It's hard to believe that Friends came out 30 years ago. In honor of the sitcom's 30th anniversary, Courteney Cox has been reflecting on the hit TV show, which continues to find new fans in 2024.

Cox spoke to People at a Rock4EB event on Saturday, September 21, where she marveled at the success of Friends.

"It's just insane to me because it feels like time, it goes so fast and I don't realize it," she said of the fact the TV show launched three decades ago on September 22, 1994. "We used to say, 'Oh, I can't wait for this month,' or 'God, it feels like forever.' I would never say that line anymore."

Cox also discussed where her beloved character, Monica Geller, would be today. "Monica is alive and well," the actress told People. "Are you kidding?"

While Friends remains a cultural touchstone, Cox doesn't revisit old episodes all that often. "But whenever I do come across it, I can't help but [watch]," she told the outlet.

Like viewers all over the globe, Cox remains grateful that Friends continues to entertain new fans.

"That show is incredible," she told the outlet. "Every joke holds up, all the characters are just so amazing, and we [had] the best writers in the world. I'm lucky that it continues on through all the generations. And that's very fortunate."

Sadly, however, the Cougar Town star isn't convinced that a Friends reboot would work.

"It’s hard to try to redo anything," she told People. "Anything with 're' in front of it with this group... I think it's so special."

While a reboot is off the table, the cast did reunite for Friends: The Reunion in 2021. Many of the cast members have also remained close since filming ended, with Cox, Jennifer Aniston, and Lisa Kudrow sometimes sharing photos from evenings they've spent together.

Unfortunately, the cast lost one of their own in October 2023. Friends fans all over the world mourned the death of Matthew Perry, who played Cox's love interest, Chandler Bing, on the hit show.

While many of us like to tune into must-see TV shows for an engrossing binge-watch or much-needed comfort viewing, for some, part of the fun of watching TV is seeing the fashion on display on our screens. Like iconic fashion movies and the memorable, stylish characters from cinema history, dozens of characters on the small screen have delivered incredible looks. Some characters are entwined with their style—like Sex and the City's Carrie Bradshaw and her beloved Manolos—and some have even influenced trends (remember "the Rachel" haircut from Friends?).

Because costume designers have been helping craft well-dressed characters since the dawn of television, we're rounding up the most fashionable names TV has ever had to offer. Below, find icons whose style we're still emulating to this day.

Edina "Eddie" Monsoon and Patricia "Patsy" Stone from 'Absolutely Fabulous'

If you have never watched Absolutely Fabulous (i.e., Ab Fab), we highly encourage it. The series follows two women in fashion whose outfits are equal parts high fashion and utter ridiculousness. Their over-the-top looks are riveting in the best and worst ways.

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Blossom Russo from 'Blossom'

If there was a show that defined fun, funky '90s fashion, it's Blossom. While her style is often described as "eclectic," the character's diverse array of patterns, colors, and textures (usually with a floppy hat) is joyful in a way that still resonates.

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Everyone on 'Bridgerton'

This is a period drama that leans in on its lavish costumes—but many of the Regency-era looks have inspired contemporary trends in recent years. The costume designers on the romance series take an artistic approach to the wardrobe, blending authenticity with modernity—and the result is stunning, especially for our main characters Penelope, Kate, and Daphne.

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The original angels from 'Charlie's Angels'

Charlie's Angels had a massive impact on '70s fashion. A big part of that came from Farrah Fawcett, whose fringed hair and bell bottoms charmed a generation (even though she was only on the show for a season!). What made their costumes so great, in part, was that they ushered in a casual and comfortable style that let the ladies be charming and kick butt in the same breath.

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Denise Huxtable from 'The Cosby Show'

Lisa Bonet inherently had an alternative style, so it makes sense that her innate coolness would rub off on The Cosby Show character she played. Denise Huxtable was an icon, rebel, and absolute layering queen.

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Cybill Sheridan and Maryann Thorpe from 'Cybil'

The two characters on Cybill could not dress more differently: Cybill (Cybill Shepherd) dresses for casual but chic comfort, and Maryann (Christine Baranski) is dressed to the nines in Christian Lacroix and Thierry Mugler. Both are completely iconic.

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Daria from 'Daria'

There was perhaps no better show to define growing up in the '90s (and being angsty about it) than Daria. You could choose any of the characters for their style sensibilities, but our hearts go to the utilitarian-lite looks of Daria and BFF Jane.

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Gabrielle Solis from 'Desperate Housewives'

For those of you who don't remember Desperate Housewives, it was the show for domestic drama in the '00s. The characters were all stylish, but Gabrielle Solis (Eva Longoria) was the clear winner with her couture closet and her unabashed Y2K outfits (hello blue tracksuit!).

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Alexis Colby from 'Dynasty'

Has there ever been a better personification of the '80s than Alexis on Dynasty? With big hats, bigger hair, and a ton of sparkle and shoulder pads, the character was over-the-top in a way that made sense for the series. It helped that actor Joan Collins dressed in the same way as her character.

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Cookie Lyon from 'Empire'

Every single second Cookie Lyon (Taraji P. Henson) appears on screen in Empire, she's pulling focus. Part of that is the sheer force of her character, but a lot of it is the clothes: Cookie shows skin, dresses in all sparkles, gives us a glam coat, and is generally sartorially fearless in every way.

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Hilary Banks from 'The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air'

Hilary Banks from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air was the definition of '90s chic. Unlike some of her counterparts in this decade (Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Blossom, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and others), she was classy and polished and the power woman she knew she was.

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Monica, Phoebe, and Rachel from 'Friends'

Were you a Monica, a Rachel, or a Phoebe? No question was more important in the '90s. Each Friends character had a unique aesthetic, and the ubiquity and longevity of the show meant we got a lot of inspo throughout its run.

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Mary Ann Summers from 'Gilligan's Island'

Mary Ann Summers from Gilligan's Island was a style icon for many young women at the time—including with her trademark short shorts, marking the first time a person on television had worn the style. Her style was a little daring yet still modest, but always fashionable.

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Blanche Devereaux from 'Golden Girls'

The Golden Girls was peak '80s fashion in an accessible way, from the soft layers to the vivid colors. Blanche was by far the most fun: She never met a sparkle or a pattern she didn't like, in both clothes and accessories. Her aesthetic was joyful—plain and simple.

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Diane Lockhart from 'The Good Wife' and 'The Good Fight'

Arguably the star of The Good Wife (and definitely the star of The Good Fight), Diane Lockhart's power suits are the stuff of legend in the courtroom. Christine Baranski has made a career of playing fashionable women, and Diane might be the apotheosis.

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Blair Waldorf from 'Gossip Girl'

Gossip Girl used fashion in a much more obvious way than viewers were used to: The whole point of the covetable wardrobes was that you should seek to replicate it yourself. Blair Waldorf (Leighton Meester) was preppy-chic, from her headbands to her Chanel purses, and it was extremely enjoyable to bear witness to the glam.

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Serena van der Woodsen from 'Gossip Girl'

Serena from Gossip Girl (played by Blake Lively) was a bit edgier and more mischievous than her buttoned-up classmates. She didn't mind a more daring pattern or a studded jacket, and her bohemian-chic aesthetic is still deeply iconic today.

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Halston from 'Halston'

Who says women have to have all the fun? Legendary designer Halston, whose historic rise and fall was part of a Netflix series starring Ewan McGregor, was as chic as the women he dressed. The Studio 54 regular was known for his sharp, impeccable graphic style.

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Lucy Ricardo from 'I Love Lucy'

As the prototypical '50s housewife, Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball) on I Love Lucy had some exceptional costumes. Her A-line dresses, casual loungewear, and gowns: Everything was perfectly tailored and stylish but with that dose of quirky personality befitting the character.

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Betty Draper from 'Mad Men'

You could tell a lot about the Mad Men characters from their outfits (supported by the enormous work of the costume designers, who strove for intense authenticity). Betty Draper (January Jones) is firmly in the '50s, with its conservative but classic aesthetic, and she doesn't change much even with the changing of the times.

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Joan Holloway from 'Mad Men'

Joan Holloway (Christina Hendricks), the resident bombshell of Mad Men, had an "if it's not broken, don't fix it" attitude to her outfits. She was the queen of the fitted office dress, the better to show off her curves without ever showing too much skin. It was a delicate balance, and she nailed it.

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Megan Draper from 'Mad Men'

Megan (Jessica Paré) was a much-needed youthful presence in Mad Men as Don Draper's second wife, and she brought forth a new era of fashion (the '60s) for the show. From her minis to her beehive to her full-on hippie transformation, she had some of the best looks on the show.

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Mary Tyler Moore from 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show'

Mary Tyler Moore had more than just an incredible fashion sense on her show: She changed how women dressed and approached work style in the '70s. Her character made a single woman with a mind towards her career relatable, stylish, and glam.

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Mindy Lahiri from 'The Mindy Project'

The real Mindy Kaling has exceptional style, so it makes sense that her character Mindy Lahiri in The Mindy Project would also be defined by her colorful, vivacious style. While we love her glam gowns, let's be honest: Her workwear is just as memorable.

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Fran Fine from 'The Nanny'

The Nanny just simply wouldn't be as fun without Fran Fine's wardrobe. From the ridiculous (that candy bar wrapper dress) to the best (head-to-toe animal print and a lot of LBDs) she was the epitome of dressing to impress herself—and looking like an absolute icon.

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Jessica Day from 'New Girl'

There was a very specific aesthetic that Jess (Zooey Deschanel) was rocking in New Girl, and it felt down-to-earth and easy to replicate. Cardigan, A-line dress or skirt, big glasses, headband, flats, and bangs—and voila. You've just nailed preppy-cute in the '10s.

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Sabrina Spellman from 'Sabrina the Teenage Witch'

The titular Sabrina from Sabrina the Teenage Witch was a '90s teen girl's dream. She must have placed a spell on her wardrobe because her wardrobe was straight out of a Delia's catalog. Graphic tees, crop tops, floral minis, and a whole lot of spaghetti straps—yes, please.

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Kelly Kapowski from 'Saved by the Bell'

If you were a teen growing up in the '90s, your whole personality (including your style) was defined by which Saved by the Bell character you related to the most. Kelly Kapowski (Tiffani Thiessen) was everyone's favorite, from her florals to her crop tops (and her floral crop tops!).

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Olivia Pope from 'Scandal'

Scandal had some of the best work fashion of its day. It also popularized the idea of the "wine cardigan" (so named because Olivia Pope, played by Kerry Washington, spent a lot of this show dramatically drinking wine in a cozy knit), which was part of the larger show idea that a smart career woman could have a lot going on in her personal life.

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Carrie Bradshaw from 'Sex and the City'

This one's a no-brainer: Carrie Bradshaw was the dream for career-minded women in the '00s, particularly those who wanted to be a writer and live in New York. Her outfits perfectly straddled the line between polished and chaotic, and her shoes were to die for.

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Samantha Jones from 'Sex and the City'

Even though this character could sometimes be unfairly maligned at the time (Samantha was the sexually liberated one who was often depicted as flighty and unwise), her wardrobe on Sex and the City was a perfect mix of power boss and sexy siren.

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Wednesday Addams from 'Wednesday'

All things considered, this is a relatively recent show to be added to the list of fashionable TV characters. But Wednesday has had an important impact on our style trends: The latest adaptation of the beloved Addam's Family teen (played now by Jenna Ortega) is the perfect mix between goth and the TikTok-coined dark academia.

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If you're a long-time sitcom fan, chances are you have your individualized ranking of the best episodes of Friends. Many of us have the episodes we love to watch and rewatch, but we also have episodes that missed the mark for us (or aged badly). The show about a group of Manhattanite pals had a whopping 10 seasons, so it stands to reason that Chandler, Ross, Joey, Rachel, Monica, and Phoebe (Matthew Perry, David Schwimmer, Matt LeBlanc, Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, and Lisa Kudrow, respectively) might have some tiresome storylines and inane decisions over the years.

Before you get angry that one of your favorite episodes is on here, or one of your least favorite episodes didn't make the cut, know that this list is highly subjective. These are simply the episodes that some other super-fans don't enjoy watching—and there's nothing wrong if you still like them. We promise.

Below, find a round-up of the worst Friends episodes ever.

"The One With The Thumb" (season 1, episode 3)

It is, perhaps, a little unfair to judge Friends while it was finding its footing—which is common for a lot of shows. But a plotline where Phoebe finds a literal thumb in her soda and Monica doesn't like her boyfriend is a cross between weird and unfunny.

"The One Where Nana Dies Twice" (season 1, episode 8)

Half of this episode is sweet and nostalgic, with a tender sendoff to Ross and Monica's grandmother. And then the other half of the episode is a rumination on Chandler's sexuality and whether he gives off a "gay vibe." It won't be the last time we say it on this list: That didn't age well!

"The One With The Evil Orthodontist" (season 1, episode 20)

There's nothing inherently wrong with parts of this episode, but it feels like Rachel's silly storylines don't make sense for her character (sleeping with her ex-fiancé Barry). Essentially, her decisions feel like meandering ways to keep her away from Ross for as long as possible.

"The One With The Fake Monica" (season 1, episode 21)

This is quite a cool premise, with Monica tracking down the woman who stole her credit card and then surprisingly bonding with the woman. But this is also one of the episodes with Ross and monkey Marcel—and that's one of the weakest subplots the show has ever had.

"The One With The Ick Factor" (season 1, episode 22)

Monica dates a 17-year-old (accidentally!). That's it, that's the whole joke. This one, predictably, aged badly, but it's also a good example of when the A plotline doesn't work—and then the whole episode doesn't work even when the B plotline is fine.

"The One With Phoebe’s Dad" (season 2, episode 9)

Fans apparently weren't a fan of how "cramped" the episode is. If you don't remember, Phoebe takes Chandler and Joey to meet her estranged dad and they spend most of the episode inside a taxi. This one gets redeemed from all the "gifts" they bring home from the gas station.

"The One Where Eddie Won't Go" (season 2, episode 19)

Friends is far from the only show that used mental illness for comedy in the '90s. But framing that illness as a punchline ("Ding dong, the psycho's gone!") is not a great look, even if guest star Adam Goldberg is very funny.

"The One with the Metaphorical Tunnel" (season 3, episode 4)

Even if you don't know Friends very well, you're probably familiar with the one where Ross gets freaked out when his son plays with a Barbie. It's absolutely karma to see him having a tea party in lady clothes as "Bea," but we still don't like the premise.

"The One with the Giant Poking Device" (season 3, episode 8)

Many fans crack up at “Ugly Naked Guy" and all those related plotlines. The joke feels superficial and falls flat now—and it's especially altruistic to see the gang try to poke him to see if he's still alive in this episode.

"The One With Phoebe's Ex-Partner" (season 3, episode 14)

Ross, trying to impress Rachel, attends a fashion seminar with her—and falls asleep. Phoebe's bitter about her ex-partner wanting to sell "Smelly Cat" to advertisers. Joey throws an ex's wooden leg into a fire(?). The whole episode feels like a bad look.

"The One Where Ross and Rachel Take a Break" (season 3, episode 15)

This one is almost as hotly debated as it was on the show—were Ross and Rachel on a break? Was he cheating? Was their argument (which felt contrived and based on Ross' insecurity) even valid? But the result is probably what Ross-and-Rachel fans really hate.

"The One With the Morning After" (season 3, episode 16)

After Rachel discovers Ross slept with someone else—and he insists they were on a break—the two have an all-out fight while the other friends hide in the bedroom. It is a long, drawn-out, painful fight, and (while it might be a good episode) it's tough to watch.

"The One with the Ballroom Dancing" (season 4, episode 4)

“How goes the dancing? Gay yet?” is a line uttered by Monica after Joey agrees to help their building's superintendent learn how to dance for an upcoming ball. It's a brutal summation of how this episode treated the thought of (gasp!) two guys platonically touching.

"The One With the Fake Party" (season 4, episode 16)

You might remember this one as when Rachel dresses up in a cheerleading outfit to try and seduce someone. It's also the one where Rachel's fake party ruins Ross' last night with Emily, and she comes off as incredibly immature most of the night.

"The One With the Invitation" (season 4, episode 21)

Friends was not the only sitcom to rely on"clip" episodes (or flashback episodes) that show previous moments in the series. But when they did, fans often felt cheated—even in this case, where Rachel is debating whether to attend Ross' wedding to Emily.

"The One Where Rachel Smokes" (season 5, episode 18)

This features one of the most '90s plotlines the show has ever seen: Rachel briefly feels like she has to take up smoking because it's helping her have important, off-the-cuff conversations with her boss. It was divisive among the characters even at the time, and even weirder now.

"The One With the Apothecary Table" (season 6, episode 11)

A.k.a. "The One That Is Just an Ad for Pottery Barn." Shows hadn't landed on how much product placement to use, so this one refers to unnecessary items (including said apothecary table). Phoebe ends up loving and keeping it, though, so that's a plus?

"The One That Could Have Been" (season 6, episodes 15-16)

The notion of "putting Monica in a fat suit for flashback episodes" is widely regarded today as a completely offensive punchline. While watching the character awkwardly dance might have once been considered funny, now it just feels heartbreaking. And to add insult to injury, she's also a virgin in this alternate reality.

"The One Where Ross Dates A Student" (season 6, episode 18)

Sometimes you don't need any explanation beyond the title. Much like Monica accidentally dating a high schooler, Ross briefly dates one of his students—except it's not an accident, and he is shocked to discover it's against the rules. Sheesh.

"The One With Mac and C.H.E.E.S.E." (season 6, episode 20)

Yet another clip episode. Here, Chandler screws up and doesn't write down an important note for Joey's callback time. And then we get a bunch of throwback scenes reminding us of all the times the friends have screwed up. So, you know! That happened!

"The One With Rachel's Assistant" (season 7, episode 4)

Rachel hires an assistant because he's hot (and deeply underqualified) and then she starts a relationship with him. This is right up there with sleeping with a student or a guy who's not even 18, except the guy in question, Tad, ends up being deeply annoying on top of that.

"The One with the Truth About London" (season 7, episode 16)

In another instance of fat-shaming from the show, this episode contains an "alternate reality" in which Joey and Monica get together. Both characters have to wear fat suits, and it's just depressing—especially since the rest of the episode features a bunch of fun, silly pranks between Ross, Ben, and Rachel.

"The One With Ross and Monica's Cousin" (season 7, episode 19)

Or rather, "The One Where Ross Tries to Kiss His Cousin." Yes, said cousin is a young Denise Richards, who's always a joy to see. Yes, as Ross explains, he hasn't been with anyone in a long time. But they really could not sell the idea at the end of the day. (Couldn't she have been a family friend?)

"The One With Chandler's Dad" (season 7, episode 22)

If you're unfamiliar, Chandler's dad is a drag performer in Vegas. And that situation leads to bad, insensitive, and generally unpleasant jokes. Kathleen Turner, who plays Charles Bing, has even said she wouldn't take on the role today.

"The One With the Rumor" (season 8, episode 9)

Wow, this episode aged badly. It's weird enough watching guest star Brad Pitt's character Will actively antagonize the character played by his then-wife, knowing the two would get divorced in real life. It's even worse when we remember that Will admitted to starting a nasty, insensitive rumor about Rachel in high school that she was intersex, which shouldn't be a joke to begin with.

"The One Where Joey Dates Rachel" (season 8, episode 12)

This episode is an exercise in contrasts. On one hand, watching Ross try to get across Manhattan in 10 minutes is very funny. On the other hand, this fake date between Joey and Rachel starts us down the plotline of the two dating, which many fans will argue was a mistake.

"The One With Ross's Step Forward" (season 8, episode 11)

There isn't anything overtly wrong with this episode, but some fans avoid watching it because it's just another example of the men on the show being bad at relationships. Although, Ross giving away his apartment key because he doesn't have a copy is funny.

"The One With Joey's Interview" (season 8, episode 19)

Another flashback episode! The conceit is good—Joey needs to nail an interview, which is difficult because he is Joey—but it's also a good example of why Joey is best served as a side character. It's at least rewarding that he nails the interview in the end.

"The One With the Male Nanny" (season 9, episode 6)

Ross and Rachel hire a male nanny, and "hilarity" ensues because Ross can't fathom how a straight man would want to take care of children. Also, Phoebe sort of cheats on Mike with her ex David (we love you, Hank Azaria, just not the character!)—and the love triangle doesn't really work.

"The One With Ross's Inappropriate Song" (season 9, episode 7)

It's pretty hilarious that Ross and Rachel have to rap Sir Mix-a-Lot's “Baby Got Back” to get their daughter to sleep. But if you'll recall, this is also the episode where Chandler goes and looks at a sex tape of Monica and Richard. Say it now: Ew.

"The One With Phoebe's Rats" (season 9, episode 12)

Phoebe loves animals: Sure! Phoebe has some pet rats: Okay. Mike accidentally killing them: Disturbing, frankly. The side plot about Joey wanting to hook up with Ross and Rachel's nanny: Getting old at this point. You could tell that the show was running out of ideas a little bit.

"The One With the Donor" (season 9, episode 22)

There are some good plotlines here, particularly with Monica and Chandler's reckoning with not being able to have a child. But it also features the return of David, in another diversion from Phoebe ultimately being with Mike, and leans in on the bitterness of the other main characters.

Matthew Perry tragically died on Oct. 28 at the age of 54, and has been remembered for his humor-filled and sensitive portrait of his beloved Friends character Chandler Bing.

But what we didn't know until now is just how much influence Perry ended up having on the course of the show as a whole: According to a one-time Friends guest star, the actor was solely responsible for blocking a storyline which had Chandler cheating on Monica during season 5 in Las Vegas.

This was a move which Perry reportedly felt would ruin the audience's relationship with Chandler, and would be too hard to come back from, per Lisa Cash, who ended up playing a small role as a flight attendant instead of the original role for which she had been booked.

"I came in as a guest star on Friends, and I was super excited," Cash told TMZ.

"Basically, the scene was: Chandler and Monica were arguing in Vegas about Monica having lunch with Richard.

"Initially in our script, Chandler goes up to the hotel room, orders room service, and I bring it up as a hotel worker, and we end up talking and laughing and connecting, and Chandler ends up cheating on Monica with my character.

"We had rehearsed it and everything and then the day before we were shooting in front of a live audience, I was told that Chandler went to the writers and said the audience will never forgive him for cheating on Monica, which—he was probably right. That would have changed possibly the course of the show and of his character."

Instead, Cash ended up playing "the costarring role as a flight attendant with Ross and Rachel."

The actress also revealed how "likable and welcoming" Perry was when they were rehearsing their scene together. "It was just easy doing the scene with him," she said. "That was just such a tribute to him, you know, for making me feel comfortable with him like that."

Commenting on the ultimate decision for Chandler not to cheat on Monica, Cash said, "I think it was a good move, because they had that other thing with Ross and Rachel, like 'we were on a break,' but Chandler and Monica weren't on a break.

"This was a decision that he was gonna make to cheat on her. I mean, in the moment and everything, but I don't think the audience could have really forgiven that."

It would certainly have been very hard to come back from for Friends fans, yep.

In the 1990s and 2000s, no show was more popular—or more culturally relevant—than Friends. And, if you were an actor, there was no more coveted role than the guest cameo: Sometimes within a single episode, sometimes spanning across entire seasons, you could be cast as a love interest, a family member, or a total stranger. The network sometimes engaged in "stunt" casting, to bring a famous name onto the show with the idea of boosting ratings. Sometimes one of the actors might bring on a friend (or even an at-the-time husband—more on that later). And sometimes the show had a knack for bringing on an actor early in their career before they hit mega-stardom.

If you're familiar with the show, you may remember some of these epic episodes, where someone super cool was hanging out with Monica, Joey, Rachel, Chandler, Phoebe, and Ross (that's Courteney Cox, Matt LeBlanc, Jennifer Aniston, Matthew Perry, Lisa Kudrow, and David Schwimmer, in case you forgot). But we're betting that there are just as many cameos you've forgotten or didn't realize at the time (John Stamos? Gabrielle Union??). Read on for the most hilarious, OTT, and scene-stealing cameos in Friends history.

Morgan Fairchild

Nora Tyler Bing (that's Chandler's mom, if you don't know her by name) made a number of appearances throughout the series. Morgan Fairchild, who starred in season one of Dallas and was well-known as a TV actor, embodies the erotic novelist with exactly the right amount of flirtatious arrogance. 

Kathleen Turner

Charles Bing, Chandler's dad and a Vegas drag queen, was played by Academy Award-winning actress Kathleen Turner. It was…dated casting, especially the jokes surrounding Charles' appearance and mannerisms. Turner said she wouldn't take on the role today. But at least she got to sing "I Feel Pretty"!

Helen Hunt

Fans have always wondered if Friends shared the same universe as Seinfeld and Mad About You, which were airing at the same time. And, in a season one crossover episode, Helen Hunt (who played Jamie) and Leila Kenzle (who played Fran) came into Central Perk and mistook Phoebe for Ursula, Phoebe's twin and a waitress in Mad About You. Confirmation!

Dermot Mulroney

The My Best Friend's Wedding and Scream VI star had a short role in season nine as Rachel's coworker (and romantic interest, naturally) who steps aside when he realizes the whole Ross-Rachel complication of it all.

Leah Remini

Fun fact: Remini auditioned to play Monica. She didn't get the role, obviously, but she did get to play a pregnant woman named Lydia in season one delivering her baby on the same day as Ross' ex (who befriends Joey while he's in the hospital). Joey ends up helping her through her delivery in a surprisingly sweet moment.

Alec Baldwin

Parker, Phoebe's enthusiastically over-the-top friend and potential love interest in the eighth season, immediately clashes with the rest of the group thanks to his complete lack of sarcasm. Baldwin later said he found Lisa Kudrow "so beautiful and funny, but slightly odd in a wonderful way."

Susan Sarandon

Long-term Days of Our Lives actor Cecilia Monroe (Sarandon) plays Jessica Lockhart in season seven—that is, until she's written off the show as a way for Joey's character to return. Joey accidentally spills the beans to her that her character's brain is being implanted into Dr. Drake's body. She, understandably, is furious, but then forgives him and they have a quick fling. Sarandon called the experience "lovely" and said she felt "very, very privileged."

Denise Richards

In one of the show's weirder plotlines, Richards plays Cassie, Ross' cousin. Ross mistakenly thinks their movie night in is sexy, instead of friendly, and…tries to kiss her? It doesn't go well, to no one's surprise.

John Stamos

Stamos played a freaked-out coworker whom Monica and Chandler try to coerce into being a sperm donor for them [TOO R-RATED??]in season nine (which feels like a wild Mad Libs association). Stamos remembers feeling "heartbroken" over his cameo, since he was told to hold for applause when he entered—and the audience reacted with complete silence.

Jon Favreau

Remember Monica's billionaire boyfriend Pete, who decides he's gonna become a (very bad) MMA fighter in season three? Yup, that was celebrated director and actor Favreau! In a Reddit thread, he called his character "a man of tremendous focus and conviction" and jokingly said he worried about Pete because "I'll always have to live with the uncertainty of what his fate held."

Billy Crystal and Robin Williams

It's a quick scene in season three, but Tomas (Williams) and Tim (Crystal) have a back-and-forth about Tomas' wife's infidelity (spoiler alert: Tim is the one sleeping with her). Apparently, the comedians wandered on set and the writers asked them to do a cameo on the spot—which they completely ad-libbed.

Danny DeVito

You may remember the brief-but-memorable role in which DeVito plays a last-minute stripper Monica and Rachel find for Phoebe in season 10, the same stripper who starts weeping after the women aren't interested in him taking off his clothes. DeVito said that, aside from the fact that he wish he could have stripped completely (lol), he had a great time.

Dakota Fanning

Fanning was one of a few child actors (including Mae Whitman and Cole Sprouse!) to make a cameo on the show. She stars memorably in season 10 as an 8-year-old kid who befriends Joey (they have similar interests!) and gives him some wisdom about accepting Monica and Chandler moving out of the city and into her old house.

Kristin Davis

The Sex and the City star hopped by for a quick cameo in season seven as Erin, one of Joey's flings, whom Rachel and Phoebe end up loving way more than Joey. The two go on a few more dates, but Erin agrees that she and Joey just don't have a "spark."

Brooke Shields

The season two cameo was fun—Shields played Joey's stalker, who ends up licking his hand because she loves his character so much—but in less fun news, her husband at the time Andre Agassi was so enraged by her character's behavior that he came home and smashed all his tennis trophies.

Ben Stiller

A brief love interest for Rachel in the third season, Stiller's character Tommy is basically the angriest man alive (but pretends for a bit that he's, like, a totally normal and chill person). After he gets peed on by the pet chicken(!), his explosive anger immediately outs him to the group, and he breaks up with Rachel immediately on the way out.

Ellen Pompeo

Literally months before she officially became Meredith Grey, Pompeo starred in season 10 as an old classmate of Ross and Chandler and the source of a pact between the two to not date women they both liked (she absolutely made out with Chandler, though, so pact—broken).

George Clooney and Noah Wyle

The two ER doctors appear as…doctors, clearly, treating Rachel in season one in a network stunt that was nevertheless a fun cameo. They have a double date with Rachel and Monica that goes predictably badly, with the two ladies sniping at each other and confessing to insurance fraud. Which is a shame for the show's crossover opportunities.

Anna Faris

Anna had a multi-episode run as the birth mom to Monica and Chandler's babies—remember the surprise twins?—in season 10. Erica is initially worried she might not be pregnant with her football player's baby and instead might have gotten pregnant thanks to "Shovelly Joe" (in prison for, naturally, killing his dad with a shovel), but fortunately it ended up being the football player in the end. Baby Erica is named after her!

Freddie Prinze Jr.

Playing against his heartthrob type, Prinze Jr was a "mannie" (male nanny) named Sandy whom Ross and Rachel hired to take care of Emma in season nine. He ends up getting fired for being too sensitive and being an adult who likes playing with stuffed dinosaurs.

Jeff Goldblum

Goldblum is the very serious theater director Leonard Hayes who clashes with the very not serious Joey in season nine. The two end up getting along—right up until Joey (who uses his full bladder to act better) accidentally pees on Leonard. Fun fact: Jeff is one of only a few characters to break the fourth wall on the entire show.

Aisha Tyler

The first recurring Black character on Friends, Dr. Charlie Wheeler is a love interest first for Joey and then for Ross. (She ends up leaving them both!) Tyler later spoke about her role coming about because of "colorblind casting": "The role wasn't written as a woman of color, and when I auditioned, I read against women of every ethnic background," she said. But, she said she had a good time on the show.

Christina Applegate

Amy Green, one of Rachel's sisters, makes an appearance in season 9 (and Applegate was Emmy-nominated for the appearance). Applegate said she loved being on the show and has known some of the actors, including Perry, for years. Amy came back in season 10, just as selfish and horrible as ever!

Selma Blair

Blair's character Wendy appears in the ninth season, getting flirty with Chandler as the two are working together in Oklahoma. Both of them are married, which apparently doesn't appear to bother Wendy. Chandler quits his job to move back home.

Bruce Willis

Eliciting a huge audience scream, Willis starred in season six as Paul, the dad to Ross' much younger girlfriend…who also ends up dating Rachel. Perry later confessed that Willis appeared on the show because he lost a bet to Perry over whether the film they starred in, The Whole Nine Yards, would be a hit.

Gabrielle Union

Kristen, whom both Ross and Joey like, goes on dates with both men in season seven. Shocker—both men compete for her attention, and she ends up not interested in either of them. Union has spoken about feeling disrespected (on the show and in Hollywood) as a Black actress; She hosted an all-Black cast Friends episode reading in 2020.

Jennifer Coolidge

Coolidge made a very memorable appearance in the tenth season of the show, the fake-British accent-having Amanda who annoys her former roommates (Phoebe and Monica). Coolidge called the role "intimidating," and that she was discouraged from improvising any of her lines. The bloopers are still amazing, though.

Paul Rudd

Technically this could fall in guest role instead of cameo—Rudd appeared in the last two seasons as Phoebe's love interest and husband-to-be Mike—but it was still a treat to occasionally get the goofy character in a few fun scenes. Rudd admitted he found the experience "strange" and "surreal," feeling like an outsider during the emotion-filled last episodes for the tight-knit cast.

Winona Ryder

Melissa Warburton, Rachel's sorority sister from season seven, plays a queer character who had a drunken makeout with Rachel in college. She initially denies it, but when Rachel kisses her again, she mistakenly believes they're destined to be together (Rachel then rejects her). In hindsight, it's cringey, especially since it was a network stunt that was called out immediately for being insensitive.

Reese Witherspoon

Witherspoon played Rachel's other sister—the "spoiled one" who briefly comes into the friend group in season six and goes on a date with Ross. There were rumors that Witherspoon and Aniston didn't get along, which seem to be mercifully false; the two have referenced their time together on the show before since becoming coworkers again on The Morning Show.

Julia Roberts

America's Sweetheart was a little less sweet in her cameo as Chandler's middle school classmate Susie Moss in season two, who gets revenge on him for flashing her in front of the whole school. Apparently she made Perry write a paper on quantum physics before she agreed to appear, and the two then briefly dated.

Brad Pitt

It's hard to top Aniston's then-husband coming onto the show in 2001 as Ross' friend and admitting to starting an "I Hate Rachel Green" club. Fun fact: Pitt was Emmy-nominated for the appearance, but he admitted to Access Hollywood that "I flubbed my first line…We had to stop and start again."

Courteney Cox was just honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and her longtime pals and Friends costars Jennifer Aniston and Lisa Kudrow were right there by her side to celebrate her.

Aniston took to Instagram to share how happy she was for the Monica Geller to her Rachel Green.

"Very proud of our girl @courteneycoxofficial today," she wrote. "I love these women with literally every ounce of my heart and soul ... @lisakudrow and I were on a cloud being able to celebrate her and her incredible achievements"

Reese Witherspoon, who played Jill Green in the cult TV show, commented, "Wow!! Congrats @courteneycoxofficial !! So well deserved!!"

Aniston, Kudrow and Laura Dern were all guest speakers during the ceremony.

"We are thrilled to welcome Courteney Cox to the Hollywood Walk of Fame!  Courteney has played some momentous roles during her career, and we know there is much more to come," Ana Martinez, producer of the Hollywood Walk of Fame, said in a press release.

"I am happy to add that her star is just a few feet away from her friend and now fellow Walk of Famer Jennifer Aniston."

Friends ran from 1994 to 2004, and to this day, every cast reunion—whether formal or informal—sends fans into a near frenzy.

Aniston and Cox have remained especially close over the years since the show ended. The Rachel Green actress is even godmother to the real-life Monica Geller's daughter Coco Arquette, according to Us Weekly.

Cox shares Coco with her ex-husband, the actor David Arquette, whom she married in 1999.

Paul Rudd is breaking my heart.

During an interview with the U.K.'s Heart radio, the Ant-Man actor suffered a case of extreme modesty, and revealed he felt he shouldn't have been part of the cast in the last episode of Friends.

Asked about his time on the show, the actor said, "It was really fun, and they were great! The whole thing was a bit surreal, I must say, to be a part of that—because I came on really at the end."

He continued, "I never knew that I was going to be in as many [episodes] as I was. But it also felt strange. I was in that last episode, and I just thought, 'I shouldn't be here. I'm getting a front-row seat to things I'm not supposed to see.' They were all crying, it was all emotional, and I was just like, 'whoa!'

"I felt very privileged, but I also was like, 'Uuuh, I just want to sit back here and not get in the way."

Asked if there was a Friends WhatsApp group, Rudd quipped, "If there is, I'm not on it."

The show, which ran from 1994 to 2004, remains a favorite for generations of viewers, and of course over 10 years the cast members grew very close to one another.

Still, Rudd played a pretty significant character: He portrayed Mike Hannigan, who eventually married Phoebe Buffay, one of the original six "friends," so he definitely had his place in that last episode.

Rudd made a very different kind of headline in recent days when an animal shelter compared a rescue dog with him, creating a collage of their two faces side by side and nicknaming the pup Pawl Ruff. They also called on the actor to adopt him. The dog, whose real name is Waffle House (!!!) has now been adopted, so all's well that ends well.

Prince Harry admitted to taking "mushroom chocolates" while staying at Courteney Cox' house in Los Angeles, in a copy of Spare viewed by Us Weekly. (The highly anticipated memoir will officially be released on Jan. 10.)

At the time, Harry writes, Cox was apparently "traveling, on a job, and didn’t mind if we crashed at her place." For him, the "idea of crashing at Monica’s was highly appealing. And amusing."

However, the Friends actress came home, and Harry thought he and his friends would have to leave, before she told them there was "plenty of room."

Harry explains, "I was still confused because … she was Monica. And I was a Chandler. I wondered if I’d ever work up the courage to tell her [that he had a slight crush on her]. Was there enough tequila in California to get me that brave?"

At this stage, a party had started in Cox' house, and eventually the prince came across "a huge box of black diamond mushroom chocolates," which were left "for everybody."

Harry explains, "My mate and I grabbed several, gobbled them, washed them down with tequila."

Later, Harry went to the bathroom and a trash can in there began to look like a smiling human head to him. He told his friend to go in so he could experience it for himself, but the friend mistook a puffer jacket for a "dragon" and freaked out.

"My delightful trip had been his hell," Harry notes. "How unfortunate. How interesting."

In Spare, Harry also admits to having taken cocaine in the past, as reported by Us Weekly.

He explains, "Of course … I had been doing cocaine around this time. At someone’s country house, during a shooting weekend, I’d been offered a line, and I’d done a few more since.

"It wasn’t much fun, and it didn’t make me particularly happy, as it seemed to make everyone around me, but it did make me feel different, and that was the main goal."

You can pre-order Spare below for even more shocking revelations.

Love is scary, a hard truth that Matthew Perry knows all too well.

Trusting another person in that very vulnerable way can be really difficult, but the Friends actor, 53, has revealed that he has worked through his fear of intimate relationships and is ready to commit to someone at this stage in his life.

As Perry's much-anticipated memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing: A Memoir, prepares to hit bookshelves Nov. 1, he opened up to People about why it has been so hard for him to open up to others in the past.

He addressed the fact that he was always the one to end his serious relationships, saying, "That was me afraid." He explained, "That is what I manifest, something that's wrong with them. And then I break up with them."

Perry said that he "had a tremendous amount of fear" surrounding love and added that "through a lot of work, I've got over that fear. I'm going to learn as I go. The thing that's changed about me is I have no interest in hanging out with somebody that I don't know or somebody that I'm not that into. The next person I really take seriously is somebody that I'm going to be in love with and not be scared by the things that used to scare me."

The actor revealed he's ready to be a husband and a dad. "I'm not run by the fear I used to be run by so everything's kind of different," he said. "I'm feeling more confident and I'm not afraid of love anymore, so the next girl I go out with better watch out."

I wish him well in this new and exciting chapter, and wow, I cannot wait to read this memoir.

In June, the #ReadWithMC community dove deep into Salma El-Wardany's These Impossible Things, an unputdownable novel about three friends navigating love, family, and faith. One reader (@alanna_dreamingwithopeneyes) described El-Wardany's debut—which was also named June's Read With Jenna book club pick—as "not straight female lit, not romance, but rather a novel that bobs and weaves into a light version of contemporary fiction." 

In the words of Melissa (@the_reading_affair), "This book stole my heart." Readers loved These Impossible Things' nuanced depiction of female friendship, with some reviews taking care to include content warnings (These Impossible Things includes descriptions of physical and emotional abuse and sexual assault).

Each month, we gather up the reviews of our virtual book club members so anyone else looking for their next great read has a collection of recommendations. Here's what else #ReadWithMC readers had to say about These Impossible Things.

"timely. relevant. honest. powerful.

THESE IMPOSSIBLE THINGS takes a deep dive into religion, identity, relationships, choices, and most of all friendships. i feel like i learned so much, in an effortless way. reading this book was the easiest thing to do.

this book is my favorite read of 2022 and i’m pretty sure i knew before page 100. 🥹 the writing just truly spoke to me, it was poetic and relatable and i would frequently start underlining a passage and just not know where to stop because i loved it all.

more than once i empathized and connected with the characters. at times they frustrated me. by the end i had chills, and wanted to check in on every one of my besties.

these stories will stick with me for a while. 🧡

⚠️CW apply. reach out if you want more information!

and PSA: if you love The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants and/or appreciate novels about friendships, messy relationships, and figuring shit out with deeper personal and cultural themes (like myself), and/or are reading this caption right now, then ADD 👏 TO 👏 CART 👏!!"

—@dariasbookstagram

"I have so many feelings. Poetry wondrously flowed throughout this book! I'm already ready to read her next one. The foundation of this story is laid with love, family and, most importantly, friendship. We got the sense that the characters were never alone, the pages swelled with the chorus of community in the toughest times as we follow three lifelong friends who are British, Arab and Muslim as they venture into adulthood, choosing careers and life partners while balancing familial obligations. But sometimes these familial obligations and their life partners clashed, compelling one to be sacrificed. Do they want love or family more? Can our characters handle the cost of this sacrifice? Will they ever be fulfilled when such an essential part of their life is taken away? It's entertaining to see how this unfolds and the writing is gorgeous!! I was attached to this book for the time I was reading it. I still some questions...

I'm not sure how "the world" will receive this story. There are so many false notions about who Muslim women are and what is expected of them. I'm not sure I'm prepared for opinions that will come. I have many opinions of my own, some I will share, some I will withhold. I think anything involving women, sex and choice have the power to drive misogynists (women included) crazy. Add Muslim to that equation and we have a whole police force lined up to condemn and punish. Revisiting her essay in IT'S NOT ABOUT THE BURQA gave me more understanding of the author’s reasons behind creating these characters.

But I still can't tell whether or not the communities would appreciate a story as unfiltered as this. Women engaging in forbidden things reserved for men. Receiving pleasure from sex without shame or guilt... And I definitely cannot tell how Arab men will feel about their depiction in this. Whether it matters or not is not for me to say. I tried to "put myself in their shoes" and also ask Muslim and Arab women I know about how they would feel about certain aspects and the responses varied.

Last thing I'll ask: why are all their knights in shining armors white? But all the Arab men deficient (to say the least)? Was it to prove a point? Should I care? Does balance matter?"

—@themillennialjareads

"4.5 ⭐️- Contemporary Fiction

Following three friends, Malak, Kees, & Jenna, as they navigate adulthood within their religious and cultural traditions.

Another @readwithjenna pick for the win. I was instantly so invested in all three women’s lives and not one stood out more than the other. I’m usually a quick reader, but I spent more time with this story. Not because I didn’t want to pick it up, but I literally took in every word.

There are some heavy themes (dm me for CW) but the way the author was able to articulate the women’s feelings and explore these topics was so authentic and powerful.

Overall, I’d recommend to those that enjoy complex family dynamics, friendships, and love — and all the emotions in between.

*I cannot speak on the representation, but I did appreciate the conversation of what it means to be “a good Muslim woman”.

Friendship, female expectations, interfaith relationships."

—@bookedwithrook

"CW: sexual assault, domestic abuse, abortion, family estrangement, racism, and more

This book's a hard one to review as a white woman, and I think it's important for readers to seek out #ownvoices reviews of this one, so please take that as a caveat. There were a lot of beautifully written and resonant parts of this book that I appreciated -- about friendship, love, and family.

The book sets up to explore the difficulties of interfaith relationships in Muslim families, but it also sets out to explore the ways in which relationships with Muslim men can be difficult. Both of these were important explorations, but when put together in this book, it left the white men to come through as the saviors of the women, and this felt problematic to set up in such a binary way. In the last third of the book, I struggled with this binary and with the ways that the end of the story felt unrealistic in the way the men responded."

—@thats.one.for.the.books

"These Impossible Things by Salma El-Wardany is a poignant, powerful story of female friendship through the complexities of love, sex and religion. It has always been Malak, Kees, and Jenna against the world, as they shared the struggle to maintain the image of a ‘good’ Muslim woman while pursuing their goals and ambitions. As their college years come to a close, they are on the precipice of adulthood and the strength of their bond is more important than ever. But one night changes everything. Harsh truths are revealed and their friendship is challenged in ways they never expected.

This book has stolen my heart. It is beautifully written, honest and raw, with the clear voice of each woman shining through. It explores the messiness of relationships and the conflicts with tradition and family that can consume us all. It is a celebration of women and a testament to their power, courage and strength. The novel is confronting and at times dark, please be a aware of the content warnings, including sexual violence and abuse.

A debut novel by the inspiring @salmaelwardany, it is definitely a book I will be recommending to anyone that will listen. Thank you to @hachetteaus for my #gifted copy. I have been moved beyond words can describe. Also isn’t this copy just divine?"

—@the_reading_affair

"It was a delicate balancing act between rebellion and religion and catching that ever elusive middle ground was almost impossible.”

@netgalley came in huge for me this month with 2 arcs that ended up being chosen as book club selections-Nightcrawling for @oprahsbookclub and These Impossible Things for @readwithjenna. What can I say? I have good taste in requesting arcs, and great minds think alike 😜🙌🏼

This was a beautiful debut by @salmaelwardany about 3 Muslim women who have been friends since childhood, and during college each follow their hearts in different directions. The pressure to marry a Muslim man keeps several relationships secret while ruining others, and puts a wedge in their friendships. Their lives drift apart and each of them suffers the loss in various ways. It touches upon serious topics without getting too heavy, yet floats in and out of the romance genre as well. Not straight female lit, not romance, but rather a novel that bobs and weaves into a light version of contemporary fiction. The beginning felt a bit sophomoric but then it picked up speed and the writing got stronger as the storyline unfolded.

Culture, religion, and family values are at the heart of this novel, while being juxtaposed by women’s current day societal, work, and life issues. Its inner narrative of female friendships that stand the test of time will have you wanting to gather with old friends, while the cultural references will enlighten the reader to Muslim practices and traditions."

—@alanna_dreamingwithopeneyes

"Is it enough to say that I enjoyed These Impossible Things because I see myself in its protagonists? Three young ladies who have been raised in environments where even in adulthood they feel the need to fold themselves into ways that are…acceptable: to their parents, to their elders, in accordance with their religion, to their culture. The truth is I didn’t intend to make reading this book about me. But it is uncanny how, in painting a picture of three Muslim women, El-Wardany also showed me things about my own upbringing in a small country, in a very conservative christian home. 

So, I enjoyed this book and getting to know Kees, Malak and Jenna as they navigate finding their authentic selves, while nursing a desire to remain firmly planted in the communities and faith in which they grew up. Through the stories of these fictional women, El-Wardany offered words (paragraphs, and quotes) that describe experiences that I have never put words to: Finding the correct version of yourself to be when visiting home, finding the love in between of the lines of your parents actions…And maybe for now, it allows me to look past the parts of the book that I would have otherwise been quicker to critique. Like how within their immediate circles it is overwhelmingly the white male friends/partners that show up for these ladies when they truly needed it, how the happy ending never arrives with the Muslim men, how the Muslim men that these women interact with are jealous and insecure, how like so many other books, weight is a factor of wellness, though (maybe to El-Wardany’s credit, just maybe) not the only one.

Still, this book found me crying bitter-sweet tears at the end, as Kees, Malak and Jenna, do realize who they are and that within each other, they find a piece of community that they desire; how sometimes communities are not as rigid as we tend to believe and that sometimes love can make even rigid systems flexible."

—@bookish.by.elle

Whether you're in a long-distance relationship or self-isolating from others due to COVID-19 protocols, you're here because date night looks a little different for you. So when you want things to feel special, or just want to get to know someone new, your date options might feel slim. Have no fear: Virtual dates and at-home dates can be just as fun as IRL dates, whether you're looking to deepen your bond, spend quality time together, or just get to know each other. You, your drink of choice, and your laptop are all you need to feel the magic of a date night in your home, even if that special someone is literally a thousand miles away (Vanessa Carlton was ahead of her time, people!). The next time you're arranging a virtual Bumble date or just find yourself looking blankly at your significant other over a Zoom call, whip out this guide.

A Virtual Game Night

Show your competitive side with a virtual game night. We love Jackbox Games, which lets you purchase a pack of different games—like Quiplash, where you have to put in the silliest answers for different clues (think Cards Against Humanity but virtual), or Drawful, which is like Pictionary but even more irreverent. It's a way to showcase your creativity while also getting to know the other person's sense of humor—plus, it's great for low-key virtual group dates, because most of the games get better the more players are involved. 

Do a Workout Class

Serve up some endorphins with your date night. Some of your favorite workout classes have gone virtual, which means you and a date can break a sweat in the comfort of your respective homes. The Class by Taryn Toomey is the celeb fave that combines mindfulness and high reps for a workout that leaves you feeling great physically and mentally, and their online Digital Studio offers a ton of remote classes. Or, for an affordable option that doesn't require a decked-out home gym, Housework with Sydney Miller is a high-energy, 50-minute workout that allows the option of using stuff around the house to feel the burn. 

Try Some Love Trivia 

Expand your knowledge and get to know what makes each other tick by taking a virtual class together. MasterClass offers expert-taught introductions to everything from wine tasting to filmmaking, taught by the biggest names in their respective businesses. (How about learning to make breakfast with Gordon Ramsey?) Or, for a free option, Coursera offers no-cost classes in a huge range of subjects so you and your date can pick what you're both interested in and then learn all about it. Plus, afterwards, you have a ton to talk about as you unpack your new skills. 

Go on a Themed Dinner Date

Choose a country, city, film, TV show (you get the gist) and center your night around what you'd most likely experience if you were actually in that place. For example, if you decided to do a Friends-themed dinner, make your Zoom background Central Perk or one of the characters' apartments and choose dishes you think Monica Geller would make.

Curate Playlists for Each Other

Most of us use services like Spotify or Apple Music to listen to music, but that doesn't mean making mix tapes for that special someone is a lost art—you can easily make playlists for somebody using both services. Create playlists featuring songs with special meanings; the songs you recommend; or even try and tell a story through song titles.

Plan a Romantic Candlelit Dinner 

Set up that Zoom call, light a couple of candles, perhaps some music to set the mood, and get those delivery food apps out! You and your partner can order food for each other to be delivered and consider it a night on the town without leaving your house. Also, you'll be supporting each other's community and won't have to cook. Consider it a win-win.

Channel Your Inner Artist

Set up a 10-minute timer (or more, I don't judge) and have your date sit for a portrait over your FaceTime or Zoom call. The results may be funny, and seeing what details your partner focused on during those minutes can be special. Don't forget to send the finished products in the mail, so each partner can admire them in person.

Start Your Own Book Club

Select a book that fits both of your reading palettes and give each other a certain amount of time to finish the novel. When you're both done, hop online and discuss what you thought of each book. Bonus points if you provide some special snacks or drinks that would appear in the world of your book!

Binge-Watch a Show or a Movie Together

I miss paying $25 for bad snacks at the movies like the next girl, but apps like Netflix Party give you the option to chat while watching your entertainment of choice. If you're unsure where to start, check out our list for the best original Netflix movies or the films you have to see at least once in your life.

Cook The Same Recipe Together

Select a recipe that correlates with the cooking skills you both have and get ready to enjoy a tasty meal at home. Grab what you need at the grocery store, get on that Zoom call, and get moving. For some added fun, make your version of Food Network's Chopped and see who can make the best-looking dish from the ingredients they have at home. (You might not get to taste, so you'll have to take their word for it...)

Go on a Hometown Date, Quarantine Style

Channel your inner Bachelor and take your boo around your hometown using Google Maps. Select a meeting point on the map and walk them through where you grew up. If you're not in the mood to relive those high school days, mix it up by showing someone your usual commute to work.

Get Creative In Your Closet

This one may be kind of out of the ordinary, but it'll let you get to put on some of those spring clothes you've been itching to wear. Challenge your partner with a ridiculously fun prompt like "Create an outfit with your pajama pants that you can wear out for a night on the town" sort of thing. The responses are funny, and the idea of getting dressed to go somewhere will make you feel a certain kind of way.

Take a Walk Together

Enjoy the fresh air and follow social distancing guidelines all at the same time. (Also, exercise!) Jump on a phone call together before you start your walk and take in your surroundings together. As a bonus, send photos of what you see while you're on your walk. 

Courteney Cox has a "bad memory." Like, really bad—as she admitted to TODAY.

You and I both basically remember Monica Geller's every quirk, move and line on Friends, but the actress who portrayed her can barely remember any of it, apparently.

The cast of the cult show recently filmed a much-anticipated reunion, and Cox explained she really should have done her homework beforehand. "I should’ve watched all ten seasons because when I did the reunion and was asked questions, I was like, 'I don’t remember being there,'" she said. "Yeah. I don’t remember filming so many episodes."

And it wasn't nerves or anything like that; she also can't remember the show when reruns come on. "I see it on TV sometimes and I stop and go, 'Oh my God, I don’t remember this at all,'" she continued. "But it’s so funny."

Cox went on to explain why she thinks her memory plays tricks on her like that. "It’s really basic," she said. "I don’t remember any trauma in my childhood, but I have, like, three memories. I don’t know. I don't know why."

She did recall one event during the interview, when she got some insight into the kind of fame she and her fellow cast members were headed for during a trip to Vegas with Friends director Jim Burrows. "He gave us all $500," Cox said. "And he said, 'I want you to take care, like, really take notice of this moment because it will be the last time that all six of you together can walk through a casino. And we were like, 'Really?' And it was true. We never could never do that (again).

"I mean, I don’t wanna sound like, 'Look at us.' We’re not, you know, the Beatles. But people feel like they know you. If we were all to walk down the street, six of us, it would be, I think it would be really interesting to people."

Even if Cox doesn't remember filming most of Friends, she does remember how painful filming the opening credits fountain scene was. She told Ellen DeGeneres in 2021 that they had to dance in the fountain for hours, and she made it sound like a pretty awful experience. Hopefully all her other remaining memories are good ones.

Jennifer Aniston prefers to remain as private as she can—which is endlessly understandable given how she has been treated by the media over the course of her career.

But in a new interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the actress opened up like she rarely does, giving us raw insight into what life has been like for her since she first found fame. Unfortunately, it hasn't all been a bed of roses.

The interviewer brought up the recent Friends reunion, and the fact that Aniston previously said that it was a difficult experience for her. "Time travel is hard," she quipped in response.

Encouraged to go on, Aniston said, "I think we were just so naive walking into it, thinking, 'How fun is this going to be? They’re putting the sets back together, exactly as they were.' Then you get there and it’s like, 'Oh right, I hadn’t thought about what was going on the last time I was actually here.'"

And what was going on, apparently, was just really, really hard. "And it just took me by surprise because it was like, 'Hi, past, remember me? Remember how that sucked? You thought everything was in front of you and life was going to be just gorgeous and then you went through maybe the hardest time in your life?'" the actress said. "It was all very jarring and, of course, you’ve got cameras everywhere and I’m already a little emotionally accessible, I guess you could say, so I had to walk out at certain points. I don’t know how they cut around it."

Aniston didn't say what exactly was so hard for her at the time, but she did explain it wasn't career-related. "It was more personal stuff that I had expectations about that sort of shape-shifted, so to speak," she said. "That was what was jarring, that we all had an idea of what the future was going to be and we were going to go hunker down and focus on this or that and then it all just changed overnight, and that was it. But again, everything’s a blessing if you’re able to look at life’s ups and downs in that way. And if it all hadn’t happened, I would not be sitting here the woman that I am."

Aniston was married to Brad Pitt from 2000 to 2005. Shortly after their split, Pitt began dating now-ex Angelina Jolie. The general assumption is that that's the specific event Aniston is calling "the hardest time" of her life, but obviously that remains up to her to confirm.

Because 2021 was...you know, stressful, we all need a little extra comedy. There are not one but two quarantine films on here, and there are also some pretty solid metaphors for the past year: Reliving the same day over and over! Desperately needing a vacation! Getting stuck inside an abandoned funhouse and having to fight the demonic animatronics! (Nicolas Cage is starring in that one, which makes perfect sense.) There are also some new comedy films to watch out for, including a new Judd Apatow movie, as well as some up-and-coming comic actors like Kathryn Newton.

Whatever you're particularly craving, this list has it all, from chic intercontinental widows to Melissa McCarthy in a super-suit to Awkwafina as a very derpy dragon. A few of these have a release in cinemas first, and some are going straight to streaming, but they'll all hit our televisions soon. Curl up with a glass of wine and let these funny, witty, or just plain silly picks wash over you.

'Friends: The Reunion'

WATCH IT

Release Date: May 27, 2021

Starring: Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry and David Schwimmer

While not technically a ~movie,~ the Friends cast has reunited to reminisce on the show's '90s glory that ran for 10 epic seasons. You can expect the same humor during the reunion as the cast reflects on some of their favorite moments and plays trivia games.

'Bad Trip'

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Release Date: March 2, 2021

Starring: Eric André, Lil Rel Howery, and Tiffany Haddish

One word: pranks. Sold to Netflix in March, Bad Trip is about two best friends who go on a road trip from Florida to New York City together and, well, let's just say a lot of crazy sh*t happens.

'Moxie'

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Release Date: March 3, 2021

Starring: Amy Poehler, Hadley Robinson, Lauren Tsai, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Nico Hiraga, Sydney Park, Josephine Langford, and more

Featuring classic Amy Poehler humor, Moxie centers on a shy 16-year-old, inspired by her mother's rebellious past, who publishes an anonymous zine that calls out sexism in her school.

'Space Jam: A New Legacy'

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Release Date: July 16, 2021

Starring: Lebron James, Don Cheadle, Sonequa Martin-Green, Cedric Joe, Ceyair J. Wright, and Harper Leigh Alexander

The highly-anticipated live-action/animated sports comedy featuring Lebron James in all of his basketball glory will be released this summer. In the movie, James attempts to save his son by helping the Looney Tunes win a basketball match. 

'Don't Look Up'

WATCH IT

Release Date: December 24, 2021

Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Cate Blanchett, Rob Morgan, Leonardo DiCaprio, Meryl Streep, Jonah Hill, Timothée Chalamet, Ariana Grande, Himesh Patel, Tyler Perry, Ron Perlman, Chris Evans, and Mark Rylance

Yes, you read that cast correctly. In this dark comedy, two astronomers, played by DiCaprio and Lawrence, warn the world through a media tour about an asteroid that will destroy the earth.

'Raya and the Last Dragon'

WATCH IT

Release Date: March 5, 2021

Starring: Kelly Marie Tran, Awkwafina, Gemma Chan, Izaac Wang, Daniel Dae Kim, Sandra Oh, Benedict Wong, Lucille Soong

All hail Kelly Marie Tran. This film is many things—a gorgeous fantasy vision, a powerhouse cast of predominantly Asian-American actors, a sweeping epic story—but at its core it's a buddy comedy between Raya (Tran) and Sisu (Awkwafina). When the hilarious trailer's not nearly as funny as the actual film, you know you're watching something magical.

'Blithe Spirit'

WATCH IT

Release Date: February 19, 2021

Starring: Dan Stevens, Isla Fisher, Leslie Mann, Judi Dench, Aimee-Ffion Edwards, Michele Dotrice

Man uses medium to jump-start his writer's block. Medium accidentally conjures man's dead wife. Man's new, living wife is pissed. Hijinks ensue. Dan Stevens has chosen some really interesting roles lately and was the absolute best part of Eurovision Song Contest, so hopefully he's found his niche as a comic leading man. And Mann and Fisher are always welcome, so this promises to be the kind of OTT, weird love triangle I'm into.

'To All The Boys: Always and Forever'

WATCH IT

Release Date: February 12, 2021

Starring: Lana Condor, Noah Centineo, Janel Parrish, Anna Cathcart, John Corbett

The first two were super-sweet, and even though I'm in the "Lara should have chosen John Ambrose" camp (I KNOW) this is still the sweet ending to the saga we all needed. I appreciate that to an 18-year-old, going to college with your boyfriend and starting your happily ever after is the most important decision of all time, but as an old person I can still appreciate the sweetness even if the stakes are lower than I expected.

'The Map of Tiny Perfect Things'

WATCH IT

Release Date: February 12, 2021

Starring: Kathryn Newton, Kyle Allen, Josh Hamilton, Jorja Fox, Jermaine Harris, Anna Mikami

If Palm Springs was your thing, and it should be, then you'll want to give this film a spin. Two teens are trapped in an infinite time loop, and they have to figure out why and how to get out of it. The wrinkle in this time-travel movie is that the girl (Newton) might not want to break the loop after all. Time travel love stories are always interesting, and this one looks like tween rom-com gold.

'Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar'

WATCH IT

Release Date: February 12, 2021

Starring: Kristen Wiig, Annie Mumolo, Jamie Dornan, Damon Wayans Jr., Reyn Doi, Vanessa Bayer

This film kind of shouldn't work—it's about two friends (Wiig and Mumolo) who take a vacation, while a supervillain (also Wiig) plans to destroy the town because they...made fun of her when she was a kid? Some film critics hate, hate, hated this film with a passion. But a lot more of them loved the cuteness, the banter, the fact that these two women live in their own world of pure joy. I'm in the second camp, and I recommend it to everybody.

'Willy's Wonderland'

WATCH IT

Release Date: February 12, 2021

Starring: Nicolas Cage, Emily Tosta, Beth Grant, David Sheftell, Ric Reitz, Chris Warner, Kai Kadlec, Caylee Cowan

As goofy as it is nuts, Nicolas Cage is PERFECTLY cast. He's the nearly wordless hero(?) who's tasked with cleaning a "family fun center" a la Chuck E. Cheese in exchange for the owner fixing his car. Except instead of the animatronics jerkily lapsing into song, they try to murder you. Cage's character tries to murder them first—it's schlocky ridiculousness with a slasher feel.

'The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run'

WATCH IT

Release Date: March 4, 2021

Starring: Tom Kenny, Antonio Raul Corbo, Bill Fagerbakke, Jack Gore, Rodger Bumpas, Awkwafina, Clancy Brown, Keanu Reeves

SpongeBob loses his meowing snail Gary and has to go find him. That's it, that's the whole movie, but honestly who needs anything else? With continued wacky shenanigans, the fun is in the voice cast: Awkwafina, Brown, Reeves(!), as well as the silly sight gags that work for adults just as much as kids.

'Locked Down'

WATCH IT

Release Date: January 14, 2021

Starring: Anne Hathaway, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Stephen Merchant, Mindy Kaling, Lucy Boynton, Dulé Hill, Jazmyn Simon

We knew there would be some quarantine movies, but this packs quite a bit of star power with Ejiofor and Hathaway as a couple who are thisclose to getting a divorce when COVID-19 hits. Stuck at home for what feels like an eternity (ugh), they hatch a plan to solve their financial problems...and maybe rediscover what they liked about each other in the first place. It's not exactly a heist film, but minus the stealing of a multi-million-dollar diamond, it's absolutely relatable.

'I Care a Lot'

WATCH IT

Release Date: February 19, 2021

Starring: Rosamund Pike, Peter Dinklage, Eiza González, Dianne Wiest, Chris Messina

This might be the most divisive film of 2021? There's basically no in-between with this: You either love-to-hate Pike as her character defrauds senior citizens, or you just hate her. This is the definition of black comedy, and it's not for everyone, but Pike post-Gone Girl plays merrily abhorrent to perfection.

'French Exit'

WATCH IT

Release Date: February 12, 2021

Starring: Michelle Pfeiffer, Lucas Hedges, Danielle Macdonald, Imogen Poots, Tracy Letts, Valerie Mahaffey

Patrick deWitt's razor-sharp book has been compared to a kind of "trans-atlantic Arrested Development." At the center is Frances—Pfeiffer has never been better, apparently—whose spendthrift days as a socialite are behind her. She faces pennilessness in Paris along with an eclectic cast of characters. It's worth the read, and the watch, for the wittiest dialogue ever. (Check out the content warnings if that's important to you though, because this puts the "dark" in dark comedy.)

'Thunder Force'

WATCH IT

Release Date: April 9, 2021

Starring: Octavia Spencer, Melissa McCarthy, Bobby Cannavale, Ben Falcone, Jason Bateman, Pom Klementieff, Kevin Dunn, Melissa Leo, Melissa Ponzio

Ooo, Spencer and McCarthy were the duo I didn't realize I needed. Emily (Spencer) has invented a serum to give people superpowers, and her BFF Lydia (McCarthy) accidentally takes it. The two turn into an unlikely crime-fighting duo against The King (Cannavale, who had excellent banter with McCarthy in Spy). McCarthy's IRL husband Falcone directs; After a few misses including Tammy and Superintelligence, hopefully this is the perfect vehicle for everybody involved.

'Happily'

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Release Date: March 19, 2021

Starring: Joel McHale, Kerry Bishé, Stephen Root, Natalie Zea, Paul Scheer, Natalie Morales, Kirby Howell-Baptiste

McHale mastered the deadpan in Community and has now graduated to creepier humor in Happily. A married couple have the perfect relationship, and their friends loaaathe them for it. A mysterious stranger suggests a "correction" of sorts—and, just like with The Shining, it goes super poorly. This has very funny people in it, so let's hope for laughter alongside the blood spatter.

'Ghostbusters: Afterlife'

Release Date: November 19, 2021 (TBD on streaming)

Starring: Finn Wolfhard, Mckenna Grace, Carrie Coon, Sigourney Weaver, Paul Rudd, Ernie Hudson, Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd

Egon has grandkids?? This second attempt at a reboot, finally being released after a lot of COVID delays, is informed by a lot of nostalgia for the original. Paul Rudd, who showed he can do serious-funny with Ant-Man, is here to teach a new generation of kids all about ghost traps and proton packs.

'Cruella'

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Release Date: May 28, 2021

Starring: Emma Stone, Mark Strong, Emma Thompson, Paul Walter Hauser, Kirby Howell-Baptiste

"I was born different, born bad, and a little bit mad." And with that, the one-of-a-kind Cruella DeVil gets her own backstory. The dog-wearing fashion designer definitely looks stylish and sexy, thanks to Stone, but I think I'm most intrigued to see how we're supposed to root for her?? Thompson and Strong look like they're chewing the scenery like crazy, so come for the A-list stars giving it 110 percent.

'The French Dispatch'

Release Date: October 22, 2021

Starring: Benicio del Toro, Bill Murray, Saoirse Ronan, Timothée Chalamet, Adrien Brody, Tilda Swinton, Léa Seydoux, Frances McDormand

This long-delayed Wes Anderson flick has a typically stuffed cast of characters as they work at a newspaper in 20th century France. Anderson-esuqe shenanigans ensue. I'll basically watch Chalamet and Wright in anything, and this is another film that's eagerly awaited after long delays.

'Zola'

Release Date: June 30, 2021

Starring: Taylour Paige, Riley Keough, Nicholas Braun, Ari'el Stachel, Colman Domingo, Jason Mitchell, Nelcie Souffrant, Nasir Rahim

This is THAT movie. The one based on a Twitter thread? You know! This one was supposed to come out in 2020 but we're finally getting it this summer: Zola (Paige) bonds with fellow pole dancer Stefani (Keough) and the two decide to take a road trip to Florida with Stefani's pimp and boyfriend. What could go wrong? Everything.

'I'm Your Man'

Release Date: September 24, 2021

Starring: Maren Eggert, Dan Stevens, Sandra Hüller, Hans Löw

Stevens appears on this list for the second time speaking German (is he bad at anything??) in this look at modern love. A researcher reluctantly agrees to take part in an experiment in which she lives with an android (Stevens), whose sole purpose in life is to make her happy. Yes, please? It promises to be equal parts creepy and funny, judging by the clips.

'Spider-Man: No Way Home'

Release Date: December 17, 2021

Starring: Tom Holland, Zendaya, Benedict Cumberbatch, Marisa Tomei, Alfred Molina, Jamie Foxx, Jacob Batalon

One of the most underrated aspects of some Marvel movies is their sense of humor (see also: Thor: Ragnarok, basically Chris Hemsworth doing standup). The Spider-Man films benefit from this as well as a cheerfully earnest Holland delivering them. No spoilers, but the ending of the second film takes the story in new directions, which should help it feel fresh.

'Coming 2 America'

WATCH IT

Release Date: March 5, 2021

Starring: Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall, Shari Headley, Jermaine Fowler, Leslie Jones, Tracy Morgan, KiKi Layne, Wesley Snipes, James Earl Jones

The classic comedy Coming to America finally got a sequel this year, over 30 years since the heartfelt original. Prince Akeem of Zamunda (Murphy) is about to ascend the throne when he discovers that he has a son (Fowler) from a one night stand during his time in Queens, NY. The man comes to Zamunda to be trained as an heir to the throne, to the dismay of Akeem's daughter (Layne).

'Plan B'

WATCH IT

Release Date: May 28, 2021

Starring: Kuhoo Verma, Victoria Moroles, Michael Provost, Mason Cook, Jolly Abraham, Jacob Vargas, Rachel Dratch

Fans of Booksmart and Blockers need to check out this teen drama featuring a strong female friendship. A South Dakota teen (Verma) needs a morning-after pill after her first sexual encounter. After the local pharmacist refuses to sell it to her, she and her BFF Lupe (Moroles) embark on a road trip to get the pill from a Planned Parenthood three hours away.

'Free Guy'

WATCH IT

Release Date: August 13, 2021

Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Jodie Comer, Taika Waititi, Lil Rel Howery, Joe Kerry, Utkarsh Ambudkar, Channing Tatum

In his latest hilarious action-comedy, Reynolds is a background character in a jam-packed video game. One day, he breaks his pattern and falls for a player, Molotov Girl (Comer), who recruits him to break apart the game from the inside.

'Sing 2'

Release Date: December 22, 2021

Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Taron Egerton, Tori Kelly, Reese Witherspoon, Nick Kroll, Scarlett Johansson, Bobby Cannavale, Eric André, Bono

This sequel to the 2016 animated musical brings back the original animal stars as they work on their next big show, and try to convince the world's biggest rock star to come out of hiding and join them onstage.

Matthew Perry is opening up. The actor is set to release a vulnerable and revealing memoir in the fall of 2022, which will contain insights into his experience on the set of Friends and his struggles with addiction.

The upcoming memoir is the result of a seven-figure deal with Flatiron Books, an imprint of publisher Macmillan, and "is set to be a candid and self-aware book told with his trademark humor," according to Deadline.

Perry's editor on the project, publisher of Flatiron Books Megan Lynch, said, "We need humor, we need catharsis, and we need to agree on something–and Matthew’s extraordinary story, told in his inimitable voice, is that thing. Matthew’s book has unrivaled potential to bring people together, which feels especially galvanizing right now, a time of isolation and division."

After securing the deal, Flatiron Books said, "In the book, Perry takes readers behind-the-scenes and onto the soundstage of the most successful sitcom of all time while opening up about his private struggles with addiction. Perry's memoir, the first from a cast member of Friends, is unflinchingly honest, dishy, and hilarious: this is the book that Friends fans have been waiting for but will also shed a powerful light for anyone who is in their own battle for themselves or a loved one" (via Sky News).

Perry played the unforgettable Chandler Bing on Friends, and has also appeared on The Kennedys: Decline and Fall, The Odd Couple and Cougar Town, among other projects. Perry has previously spoken candidly about his addiction at various points in his career.

It seems like just yesterday that a renewed sense of hope swept through the internet (because it was in fact yesterday, at time of writing): Jennifer Aniston and David Schwimmer were maybe dating, as a source boldly claimed in Closer magazine. But all of our wildest dreams for the real-life Ross and Rachel came crashing down when Schwimmer flatly denied the allegations. Speaking to British tabloid The Sun, a rep for the actor said there was "no truth" to Closer's claims.

"After the reunion, it became clear that reminiscing over the past had stirred up feelings for both of them and that chemistry they’d always had to bury was still there," the anonymous source had previously told Closer. "They began texting immediately after filming and, just last month, David flew from his home in New York to see Jen in LA."

The source continued, “They’ve been spending time at Jen’s home, where she’s cooked dinners in the evenings, and have enjoyed quality time together, chatting and laughing. They were also spotted drinking wine, deep in conversation, as they walked around one of Jen’s favourite vineyards in Santa Barbara, where it was clear there was lots of chemistry between them.”

This painted a beautiful picture of the Friends costars' supposed romance, but it unfortunately was too good to be true, in the end.

Some fans had pinned their hopes on the actors getting together after the Friends reunion that aired on HBO Max in May. During the show, Schwimmer had admitted that he and Aniston actually liked each other at various points during filming, but that nothing had ever come of it.

"The first season, I had a major crush on Jen,” the actor said. "At some point we were both crushing hard on each other—but it was like two ships passing [in the night], because one of us was always in a relationship. We never crossed that boundary—we respected that."

Meanwhile, Aniston—who has yet to comment on the rumors—delivered a swift lesson in "how to stay friends with your ex 101," wishing Justin Theroux a happy birthday via Instagram stories. I'll take what I can get, I guess.

Could we BE any happier about this news? On Monday, the cast of Friends delighted fans by revealing they had secretly been working on an official line of merch (in collaboration with Represent) that features iconic lines and scenes from the hit TV show.

The limited-edition collection was fully curated by the cast, featuring their favorite moments and jokes, including (of course) a T-shirt of the fountain scene and the words "We'll Be There For You" (in the Friends font) to hats and sweatshirts that read "We Were SO Not on a Break." (It's safe to assume Jennifer Aniston created that one on behalf of Rachel.)

The cast even modeled some of their pieces on their Instagram: Aniston opted for a purple Monica sweatshirt; David Schwimmer wore a black T-shirt featuring the "lobster" Ross and Rachel scene (aww); and Matt LeBlanc held up his "Could I BE Wearing Any More Clothes?" mug. Fifty percent of the proceeds from the merch drops support different charities near and dear to each of the cast member's hearts, from Americares to EBMRF.

The bad news? The apparel line, which features moments specifically from seasons 1-3, is only available for one month. But the great news? The cast will release two more collections over the next nine months, focused on seasons 4-6 and 7-10 respectively.

Shop the full collection here

The merch comes on the heels of the cast's HBO Max reunion in May which featured several tear-jerking moments and a few major revelations about co-star romances. Hopefully this means we'll get plenty more Friends content this year.

• Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, and Jennifer Aniston spent the Fourth of July together—another Friends reunion!
• Cox shared a photo of the former co-stars and close friends on Instagram.
• Reflecting on the bond between the Friends cast during the recent reunion special, Cox said, "We became best friends through just the chemistry, the whole thing. It was life-changing."

May's long-awaited Friends reunion made one thing very clear: Monica, Phoebe, Rachel, Ross, Chandler, and Joey are still close to this day. And this year, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, and Jennifer Aniston spent the Fourth of July together, Cox revealed. She shared a summery photo of the three stars on Instagram—Kudrow wearing a sun hat and Aniston with sunglasses atop her head—adding the caption, "Happy 4th! xoxo."

Another celebrity guest at their July 4 celebrations? Laura Dern, who posed for a smiling selfie with Cox. Dern shared the same photo on her own Instagram, adding the caption, "Happy 4th from us gals."

Kudrow, Cox, and Aniston were recently interviewed on the Howard Stern Show together, with Kudrow sharing the support she received from her former co-stars after the devastating loss of her mother last year. "These women came running to support, that was really nice," Kudrow said, as People reports. "They came to the funeral, it wasn't a lot of notice, and they were there."

During the Friends reunion, meanwhile, Cox reflected on the close bond formed among the central cast. "It was an incredible time," she said, according to CNN. "Everything came together. We became best friends through just the chemistry, the whole thing. It was life-changing and it forever will be — not just for us, but for people who watch it, and that's such a great feeling to carry forever. I'm really thankful, and I love you guys so much."

• Jennifer Aniston discussed Ross and Rachel's will-they-won't-they relationship—and why fans loved it so much—during a recent interview with Today.
• "I think David and I loved each other—we love each other still to this day—so I do think there was something that had to do with that," Aniston said.
• "You were investing in something that was very relatable: the one that you never could have or the one you wanted to be with but they couldn't quite get it together," she added.

The Ross Geller/Rachel Green will-they-won't-they relationship captivated viewers for a solid decade—and Jennifer Aniston has a theory as to why. "I think there was something about unrequited love and really investing in those (relationships)," she explained in a recent interview with Today.

Aniston and David Schwimmer's on and off screen chemistry most likely played a role, too. "I think David and I loved each other—we love each other still to this day—so I do think there was something that had to do with that," Aniston added. "And you were investing in something that was very relatable: the one that you never could have or the one you wanted to be with but they couldn't quite get it together."

In case you missed it, Aniston and Schwimmer admitted during the Friends reunion that they shared a mutual infatuation back in the day, but the timing never quite worked out. "It was like two ships passing because one of us was always in a relationship, and we never crossed that boundary, you know, we respected that," Schwimmer said.

Aniston recalled, "Honestly, I remember saying one time to David, 'It's gonna be such a bummer if the first time you and I actually kiss is going to be on national television.'" And as it happened, it was: Ross and Rachel's first kiss in "The One Where Ross Finds Out" was also Schwimmer and Aniston's. "We just channeled all of our adoration and love for each other into Ross and Rachel," Aniston said.

• When HBO Max's long-anticipated Friends reunion special aired, fans learned that David Schwimmer and Jennifer Aniston had real crushes on each other during the early days of filming the sitcom.
• In a new interview, Natalie Imbruglia, who dated Schwimmer in the '90s, was asked about the revelation, but said she has no hard feelings about any crushing that may have been going on between the pair.
• "I wasn’t paying attention to whether they were giving each other, you know, little looks over my shoulder," the singer said. "I don’t know if that was happening."

Of all the memorable moments in HBO Max's Friends: The Reunion, the most kick-you-in-the-crotch-spit-on-your-neck-fantastic came when David Schwimmer and Jennifer Aniston revealed that they had IRL crushes on each other during the early days of the sitcom.

"The first season I had a major crush on Jen," Schwimmer revealed, after which Aniston confirmed, "It was reciprocated."

Schwimmer quickly clarified that their mutual crush never crossed the line into a full-blown relationship, mostly because the timing was just never right.

"At some point we were both crushing hard on each other, but it was like two ships passing because one of us was always in a relationship and we never crossed that boundary," he said. "We respected that."

It was inevitable that people the pair were actually dating at the time would be asked to weigh in after a statement like that, so it's no surprise that the topic came up during Natalie Imbruglia's recent interview on Australia’s Kyle & Jackie O radio show.

"I’m OK with whatever happened back then," the singer, who dated Schwimmer in the '90s (although she couldn't recall the precise timeline of the relationship) said (per the New York Post). "It was a long time ago."

Imbruglia has nothing but fond memories of the relationship—and the Friends cast.

"I do remember being on the set and I remember everyone being lovely and really, really nice," she said, before weighing in on whether she noticed Schwimmer and Aniston's mutual crush. "I wasn’t paying attention to whether they were giving each other, you know, little looks over my shoulder. I don’t know if that was happening."

• Courteney Cox spoke about being the only Friends lead never to receive an Emmy nomination, admitting the snub "hurt."
•  Jennifer Aniston and Lisa Kudrow both won Emmys for their roles, while Matt LeBlanc received three nominations and David Schwimmer and Matthew Perry were both nominated once.
• "When every single cast member was nominated but me, it definitely hurt my feelings," Cox shared. "I was happy for everybody, and then when it was finally like, 'Oh, I’m the only one?' It hurt."

Of the six actors who comprised Friends' core cast, Courteney Cox was the only one never to receive an Emmy nomination—and during an appearance on the Howard Stern Show, Cox said the snub stung. Speaking alongside co-stars Jennifer Aniston and Lisa Kudrow, who both won Emmys for their Friends roles, Cox shared, "It always hurt my feelings."

Alongside Aniston and Kudrow's wins, Matt LeBlanc received three Emmy nods, while David Schwimmer and Matthew Perry were both nominated once. "When every single cast member was nominated but me, it definitely hurt my feelings," Cox said, as Metro reports. "I was happy for everybody, and then when it was finally like, 'Oh, I’m the only one?' It hurt."

"I just sometimes want to be included in certain things," she continued, before addressing Kudrow and Aniston. "These girls on the show and the guys, everyone deserved every [nomination]. I’m in awe of both of your talent."

Cox added that her 2010 Golden Globes nomination for Cougar Town helped to soothe her disappointment. "The only thing that made me feel good, because they’ve all won and they’ve gotten so many accolades, I got nominated for Cougar Town the first year—a Golden Globe," she said. "And I want to say, 'Oh, who cares?' It meant everything to me."

"I wanted my peers to respect me and I know that the Golden Globes is not your peers, necessarily, but it’s like, 'Ah!' It took a little of the sting out," Cox explained.

• Jennifer Aniston said one Friends guest star was unpleasant to work with, speaking on the Howard Stern Show Wednesday.
• "It was as if they were just too 'above' this, to be on a sitcom," Aniston explained.
• "The funny thing is, that male did apologize about their behavior years later, and just said, 'I was so nervous, to be honest, that I wasn't on my best behavior,'" she added.

In the wake of the Friends reunion, the sitcom's stars are reflecting on their time on the show—and the guest actors who weren't so great to work with. Jennifer Aniston, Lisa Kudrow, and Courteney Cox were interviewed on the Howard Stern Show Wednesday, and Aniston revealed one male actor didn't seem thrilled to be on set.

"The funny thing is, that male did apologize about their behavior years later, and just said, 'I was so nervous, to be honest, that I wasn't on my best behavior,'" Aniston began, as People reports, before explaining why said actor irritated her. "It was as if they were just too 'above' this, to be on a sitcom."

"I remember when we were doing a network run-through, the network and the producers would just laugh. And this person would be like, 'Listen to them, just laughing at their own jokes. So stupid, not even funny,'" Aniston said. "It was just like, 'What are you doing here? Your attitude, this is not what we're all about. This is a wonderful, warm place to be, and you're coming into our home and just shitting on it.'"

Dr. Richard Burke fans needn't worry—the actor in question wasn't Tom Selleck, Aniston revealed. After joking, "You just don't know how cruel and unusual he is," she added, "Tom has an angel's halo over his head, it's just a permanent halo over Tom's head."

Since its mid-aughts finale, we've been on an unofficial break with Friends. But now, in honor of HBO Max's highly-anticipated Friends reunion—which is bringing together the beloved sixsome on that iconic orange couch for the first time in 17 years—Marie Claire is celebrating, criticizing, and obsessing over the show that was always there for us.

Update, 6/21/21: Almost a month after the HBO Max Friends reunion, James Michael Tyler shared with fans his ongoing battle with cancer. Speaking to Today, the actor opened up about being diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer in 2018 following a routine physical. The cancer had spread to his bones by the time it was detected.

"I was 56 years old at the time, and they screened for PSA, which is prostate-specific antigen," Michael Tyler said in the interview, per E! News. "That came back at an extraordinarily high number...So I knew immediately when I went online and I saw the results of my blood test and blood work that there was obviously something quite wrong there. Nearly immediately, my doctor called me and said, 'Hey, I need you to come in tomorrow because I suspect that you may have quite a serious problem with your prostate.'" He is now urging others to get tested regularly.

While early hormone treatment was helping, his cancer mutated during the pandemic leaving him no longer able to walk. He is currently undergoing chemotherapy. "Late stage cancer. So eventually, you know, it's gonna probably get me," he told Today.

Michael Tyler added that the Friends producers know about his deteriorating health and that most of the cast had likely also been told, specifically noting that David Schwimmer had reached out to him via Instagram.

Equal parts lovestruck and acerbic, the supporting character of Gunther remains one of the most beloved figures in the Friends universe. James Michael Tyler, who played the Central Perk barista, was the show's most frequent guest star. The gang was always in the coffee shop, and Gunther was always hovering, hoping to catch a glimpse of his longtime crush Rachel Green (Jennifer Aniston). We know what's going on with the main cast, who have all remained in the public eye to varying degrees—but what happened to Gunther, e.g. Michael Tyler, in the 17 years since Friends went off the air?

Until 2018, Michael Tyler was still a working actor. While his income is supplemented by the money he gets from Friends' syndication revenue, he continued to book roles. "I didn't rest on my laurels and say, 'I was Gunther, I'm gonna buy an island!' I couldn't do that anyway," he told the New Zealand Herald in 2019.

What has Tyler been doing?

Though known primarily for his role in Friends—and let's face it, who in the cast isn't?—Michael Tyler continues to work on more small-scale projects. According to his IMDb page, he filmed two shorts last year; before that, he made a cameo as himself on Episodes, alongside Matt LeBlanc, in 2012. He also appeared on five episodes of the show Modern Music. During and after Friends' run, he also appeared on Scrubs, Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, and Just Shoot Me. He was also in a music video for British musician Chicane (you can catch him in the first minute; he plays a mailman):

Michael Tyler has also appeared in several Friends pop-ups and events. In 2009, he opened a Central Perk pop-up in London, and in 2014, he appeared at another pop-up located in New York's SoHo neighborhood. He also lent his voice to the 2005 Friends-themed video game, "The One With All the Trivia."

Although Gunther was known for his bleached blonde hair, Tyler went back to his naturally dark brown hair after the show wrapped up. (He would dye it back only for his Friends appearances.) Here he is in 2019 on The Today Show:

And here he is at FriendsFest in 2015:

In 2014, Michael Tyler filed for divorce from his wife of almost 20 years, Barbara Chadsey, citing "irreconcilable differences."

How does Tyler feel about Friends now?

"I never would have imagined I'd be here sitting here 25 years after it began, still talking about [it]," he told the New Zealand Herald. "They had the 20th anniversary and the first FriendsFest in the UK, and I retired Gunther. I thought that has to be it. And then it launched on Netflix and, of course, it garnered an entirely new audience of millennials and young people."

In 2019, he reflected on the origins of the character of Gunther in an interview with E. "I remember the first day I walked on set as a background actor. Gunther was not a role. I was just a coffee guy for a year and a half. I came in with bleached blonde hair—that had happened the night before, because my friend was practicing to be a stylist, so that was accidental...It was the happiest accident, mistake, I ever made in my life."

Will Gunther be in the Friends reunion on HBO Max?

Yes, Michael Tyler appeared via Zoom for the special, which hit HBO Max on May 27. He made a short appearance alongside the main cast and other beloved guest characters, including Jack and Judy Gellar, Janice, Dr. Richard Burke, and more. "It was the most memorable 10 years of my life, honestly," he said during the reunion. "I could not have imagined just a better experience. All these guys were fantastic and just a joy to work with. It felt very, very special."

In 2009, when asked about what he thought Gunther would be doing in the present day, Tyler said: "He'd probably have a very traditional marriage, with lots of white-haired babies running around with hair brighter than the sun."

Since its mid-aughts finale, we've been on an unofficial break with Friends. But now, in honor of HBO Max's highly-anticipated Friends reunion—which is bringing together the beloved sixsome on that iconic orange couch for the first time in 17 years—Marie Claire is celebrating, criticizing, and obsessing over the show that was always there for us.

There are some inarguable facts about Friends: the apartments were unrealistically large; Emily deserved better; the lack of diversity was unnerving; and the fashion was on point. But one of my particular opinions (which is sure to lose me some friends)? The Joey-and-Rachel storyline wasn't bad. In fact, it tracked, and I wholeheartedly stand by it.

Let's get something out of the way: The show wants us to root for Ross. They set him up as the underdog who has been obsessing over the popular girl since their teenage days. The will-they-wont-they of it all and the "we were on a break" arcs propel seasons of the sitcom and act as one of the show's main emotional heartbeats. Ross and Rachel’s chemistry is undeniably palpable (which we now know was probably due to Jennifer Aniston and David Schwimmer liking each other in real life). There is something impossibly romantic about him loving her all these years and her finally seeing the potential in her best friend's nerdy older brother.

But Ross and Rachel aren't a good couple. If they were your real life friends, you'd call them toxic behind their backs. He's jealous, they have very little in common—other than their friends—and he constantly wants Rachel to fit into the perfect version of her that he created when they were just high schoolers—career aspirations be damned. Fans have, in hindsight, collectively decided that Ross is deeply problematic, but still, we cheered when Rachel got off the plane for him. Because he’s her lobster.

Which is why it's jarring when the show makes a left turn into Joey territory. The writers first dipped their toes into the Joey-Rachel storyline in season 8, aptly titled, “The One Where Joey Dates Rachel.” He takes Rachel out because she misses the romance of dating. It’s very sweet and kicks off a series of episodes where Joey must grapple with his growing feelings for one of his best friends who also happens to be pregnant with his other best friend’s baby. It gives Joey’s character a chance to grow and mature in a way he hadn’t in his other relationships. But ultimately, Rachel doesn’t feel the same—and it’s fair. Things with her and Ross and their status as soon-to-be co-parents is all too confusing. The timing just wasn’t right. But by the end of season 9, Rachel begins to have feelings for Joey, but he’s in a relationship with Charlie, who Ross coincidentally is crushing on. They all simultaneously realize they are with the wrong people and swap around giving Joey and Rachel the chance to test the dating waters.

That brings us to season 10, widely believed to be the show’s worst. But I don’t think it’s right to fully discredit the Joey-Rachel arc because of the larger faults and lazy writing of the overall season. It makes sense that Rachel would develop a thing for Joey. They’ve spent years (happily!) living together; he’s supported her through pregnancy and as a new mom in ways that Ross was never able to; he’s charming and good looking; and they have a much similar outlook on life.

I think the real problem is how the writers tackled the storyline. After investing two to three seasons into setting up the Joey-Rachel arc, they let it peter out in two to three episodes. Rachel even jokes at one point that she dated Joey for all of a week, ending things quickly because there was no chemistry. The show creators—who stand by the controversial decision to have the characters date despite the cast not loving the idea—said they always knew Joey and Rachel would be doomed. "That happens in life," David Crane previously told Radio Times. "There is the relationship that shouldn't be. Even though you love someone, that's not who you're going to be with." He continued, saying it was really only worth it because "it took Joey to a more emotional place, and let Matt [LeBlanc] play colors that he hadn’t gotten to play yet in the series." And because of a shortened final season, the writers had to drop Joey to go careening toward their true end game: Ross.

But had the show been able to invest at least a whole season into their relationship then perhaps all the fans could’ve come around to the same conclusion I have about the storyline: that while Ross was too busy pining over the Rachel of his past, Joey falls in love with the woman Rachel is today—in all her messy, ambitious, beautiful glory.

But Rachel ended up with Ross, so this is all really just a moo point.

Since its mid-aughts finale, we've been on an unofficial break with Friends. But now, in honor of HBO Max's highly-anticipated Friends reunion—which is bringing together the beloved sixsome on that iconic orange couch for the first time in 17 years—Marie Claire is celebrating, criticizing, and obsessing over the show that was always there for us.

If you grew up on '90s sitcoms like I did, then you started watching Friends before you could really understand what "WE WERE ON A BREAK!" meant. (If this means nothing to you, I recommend watching some episodes, STAT.) Aside from blessing viewers with some of the funniest moments in TV history, Friends has also given us some of the most memorable fashion moments on the small screen—some of which have never seemed more relevant than in 2021. Think crop tops and knitwear and normcore denim, which are still inspiring our wardrobe choices to this day.

Take a stroll down Friends memory lane as we reminisce about all the times Rachel wore the perfect mini skirt and leather boots or that time Monica rocked a red slip dress. Maybe it will inspire you to dig out the forgotten '90s and early-aughts pieces in your closet because mom jeans and scrunchies circa 1998 have never felt more in. Ahead, the most iconic outfits from Friends. 

1. "The One With Phoebe's Husband"

Rachel Green rocked the mini skirt and tights combo better than anyone else in the '90s.

2. "The One With Engagement Pictures"

Monica had an effortless and chic wardrobe throughout the entire series and this look was just that. A wrap dress and chic leather boots would be perfect for fall engagement photos even today...we just hope your fiancé knows how to smile.

3. "The One Where Everybody Finds Out"

This orange coat felt like Phoebe in a nutshell: loud, funny, and so cute.

4. "The One Where No One's Ready"

Rachel really could make a paper bag look stunning—she could've gone to Ross's Gala in this crewneck sweatshirt and still rocked it. And, speaking of relevant: The Knicks are finally good again!

5. "The One With East German Laundry Detergent"

This high-waisted jean and knotted crop-top look would not be out of place in today's world.

6. "The One With Phoebe's Husband"

Phoebe's '60s-inspired pink and white shift dress makes her look like an oh-so-chic retro Barbie.

7. "The One With All the Wedding Dresses"

If my best friends don't sit on my couch wearing wedding dresses and drinking beer, I don't want it.

8. "The One With the Breast Milk"

In the show's early seasons, this classic denim overall look was one of Rachel's go-to's. It will give you the perfect "fashionable running errands" inspo.

9. "The One Where No One's Ready"

Phoebe Buffay walked in this stunning yellow gown, so Kate Hudson (a.k.a. Andy Anderson) could run.

10. "The One at The Beach"

Monica's perfectly fitted denim is a great iteration of the Canadian tuxedo.

11. "The One With Ross's Wedding"

The episode should have been titled "The One Where You NEED Rachel's Slip Dress (and whatever else is in her bags)."

12. "The One With Chandler in a Box"

If you can get past Monica's eyepatch, notice how good all the girls' boots are! Rachel's miniskirt-and-boots-combo was one of her go-to looks throughout the show, and now also my go-to.

13. "The One With the Breast Milk"

The only thing better than Monica's simple-but-sexy jeans and top combo in this scene is her haircut.

14. “The One Where Everybody Finds Out”

Who knew head-to-toe velvet could actually work in your favor? And let's give a round of applause for Phoebe and the tattoo choker.

15. “The One That Could Have Been"

I am udderly adoring this cow print coat!

16. "The One With Ross's Wedding, Part 2"

Monica looked stunning in a cowl neck slip dress, which she wore as a bridesmaid in brother Ross's second wedding. (We tracked down a similar dress to shop right now; you're welcome.)

17. “The One That Could Have Been"

Rachel wore the plush teddy bear coat before any of us knew we had to have it.

18. “The One That Could Have Been"

Rachel mixing animal print and color and a stethoscope? Yes, please.

19. "The One Where Rachel Finds Out"

Monica is giving us ultimate girl-next-door vibes with her miniskirt and cropped beige sweater that looks straight out of Urban Outfitters.

20. “The One with Rachel's Crush"

This embroidered LBD-and-tights outfit makes me want to go dumpster diving and look for all the tights I've thrown out.

21. “The One After the Superbowl”

Phoebe proved that you really can wear an oversized sweatshirt or sweater with anything and make it look cool. 

22. "The One With Chandler in a Box"

Monica's Chuck Taylors, jeans, and flannel is an ensemble we'd still wear today. The shoes will always be in style and so is working a little grunge into your 2021 outfits.

23. “The One With the Flashback"

Monica reminded us that all we really need is a good pair of Levi's and a knit tank to complete a "night out" look.

24. "The One Where Ross and Rachel ... You Know"

When in doubt, go with the classics, no matter the decade. I can guarantee you a white t-shirt and a good pair of denim will never do you wrong. 

25. "The One With the Flashback"

Am I more confused by this Chandler-Rachel kiss, or by how much I'm loving this purple skirt suit?

26. "The One with Rachel's Assistant"

Rachel reminds us all that plaid skirts aren't just for the school yard. Here, she wore it with a green sleeveless turtleneck top while flirting with her assistant, Tag, at work.

27. "The One With the Flashback"

Let's call this "When Phoebe Found Out that Coachella Was Postponed."

28. "The One With the Flashback"

Monica and Joey look like they just stepped out of Grease. I approve of their outfits.

29. "The One With the Halloween Party"

When you're not in the mood to dress up in a ridiculous Halloween costume: Slip on a strapless black dress and say you're channeling Rachel Green from Friends.

30. "The One Where Monica Gets a Roommate"

This Runaway Bride look should be on display in a fashion exhibition. Rachel's wedding dress—which is a whole lot of extra-ness—embodies precisely the gowns that were in style at the time.

31. “The One Where Paul’s The Man”

Hawaiian shirts aren't just reserved for dads drinking beers on vacation. Take a fashion tip from Rachel and style yours unbuttoned with a white tank and cargo pants.

32. “The One With All the Football” 

The icons of athleisure: Chandler, Rachel, and Ross look like they're ready to film a TikTok.

33. “The One After Joey and Rachel Kiss” 

White jeans and a halter neck top was all I wore in the early 2000s...and all I want to be wearing again this summer.

34. “The One After Joey and Rachel Kiss”

Alternate title: "The One When Things Were Obviously Blooming for Joey and Rachel." The two matched in florals while sharing a romantic scene—coincidence? I think not.

35. “The One with the Lesbian Wedding"

From the '50s to the '90s to today, polka dots for a wedding will never be a faux pas.

36. “The One Where Ross and Rachel...You Know”

I can't decide what I love more in this shot: the scrunchie, the hair clip, or Phoebe's pirate sleeves.

37. "The One After Ross Says Rachel" 

The slip dress ruled the '90s and are still reigning supreme decades later. I hope Monica held onto this gem when she moved to the 'burbs.

38. "The One After the Super Bowl Part 2"

How to layer your turtle neck according to Phoebe: wear underneath a black maxi dress and top with multiple long necklaces.

39. “The One With the Screamer”

A.k.a. "The One When Monica Predicted the Color of Fall 2020." Primary colors like this yellow hue popped on the runway in recent seasons and were one of the hottest colors of fall 2020.

40. "The One With the Flashback"

Flashback to the early '90s when the oversized blazer (seen here on a pre-Joey roommate) was a hot trend. You can shop practically the same oversized-suit today!

It seems nearly impossible—30 years into this friendship—to learn anything new about Friends. But during HBO Max's much-hyped reunion, the cast, creators, and recurring guest stars dug deep to share personal, emotional, surprising, and sweet anecdotes and revelations about the beloved sitcom. Here's everything we learned from the Friends reunion, from which two co-stars were majorly crushing on each other to which castmember wrote their lines on the set furniture.

The wooden beam in Monica's apartment that disappeared after the first few episodes wasn't a mistake. They had to purposely remove it because it got in the way while shooting.

Courtney Cox would write her lines on the dining table of her apartment. And once Matt LeBlanc pranked her by erasing them before a scene.

Jennifer Aniston and David Schwimmer had real-life crushes on each other...and everyone on the cast could easily sense it.

LeBlanc dislocated a shoulder while filming "The One Where No One's Ready" because he tripped over the coffee table when lunging toward a chair. LeBlanc thinks it's because the cast didn't do their "huddle" before shooting; after that episode, they never skipped that tradition.

Chandler was named after co-creator Marta Kauffman's friend—and the whole show was based on Kauffman and David Crane's real lives in NYC in their 20s.

It's widely known that the women of the cast ate lunch together every day. But for the first couple of years, the whole cast ate lunch together daily (even on weekends) and watched all the episodes together. Matthew Perry called them "inseparable."

Cox's favorite episode is "The One With the Embryos."

Reese Witherspoon, who guest-starred as Rachel's sister, loved when LeBlanc told her character "How you doin'?" because it was Joey's iconic line.

Aniston remembers exactly what the girls were wearing for their first table read.

Schwimmer had quit TV before joining the Friends cast—and Ross was written with him in mind for the part.

The actor who played "fake Joey" (Carl) in "The One With the Unagi" had also been strongly considered to actually play Joey instead of LeBlanc.

LeBlanc got so drunk the night before his Friends audition that he passed out and hit his face on a toilet, badly scarring his nose. He told the truth about what happened to him during his audition and still got the job.

When being cast, Cox strongly argued that she was Monica, despite being looked at for Rachel's part.

Rachel was the last character to be cast because the creators really didn't want her to be unlikeable. But the producers felt Aniston brought "warmth and sincerity" to the part.

Sadly, no one liked working with the monkey Marcel—he even scared Cox—other than Aniston. Schwimmer particularly hated how unpredictable (and gross) the primate could be.

There are full seasons of the show Lisa Kudrow and Perry haven't seen, but Aniston, LeBlanc, and Cox have seen them all. And Schwimmer has been rewatching it over the past year because his daughter just started to binge it.

Janice's voice (and laugh) is fake. Actress Maggie Wheeler created it for her character, which was described as a "fast-talking New Yorker."

Kudrow would never consider doing a Friends movie or any other iteration of the show because she wouldn't want to see any of the characters' happy endings "unraveled."

Aniston thinks Rachel and Ross got married eventually. Cox thinks Monica would be running the PTA, and LeBlanc thinks Joey would've opened a sandwich shop. Kudrow thinks Phoebe had kids with Mike, would be living in Connecticut, and that she would be helping run the arts and music programs at their schools.

Since its mid-aughts finale, we've been on an unofficial break with Friends. But now, in honor of HBO Max's highly-anticipated Friends reunion—which is bringing together the beloved sixsome on that iconic orange couch for the first time in 17 years—Marie Claire is celebrating, criticizing, and obsessing over the show that was always there for us.

It is a truth universally acknowledged that Friends had a diversity problem.

Like, it’s pretty obvious why: A show, set in New York, with an all-white cast that almost never interacts with anyone non-white. In the few instances when they do interact with a non-white person, that person solely exists to serve (or act as a foil to) a white one. I understand the instinct to give this transgression a pass, because it was the nineties and it was a very famous TV show. But we’re currently in a day and age when pretty much everyone is more cognizant of how diversity measures do (and do not) work, and taking a critical view of the past is how you learn and grow from your mistakes. As an avid television watcher and long-time defender of the sitcom format—one who, despite not wanting to publicly admit it, will watch every second of the Friends reunion, mostly because anyone who spends an hour with James Corden deserves our sympathy and support—it’s been hard, particularly as a Black woman, to rewatch Friends and see how easily they played into the concept of romantic racism.

It started with Julie, Ross’s girlfriend in the second season, and ended with Charlie, Joey and Ross’s girlfriend in the ninth and tenth seasons—and we’re still seeing the ripple effects from the depiction of these women in modern day television.

There was no reason that Julie and Ross shouldn’t have worked out: They reunited after grad school on an archaeological dig, sharing professional aspirations and a desire to adopt a cat. Rachel immediately disliked Julie for no legitimate reason. The audience is supposed to be on Rachel’s side, seemingly—how dare Ross go off and find another woman who shares the same interests as him, has drive and ambition, and is nice to her friends? Rachel, at the time, is trying to “find herself” after escaping an unhappy engagement and taking a job in a coffee shop. But Ross cannot get past his infatuation with Rachel, even going so far as to make a list of pros and cons for each woman. Ultimately he rejects Julie because “she’s not Rachel.” (Or, you know, “Rachem.”) The impression the audience is given is that Julie was upset with Ross for dumping her for a woman who had been openly sabotaging their relationship but pretending she wasn’t. They both cried, Julie threw things, and it’s all supposed to be fine because… Julie found love with Ross’s doppelganger Russ a few episodes later. (The actress who played Julie, Lauren Tom, said in a 2019 interview that she believes Russ and Julie are still together.)

I’ve always wondered what went through Julie’s mind when Ross broke up with her. She was likely blindsided, shocked that the universe brought a man from her past to her only to have him dump her out of nowhere for another woman. Julie likely spent hours, if not days, wondering what she did wrong—reexamining every date, conversation, interaction. At the end of the day, there was only one answer.

Rachel was white, and Julie was not.

There’s not a lot of discussion about the way white supremacy impacts dating, but romantic racism is real and prevalent. There are exclusive (read: exclusionary) dating apps that users have to be approved for that then access your social media accounts to see your Blackness and decide time and time again that they prefer whiteness. Several apps have racial dating filters; one claims the tool is there to make Black love easier, but it just feels like a way to let romantic racism thrive. Others require users to state their ethnicity. And it is abundantly clear to me that Bumble was founded on white feminist theory because expecting Black women, who are notoriously labeled “aggressive,” to make the first move is inherently setting us up for failure.

Friends constantly threw women of color—I’m speaking only about women of color because there was never a time that Rachel, Phoebe, or Monica dated someone outside of their race—under the bus so the white people could look good and feel good. In doing so, the show’s creators passed along the microaggression of “us vs. them,” allowing the white woman to always be both the victim and the winner. The worst thing Julie did to Rachel was befriend Monica and Phoebe and date Ross. The worst thing Rachel did to Julie was try to sabotage her haircut out of pure jealousy—and we’re supposed to applaud Rachel for it instead of considering how immature and indecent that was.

Charlie Wheeler was the second Black woman to have a romantic relationship on the series—the first was Kristen Lang, played by Gabrielle Union, in the seventh season. (Emphasis on the fact it took them seven seasons to introduce a Black woman as a romantic prospect.) Kristen and Charlie, played in a star-making turn by Aisha Tyler, both got wrapped up in romantic entanglements with Ross and Joey, and both were made to be pawns in their friendship. Charlie actually got the double-whammy, because not only was she the hypotenuse of the love triangle with Ross and Joey, she’s also the catalyst for the ill-fated Joey/Rachel pairing, as well as the Ross's final partner before reuniting with Rachel. (David Schwimmer has said that he pushed creators to give his character diverse love interests; we’ll give him the benefit of the doubt that he didn’t intend for their race to ultimately have such harmful implications.)

Kristen only appears in a single episode, and although Charlie has a long arc, appearing in nine episodes, the audience learns virtually nothing about her—most of the non-career-related facts we gather about her are through the lens of men. She’s the daughter of an alcoholic father; Ross is intimidated by her because her ex-boyfriend has two Nobel Prizes, and… that’s it. We don’t even learn if “Charlie” is a nickname, but I digress.

When fans of Friends discuss Charlie, they tend to point out that there is no way a woman like that would date a guy like Joey, ignoring that it’s actually a highly realistic plotline. There are plenty of beautiful, single, successful women in New York just looking to date a Hot Dummy for a bit—but again, we never learn Charlie’s motivations for dating either man because her existence is to be a portal for white people, which is massively disappointing. She exists to throw a wrench in Joey and Ross’s friendship as well as Joey and Rachel’s possible relationship. The fact that Tyler was cast through colorblind casting (blarg), adds an additional layer of sinisterness.

Tyler told InStyle in 2018 that, “there [wasn’t dialog] about the fact that it was an interracial relationship. There was no commentary on the show about my character being black, and I think they had just written this character as this kind of love triangle between Ross and Joey. They happened to hire a black woman, which—I don't know that I'm advocating for colorblind casting any more than I’m advocating for people doing a better job at making shows diverse. Being African-American is just one aspect of who a person is. It was really wonderful to just be on the show and be a love interest.”

Do I think Friends had the awareness or ability to even broach a conversation about dating outside of your race? Absolutely not. Do I think there are conversations and topics within interracial dating that would make for stellar sitcom content? I certainly do. Do I think 2021 Ross would be the type of person to say “I can’t be racist/homophobic, I dated an Asian woman and a Black woman and was married to a lesbian,” without any type of clue as to why that’s an icky thing to say? You know that’s exactly how it would go down. Like, you know a man who sees himself as austere and cosmopolitan as Ross was internally applauding himself for being so progressive.

A lot of the messages from Friends have been warning signs, things to learn from, and I do believe television has come very far. Not far enough in nearly 30 years, but rewatching the sitcoms I loved in lockdown opened my eyes to what American audiences tolerated at the time. How I Met Your Mother, another heavily-white series that felt like the natural successor to Friends, also used its love interests of color only to serve their white partners and act as foils to their eventual white relationships. And television writers are still relegating some of their Black characters to stepping stones for their white ones. Younger is a particularly egregious example and my sincerest apologies to Charles Michael Davis, who I took to calling “Hilary Duff’s Black Boyfriend'' due to lack of character development: You deserve more.

I do commend Friends for casting two Black women with dark and rich skintones to be in these relationships—2021 Hollywood has a lot of work to do in terms of colorism. It was also a daring move to show an interracial relationship between a white man and a Black woman, something that almost never happens in modern comedy shows—it’s usually the inverse. See: Happy Endings, Grace & Frankie, New Girl, The Good Place. Bob Hearts Abishola, I’m gonna give you the flowers you deserve, even if your show is…

This probably isn’t an active choice on the writers’ parts, but I think if you’re going to cast a person of color, it’s smart not to ignore their race when crafting a character. Every Black woman I know has to hope that the person they’re interested in dates Black women—something white people never have to do, and rarely realize passes through our minds because they are the blueprint, the standard of beauty, the arbiters of social status. Shows like Friends have told Black women, time and time again, that you can be the most accomplished, beautiful, funny, stellar person and you won’t get your Happily Ever After. Because there’s a white person out there the audience believes should have it more.

An earlier version of this article misspelled the names of actors Lauren Tom and Charles Michael Davis. We regret the errors.

Since its mid-aughts finale, we've been on an unofficial break with Friends. But now, in honor of HBO Max's highly-anticipated Friends reunion—which is bringing together the beloved sixsome on that iconic orange couch for the first time in 17 years—Marie Claire is celebrating, criticizing, and obsessing over the show that was always there for us.

Like the best kind of confidantes, Friends wont go away. Almost three decades since its premiere, the NBC sitcom about, well, friends—the kind who are there for you when your job's a joke, you're broke, and your love life's...you know the rest—has remained a ratings juggernaut and a pop culture force to be reckoned with. And that's thanks, in part, to Marta Kauffman.

Along with David Crane, Kauffman co-created one of the biggest television shows of all time—the duo also served as executive producers throughout the show's 10-season run, alongside Kevin Bright—one that made made A-listers (and millionaires) of its cast; launched 1,000 quotable one-liners, fan theories, and thinkpieces; defined a generation of friendships and relationships; and gave lobsters their romantic due.

Ahead of the HBO Max reunion on May 27, Kauffman sat down with Marie Claire to chat about the storylines she doesn't regret, where the characters are now, and how Ross fucked up.

Marie Claire: What can fans expect from the reunion?

Marta Kauffman: They can expect a celebration of the show—an emotional, joyful, celebration of the show, with a lot of different elements and some crazy surprises.

MC: You filmed on the original sets—how did that feel?

MK: There was a moment when we all walked in—there was a structural beam between the kitchen and the living room, which we removed after, I believe, [the show’s first] three episodes because you couldn't shoot around it. And the first thing everybody noticed when they walked was, That beam doesn't belong there… Oddly, everything looked smaller [on the sets] than I remember it.

MC: Ironically, one of the main criticisms of Friends is how unrealistically large the apartments are. If you could go back, would you film it on more accurately sized sets?

MK:I don't think I would have changed the sets. You're gonna be spending a lot of time on those sets so you want them to be visually satisfying. I think it would've gotten claustrophobic if we had made it too small and we had to fit six people in there without stepping on each other. But also, we wanted it to be a place that you wanted to go to and sit there with them. And if it had been small and cramped, I think it would have been less enjoyable.

MC: Were there a lot of tears when everyone reunited?

MK: There were definitely tears. The six of them seemed very happy. They were reveling in being together. It reminded me that the show was incredibly special and affected a lot of people around the world.

MC: Is it strange for you to see Friends have this second wave of popularity with Gen Z discovering it on streamers?

MK: [When] my youngest daughter was 16, she said a friend of hers came up to her and said, ‘Did you hear about that new show called Friends?’ They thought it was a period piece. It’s just so surreal, but incredibly wonderful and certainly flattering.

MC: In terms of the characters, have you thought about where you see all of them today?

MK: I think—actually Matt LeBlanc said this [at the reunion]—Joey has six kids and is no longer an actor. I think Monica and Chandler have their twins and that's it. But they're together. I think that Ross and Rachel are seeing a marriage counselor, but have two kids, probably. I see Phoebe as also still being married, and she's got, like, four foster kids. She still plays music whenever possible, but she’s very busy with the kids.

MC: What about Rachel’s job? In the series finale you see her choose Ross over a huge career opportunity and a lot of people wonder: Does that mean she just stopped working? Do you think she was able to achieve her fashion dreams?

MK: I think Monica and Rachel are both still working. Rachel, she does continue working in fashion. She's doing exactly what she wants to be doing.

MC: Was that important for you in the original run of the show—to give the women ambitions in their careers? Because it seems like it was important for you to mention right now.

MK: Rachel, in some ways, went the longest distance with that. She started out as someone who didn't know how to do a job, and she ended up becoming a woman who learned to partially define herself by her work. We always wanted to take a certain feminist perspective; the women do work. They have passions, they pursue them, as well as the men. And actually Chandler didn't, at that point, have any passions. He just had a job.

MC: I read a quote from you a few years ago about how all of the women in the show have babies in different ways: adoption, single parenting, surrogacy. Was that another feminist plot point you wanted to focus on—different avenues of motherhood? Or was it a happy accident?

MK: It was a combination of things. When Lisa got pregnant, we needed to figure out a way to not have to hide her belly with plants. So we wanted to come up with the most original version of her being pregnant that we could. Once we did that, we had to then make each one different from the previous one or ones. It was a conscious choice to explore it from different angles.

MC: Speaking of kids, would you and David Crane do a show about the kids of the Friends?

MK: Absolutely not. That will not happen. Look, Friends was special and there is no point in going back there and trying to beat it. The show was about the six of them; it was about that time in your life when your friends are your family. Once they started having families of their own, it changes it. And there's no reason to go back. I don't think we can beat what we did.

MC: Do you think they eventually all the characters moved to the suburbs, near Monica and Chandler, to recapture that feeling? Or did they all follow their own paths?

MK: I think Monica and Chandler stayed in the suburbs. Joey stayed in the city. Phoebe and Mike moved to Brooklyn. I think they all followed their own paths but remained very good friends, just not seeing each other every moment of every day.

MC: Are there any plot points you wish never happened or moments you cringe at now?

MK: There are things I wish I knew then that I know now. It wasn't so much about storylines, but about [for instance] Chandler's father’s transitioning. I know people were [also] disturbed by the fat suit. Hindsight is sometimes very painful… I was not enlightened enough [then] to realize that we were participating in systemic racism in our business. At this point in my life, I'm trying to make up for those choices or mistakes. Back then, we were really only thinking about doing a show that we wanted to do and not thinking about equity.

MC: A storyline I have to ask about—because people are very opinionated about it and many wish it never happened—is the Rachel and Joey relationship arc. Do you still stand by it?

MK: The fact that you're bringing it up makes me realize that I would stand by it, because it brought up a lot of conflicting feelings. You don't, in a show, always have to do what's right. Sometimes it's fun, as it was in this case, to explore things that may be weird and unexpected. When we first raised the issue with Matt [LeBlanc] and Jennifer [Aniston], they were definitely not sure [about the arc]. But I think it was really sweet, and we got to know other sides of those characters that we hadn't known before—like Joey's incredible sweetness and gentleness. I don't regret it one bit.

MC: A lot of strange, and sometimes plausible, fan theories have been circulating. I wanted to give you the final say on some of them and put a few to rest.

One of them is that the entire show is a dream that Rachel has before her wedding to Barry. The theory’s “proof” is a press promo shoot where the whole cast is sleeping on a bed together, and all of them have their eyes closed but Rachel's are open. So people assumed that was a hint from you and David [Crane].

MK: It is not a dream. And if it had been a dream, we would've done what Bob Newhart did and made sure everybody knew it was a dream in the end. But why would you make it a dream? Because what makes the show work is wanting to hang out with these people, and you want to believe they're real.

MC: I think that would have been a very upsetting ending. Here's another one: The first time viewers see Ross and Rachel's characters meet in Central Perk, in the first episode, Ross stumbles and accidentally opens an umbrella he's holding. So people speculated that, when he does that, he curses their relationship for the next seven years; that's why they have this on-again-off-again relationship. Was that on purpose?

MK: No. (laughs) Not even a little bit. I wish we had thought of that.

MC: Another dark one is that Ross loses custody of Ben because of his strange behavior—Carol and Susan get full custody and move away. So can you speculate on where Ross is with Ben now? Are they still in each others’ lives?

MK: That is just too sad. I don't think that would ever have been something that we would have considered. Nor would I consider it now. He’s a good father.

MC: My last one: Monica has a strained relationship with her mother because she is actually conceived through an extramarital affair.

MK: Uh, no. Her parents [just] had a preference for Ross.

MC: My final question, before I let you go is, of course, were they on a break?

MK: It did come up when we shot the reunion. I think, whether or not they were on a break, he had sex too soon. So I still think he fucked up.

MC: That’s a great place to end it: Ross fucked up.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

• Courteney Cox said the Friends opening credits weren't the most fun to film.
• Appearing on the Ellen DeGeneres Show, Cox said the cast had to dance in a fountain for hours.
• "Somebody thought that would just be really fun, and let me tell you what happens—it's not fun to be dancing in a fountain for hours and hours," she said.

Don't be fooled by the bright smiles and general positive vibes of the Friends cast as they dance in a fountain during the show's opening credits: According to Courteney Cox, filming that scene was actually pretty miserable. What's more, while mere seconds of the cast frolicking in the water actually made it to the final product, shooting the scene took hours, Cox revealed. Unpleasant!

As E! reports, Cox is a guest on today's episode of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and is seen chatting about Friends in preview clips. Asked by DeGeneres about whose idea it was to plunge into the fountain, Cox responded, "Well, it definitely wasn't mine. We were in that fountain for a long time. Somebody thought that would just be really fun, and let me tell you what happens—it's not fun to be dancing in a fountain for hours and hours."

"I remember Matthew Perry saying at one point—and we didn't know each other that well at that point—but I remember, and this is so Matthew, but he was like, 'Can't remember a time that I wasn't in this fountain,'" Cox continued. "Literally, we were just like, 'How much longer are we going to pretend to love dancing in water?' But it was fun—but not really."

Filming recently finished on the long-awaited Friends reunion, a post on the show's official Instagram confirmed—and according to Cox, it might prompt a tear or two. "It was unbelievable and so emotional. It's an unscripted reunion but we got to be on Stage 24 for the first time all of us, in like, 15 or 17 years?" she said.

"I have the worst memory [so] everything came up that I forgot about," she added, as Hello! reports. "It was great; we had a lot of special surprises and it was fantastic."

It's been more than 10 years since the Friends series finale aired, but that hasn't stopped fans from soaking in all the Chandler jokes and Ross and Rachel moments (he will always be her lobster) thanks to those dusty DVDs and recently, Netflix. Superfan or not, these Friends facts are best enjoyed with a random episode playing in the background.

The show’s working titles were Insomnia Café, Friends Like Us, and Six of One, before everyone settled on Friends.

The opening was shot at Warner Bros. Studios in California. There’s a reason you’ve never been able to find the fountain on the east coast.

According to Jennifer Aniston, “We felt it was a little… I don’t know… dancing in a pond? A fountain felt sort of odd.” She says the only reason they did it because they “were told to.”

They dined at Spago inside Caesar’s Palace to enjoy their “last shot at anonymity.” The cast would return some six years later to shoot Mr. Rachel's wedding to Mrs. Ross (and Joey's movie fail, among other things).

In 1995, show co-creator Marta Kauffman told The Los Angeles Times that Cox had "the neatest" dressing room. In the same interview, Cox said, "Okay, I am a neat freak. Not about myself. I don't use a lint brush or anything, and I don't iron, but I could easily pick lint off of someone else." To quote Ross, "MONICAAA!"

Phoebe and Chandler were originally written as supporting roles. Can you even imagine?

According Kauffman, the studio audience’s response to Monica and Chandler first getting together was so overwhelming, the show went “a different direction.”

Chandler is for the Chandler family, Rachel's last name, Green, is for Janet Green, Ross is for Ross Chandler (LOL), Monica is for Monique (Daisy Cortland), Joey is for Joseph "Joey" Martin, and Phoebe is for Phoebe Tyler Wallingford.

As Kauffman explained in 2012, "Schwimmer had auditioned the year before for a pilot we were making, and he just stuck in our heads. That was an offer. No audition."

Phoebe was originally pitched as a “goth girl,” which prompted Janeane Garofalo to turn down the role. "There is some truth to it, but not exactly that," she later explained. "Long ago before Friends was Friends, when it was in its infancy, it was a show called Friends Like Us, and I was being considered for a role, like a goth girl, which I think morphed into Phoebe."

"I had a job at a coffee shop called The Bourgeois Pig in Hollywood, which is still around and one of the last independent coffee shops that hasn't been taken over or whatnot,"James Michael Tyler told BuzzFeed in 2014. "I was one of their first baristas—I think I started there in 1990 or so."

Twice. It's Okay. He was destined to play David and go to Minsk for a really long time. (Maybe too long.)

So did Kathy Griffin. Obviously we're going to need to see those tapes now. (Jane eventually did appear on the show as a real estate agent in the final season.)

Thanks to a Huffington Post investigation. Memorize this name for your next trivia night: Jon Haugen. We applaud you.

According to Leslie Litt, “We had a casting session for that role but no one was quite it. Paul agreed to do a one-time meet and read with Lisa [Kudrow]. All I wrote on my notes was ‘dreamy’!”

“David did it. Very kindly," Aniston later told Us Weekly. "The day my alarm didn’t ring.”

There's a reason "The One Where No One's Ready" takes place entirely in Monica's apartment.

Showrunners used a "bottle episode" format for this season three favorite due to budget restrictions, at it was later revealed in the 2005 special, Friends: Final Thoughts.

In fact, she suggested that Phoebe play the  bongos  instead. (Thankfully, the guitar stuck.)

The bet was with Matthew Perry, his co-star in The Whole Nine Yards (2000). Rumor has it that Bruce donated his money to charity. Either way, he will always be the neatest guy.

Courteney Cox is two years older than David Schwimmer, despite playing his little sister.

You know what they say about one man’s trash becoming one of the most famous couches on TV…

(Top photo: season 1; Bottom photo: season 10) The change was made after the writers realized an apartment with the number "5" did not denote a unit on a higher floor in New York City. Chandler and Joey's apartment also changed from "4" to "19."

See it here.

“Oh! I don't know if I was allowed to actually swear," Lisa Kudrow revealed in a Reddit AMA. "We pre-shot that part, and I think I remember Kevin Bright, our executive producer, laughing and saying 'I know, but no one should even be able to read it on your lips.'"

Here he is eating ice cream with Marcel ("The One After the Superbowl") and Elizabeth ("The One Where Ross Dates a Student"). Doesn't look like your teeth are hurting in both cases, Ross.

As co-creator David Crane told Vanity Fair in 2012, “The rules kept changing. For the first three years we could say ‘penis.’ Then we couldn’t say ‘penis.’ Then we could say ‘penis’ again.” Added Kauffman: “They’re masturbating on Seinfeld and we can’t show a condom wrapper.” Warren Littlefield, then the president of NBC Entertainment, said he had a lot of battles with broadcast standards. “What could be more socially responsible than these characters practicing safe sex?”

"Pat the dog" was given to Aniston by a friend for good luck on the first day of shooting Friends.

"Here's what was difficult about having a child: when he visited the set, it was hard to be in character," Kudrow later said. "Because i didn't want him to ever experience me as anything OTHER than his mother."

“I had a really, really hard time working with Aniston because I was so in love with her,” he told the New York Post in 2017. “I was infatuated. I was speechless—I’d get all bubbly and forget my lines and completely blank… It was so difficult.”

The pair would go on to star in Bruce Almighty, 30 Rock, and other things. In 1995, Schwimmer told Entertainment Weekly that he actually hated the monkey. "The trainers won't let me bond with it. They're really, really possessive. It's like, 'Land on your marks, do your job, don't touch or bond with the monkey.' It's a bummer." AGREED.

Everyone's last name in the opening for "The One After Vegas" included "Arquette."

They were celebrating then-newlyweds Courteney Cox Arquette and David Arquette, who were married from 1999 to 2013.

John Bennett Perry played Joshua’s dad in “The One with Rachel’s New Dress.”

All the 'Friends' have kissed each other except Monica and Phoebe.

MONICAA!

Even Christina Pickles, who played Monica's mom Judy got a nomination for her guest role one year. Guess the Emmys had no love for Monica's tidiness, wit, and that incredible "7" scene.

For three consecutive seasons (3, 4, 5), Ross mentions that he's 29. (In season five, he actually says he's getting divorced twice before he's 30.) Naturally, Ross also has two birthdays on Friends: Oct. 18 and some time in December. Ross can indeed.

Cliffhangers were never shot with a live studio audience.

The season four finale, “The One With Ross’s Wedding," where Ross says "I take thee Rachel," is a prime example. "We couldn't have an audience for that," Aniston said in the 2005 Friends: Final Thoughts special. “We always remove the audience for the cliffhangers because, obvious reasons, you don’t want to spoil it.”

But don't worry, Favreau's still got a soft spot for Pete after all these years. "Pete Becker was a man of tremendous focus and conviction. He set his heart to being the Ultimate Fighting Champion and I have no doubt that he gave it his all. I'm only sorry that that chapter was never closed by the Friends writers because I'll always have to live with the uncertainty of what his fate held."

Gunther also didn’t have a name until the middle of the second season, and his hair was bleached every week for 10 years because James Michael Tyler's hair is brown IRL.

Janice's appearances were always kept secret.

Explains actress Maggie Wheeler, “They would keep me hidden—I could barely come down to get a doughnut. I had to stay in my dressing room until the last moment and then they’d secretly move me from behind the set to the right spot and they’d keep a black screen so the audience couldn’t see me until I made my first entrance.”

According to Lisa Kudrow, who says it's her favorite episode of Friends ever, "That whole week, while driving in L.A., people would pull up, and give me a very sad look, and a quiet 'thank you' for making them laugh."

According to show co-creator David Crane, there was a meeting with JT, “but we didn’t have a good part for him.”

In 2016, Matt LeBlanc told EW, "Towards the end we actually pitched the idea that Joey and Phoebe had been having casual sex the entire time. We’d go back and shoot all the historical scenes and just before a moment that everyone recognizes, there’s Joey and Phoebe coming out of a broom closet together. But they were like, ‘Nah.’"

The espresso machine at Central Perk was never on because it was too loud.

“That was a real antique coffee machine. I never actually made one coffee!" James Michael Tyler (Gunther) later told BuzzFeed.

"I had quit smoking for four years, and in that final two weeks I started smoking again because we were so aware that our time together was coming to an end," he told Vanity Fair in 2012.

Specifically, pieces of the fake sidewalk outside Central Perk.

Central Perk was torn down to become the airport where Rachel takes off from.

Speaking to Matt Lauer in 2004, Aniston said she had "a couple issues" with another season. “I wanted it to end when people still loved us and we were on a high. And then I was also feeling like, ‘How much more of Rachel do I have in me?’” She eventually agreed to the final season, just as creators lowered the episode count from 24 to 18.

"We had dicked the audience around for 10 years with their “will they or won’t they,” and we didn’t see any advantage in frustrating them," according to David Crane.

• Courteney Cox delivered Friends fans an exceptional gift on Thanksgiving.
• Cox recreated an iconic moment from the episode "The One With All the Thanksgivings": Monica dancing for Chandler with a turkey on her head.
• "Since I’m the symbol of Thanksgiving, here you go. I hope it makes you happy," she said in the hilarious Instagram video.

Turns out Friends fans have become a little predictable over the years, inundating Courteney Cox every Thanksgiving with GIFs of the iconic moment Monica danced for Chandler with a turkey wedged on her head.  Well, 2020 was the year Cox embraced her status as the "symbol of Thanksgiving": In a superlative Instagram video, she recreated the scene from "The One With All the Thanksgivings," jamming her head inside a turkey and dancing for the camera once more.

"Happy Thanksgiving everyone. I hope you’re having a great day. I’m feeling so thankful," Cox opens the video, before zooming in on her mouth and cranking up the fury a few notches. "And also if I get one more goddamn GIF with that turkey on my head dancing like a fucking fool, I’m just gonna snap." (Cox bleeped out the cursing for the more delicate ears of the internet.)

"Anyway, since I’m the symbol of Thanksgiving, here you go. I hope it makes you happy," she finishes. The video then cuts to Cox dancing with an enormous turkey on her head, sunglasses wedged into the bird for accuracy, as the Friends theme tune plays. Drink in the chaos:

For a quick compare and contrast, Friends co-star Jennifer Aniston celebrated Thanksgiving by sharing a sweet series of photos of herself and adorable new puppy Lord Chesterfield (see below) while Lisa Kudrow stayed offline altogether. Three very different yet equally valid energies from the women of Friends!

Since March, my world—much like yours—has taken a turn. I've baked too many loaves of banana bread; online shopping has reached terrifying levels; and I now own a collection of very fashionable face masks. But thanks to these stylish and lifesaving tools, I've been left to communicate with romantic interests with just my eyebrows and longing stares. As the months drag on, I can't help but think that I now resemble a character in a Jane Austen novel. While the idea of living in the 19th century isn't exactly appealing to me, a modern-day woman, Austen may just convince me of its advantages with the courting of it all.

As I pondered which Austen heroine I'd most like to be, I took a look at the author's book-to-movie adaptions in hopes of learning something about bawdy eye-contact. What I found was a whole lotta bonnets, love letters, countryside walks, and a hefty amount of miscommunication between two people who very much love each other. While I wish I could include every retelling ever on this list, you and I would be here for an eternity—so instead I stuck to the fan-favorites. In the spirit of sexy eye-contact and in honor of Austen-lovers everywhere, I present to you a ranking of the steamiest Austen adaptions. Oh, how I love cinema!

13.Love & Friendship (2016)

Starring: Kate Beckinsale, Xavier Samuel, Morfydd Clark, Emma Greenwell, Chloë Sevigny and Tom Bennett.

Premise: In this adaptation of Austen's Lady Susan, recently widowed Lady Susan Veron (Beckinsale) is keen on playing matchmaker for her troubled daughter Frederica (Clark) while staying at her brother-in-law's home in Churchill. There's a lot of deception, secret letters, and walks in the gardens. So, uh, classic Austen.

Why it's #13: I found myself more frustrated with Lady Susan than invested in her and her daughter's escapades. (Hot take, I know.) Major props to the wonderful Chloe Sevigny as Alicia though; without her the movie would feel less fun.

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12.'Mansfield Park' (1999)

Starring: Frances O'Connor, Harold Pinter, Lindsay Duncan, Jonny Lee Miller, Embeth Davidtz, and Alessandro Nivola.

Premise: Fanny Price (O'Connor) is sent from her home-by-the-sea to a countryside estate to live with her wealthy aunt. There, she falls in love with their son Edmund (Lee Miller) but is constantly reminded of her unwealthy upbringing. Things take a turn when a pair of hot siblings show up, and everyone wants some action.

Why it's #12: Until Sandition this was the *only* Austen movie to feature a sex scene, and it still doesn't get me hot and bothered. This is probably because Fanny's personality strayed far from her sad-girl roots. No one has done this novel real justice yet, TBH. Screenwriters, take note.

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11.'Northanger Abbey' (2008)

Starring: Felicity Jones, JJ Feild, Carey Mulligan, William Beck, and Liam Cunningham.

Premise: Bookworm Catherine Morland's (Jones) dreams come true when she gets to live out her wildest fantasies in Bath, finding herself receiving affections from, not one, but two men. Huzzah! Our heroine visits a mysterious gothic castle, and things get ~spicy.~

Why it's #11: Morland's horny dreams about her crush, Henry Tilney (Feild), were arguably the best part of this film. If it weren't for these reveries, I truly believed they were going to end up enemies, which is maybe what Austen would've wanted—but not me.

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10.'Bride & Prejudice' (2004)

Starring: Aishwarya Rai, Martin Henderson, Anupam Kher, Naveen Andrews, and Indira Varma.

Premise: In this Pride & Prejudice remake, American hotelier Will Darcy (Henderson) meets farmer’s daughter Lalita Bakshi (Rai) at a wedding, and romantic entanglements interspersed with super catchy musical numbers follow.

Why it's #10: Just cause it's a Bollywood adaption doesn't mean it's short on steamy eye-contact. In fact, that means there's a whole lot of it. Unfortunately, I found myself focusing more on the foot-tapping musical numbers, like “No Life Without Wife," than Lalita and Darcy's chemistry.

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9.'Emma' (1996)

Starring: Gwyneth Paltrow, James Cosmo, Alan Cumming, Jeremy Northam, and Toni Collette.

Premise: When you're as rich and beautiful as Emma Woodhouse (Paltrow), you're allowed to meddle in other people's love lives—even if the men you're surrounded by (particularly your sister's brother-in-law and your potential match) hate it. It's practically Jane Austen law.

Why it's #9: Once I realized Emma was 21 years old and Mr. Knightley (Northam) was 37 years old, I mentally checked out. Something about a large age difference just doesn't really set the mood for me, even if it was the societal norm of the period.

watch it

8.'Sense and Sensibility' (1995)

Starring: Emma Thompson, Kate Winslet, James Fleet, Hugh Grant, Alan Rickman, and Harriet Walter.

Premise: Upon the death of Mr. Dashwood, his surviving family members are forced to move into a smaller home on a large countryside estate. There, the Dashwood sisters, Elinor (Thompson) and Marianne (Winslet), find themselves dealing with matters of the heart.

Why it's #8: Thompson's first attempt at writing a screenplay is as lovely as you think it would be. This may be in part because we're seeing Austen through female eyes. Or maybe it's because Rickman's deep voice just does something to me. Overall, what some of the characters lack in chemistry, is made up for by the really good plot.

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7.Bridget Jones's Diary (2001)

Starring: Renée Zellweger, Colin Firth, Hugh Grant, Gemma Jones, and Celia Imrie.

Premise: Thirty-something Bridget Jones (Zellweger) is unlucky in love and spends her days pining after her boss at “Pemberley Publishing,” Daniel Cleaver (Grant). Desperate to make a change, she sets out to better herself in the new year. If only the annoying yet attractive Mark Darcy (Firth) could get out of the way!

Why it's #7: This loose Pride and Prejudice adaption is fun, and checks all the necessary boxes for beloved early '00s romantic comedies: a love interest with great hair (Grant), a smoking problem, and a woman who thinks she doesn't know how to flirt but does. You'll eat it up, but still long for the banter of the Regency era.

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6.'Emma' (2020)

Starring: Anya Taylor-Joy, Johnny Flynn, Mia Goth, Bill Nighy, Josh O'Connor, and Callum Turner

Premise: Emma Woodhouse (Taylor-Joy) is rich, beautiful, and has a knack for getting into other's people's business. So why would she pass up an opportunity to set up her friend, Ms. Harriet Smith (Goth), with one of the most eligible bachelors in town?

Why it's #6: Emma has been retold again and again in Hollywood, but this is the best Regency-era adaption yet. The dialogue is impeccable, the love triangles are grand, and watching people confess their love under a large tree is now my favorite way to spend an afternoon.

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5.'Clueless' (1995)

Starring: Alicia Silverstone, Brittany Murphy, Paul Rudd, Stacey Dash, and Donald Faison.

Premise: Posh Beverly Hills high schooler Cher Horowitz (Silverstone) has it all but still finds herself bored with day-to-day high school dramatics. When new girl Tai Frasier (Murphy) shows up, Horowitz decides to give her a makeover (and make her a match) worthy of Emma Woodhouse.

Why it's #5: The impact this movie has had on pop culture is legendary, from "As If!" to plaid on plaid pantsuits. I like to think Jane Austen would be proud of Amy Heckerling's Emma adaption. While the chemistry is there between all of the characters, the roadblock of Cher ending up with her ex-step-brother can be hard to get past. But in the name of Paul Rudd in flannel, I'm happy to put my prejudice aside.

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4.'Persuasion' (1995)

Starring: Amanda Root, Ciarán Hinds, Susan Fleetwood, Corin Redgrave, and Fiona Shaw.

Premise: Anne Elliot's (Root) fate of being a spinster might change after all when her handsome ex-fiancé, Captain Wentworth (Hinds), returns from the Napoleonic Wars a single man. It's a classic "will they or won't they" scenario.

Why it's #4: The only note I wrote while watching this movie was, "I love a man with one singular facial expression that says everything." Captain Wentworth gives Mr. Darcy a run for his money, and frankly, I'm obsessed.

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3.'Pride and Prejudice' (1995)

Starring: Jennifer Ehle, Colin Firth, Crispin Bonham-Carter, Susannah Harker, and Julia Sawalha.

Premise: The Bennet sisters find themselves entangled with hunky newcomers Mr. Darcy (Firth) and Mr. Bingley (Bonham-Carter) as they attempt to find love in a society where class rank is everything.

Why it's #3: It's the Austen mini-series adaption that started it all. The show catapulted Colin Firth to stardom, thanks in particular to his post-jumping-into-a-lake attire, which left more than just Elizabeth Bennet (Ehle) hot and bothered. If this was your first introduction to Austenland, then you only trust this Darcy. And, if it wasn't, then, well, you know where this is going. . .

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2.'Pride & Prejudice' (2005)

Starring: Keira Knightley, Matthew McFadyen, Judi Dench, Rosamund Pike, Simon Woods, and Donald Sutherland.

Premise: When handsome and conveniently rich Mr. Bingley (Woods) and Mr. Darcy (McFadyen) show up in town everyone wants a piece. Well, everyone except Elizabeth Bennet (Knightley), who finds Mr. Darcy more annoying than charming. But, of course, things change.

Why it's #2: Joe Wright's adaption initiated a whole new cohort of Austen fans. I truly believe whatever adaption of Pride and Prejudice you watched first is your go-to. For me, it's the one-facial-expression wearing McFayden. His longing eye contact gave me some serious goosebumps, and I cried crocodile tears at the ending for no other reason than I wish someone would walk through the morning dew to tell me that they loved me.

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1.'Sanditon' (2019)

Starring: Rose Williams, Theo James, Anne Reid, Kris Marshall, and Kate Ashfield.

Premise: Charlotte Heywood (Williams) gets the opportunity of the 19th century when a wealthy family agrees to take her in at their seaside home in Sanditon. There, she meets a group of interesting characters, including a very handsome man named Sidney Parker (James).

Why it's #1: This unfinished Jane Austen tale finally gets its own adaptation in this eight-part series. And, my god, it is a lust-filled production. It has sex, drama, POC representation, questionable bathing suits, and best of all: a naked Theo James! Its only fault? There are currently no plans for a season two, and after watching the season 1 finale, I haven't stopped internally pleading for more. Run, don't walk, to stream this Austen adaption.

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My life, like many people's, has lacked many things in the past few months. I've been missing the little things, like going out for happy hour and watching questionable reality shows with friends. Events across the country have been put on hold, from the Friends reunion to the current NBA and WNBA seasons. So when Netflix announced they would be dropping ESPN's Michael Jordan documentary The Last Dance about the Chicago Bulls' final championship season in 1997-98 on July 18, it called for a national celebration. The documentary covers a lot, but it seemingly ignores a couple of key figures in Jordan's life at the time—like his ex-wife, Juanita Vanoy.

Since Vanoy is left out of the documentary, a decision deliberately made by the series' director Jason Hehir ("I wasn't interested in the opinion of any wife or kids in this. We had the storytellers we wanted, and I felt like we had the story covered from every angle"), you might be curious about her. Here's what we know about Vanoy, and her relationship with Jordan.

Vanoy and Jordan's relationship started after they met through friends.

According to The Washington Post, Vanoy was a loan officer from the Southside of Chicago looking to earn an associate's degree when they first met. The pair were introduced at a Bennigans restaurant in Chicago after a Bulls game in 1985. In a 1992 TV interview, Vanoy explained the two met through a mutual friend who introduced them, thinking they would be a perfect match.

The Post also confirmed Jordan proposed to her during New Year's Eve in 1987 at a fancy downtown Chicago restaurant after two years of dating. She said yes (obviously!), but then...

There was a problem before Jordan and Vanoy tied the knot in 1989.

When Vanoy and Jordan got married in November of 1989, at the Little White Chapel in Las Vegas, they were already the parents of a son, Jeffrey Jordan, who was born the year prior. At first, Jordan did not believe Jeffery was his son.

"She told me she was pregnant, unwed, and that the father of the child was Michael Jordan," Vanoy's attorney Michael Minton said to The Washington Post about meeting with her in July 1988. "She felt she could not get Michael's attention or cooperation or response without the retention of a legal representative." Jordan later "admitted paternity within a few months," and when they tied the knot in Vegas, Jeffrey was at the wedding.

"I'm happy. It was a big move getting married," Jordan said, according to The Washington Post. "It helped me mature."

Vanoy and Jordan have three kids together.

Michael and Juanita then welcomed a second son, Marcus, in 1990, while their daughter, Jasmine, was born in 1992. Both of their sons ended up playing basketball but didn't pursue the NBA like their father. Jeffery is now in charge of the brand digital innovation for Jordan Brand, while his brother Marcus is the founder of a boutique store called Trophy Room.

According to InStyle, Jasmine spent time with the Charlotte Hornets as a basketball operations coordinator but now works at Nike as a Jordan Brand executive.

In a conversation with Crain's Chicago Business, Vanoy talked about how she wanted her kids to create their identities for themselves.

"When they were growing up, most coaches wanted them to wear No. 23," Vanoy said. "I insisted that they not do that. It was important to me. I wanted to make sure that their skills were going to be what they made them and that it was based on how hard they worked."

Vanoy filed for divorce in 2002, but it wasn't finalized until 2007.

People reported Vanoy initially filed divorce paperwork in 2002, citing irreconcilable differences. The couple attempted to reconcile, and she withdrew her petition for a divorce a month later.

Unfortunately, four years later, in December 2006, Jordan and Vanoy announced their split in a joint statement.

"Michael and Juanita Jordan mutually and amicably decided to end their 17-year marriage," the couple's lawyers said in a statement, according to People. "A judgment for dissolution of their marriage was entered today. There will be no further statements."

Vanoy received $168 million in the divorce settlement, one of the largest at the time, according to Chicago Business.

Friends were still shocked by the split at the time. "But they clearly communicate," said family friend Les Coney to PEOPLE. "When Juanita couldn't get the stereo to work, he's the first person she called. And Michael was right there."

She wasn't in the documentary on purpose.

Shocker, I know! You would think a documentary about one of the most private, professional athletes would want to go a little deep into his personal life. Still, executive producer Mike Tollin says that was never the plan.

"We had a checklist: gambling, conspiracy theory about retirement, his father's death, his lack of activism, and his teammates," said Tollin in an ESPN interview. "I think we touched on all categories. From the start, we asked ourselves, 'Is this a workplace drama, or is it a domestic one?' We both believed it was a workplace story, and [director] Jason [Hehir] and I shared a general disinterest of the wives and children of the lead characters."

WATCH 'THE LAST DANCE' ON NETFLIX

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Kat and her chic friends sip cocktails at a packed lesbian hotspot in Manhattan on The Bold Type. In Almost Family's version of Brooklyn, Tiffany lamps adorn a retro sports bar full of athletic queer women. In Vida’s East Los Angeles, queer folks call the neighborhood dive bar home, hosting elaborate theme nights in the multigenerational space. Meanwhile, the characters of The L Word: Generation Q frequently gather at a recently renovated gastropub catering to L.A.'s lesbian crowd. And in Younger’s New York, ex-girlfriends clink wine glasses in a bar packed with attractive women.

The problem: None of these venues exist outside our screens.

Bars and restaurants have long been fictionalized for serial TV (Friends’ Central Perk, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend’s Home Base) but in popular queer shows, trend-forward bars divert far from the reality we experience. Lesbians, like myself, who seek dedicated spaces to gather in, have just a few bars across America to choose from. A study published last year estimates only 15 Lesbian bars remain—dwindled from more than 200 in the late '80s—with more poised to shutter due to COVID-19. Lesbians' night out in 2020 is often just special “girls” nights at a gay club.

So why, when lesbian bars are disappearing from major cities and small towns alike, are imaginary lesbian social utopias consistently popping up on women-centric TV shows? The out-of-reach depictions make me scream at my screen, à la Liz Lemon, I want to go to there!

We watch TV because it’s not realistic. Who wants to watch characters run errands and balance budgets? Carrie Bradshaw couldn’t sustain her Manolo-filled lifestyle writing just one weekly column and the living spaces in Friends are mansions compared to an actual 20-something’s Manhattan apartment. These shows depict a simpler, savvier (sometimes problematic) lifestyle that’s entertaining above all else.

Without imagination, queer culture as we know it today likely wouldn’t exist. LGBTQIA+ creators who put our experiences onscreen push both mainstream and queer culture towards a better future.

“None of the now-shuttered dyke bars I went to in my 20s were fancy, bright, or totally hygienic spaces with $15 dollar drinks served up neat in martini glasses,” says Candace Moore, a gender and cinema studies professor at Carleton College in Minnesota, reminiscing about former real-life haunts like San Francisco’s The Lexington and L.A.’s The Palms. “They smelled a little, bathrooms had multiple uses, there was cheap, crappy beer.” She notes that, in contrast, the The L Word, the lesbian-centric series that aired on Showtime from 2004 to 2009, offered queer women the chance to congregate in luxe West Hollywood spaces all the time.

“This constructed an upscale imaginary lesbian bar that pretty much only existed, and still pretty much only exists, on TV,” Moore says. “This seems partially about TV delivering aspirational ideas about wealth, power, and fame for the viewer. It offers a fantasy element. What if queer women had all kinds of capital—social capital, cultural capital, and economic capital? What if they could afford fancy salads and tequila shots ‘for the house’ on a regular basis? That’s not to say there aren’t wealthy lesbian, bi, and queer women out there, but I don’t know of many who plan to open up bars anytime soon.”

“I write the world I want to see, not necessarily the world I live in,” says Marja Lewis-Ryan, showrunner of The L Word: Generation Q. For the sequel, she worked to create a nostalgia-inducing, lesbian-owned, queer-centric hotspot: Dana’s. The fictional space became so pervasive that Semi-Tropic, a Los Angeles gastropub that is used as Dana’s exterior, now hosts a monthly “Dana’s” night. “It’s awesome, that’s really the dream,” Lewis-Ryan says. “I envisioned this thing and someone actually put it into practice. I’m making community spaces that are safe and hoping that other people make them real.”

Meanwhile, Los Angeles-based architect Lauren Amador has been designing her own real-life lesbian bar—one that is partially inspired by the original L Word’s hangout, The Planet. Last year, she launched Fingerjoint, a pop-up lesbian cocktail bar serving women-produced wines and spirits on an “unpretentious but thoughtful” menu. Seeing Dana’s on-screen felt “surreal,” she says. It was a glossy depiction of the space she hopes to build once she raises enough capital—a challenge plaguing several aspiring bar and restaurant owners who don’t have the budget of a Hollywood production company.

Beaming lesbian bars into living rooms can create stronger allyship. Wendy Straker Hauser, showrunner of The Bold Type, says she was“shocked” to learn that there were only a couple lesbian bars left in Manhattan. So in season three of the show, Kat, who has newly found community in lesbian bars, runs for city council to save a lesbian bar going out of business—art imitating life. “I always want to be accurate as a storyteller,” Hauser says. “For me, it was just realizing how powerful it was for lesbian women to not just have a queer bar, but to have an actual space specifically for them. It’s eye-opening, how important that was and is,” Hauser says.

Molly Bernard plays the bubbly queer publicist Lauren on Younger. Being well-acquainted with Manhattan’s “only two dyke bars,” Cubbyhole and Henrietta Hudson, she loved that writers decided to include a lesbian bar, albeit fictional, in the series.“Wow, this is what we’re missing [in real life],” she says.

Lesbian social utopia is only on-screen. And that’s okay—for now. Over the past year, lesbian representation has increased dramatically on screen. Vida, Gentefied and Feel Good have expanded the boundaries of diverse, lesbian characters on television, but there’s still more work to be done—on screen and in reality. Problematic stereotypes regularly tie queer identity to nightlife. So Lewis-Ryan—inspired by Los Angeles’ sober queer coffeeshop, Cuties—is considering more inclusive, realistic spaces to write into Generation Q’s second season. In real life, Amador made sure to include non-alcoholic and low ABV drinks on Fingerjoint’s menu and New York’s Butch Judy’s is developing a lesbian bar concept centered around conversation, rather than clubbing.

It's impossible to depict the lived experiences of every LGBTQ person in America in media. We stream to escape, which is what makes the lesbian social utopia of a nonexistent bar so powerful.

“Even though the real world lesbian bar may no longer exist in the same way and in the same places, I hope it remains a staple of visual culture. The fictional bar was never realistic, but it provided a glimmer of something approximate to it—a space where lesbians could find one another,” says Kelly Hankin, author of Girls in the Back Room: Looking at the Lesbian Bar. “Whether a confectionary glam version as in The Bold Type or a raucous neighborhood bar as in Jane The Virgin, these images offer lesbians a vision of community that remains as important as ever.”

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One of the most unrealistic things about Friends is the size of Monica's apartment that Monica, in a fit of post-Richard-breakup-fueled-anxiety, didn't decide to go blonde and then deeply regret it. (Yes, we had that whole episode of Phoebe accidentally cutting Monica's hair too short, but that's not the same.)

But Courteney Cox has gone and rectified the missing storyline by going blonde in real life...sort of. In honor of Jennifer Aniston's birthday on Tuesday (February 11) the former Friends actress debuted blonde hair inspired by her bestie's iconic color. Cox went so far to also copy Aniston's entire look, glasses and all, because Aniston is a trendsetter even amongst Hollywood's elite.

"No matter how hard you might try... there’s only one Jennifer Aniston," she captioned the Instagram pic. "Happy birthday my dear friend @jenniferaniston! I love you!♥️♥️♥️"

While we wish Cox really decide to embrace the "Rachel" hair 25 years after the beloved show debuted, it seems the actor was likely just wearing a wig for the picture.

The rest of Aniston's former castmates (including the new-to-Instagram Matthew Perry) have yet to post for her 51st birthday, but her Morning Show co-star (and Friends sister) Reese Witherspoon did share a sweet message.

"Happy Birthday Jen! 🌟 I couldn't ask for a better friend and partner to chase my dreams with. Life is way more fun with you in it!!! 💯❣️" she wrote.

It's unclear how Aniston is celebrating her big day (perhaps she didn't attend the Oscars this past weekend because she was resting up for a star-studded celebration of her own?). Here's hoping however she does celebrate, Brad Pitt is invited and she gives out blonde wigs as party favors.

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Perhaps the best thing about the 25th anniversary of Friends is the newly-replenished stream of cute on-set anecdotes from the cast. The latest contributor? Paul Rudd, otherwise known as Mike Hannigan, who chatted about his time on the show during an appearance on the U.K.'s Graham Norton Show, as the Independent reports. Specifically, he revisited an awkward encounter with Jennifer Aniston—or, if you'll indulge me, "The One With The Joke That Didn't Quite Land."

Rudd told host Norton that the show was "an incredible thing to be a part of, and the whole experience seemed a bit surreal and a bit of a blur." He explained,"I was only coming on for a couple of episodes, it turned into a few more, but it was nearing the end of the show, which was a phenomenon…" Rudd felt like something of an intruder, he said, after joining Friends relatively late in the show's run.

"I was in the last episode, which made no sense to me whatsoever," Rudd said. And while filming said episode, Rudd saw Aniston overwhelmed with emotion, hugging the show's co-creator Marta Kauffman. "I thought, I’m not supposed to be there," he recalled. "So to break the ice I went over and just went, 'We did it, huh? What a ride.' The joke inevitably fell flat."

Well, here's some small comfort for Rudd. He's pretty unlikely to run into Aniston again—or at least, their paths won't cross on the set of Friends (in fact, they've already appeared in the movie Wanderlust together). Aniston shattered a thousand dreams in a recent interview with Variety, as she explained why a Friends movie is unlikely to ever become a reality. "Our producers wouldn’t want it, wouldn’t let us. Look, it’s not been without our desire to, because our fans have wanted it so much," she said.

Asked if the cast would have agreed to a movie, she added, "It depends. I mean, we haven’t all sat in a room. But would we have loved to have done something together? Yeah. It would have been fun."

"We could have redesigned it for a couple episodes. But whatever. Maybe it’s better this way, but we’ll never know," Aniston concluded. Ignore that unsettling sound in the distance—that's just the anguished wail of Friends devotees around the globe.

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Ready for an epic '90s nostalgia-fueled bout of fangirling? The great people of the Twitter have discovered a strong connection between two of that decade's best and most internet-loved pieces of pop culture: Friends and Hocus Pocus.

That connection? The iconic Friends fountain, so colloquially named because its biggest claim to fame is its prominent role in the show's opening credits sequence. 

Yep, the fountain that Ross, Rachel, Monica, Chandler, Joey, and Phoebe splash around in gleefully also makes an appearance in Hocus Pocus—specifically in the scene when Dani and Allison are running in the park after they think they've defeated the Sanderson Sisters.

"Okay has no one ever noticed that the damn FRIENDS FOUNTAIN is in HOCUS POCUS?!??" one Twitter user wrote, summarizing the awe we're all feeling.

How can this be? Well, while Friends is set in New York City and Hocus Pocus is set in Salem, Massachusetts, both were filmed, in part at least, on the Warner Bros. Ranch in Burbank, California, where the fountain is located. Movie magic, right?

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It's always nice to run into an old friend, and it certainly seemed that way when Courteney Cox, a.k.a. Monica Gellar, ran into her former Friends co-star Tom Selleck, a.k.a. Richard Burke, unexpectedly in a bar Tuesday evening.

In the video, Selleck approaches Cox, who seems positively elated to see her old friend, who played Dr. Richard Burke, the boyfriend to Cox's Monica Geller for ten episodes of the 90s hit comedy from the show's second season to the show's tenth. Claudia Oshry, who captured the video and put it on Twitter, captioned “Spotted in NY: Dr. Richard Burke and Monica Geller saying hi to one another. Shook. What will Chandler say?” Would this be titled The One Where Monica And Richard Reunite At A Bar?

One can only hope that after fifteen years of marriage, Chandler probably wouldn't care if Monica ran into an ex-boyfriend from 20-plus years before, but maybe I'm shooting a little high, here. Don't they have kids to be looking after? Richard's likely retired, living in Florida somewhere, he and Monica are living totally different lives now! He may be able to help out if the twins need eye exams. Wow, I'm really passionate about a Friends plot line that hasn't even happened, and likely never will.

Fingers crossed this isn't the closest we'll come to a Friends reunion. We can continue to hope it happens, right? While you're still wishing and hoping, you can catch all of Friends on Netflix, and be sure to read our definitive ranking of the seasons, because we know you have opinions.

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Since its mid-aughts finale, we've been on an unofficial break with Friends. But now, in honor of HBO Max's highly-anticipated Friends reunion—which is bringing together the beloved sixsome on that iconic orange couch for the first time in 17 years—Marie Claire is celebrating, criticizing, and obsessing over the show that was always there for us.

Ah, Friends. Could it BE anymore impactful? The hit show from the 90s has never fully loosened its grip on the culture, and since it started streaming on Netflix, a whole new generation has become hooked. Ross, Rachel, Chandler, Monica, Phoebe, and Joey have stuck to us like glue (or like Ross's leather pants) and we're not complaining.

Despite the show's initial mixed reviews, the series went on to become a phenomenon, launching the careers of its six stars, and changing the way people dressed, styled their hair, and even spoke (How you doin'?). But over the course of 10 years, some seasons were better than others. Which is worth watching again and again? As Friends obsessives, we've taken on the challenge of ranking the seasons from worst to best—a tough job but we'd bet our apartment we got them right. Don't agree? It's okay, we'll be there for you, when the rain starts to pour.

Season Nine

Season Nine is terrible. It was originally intended to be the series' last, but eventually the cast agreed to return for a shortened tenth season. And you can tell that this season was meant to be its final one by the plot points that are put in place, like Chandler moving to Tulsa, and I'm glad they didn't go out on that note. In Season Nine, you can tell the writers were like, "Well, what do we do next? We had a wedding, we had a baby! We can't get Ross and Rachel back together quite yet, but you know what, let's write an episode where Joey can't remember if he's slept with a woman or not." Not to mention the Joey & Rachel storyline (Why, God, Why?) and the introduction of Charlie, too. In comparison to the stellar eighth season, this one's a drag. But the worst part? The episodes are suitable, but nothing great or standout, especially in comparison to some of the earlier seasons. The only bright lights are the introduction of Paul Rudd's Mike as a romantic partner for Phoebe, and Christina Applegate as Rachel's sister.

Best Episodes: "The One with Rachel’s Other Sister," "The One with the Memorial Service"

Worst Episode: "The One in Barbados"

Season One

Friends' first season is tenuous at best. There's nothing truly bad about the first season, it's just not as strong as later ones, and other sitcoms had much more impactful premier seasons, like Cheers. The first season is kind of stumbling around, trying to find its footing. There are clear standout moments—Chandler getting trapped in the ATM vestibule with Jill Goodacre, to name one—but other things are far too Sitcom 101 to be revolutionary. I'll never understand why Ross had a monkey.

Best Episodes: "The One with the Blackout," "The One with the Boobies," "The One Where Rachel Finds Out"

Worst Episodes: "The One with Two Parts," "The One With the Monkey"

Season Ten

Season ten gets kind of a bad rap for basically turning every single character's personality up to 11, but it's saved by the show's final episode. Poignant and moving, while still maintaining the series' comedic tone, it's one of the best finales of a sitcom ever. In a savvy turn they ended the Joey and Rachel pairing within the first three episodes, and focused instead on Phoebe and Mike's relationship, with the pair marrying in the season's 12th episode. It does have some great, memorable moments, like "JOEY DOESN'T SHARE FOOD," but it's just...fine. She got off the plane, which is the only ending true fans would have been okay with.

Best Episodes:"The One with Princess Consuela," "The Last One," "The One with Ross's Tan"

Worst Episodes: "The One with the Cake," "The One With Ross' Grant"

Season Two

The early stages of Ross and Rachel's relationship frame the entirety of Friends' second season, and that made for some amazing, funny television. From their first kiss at Central Perk to the heel-face-turn of Ross messing it all up in "The One with the List," it was good to see the writers lean in hard on what worked from the first season. They're still finding their footing in the second season, and certain things ("Fat Monica") haven't aged very well, but this season is full of discovery, both for the fans of the show and the ones creating it.

Best Episodes: "The One with the Prom Video," "The One Where Ross Finds Out"

Worst Episode: "The One with Five Steaks and an Eggplant"

Season Seven

There are certain parts of Friends that haven't aged well, and the show's seventh season is chock-full of them. This is Courteney Cox's best season, performance-wise, and it should be: It's a showcase for her and Monica as a character, because Monica Geller planning a wedding is exactly as hilarious as you'd imagine, and the season's best episodes surround that very topic (see: "The One with Monica's Thunder," "The One with All the Candy"). But this is also the season in which Kathleen Turner is cast as Chandler's dad (a bit transphobic), Rachel starts sleeping with her young assistant, and where Ross tries to sleep with his cousin. Holiday armadillos be damned, this season hasn't withstood the test of time.

Best Episodes: "The One with Monica's Thunder," "The One Where They All Turn Thirty," "The One with All the Cheesecakes"

Worst Episodes: "The One with Chandler's Dad" "The One Where Chandler Doesn't Like Dogs" "The One With Rachel's Assistant"

Season Six

Season six is a mixed bag. While we get some of the best performances out of the cast, and some of the most iconic moments—this is the season of "UNAGI"—it also feels like a filler season, just serving up episodes until Chandler and Monica can get engaged. David Schwimmer gives his best performances as Ross this season, especially in "The One Where Ross Got High" (one of the best episodes ever made) and "The One with the Routine," but the overuse of guest stars and the blatant product placement hold it back. It's pretty much saved by the extremely emotional and heartfelt season finale, when Chandler and Monica get engaged. We're not crying, you're crying.

Best Episodes: "The One with the Proposal," "The One with the Routine," “The One That Could Have Been,” "The One Where Ross Got High"

Worst Episodes: "The One with the Apothecary Table," "The One with Joey's Fridge" "The One with Mac and C.H.E.E.S.E."

Season Three

Season three's impact can be summarized in one line: "WE WERE ON A BREAK." This season had so many poignant moments—the 'bottle episode' (shot on one set and taking place in real time) titled "The One Where No One's Ready," Ross and Rachel's breakup (again), the introduction of Phoebe's brother Frank Jr. It's pretty stellar, but at its weakest, it's very weak. A wasted use of Christine Taylor, a weird plot involving Monica's boyfriend Pete...we could do without. But who can forget the time Chandler and Joey fight over the essence of the chair, or the episode with the barbershop quartet?

Best Episodes: "The One Where No One's Ready," "The One with the Morning After" "The One with the Football"

Worst Episodes: "The One with the Ultimate Fighting Champion," "The One with all the Jealousy"

Season Eight

With most shows, baby plot lines are a way to fill time, a sign the writers have no idea what to do next. But not in this case: This time, the series was boosted exponentially by Rachel's pregnancy, with Jennifer Aniston, who won the Best Actress in a Comedy Emmy for this season, delivering some of her career-best work. Rachel's struggle with her impending motherhood was so relatable and likable enough to revitalize the series and give new depth to characters the audience felt they already knew. Season eight is the only time Friends won the Emmy for Best Comedy Series, and it's well deserved, with its magic coming from the fact that the group as a unit is so strong. The best moments involve all six of them, like the group trying to figure out who is the father of Rachel's baby. We can even forgive the season for laying the groundwork for the future Joey/Rachel pairing, blargh.

Best Episodes: “The One with the Rumor” by a landslide, no question. Plus, "The One with the Red Sweater" and "The One with the Video Tape"

Worst Episode: "The One with Joey's Interview"

Season Four

It was hard to choose between Season Four and Season Five for the top slot, but the fourth season's runner-up placement is simply because five had 24 solid, series-defining episodes, and season four had 22. In all seriousness, this season contains some of the best episodes the show ever had, and the focus shifting away from Ross and Rachel and towards Chandler and his heartbreaking situation with Kathy contribute to its superlativeness. On the other hand, Emily's character development is virtually nonexistent, which makes it hard not to feel like she solely existed to be a foil for Ross and Rachel's relationship. There's a good reason Lisa Kudrow won the Best Actress Emmy for this season—her performance in "The One with Ross' Wedding." Her attempts to get someone on the phone to alert the crew about Rachel are must-watch. Oh, and that season finale twist? One of the most genius moments in American sitcom history.

Best Episodes: "The One with the Embryos," "The One with All the Wedding Dresses," "The One with Chandler in a Box"

Worst Episode: "The One with the Cat"

Season Five

Oh, season five. Where to even begin describing what is literal comedic perfection? You can @ me, because I will die on the "Season Five Is The Best Season" hill. It's the season that moved the series from "good show" to one of the best sitcoms in television history. This is the season that gave the world "PIVOT!," Ross and Rachel's friendship outside of romance, the tentpole relationship for the series in Chandler and Monica, and Phoebe birthing her brother's babies (loved writing that sentence). "The One with All the Thanksgivings" is simply an all-around perfect episode of television. We're done with Emily as a character (sorry, Helen Barksdale) and the season finale sets up multiple arcs that go on to change the entire series as we knew it. It's actually the best.

Best Episodes: Almost all of them. Literally. Don't make me choose. But if I have to choose, it's probably "The One Where Everybody Finds Out," a truly classic episode of this series. (Also, "The One with All the Kissing" and "The One in Vegas, Part II." Sorry we can't choose!)

Worst Episode: "The One With Joey's Bag." Sorry.

Jennifer Aniston is best known for her work on the small screen, as the undeniably cool, slightly spoiled, always stylish Rachel Green on Friends, whom she played for 10 seasons. But she's also a big-time Hollywood sensation, appearing in three dozen movies. And for you true Aniston acolytes, we've ranked them all, from bland and boring rom-coms to her big screen highs.

34. 'Management'

You know, just a classic, boy meets girl, boy low-key stalks girl, girl inexplicably swoons love story. Ugh.

33. 'Til There Was You'

Aniston had a supporting role in this rom-com that was neither romantic, nor funny.

32. 'The Switch'

The moral of this movie is basically, "Hey, if you're a mediocre white man and your hot BFF/crush doesn't want you, why not just hijack her uterus and force yourself into her life forever?" And then you'll live HAPPILY EVER AFTER.

31. 'Just Go With It'

Or just don't. This 2011 rom-com that pairs Aniston with Adam Sandler and Brooklyn Decker is juvenile and cliché.

30. 'Mother's Day' 

This movie is an argument against making movies based on minor holidays.

29. 'Love Happens'

This movie happened, but you probably didn't even realize it, since Aniston and co-star Aaron Eckhart have zero chemistry and the plot has zero tension.

28. 'Dream for an Insomniac'

Another year, another forgettable rom-com in the Jennifer Aniston filmography. This one involves a list of criteria for a perfect man, because sure. Still, Aniston's performance earned the best reviews from critics.

27. 'Rumor Has It'

If you haven't seen The Graduate, this movie won't make any sense. And if you have, it still won't be much fun.

26. 'The Thin Pink Line'

Not much is known about this mockumentary, which didn't get a wide release in the U.S., but it has decent ratings on Rotten Tomatoes, so there's that?

25. 'He's Just Not That Into You'

The cast is star-studded, but that couldn't save this film. Most of the characters feel more like stereotypes than real people. (Though we will say, Aniston and Ben Affleck's storyline is the strongest.)

24. 'The Bounty Hunter'

It's action. It's comedy. It's romance. It's...not really anything special.

23. 'Horrible Bosses 2'

This sequel probably didn't need to actually happen.

22. 'We're the Millers'

It's the story of Jen's post-Friends career: A great cast and a meh movie. Though that could be more about late-aughts, early 2010s writing and/or directing, since Aniston's comedy skills have always been A+.

21. 'Picture Perfect'

This is the movie that launched Jen's big screen career as a rom-com leading lady—whether that's a good thing or not is a matter of taste.

20. 'Along Came Polly'

This movie...exists. See it for the late, great Philip Seymour Hoffman as the overgrown man-child sidekick.

19. 'She's the One'

The movie, which is about love and infidelity and all the complications that brings, is so-so, but Jen's performance stands out.

18. 'Derailed'

If you like over-the-top thrillers with obvious plot twists, you'll probably be into this.

17. 'Leprechaun'

Famously Jen's first big screen role, this campy horror movie is so bad it's good.

16. 'The Break-Up'

The anti-rom-com definitely subverts your expectations, and Aniston's acting will break your heart in some moments. But going to the movies is supposed to be about escaping real life (spoiler alert: the ending isn't satisfying).

15. 'Office Christmas Party'

Jen joined a talented cast and, yeah, there are some laughs, but overall, not her best or funniest movie.

14. 'The Object of My Affection'

This very '90s comedy about a woman who falls for her gay roommate doesn't age great, but Aniston and Paul Rudd both give heartfelt performances.

13. 'She's Funny That Way'

The cast is amazing (Jen has a knack for picking projects that attract amazing ensembles) and the throwback vibes of this modern screwball comedy are great, especially for fans of classic screwballs. Sadly, it wasn't as laugh-out-loud funny as you'd like it to be.

12. 'Rock Star'

This was a solid movie, but not a career highlight for Aniston, who isn't given a lot to work with.

11. 'Wanderlust'

Paul Rudd and Jennifer Aniston are two of the most likable people in Hollywood (slash the world), so it's no wonder this movie is a good time. Bonus points for uniting Jen and her ex-husband, Justin Theroux, onscreen.

10. 'Bruce Almighty'

There are plenty of real laughs in this movie, but Jen's character could probably be played by a cardboard cutout of a woman, which isn't awesome.

9. 'Horrible Bosses'

It's not the best movie in the world, but it has its share of laughs and saw Jen playing very against type, which is interesting if nothing else.

8. 'Life of Crime'

This black comedy about a bumbling kidnapping scheme is an underrated title in the Aniston canon.

7. 'Marley & Me'

Grab your tissues, this movie based on a book about a couple (Aniston and Owen Wilson, who are great together) and their dog will tug at your heart strings.

6. 'Storks'

This animated family film mostly flew under the radar, but it's honestly better than it has any right to be. Jen's role is fairly small—as a busy, workaholic mom who reconnects with her son by basically destroying her entire house.

5. 'Cake'

The movie itself is so-so, but Aniston's performance is top notch and showcased her skills as a dramatic actress after years of playing it safe in rom-coms and Aveeno ads.

4. 'Friends With Money'

It's genuinely funny and feel-good. In this movie, Jen's character is a single woman in her 30s who struggles with deciding what to do with the rest of her life while surrounded by friends who, unlike her, have families and financial security.

3. 'The Iron Giant'

A truly great animated movie, but Jen is relegated, again, to Voice of the Mom.

2. 'The Good Girl'

Equal parts drama and dark comedy, this movie showcases Jen's acting skills and has a real heart that's lacking in a lot of her rom-coms.

1. 'Office Space'

Office Space is hilarious and Aniston delivers a laugh-out-loud performance that proved she could be so much more than just Rachel Green. Hollywood, take note: more of this from Aniston please.

Taylor Jenkins Reid has a pretty extraordinary resume. The author, essayist, and TV writer just finished her third book—Maybe in Another Life. Her first book, Forever, Interrupted, was recently optioned for film with Dakota Johnson attached to star. She co-wrote the Hulu series Resident Advisors that was produced by Elizabeth Banks. She also regularly writes essays for places like the Los Angeles Times and The Huffington Post. But she didn't get the start you might think—it took a little nudging from Jennifer Aniston while working in casting for TV and films for everything to fall into place. We caught up with the triple threat to get the scoop on her new novel, how she keeps it all going, and how a career doesn't have to be just one thing.

I hear Jennifer Aniston inspired you to become a writer—how so?

"Meeting Jennifer Aniston, because I'd been such a huge, huge fan of Friends, was so incredible that it gave me something I felt like I had to write about. I was working in feature casting at the time and I found out that she would be coming in to the office. I emailed all of my friends to tell them and since everyone said they wanted to know how it went, I wrote a story about it and sent it out to them all. That was the first time I sat down and wrote something for fun. And I was surprised by just how fun it was."

How did you figure out what you wanted to do?

"After I wrote that first story, I started finding other things in my life that I could write about. It took me about a year of that before I sat down and said, 'I need to try to write a fiction novel.' Once I did, I was hooked. I knew exactly what I wanted to do."

How do you describe what you do to others, considering all your endeavors?

"I tend to say that I'm a writer and then interpret that to fit whatever I'm working on that day. The part where it gets confusing is when I'm talking to my friends or family about various projects and they say, 'Oh, interesting, and that's a movie or a book?' and I have to say, 'No, sorry that's a TV show idea.' Or vice versa."

You have three books (one out in July), created a Hulu series, and write for mags. How do you keep organized?

"I am methodical about my email inbox and I always have a physical to-do list. Without those two things, I think I'd lose my mind. Plus, I long ago resolved to work when there is work to do and then relax where there isn't. So that means that sometimes I'm at the beach on a Tuesday morning and other times I'm writing at 11 p.m. on a Saturday. It's not ideal but it keeps me on deadline."

What's the biggest thing you've learned through all these avenues when it comes to career path?

"It's the thing I'm still learning, which is that no one gives you anything that you don't have the guts to ask for. You have to know your value, demand to be respected, speak your mind, and dare to ask for what you want. I struggle with every single one of these. But when you are your own boss, you also have to be your own advocate. I'm learning and I'm getting better, but that's a mountain that I am still very much climbing."

What's your passion? How does it transfer to these projects?

"My passion is capturing what it feels like to love, be it romantic or otherwise. I love to watch two people realize what they meant for each other—and that goes across all media, books, TV, movies, personal essays; everything. I am endlessly inspired by both the tenderness that can exist between two people and the excitement of falling in love. I'm very fortunate that I've been able to explore that in novels, a television show, some early development film projects, and essays about my own life."

How can other women do what you do—that is, not have "one" job or translate their passions into different things?

"I think the big thing—and it's big—is to be ready to hustle. You have to be willing to ask for favors for opportunities that you might not have originally been considered for. You have to be willing to work hard before even getting paid. I wrote my first book on nights and weekends while I was working a full time job and you really have to believe in yourself. So many times, my goals have seemed embarrassingly big and I was too scared to tell anyone about them. It wasn't until I took myself seriously that anyone else did."

What do you think the secret is to success?

"Being in the right field. Everyone is great at something. When you love something and you're good at it, things take flight."

What's been the biggest surprise when it comes to your career path?

"I think my biggest surprise has been the scope of my ambition. Five years ago, I said time and time again, 'I just want to sell one book.' Then I sold that book and wanted to sell more. I'm always moving the carrot, chasing something else. The minute I achieve one thing, I'm making grand plans for the next. Some of that is good, some of it is healthy, but I also need to learn how to chill out. I think it's a problem that a lot of my peers have. At some point, you have to be able to look around and say, 'this is enough.' So I'm learning how to do that, albeit, quite slowly!"

1. How to be Parisian Wherever You Are by Anne Berest, Audrey Diwan, Caroline de Maigret, and Sophie Mas

2. The One that Got Away by Bethany Chase

3. I Regret Nothing: A Memoir by Jen Lancaster

Grab Taylor Jenkins Reid's third novel, Maybe in Another Life, out July 7.

Over the course of ten seasons, the six characters of Friends had a lot of sex. Naturally, we had the most takeaway from their carnal hypotheses and hilarious pitfalls. Here are their 6 most important lessons:

1. How to Measure a Guy's Manhood
Chandler, Joey, and Ross test the theory that penis size is equivalent to the distance between a man's index finger and thumb. Whether or not it's an old wives' tale remains to be seen.

2. Women Have 7 Erogenous Zones
Monica teaches future-husband Chandler, diagram et all, about the can't-miss areas for pleasuring a woman. The important thing to remember is, "Take your time, hit them all, and mix 'em up. You got to keep them on their toes."

3. How to Have High-Risk Revenge Sex
If Julia Roberts' guest appearance as Chandler's childhood friend taught us anything, it's that you should never bed anyone who has reason to seek vengeance against you — even if their anger dates back to childhood. Oh, and keep track of your clothes! Poor Channy had to learn both of these things the hard way.

4. How to Accidentally Go On A Perma-Break
After a nasty fight with Rachel, Ross puts himself in a sticky situation by getting drunk and sleeping with the cute girl from copy store, Chloe. Guys, here's a sage bit of wisdom: it's not really a break if it's only been a couple of hours.

5. The Art of Poorly Gifting Your Bedfellow
Unless you're Joey Tribbiani, don't expect to score in the bedroom if you give your significant other a pen (even if it's a clock too) for their birthday.

6. Joey Tribbiani Can Seduce Anyone With a Single, "How You Doin'?"
But a word of caution to everyone else: do not try this at home, or at a bar, or ever.

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Dear lovelies:

In my never-ending quest for wisdom, truth and blog fodder, I've been reading some Aristotle of late. Before you go getting all impressed, let me say it's fairly easy reading--simple sentences, simple ideas--if occasionally a bit dull. In his Nicomachean Ethics, the old Greek dude has plenty of interesting insights, and makes a number of well-reasoned value judgments. And he's fairly unique among philosophers in the sense that he devotes a lot of time and thought to the question of friendship--about one-tenth of his long treatise, in fact.

Aristotle figured there were three kinds of friendships:

1) Friendships of utility: exist between you and someone who is useful to you in some way. For instance, perhaps you're friendly with your cubicle mate mainly because she helps you figure out the printer when it jams and--if you're an IT guy--you pretend to fix her computer in some top-secret-awesome way when it freezes, although all you really do is re-boot it. Or maybe the two of you take turns going out on coffee runs. Possibly you're friendly with your neighbor because she waters your lonely little cactus when you got on vacation and you take care of her Great Dane when she's away.

These are friendships of the "You scratch my back, I'll degrade myself by picking up your pooch's poop with a plastic baggie" kind.

2) Friendships of pleasure: exist between you and those whose company you enjoy. Often, these are "activity buddies": people with whom you do things like playing soccer, going for long bike rides or cow-tipping. You may have this kind of relationship with one of the other locals at your friendly neighbor coffee shop or gym or tattoo parlor--the kind of person with whom you enjoy a little chit-chat or a good joke.

(Would "friendships with benefits" fall into this category--because you're both enjoying the sexual pleasure? Or into the first category, because you're using each other for sex? Good question. But I think casual sex is a bit closer to #2, because The Big A. says friendships of pleasure come about because we do like some--or many--aspects of the friend. We might like his wit, her compassion or his flirty manner, for instance. Friendships of utility, on the other hand, exist mainly because the person can help us out in some way.)

3) Friendships of the good: are based on mutual respect and admiration. These friendships take longer to build than the other two kinds--but they're also more powerful and enduring. They often arises when two people recognize that they have similar values and goals; that they have similar visions for how the world (or at least their lives) should be. Not infrequently, they begin in childhood, adolescence or college--though plenty form after that, too.

*

The friendships in moi's life

All this is interesting to think about, no? Aristotle thinks "friendships of the good" are invaluable, and necessary to happy lives. No argument there. The closet friendships I have are with the people whom I respect and admire most--like my pals Daisy Milliner, Ruby Fitch and Teddy Wayne.

Ruby, in particular, seems like a good example to discuss. We do very different things with our lives--she's the only person I'm close with who works in politics. (Most politicos bore the thongs off me, to be honest) And most of my other friends are creative types or writers. Nonetheless, Ruby amazes me. I like the way she treats her friends and the way she gets (the right) things done. She cares equally about the earth and the welfare of the humans who happen to live on it. She eats healthfully, loves deeply, is incredibly loyal and knows how to have a nice life even though she doesn't make a lot of money.

I learn a lot from Daisy about literature and culture--and learn a lot from Teddy about how to be funny--but Ruby helps me understand how to live better. I'm lucky to have her around. Come to think of it, I feel completely unworthy of her friendship! She's just tooo good!

I try to only have friendships of the good, because otherwise I feel kind of phony--like I'm using people or something.

On the other hand, I think I could loosen up and make a few more friendships of pleasure--join the local ping-pong society, or some such--because I spend way too much time alone, reading f*cking Aristotle and the like.

Kids, what do you think? What categories do your friendships fall into? Could you use a few more of a certain kind, maybe a few less of another?

xxx

In Ireland, thanks in part to the arrival of Sex and the City, vodka has overtaken whiskey as the spirit of choice.

A dramatic drop in Brazil's birthrate over the past four decades, from 6.3 to 2.3 children per woman, is partly attributed to wildly popular soap operas that portray small families.

B'tipul, the original, Israeli version of HBO's In Treatment, has resulted in a spike in the number of Israelis seeking therapy, and a rise in hourly rates.

Americans who regularly watch TV shows about plastic surgery are more likely to have some kind of cosmetic procedure.

Local media report that the arrival in China of the show Friends caused fans to imitate the characters' lifestyles by finding apartments close to each other.

The government of Bhutan (slogan: "Gross National Happiness"), which only recently allowed broadcast television in the tiny Buddhist country, has banned MTV and World Wrestling Entertainment, blaming them for an increase in violence among children.