Which obnoxious Friends character are you?

Greyfox · 19-09-2019 11:22am

A Tyrant Named Miltiades! wrote: »

Why was this TV show ever popular?
Who was the most awful character?
And which of these horrible, horrible people do you identify with?

Q1
Oh someone doesn't like the most popular TV show ever, your in a small minority as its one of the 2 funniest shows ever made, every episode gives a laugh unlike most sitcoms. Its speaks to young people in a way that NO other tv show did, even today Friends is still relevant as friends captured funny dating moments better than any other TV show. The writing and comic timing was amazing, america will never make a funnier show. I think if you don't think friends is one of the best sitcoms ever or use to be one of the best then you don't have a sense of humor. Netflix paid €100 for an old show that's been on tv a million times.. that just goes to show how good the show was.

Q2 All 6 main characters were brilliant

Q3 No need for such a stupid loaded question, none of them were horrible. As a guy I could relate to Ross and Chandler a lot

Earthhorse · 19-09-2019 12:06pm

A Tyrant Named Miltiades! wrote: »

Let's face it. They're all horrible people.

Self-involved, sexist, downright rude.

I don't want to identify with any of them.

Yet you post on After Hours.

My questions are three-fold.

Okay.

Why was this TV show ever popular?

Seasons 1 - 3.5 if you're looking for quality. And everything else was nostalgia and people "identifying" with the character's travails.

Who was the most awful character?

Probably Gunther. Don't think he was written or acted very well. Didn't like when they brought him into it more and more. But more accurately, every character after Season 3.5.

And which of these horrible, horrible people do you identify with?

Chandler. The funniest of the group but no luck with women.

Guy Person wrote: »

The airplane was Emily's dad.

This week, on House.

elefant · 19-09-2019 12:26pm

Greyfox wrote: »

Q2 All 6 main characters were brilliant

I love the show but the characters are all, at various stages, very weird, awful and creepy.

Dr. Bre · 19-09-2019 12:27pm

I have no friends

partyguinness · 19-09-2019 12:30pm

It was a vacuous bubble gum sitcom with 6 self absorbed fragile all somewhat pathetic and needy characters living in a nice safe bubble and remarkably without any ethnic minorities.

Viewers liked it because they felt sorry for the characters.

It made people (well young women) feel nice and fuzzy for 30mins. It was harmless.

JohnnyFlash · 19-09-2019 12:34pm

partyguinness wrote: »

It was a vacuous bubble gum sitcom with 6 self absorbed fragile all somewhat pathetic and needy characters living in a nice safe bubble and remarkably without any ethnic minorities.

Viewers liked it because they felt sorry for the characters.

It made people (well young women) feel nice and fuzzy for 30mins. It was harmless.

Ross was banging that hot black woman for a while.

Feets · 19-09-2019 12:37pm

I guess I'm Rachels self involved sister...that Reese Whitherspoon played..

randd1 · 19-09-2019 12:38pm

JohnnyFlash wrote: »

Ross was banging that hot black woman for a while.

Tried to bang another black woman too (as did Joey, a good episode actually. "MONKEY LOVER!!"). He was with a Chinese chick as well.

Earthhorse · 19-09-2019 12:41pm

JohnnyFlash wrote: »

Ross was banging that hot black woman for a while.

Rachel was white.

partyguinness · 19-09-2019 12:43pm

JohnnyFlash wrote: »

Ross was banging that hot black woman for a while.

That's true but she only appeared in a handful of episodes.

She was hot though and at least she was not just "the help" which is the usual role for ethnics in such white sitcoms.

While I have taken a swipe at the lack of minorities, in all honestly it does reflect reality. Ethnic groups do by and large gravitate toward each other.

Earthhorse · 19-09-2019 12:47pm

partyguinness wrote: »

It was a vacuous bubble gum sitcom with 6 self absorbed fragile all somewhat pathetic and needy characters living in a nice safe bubble and remarkably without any ethnic minorities.

Two of the main characters are Jewish.

EmmetSpiceland · 19-09-2019 12:50pm

Earthhorse wrote: »

Two of the main characters are Jewish.

Half Jewish. “Looked” into earlier. Only the dad, played by the wonderful Elliot Gould, is Jewish.

Woke Hogan · 19-09-2019 12:50pm

randd1 wrote: »

Tried to bang another black woman too (as did Joey, a good episode actually. "MONKEY LOVER!!"). He was with a Chinese chick as well.

Jesus Christ!

partyguinness · 19-09-2019 12:51pm

Earthhorse wrote: »

Two of the main characters are Jewish.

That does not make them an ethnic minority.

Most US sitcoms are like that anyway e.g. Fraser, Will and Grace

Wayne Jarvis · 19-09-2019 12:54pm

Woke Hogan wrote: »

Jesus Christ!

In what episode did Ross bang Jesus Christ?

victor8600 · 19-09-2019 12:59pm

JohnnyFlash wrote: »

Phoebe was an absolute dose of a character. Annoying, needy, the sort who would describe herself as ‘kooky’, ‘left field’, ‘a beautiful freak’ etc.

Besides Charlie, Phoebe is the only character in Friends that I could actually like.

JohnnyFlash wrote: »

Ross was by far the best. That neurotic NY Jew character is always a good one.

He is a very bad caricature of a scientist and an awful character overall.

Earthhorse wrote: »

Two of the main characters are Jewish.

Oi, don't make me choke on my pastrami, next you'll be calling Joey a minority.

Bob Harris · 19-09-2019 1:01pm

I've had better fun painting ceilings than watching Friends.

I remember in secondary school people would talk about the previous night's episode the morning after.
I had never seen it and when I did all I could wonder was why people found it funny and would quote lines from it all day long.

The only thing remotely funny I ever saw in it was when Ross caught Bruce Willis posing and telling himself he was a neat guy. Beyond that it's drivel.

Wayne Jarvis · 19-09-2019 1:03pm

I think David Schwimmer can do physical comedy well. Him hiding from his girlfriend's da never fails to make me laugh.

partyguinness · 19-09-2019 1:04pm

I could not abide Rachel or Monica as my sister is a hybrid of both of them.

Phoebe was just an idiot.

I was not so hateful of the guys.

Gun to the head, I think Joey was the least insufferable.

EmmetSpiceland · 19-09-2019 1:07pm

partyguinness wrote: »

That does not make them an ethnic minority.

Most US sitcoms are like that anyway e.g. Fraser, Will and Grace

I don’t think Fraser was Jewish.

partyguinness · 19-09-2019 1:16pm

EmmetSpiceland wrote: »

I don’t think Fraser was Jewish.

What I meant was most US sitcoms from the mid 90s were predominantly white with very few ethnic minorities. Friends has not the only culprit.

valoren · 19-09-2019 1:27pm

In fairness, the writers self acknowledged these were all flawed characters midway through the first season with the episode featuring the unapologetic psychologist who dated Pheobe and points out how messed up the group dynamic is. I don't get the backlash as the characters are not presented as flawless bastions of moralistic integrity.

lertsnim · 19-09-2019 1:37pm

Seinfeld is where it's at. Now they were arseholes but entertaining arseholes.

Greyfox · 19-09-2019 1:41pm

victor8600 wrote: »

He is a very bad caricature of a scientist and an awful character overall.

Ross was a magnificent character, some of his moments like the leather trousers, "my sandwich" and the spray tan are absolutely hillarious. Also once people seen what happened in the prom video everyone wanted him to get with Rachael.

B_ecke_r · 19-09-2019 1:43pm

Greyfox wrote: »

Ross was a magnificent character, some of his moments like the leather trousers, "my sandwich" and the spray tan are absolutely hillarious. Also once people seen what happened in the prom video everyone wanted him to get with Rachael.

HE'S HER LOBSTER

partyguinness · 19-09-2019 1:47pm

Greyfox wrote: »

Ross was a magnificent character, some of his moments like the leather trousers, "my sandwich" and the spray tan are absolutely hillarious. Also once people seen what happened in the prom video everyone wanted him to get with Rachael.

Okay. Obviously you are a big fan. I am not as easily amused. I watched it all and can appreciate it for what it was- a warm comfort blanket of escapism for young women.

Personally I found it a little too annoying at times and a bit whiny/insecure teenageresque.

'Look at me. I am so pathetic and needy. Somebody save me from my vacuous self'

Fraser was more my cup of tea but that went a bit pear shaped too.

Airyfairy12 · 19-09-2019 1:48pm

I watched a load of episodes a while back and noticed how Chandler's a bit rapey, he preys on women, tries to trick them into sleeping with him, gets them drunk so he can take advantage, he makes remarks about trying to have sex with women that are passed out.
He'd be on the sex offenders list.

TheValeyard · 19-09-2019 1:54pm

Friends was class.

I'd be Mr. Heckles, I'm getting old and grumpy and I like wearing dressing gowns.

Greyfox · 19-09-2019 2:01pm

valoren wrote: »

In fairness, the writers self acknowledged these were all flawed characters midway through the first season with the episode featuring the unapologetic psychologist who dated Pheobe and points out how messed up the group dynamic is. I don't get the backlash as the characters are not presented as flawless bastions of moralistic integrity.

True, the characters are supposed to be flawed. As an example Homer Simpsons's flaws make him a better character

partyguinness wrote: »

Okay. Obviously you are a big fan. I am not as easily amused. I watched it all and can appreciate it for what it was- a warm comfort blanket of escapism for young women.

I'm not easily amused either. I appreciate comedy is subjective but its popularity tells you most people found it very funny

Airyfairy12 wrote: »

I watched a load of episodes a while back and noticed how Chandler's a bit rapey, he preys on women, tries to trick them into sleeping with him, gets them drunk so he can take advantage, he makes remarks about trying to have sex with women that are passed out.
He'd be on the sex offenders list.

True but back then it didn't seem a bit rapey, he just seemed like a man rubbish with women. Also Chandler was also a character that wouldn't be capable of rape

Antares35 · 19-09-2019 2:04pm

I'd like to know why if it was so unpopular and terrible, you have spent two whole days watching it and taking notes, while you had a wealth of other stuff to watch at your fingertips!

I thought friends was good for it's time. They often ad libbed and some of the one liners were brilliant. Anyone with a brain cell who watched it also realised that it was not a true depiction of late twenty/ early thirty year olds living in New Work at that time.

Earthhorse · 19-09-2019 2:14pm

EmmetSpiceland wrote: »

Half Jewish. “Looked” into earlier. Only the dad, played by the wonderful Elliot Gould, is Jewish.

In that case they may not even be Jewish at all as it passes through the maternal side.

B_ecke_r · 19-09-2019 2:15pm

Earthhorse wrote: »

In that case they may not even be Jewish at all as it passes through the maternal side.

he celebrates Hannukah

EmmetSpiceland · 19-09-2019 2:16pm

Earthhorse wrote: »

In that case they may not even be Jewish at all as it passes through the maternal side.

If you’ve been mitzvah’d and gotten the “snip” are you not automatically enrolled?

Earthhorse · 19-09-2019 2:17pm

B_ecke_r wrote: »

he celebrates Hannukah

He also dresses up as the Holiday Armadillo.

He's a deeply disturbed man.

TheValeyard · 19-09-2019 2:18pm

Earthhorse wrote: »

He also dresses up as the Holiday Armadillo.

He's a deeply disturbed man.

The worst thing he did was wear those skinny leather pants lol

Earthhorse · 19-09-2019 2:19pm

EmmetSpiceland wrote: »

If you’ve been mitzvah’d and gotten the “snip” are you not automatically enrolled?

You should consider donating to Wikipeadia, Emmet, it's an invaluable resource.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Who_is_a_Jew%3F

Omackeral · 19-09-2019 3:04pm

Why does Ross, the largest friend, not simply eat the other 5?

Leg End Reject · 19-09-2019 3:05pm

Omackeral wrote: »

Why does Ross, the largest friend, not simply eat the other 5?

Wouldn't be kosher.

topper75 · 19-09-2019 3:22pm

It was a thing of the time, a shift away from traditional el bueno y el malo duality. Two other contemporary shows, Seinfeld and the Sopranas could also be described that way: hugely popular but no upstanding likeable character in the whole show. Each of the Soprano characters were particularly cnutish but it made good TV.

Baron Kurtz · 19-09-2019 3:29pm

Reg Rogers: The Director.

"I'm hurt!!!"

"Stuff your talentless faces with my mother's crabcakes!"

Gas man altogether.

jimgoose · 19-09-2019 3:31pm

Probably Dugan. Him or Jack Klompus.

ILoveYourVibes · 19-09-2019 3:34pm

Phoebe.

19-09-2019 3:38pm

Janice was the most normal recurring character.
I don't know what was supposed to be wrong with her.

eviltimeban · 19-09-2019 3:51pm

Talking about unlikeable characters, check out the show Love on Netflix - really funny, but the main characters are pretty much completely unlikeable (but you end up liking them).

facehugger99 · 19-09-2019 3:59pm

Deleted User wrote: »

Janice was the most normal recurring character.
I don't know what was supposed to be wrong with her.

Her laugh.

19-09-2019 4:04pm

Antares35 wrote: »

I'd like to know why if it was so unpopular and terrible, you have spent two whole days watching it and taking notes, while you had a wealth of other stuff to watch at your fingertips!

I like Friends. But i hadn't realised in the past how annoying some of the characters are.

Even though she can be irritating and needy, I actually sometimes feel sorry for Monica. She's deeply insecure, probably as a result of being constantly belittled by her own mother, and sometimes the group takes advantage of her.

They once forced her to cook an incredibly time-consuming Thanksgiving Dinner for them, and not one of them helped (except Chandler, and he did next to nothing) and then they don't show up. They are always in her apartment eating her food and basically walking all over her. Nobody ever tries to intervene to help her from herself -- not even when she was dangerously overweight. They just keep using her throughout the ten seasons for their own benefit.

My favourite character is Janice. Thank goodness she got away from that dysfunctional group of individuals. She is funny, very forgiving and very loving. She's also very attractive. The disdain in which the group holds her is indicative of a very insecure and honestly rather hostile group of people.

19-09-2019 4:15pm

A Tyrant Named Miltiades! wrote: »

My favourite character is Janice. Thank goodness she got away from that dysfunctional group of individuals. She is funny, very forgiving and very loving. She's also very attractive.

Janice was an insufferable squawk. A laugh that could shatter glass. Very attractive? Hardly.

You're taking the piss.

19-09-2019 4:21pm

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Janice was an insufferable squawk. A laugh that could shatter glass. Very attractive? Hardly.

You're taking the piss.

1. Yes, the thread is supposed to be light-hearted. I don't know why some people are taking it really seriously.

2. Janice was stunning. You'll have done worse I'd say.

Wayne Jarvis · 19-09-2019 4:23pm

A Tyrant Named Miltiades! wrote: »

1. Yes, the thread is supposed to be light-hearted. I don't know why some people are taking it really seriously.

Because it's Boards.ie.

partyguinness · 19-09-2019 4:24pm

A Tyrant Named Miltiades! wrote: »

I like Friends. But i hadn't realised in the past how annoying some of the characters are.

Even though she can be irritating and needy, I actually sometimes feel sorry for Monica. She's deeply insecure, probably as a result of being constantly belittled by her own mother, and sometimes the group takes advantage of her.

They once forced her to cook an incredibly time-consuming Thanksgiving Dinner for them, and not one of them helped (except Chandler, and he did next to nothing) and then they don't show up. They are always in her apartment eating her food and basically walking all over her. Nobody ever tries to intervene to help her from herself -- not even when she was dangerously overweight. They just keep using her throughout the ten seasons for their own benefit.

My favourite character is Janice. Thank goodness she got away from that dysfunctional group of individuals. She is funny, very forgiving and very loving. She's also very attractive. The disdain in which the group holds her is indicative of a very insecure and honestly rather hostile group of people.

OP....

I am getting worried about you now. You need to leave the house and rejoin the human race.

Go on the beer or something. Visit a hooker. Anything.

Which obnoxious Friends character are you?

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