Friends is one of those rare shows that remains timeless. It’s still a staple in pop culture, even decades after it first aired. Whether you’ve watched the entire series multiple times or caught it in reruns, the charm of Ross, Rachel, Monica, Chandler, Joey, and Phoebe never fades. However, there’s a lot more to the show than just the laughs, the iconic moments, and the unforgettable theme song. From behind-the-scenes stories to fascinating details you might not know, here are 30 facts about Friends that will make you look at the show in a whole new way.
1. The Cast Wasn’t Paid As Much in the Early Seasons
When Friends first began, the cast was not yet earning the iconic paychecks we associate with them now. They started at $22,500 per episode, but as the show grew in popularity, their salaries skyrocketed. By the final season, each cast member earned $1 million per episode.
Fun Fact: The cast negotiated together for higher salaries, and they were known for sticking together on this front.
2. The Coffee Shop Was Based on a Real Place
Central Perk, the beloved coffee shop where the friends spent so much of their time, was inspired by a real café in New York City called Central Perk Café. The production team wanted to create an authentic feel, and they modeled the set after real New York cafés.
Fun Fact: The café set on Friends was incredibly detailed. There were coffee mugs on the shelves in the background to make it feel like a real working café.
3. Jennifer Aniston Was Almost Cast as Monica
Jennifer Aniston was not originally considered for the role of Rachel Green. She auditioned for Monica Geller, but the creators felt she was a better fit for Rachel, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Fun Fact: Courteney Cox, who played Monica, was originally offered the role of Rachel, but she turned it down.
4. Lisa Kudrow’s “Smelly Cat” Was Improvised
Phoebe Buffay’s Smelly Cat is one of the most iconic songs in Friends history. What many fans don’t know is that Lisa Kudrow (Phoebe) came up with the song on the spot during a rehearsal. She improvised the lyrics, and it quickly became a fan favorite.
Fun Fact: Kudrow has said that she wrote the song as a joke and wasn’t expecting it to be a major part of the show.
5. The ‘Friends’ Theme Song Was Almost Different
The famous theme song, “I’ll Be There for You” by The Rembrandts, almost wasn’t the theme song at all. The show’s creators initially considered a few other songs, but they eventually settled on The Rembrandts’ track after it was suggested by the show’s music supervisor, Kevin S. Bright.
Fun Fact: The song was specifically written for the show, and the catchy chorus became so iconic that it topped charts.
6. Matt LeBlanc Was the First to Be Cast
While the show’s ensemble cast is beloved, Matt LeBlanc (Joey Tribbiani) was actually the first one to be cast. He was a natural fit for the role, and the producers loved his performance.
Fun Fact: Matt LeBlanc was considered for other roles on the show before landing Joey, but none of them seemed right.
7. Monica’s Apartment Number Changed Twice
If you ever wondered why Monica’s apartment number changed on the show, here’s why: When the series began, Monica’s apartment was labeled #5. But in later seasons, the number changed to #20. Why? The set was designed for different buildings, and the apartment layout changed.
Fun Fact: Some fans speculated that this change was made to fit the continuity of the storylines better, though it was simply a set design issue.
8. The Cast Wasn’t Always Together in the Same Scene
Although we saw the iconic six friends hanging out together in every episode, the actors didn’t always shoot scenes together. Sometimes, the cast would record their lines separately, and the scenes would be pieced together during editing.
Fun Fact: The magic of the show came from great chemistry between the actors, even if they weren’t always in the same room while filming.
9. Courteney Cox Was the Only Cast Member Not to Win an Emmy
Despite her iconic role as Monica Geller, Courteney Cox never won an Emmy for her performance. She was nominated several times, but it was Jennifer Aniston and Lisa Kudrow who took home the awards.
Fun Fact: Cox has said that her Emmy snub didn’t bother her much, and she’s proud of her work on the show.
10. Friends Was Filmed in Front of a Live Audience
Many scenes in Friends were filmed in front of a live studio audience, adding to the show’s energy and allowing the cast to feed off the crowd’s reactions. In fact, many of the laughter and applause in the show is from real-time reactions.
Fun Fact: There were two audiences: one for the dress rehearsal, and one for the final taping.
11. The Couch in Central Perk Wasn’t Supposed to Be So Iconic
The famous orange couch in Central Perk wasn’t planned to become as iconic as it did. It was simply a piece of furniture they found at the last minute. The producers thought it added personality to the set, and it ended up being a defining part of the show.
Fun Fact: The couch was originally just a filler, but its distinctive look caught fans’ attention, and it became the centerpiece of Central Perk.
12. Joey’s Famous “How You Doin’?” Was Improvised
Joey Tribbiani’s catchphrase, “How you doin’?” became a massive part of pop culture. But what you might not know is that it was completely improvised by Matt LeBlanc. His natural charm and comedic timing turned a simple line into a memorable moment.
Fun Fact: Matt LeBlanc said the line when delivering a flirtatious joke, and the writers loved it so much they decided to make it his signature catchphrase.
13. The Show Almost Had a Different Name
Before landing on the name Friends, the show went through several working titles, including “Insomnia Cafe”, “Six of One”, and “Friends Like Us”. It wasn’t until later in the development process that they landed on the perfect title.
Fun Fact: The name Friends was chosen because it perfectly captured the essence of the show—six friends navigating life in New York.
14. Lisa Kudrow Was Hesitant About Phoebe’s Role
At first, Lisa Kudrow was uncertain about playing Phoebe Buffay. She wasn’t sure if audiences would accept her quirky, eccentric character. However, once the character started to develop, Kudrow fell in love with the role and it became a huge part of the show’s success.
Fun Fact: Kudrow said Phoebe’s weirdness was what made the character so special, and she enjoyed playing the “weirdest” character of the group.
15. A “Friends” Movie Was Considered Multiple Times
Over the years, rumors of a Friends movie have circulated, but nothing ever came to fruition. The creators and cast have been open about the fact that a reunion or film would be difficult to pull off, especially given how the show ended on such a perfect note.
Fun Fact: Despite these rumors, the cast has said that they wouldn’t want to do a movie unless it felt true to the characters.
16. The Cast Almost Never Worked Together Again After Friends
The six main cast members made a pact to stick together in future projects. However, Matt LeBlanc was the only one who appeared in a spin-off of the show—Joey, which didn’t fare as well as expected.
Fun Fact: Jennifer Aniston and Courteney Cox have worked together on multiple projects since, and they remain close friends to this day.
17. The Set Was Based on a Real Apartment
The famous apartments that the characters lived in were inspired by real New York apartments. The design team for Friends went to great lengths to ensure the sets felt realistic and lived-in, complete with quirky details like Monica’s purple walls and Joey’s “entertainment center” made from old crates.
