can't watch anything with Jennifer Aniston in it to this day.

Me too, I really hate her. Not attractive at all to me and horrible voice and mannerisms.

Chip Whitley · 02-10-2014 3:08pm

One of my favourite guest stars was Brad Pitt, that episode was hilarious and the fact he hated Rachel (they were still married then irl) was great. That was the episode where Joey tried to eat the whole Turkey to himself too!

I also liked the Jon Lovitz, Sean Penn and Winona Ryder episodes off the top of my head.

HATED Elle Macpherson in it, can't believe she lasted more than one episode. I like Bruce Willis, but I thought getting together with Rachel was stupid. His character could have been a lot better.

dougal · 02-10-2014 3:23pm

phasers wrote: »

I always thought Lily and Robin were the three girls' personalities combined. Lily had a bit of Phoebe's kookiness and Robin had her cocky attitude.

Yeah they probably deliberately stole some of Phoebe's character traits!
The overall story though was so similar with the Ross/Rachel/Joey triangle being copied by the Ted/Robin/Barney story-line and the setting changing from Central Perk to MacLarens Pub.

JP Liz V1 · 02-10-2014 5:25pm

dark crystal wrote: »

White teeth!

Ross became my favourite character after Chandler lost his mojo after getting with Monica.

On a sidenote, who was everyone's favourite guest star? For me, it has to be Adam Goldberg as Chandler's short-lived housemate, crazy Eddie Menuek. The episode where he accuses Chander of sleeping with his ex and killing his fish is one of my all time favourites.

I love Brad Pitt as Monica's former fat friend then skinny who hated Rachel and Danny DeVito as the stripper

Welsh Megaman · 02-10-2014 5:35pm

*enters thread*

J O E Y

D O E S N' T

S H A R E

F O O D!

*leaves thread*

titan18 · 02-10-2014 5:47pm

Welsh Megaman wrote: »

*enters thread*

J O E Y

D O E S N' T

S H A R E

F O O D!

*leaves thread*

Fireball!!!

WoollyRedHat · 03-10-2014 12:53am

Loved the one with Ben Stiller as the psycho screamer going out with Rachael, but when Ross tries to tell them about him to her and the others no one believes him, until the end scene,with him, the chick and the duck which is just gold:

Reekwind · 03-10-2014 12:58am

dark crystal wrote: »

On a sidenote, who was everyone's favourite guest star? For me, it has to be Adam Goldberg as Chandler's short-lived housemate, crazy Eddie Menuek. The episode where he accuses Chander of sleeping with his ex and killing his fish is one of my all time favourites.

Danny DeVito: Stripper Cop

Tarzana · 04-10-2014 4:20am

dougal wrote: »

Friends is so popular still that they made a whole remake of the show and called it How I met your mother.
They just left out the Phoebe character.

Gawd no. The Friends characters were much endearing that the HIMYM ones. And the chemistry between the HIMYM actors just wasn't there, at least not in comparison to the Friends cast.

04-10-2014 2:45pm

dark crystal wrote: »

On a sidenote, who was everyone's favourite guest star? For me, it has to be Adam Goldberg as Chandler's short-lived housemate, crazy Eddie Menuek. The episode where he accuses Chander of sleeping with his ex and killing his fish is one of my all time favourites.

Eddie was great.
Speaking of crazy, I really liked Brooke Shields as Joey's stalker:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YupTAKQTzY

Also thought Greg Kinnear was very good as Charlie's crazy boyfriend:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pD-0lgwCCHU

And even though I didn't really like the episode he was in, Alec Baldwin gave a great performance as Phoebe's immensely irritating boyfriend Parker.

Basically, the guest stars that played the most insane characters were the best!

Tarzana · 07-10-2014 3:12am

Agreed that Eddie was gold.

Another great guest part was the director of the play Joey was in with Kate.

"HELLO MY TALKING PROPS!"

"A POX ON ALL YOUR HOUSES"

LynnGrace · 07-10-2014 3:48pm

Yes, I liked most of the guest stars. I love the guy who is stoned, Monica is cooking for him, at her apartment, in the hope of him giving her a job...'tartlets, TARTLETS...'.
I love Parker, Phoebe describes him as being like Santa Claus, on Prozac, getting laid...:D

Kerplunk124 · 07-10-2014 4:05pm

Brendão wrote: »

One of my favourite guest stars was Brad Pitt, that episode was hilarious and the fact he hated Rachel (they were still married then irl) was great. That was the episode where Joey tried to eat the whole Turkey to himself too!

My two greatest enemies Ross...Rachel Green and complex carbohydrates.

is Friends still that popular?

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