Television is inundated with sitcoms with something to tickle everyone’s fancy. What’s less common are the shows that have been popular for decades, even after they’ve finished airing. Friends managed to hit a sweet spot, but it was only by chance that some of the most beloved actors found their way onto the show and landed a key role. The series became a springboard for the cast’s careers, launching the star actors into what seemed like overnight fame. The lead six were granted one last trip of anonymity to Vegas before their lives were about to change forever. Whilst viewers now know the likes of David Schwimmer and Jennifer Aniston as Ross and Rachel, not all of them started in the roles they ended up with.
During the process of finding the faces to fit the characters, Courtney Cox actually auditioned to play Rachel. Cox quickly came to the realization that she was far better suited to playing Monica, because she was able to relate to her. In Aniston’s case, she was already signed to work on a series called Muddling Through, and if the show had been a success, then production would’ve had to find another performer. There were plenty of instances which could’ve led to Friends being a completely different show to what fans now know. It can be easy to focus on the main characters, but there’s another actor who got the job when it could’ve gone to someone else. James Michael Tyler played the sitcom’s beloved Gunther. Working in Central Perk, he was always a delight to see and was well-known to the other characters. The plot didn’t delve into his life as such, but audiences knew enough about him to enjoy the character and look forward to his presence in a scene. Interestingly, Tyler didn’t become Gunther via the usual audition route. Tyler had a skill that he didn’t know would be integral to him becoming Gunther.
Being a Barista Secured James Michael Tyler’s Role on Friends
Before becoming Gunther, James Michael Tyler was signed up to work on Friends as an extra. A lot of scenes venture outside Monica’s apartment, so plenty of extras have been required throughout the seasons. What separated Tyler from the rest and secured him a permanent place on the series was the fact that he knew how to work an espresso machine. In a chat with Digital Spy, Tyler confessed, “You know, I honestly always thought my Masters in Fine Arts would get me further in the acting world than knowing how to work an espresso machine! That was a happy accident, and I’m very, very grateful to have had that skill.” Even though it was that particular skill that got him a bigger part, his coffee-making talent wasn’t put to good use as the machine was too loud. Audiences never see Gunther make a coffee, only talking to customers or cleaning cups. Even so, Tyler was convincing as a barista, and viewers got the gist of what he did without actually having to see him in action.
…I honestly always thought my Masters in Fine Arts would get me further in the acting world than knowing how to work an espresso machine!
Gunther is first seen working at Central Perk in the second episode of the first season, entitled “The One With The Sonogram.” However, it wasn’t until the 33rd episode, “The One With Phoebe’s Dad,” that viewers got to hear Gunther’s voice. Having said that, it wasn’t exactly a lot of dialogue. Ross asked him if he had stairs in his place, to which Gunther replied, “Yeah,” and that was it. It wasn’t the most memorable entrance, but that small word was career-defining. So much so that he was eventually able to quit his day job. For some time, whilst he was on Friends, Tyler continued to work his job at The Bourgeois Pig because he couldn’t be sure how often he’d be brought back. Reported in People, Tyler enjoyed the social side of his time at the coffee shop but had to take a step back once his role became more important on Friends. Tyler went from being needed once a week to working on the show all week. It was no longer feasible to carry on working at The Bourgeois Pig, as his acting career was taking off.
Although a Side Character, Gunther Influenced Plot Lines
Gunther from Friends in Central Perk smilingImage via Warner Bros.
It almost doesn’t feel right to title Gunther as a side character because he was like the 7th friend in the main group. Perhaps the reason that Gunther seemed like he was more than a side character came down to him always being at the group’s regular meeting place. Whenever they were in Central Perk coffee house, so was he. He overheard their conversations and saw some of their antics. He was also pretty integral to some plot points. When Ross was trying to hide from Rachel that he’d slept with someone else, he was working his way through a chain of people who could’ve passed on the information. Once it was apparent that Gunther had found out, Ross hoped he would be able to stop him from telling anyone else. Gunther had long been in love with Rachel, so he seemingly took pleasure in telling her what Ross had done. If he’d kept it to himself, the episode would’ve been very different.
