21 surprising facts that you probably didn't know about 'Friends'

friends tv show

Even if you weren't tuned in way back in 1994, these days, it's highly possible you've seen at to the lowest degree ane episode of "Friends." The series — which recently celebrated 24 years since its debut — is however watched (or binged) and loved around the world. Simply even the most passionate "Friends" fans might non know all of the show's behind-the-scenes secrets.

For instance: did y'all that there was a reason the group was ever able to snag their Central Perk couch? Or that a fellow member of North*Sync was nearly a guest star? Information technology's time to acquire a few little-known "Friends" facts … and peradventure ace some "Friends" trivia in the near future.

Courteney Cox wanted to play Monica, but was originally offered the office of Rachel.

Cox was cast as Rachel.
Warner Bros.

Nancy McKeon, from "The Facts of Life" fame, was considered for Monica , co-ordinate to E! while both Jane Lynch and Kathy Griffin auditioned for the role of Phoebe, according to The Washington Post.

2 of the main cast members almost missed out on the show because they were signed onto other projects.

Perry and Aniston weren't confirmed in the bandage.
YouTube

Matthew Perry was starring in a Trick pilot chosen " LAX 2194 ," which was nearly alien luggage handlers in the year 2194, while Jennifer Aniston had auditioned for six pilots that year and was waiting to see if i, called "Muddling Through," would exist picked upwardly. Neither show concluded upwards making it, simply, unfortunately, Jennifer was still waiting for the news by the time the cast took their photos , so she had to sit out for a few — just in case, according to People magazine.

NBC thought the cast was too immature.

They wanted to add an older grapheme who could exist a mentor of sorts to the group. In an early on typhoon of the pilot, this character was chosen " Pat the cop, " co-ordinate to NBC.

Matt LeBlanc said he actually needed to get this job.

LeBlanc merely had $11.
NBC/"Friends"

He admitted that he had only $11 in his pocket when he auditioned for "Friends," in an interview withThe Sunday.

The show exists in the same universe every bit another hit '90s testify.

Ursula Buffay was showtime on "Mad About Yous"
YouTube

Lisa Kudrow had been playing a character named Ursula on the series " Mad About You lot ." Information technology was a recurring office and Lisa was nonetheless making appearances on the show, so Ursula concluded up being written in every bit Pheobe's twin sister. At that place was even one episode where Helen Hunt, who played Jamie on " Mad About You ," confuses Phoebe for Ursula at Cardinal Perk .

The theme song wasn't meant to exist a single.

"I'll Be At that place For You" became an accidental hitting.
YouTube

After a radio station played information technology on loop , it began getting a lot of requests and airtime. And so The Rembrandts, aka the band backside the catchy melody, ended up making a second poesy and releasing it, co-ordinate to BuzzFeed. For viii weeks, the song topped the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay list in the US, and besides peaked at number 1 in Canada for five weeks in a row.

Monica was originally supposed to end up with Joey and exist the series' main couple

Joey and Monica were supposed to exist endgame.
YouTube

The two apparently "seemed the well-nigh sexual of the characters," according to co-creator Marta Kaufman .

Ross was 29 for three seasons.

Ross was 29 for iii years.
NBC

In the 3rd season, he denies Chandler'southward offer for chocolate milk by saying, "No thanks, I'm 29," according to HuffPost. In the fourth season, when the guys realize they don't similar partying as much as they used to, Joey says to Ross and Chandler "Nosotros're 29." In the fifth season, Ross wonders what to exercise about Emily, proverb "I either continue my married woman and lose 1 of my all-time friends, or I go along my friend and get divorced for the second fourth dimension earlier I'yard 30."

Chandler said "I honey yous" to Monica for the first time twice.

Chandler told Monica he loved her for the first time twice.
Warner Bros.

Once in "The One With All the Thanksgivings" (while she has a turkey on her caput) and some other fourth dimension when he blurts out "Because I'chiliad in love with Monica!" in "The One Where Everybody Finds Out."

They honored Cox'southward new marriage.

Everyone had "Arquette" added to their name.
YouTube

In the episode following Courteney Cox'due south spousal relationship and name change to Courteney Cox Arquette, the opening credits were altered so that everyone in the cast had Arquette after their name.

Jerry Seinfeld once accused "Friends" of being a ripoff of his show, Seinfeld.

Seinfeld thinks "Friends" ripped off his testify.
NBC via YouTube screengrab

When he was asked whether he idea "Seinfeld" would withal be as successful today, he asked "Has 'Friends' been on besides?" When the answer was yes, he replied, "So they managed to steal it without seeing information technology," co-ordinate to the New York Post.

Most of the bandage received Emmy nominations for their performances.

5/6 of the cast members were nominated for Emmys.
YouTube

Courtney Cox was the just member of the bandage who was never nominated .

If Joshua'southward dad looked familiar, that's because his existent-life son was on the show.

Joshua'due south dad was played past Perry's dad.
YouTube

In the episode "The I with Rachel's New Clothes" — where Rachel means to surprise Joshua in a sexy dress and then his parents walk in — the role of Joshua'south dad was played past John Bennett Perry, who is Matthew Perry'south father.

There was a mistake in Joey's rehearsal dinner speech.

Joey and Ross actually beginning met at a bar.
YouTube

Addressing the oversupply at Ross and Emily's rehearsal dinner, Joey claims he "starting time met Ross at this coffeehouse back domicile," in "The I With The Flashback," the two really run into at a bar that subsequently turns into Central Perk.

There's a reason the group was ever able to sit down on their couch at Primal Perk.

The couch is reserved.
YouTube

There was a very subtle "reserved" sign on the coffee tabular array in front of information technology, as Bustle pointed out.

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