In September 1994, television saw a brand-new sitcom air for the first time, starring an ensemble of six unknown actors who would go on to be some of the most beloved and successful actors in the industry. This sitcom was Friends. Its success led to the series lasting ten successive seasons and garnering a whopping 52.5 million viewers for the final episode – and that number is just the American viewership. The finale remains one of the most-watched television finales in history.
Fifteen years after the show’s final episode, and 25 after its first, Saul Austerlitz published Generation Friends: An Inside Look at the Show That Defined a Television Era, which chronicled behind-the-scenes secrets, facts and stories of the cast and crew. The book featured exclusive interviews with creators David Crane and Marta Kauffman, as well as many producers, writers, directors and cast members, recounting stories of celebrity cameos, trips to London and original storylines such as Monica and Joey originally planned as the series’ main couple.
The Gang Almost Moved to Minnesota
When the writers were brainstorming ways to surprise the audience towards the climax of the show’s fourth season, they succeeded by introducing the shocking reveal of Monica and Chandler’s secret relationship. The show almost offered something very different. Generation Friends revealed that Monica and Chandler getting together wasn’t the original idea for the fourth season’s final episode, but instead was going to involve the gang moving to Minnesota.
The season would have seen Chandler travel to Minnesota because of his work, although he would not be alone. Realizing that splitting up the gang would have been controversial and could cost viewership, the writers decided to have Monica, Ross, Rachel, Phoebe and Joey all tag along with him. Viewers would have seen the gang in new apartments, interacting with new neighbors (this means no Ugly Naked Guy), working new jobs and having to deal with sub-zero temperatures. Moreover, to showcase the icy temperatures of the Midwestern state, the writers considered reshooting the opening sequence to have the gang in front of a frozen fountain.
This decision would have changed the show’s identity entirely. Monica’s famous apartment would be gone, and Central Perk would be replaced by a different café. Many locations that are iconic today would have been lost if this change had happened, so it’s a relief that creator David Crane stepped in and negated the idea. There’s a chance the show would have suffered if it had lost its New York backdrop. Ultimately, the Minnesota storyline being scrapped was a blessing to all fans.
Why Did Chandler Move to Oklahoma?
On a similar note, the ninth season did see Chandler mistakenly accept a job offer in its second episode, “The One Where Emma Cries,” which meant that Chandler had to temporarily move to Oklahoma for the remainder of the season. This was due to Matthew Perry struggling with drugs and alcohol dependency during this period, and even with the support of his co-stars, Perry saw himself spiraling. The actor decided to seek rehabilitation, but this meant his appearance on the show would be limited so that his health could take priority.
Had the show switched location in order for the writers to surprise viewers with that big shock, Chandler and Monica’s romance would likely never have happened. That means viewers would never have seen Phoebe’s hilarious reaction when she first discovered the couple’s secret love affair. Had the show challenged its identity, a change in viewership would almost have been certain, and perhaps even a death sentence for one of the greatest sitcoms of all time.