Friends premiered on NBC on Sept. 22, 1994, and before long, the sharp writing and crackling chemistry of the cast turned it into an undeniable hit. Three decades later, it's still as relevant as the day it went off the air in 2004, and it's the characters that keep the series among the most-streamed shows in the world. In Chandler, Monica, Rachel, Joey, Ross and Phoebe, audiences found six distinct personality types, each of whom got a chance to shine. And they dealt with things all twentysomethings encounter: romantic woes, job struggles, family responsibilities. It was a mild surprise that young people turned Friends into a smash when it first aired, but the real shock is that it’s still speaking to people in their 20s in 2024, proving the more things change the more they stay the same. Friends is forever. This is the story of the beloved show—and its lasting legacy.
WHY WE LOVE FRIENDS • THE SHOW DEBUTED 30 YEARS AGO, BUT IT’S STILL BELOVED BY AUDIENCES TODAY
THE ONE AT THE BEGINNING • HOW A SHOW ABOUT SIX PALS HANGING OUT IN A NEW YORK CITY COFFEE SHOP CAME TO BE
THE ONE WHERE WE MEET THE FRIENDS • THESE SIX RELATIVELY UNKNOWN THE CHARACTERS WE KNOW AND LOVE TODAY
THE ONE WITH THE THEME SONG • “I’LL BE THERE FOR YOU” BECAME A MAJOR RADIO SENSATION ALL ITS OWN
THE ONE WITH THE 10 BEST EPISODES • A FEW FAN FAVORITES SHOW’S 10 SEASONS
THE ONE WITH ALL THE GUEST STARS • MANY HIGH-PROFILE STARS APPEARED ON THE HIT SHOW
THE ONE WHERE IT ENDED • THE SERIES FINALE GAVE CLOSURE TO THE CHARACTERS AND LEFT LONGTIME FANS SATISFIED
THE ONE WHERE EVERYBODY GOT BACK TOGETHER • A 2021 HBO MAX SPECIAL GAVE FANS THE REUNION THEY’D BEEN WAITING
THE ONE WHERE THE SHOW LIVES FOREVER • LONG AFTER THE FINAL EPISODE AIRED, THE SHOW’S INFLUENCE ENDURES
THE ONE WITH ALL THE TRIVIA QUESTIONS • ARE YOU A TRUE FRIENDS FAN? TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE WITH THIS QUIZ
Friends - The Ultimate Fan Guide: 30th Anniversary Celebration
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FRIENDS • THE ULTIMATE FAN GUIDE