History Repeats Itself: Stop Making These Mistakes
NBC introduced audiences to what would become one of America's most beloved sitcoms when "Friends" first hit the airwaves on September 22, 1994. Set in New York, the show followed the lives of six friends portrayed by Jennifer Aniston, Matthew Perry, Courtney Cox, David Schwimmer, Matt LeBlanc, and Lisa Kudrow. Among the ensemble, Jennifer Aniston emerged as the biggest star from the series, which ultimately ran for ten seasons. Behind the scenes, Marta Kauffman and David Crane served as producers, with filming taking place at the Warner Bros Studio.
The series wrapped up on May 6, 2004, going out with a bang — its 10-season finale drew more than 52.5 million viewers. That staggering number secured its place as the fifth most-watched series finale in the history of television, while also claiming the title of the most watched TV episode throughout the entire 2000s decade.
Before landing on its iconic one-word title, the show went through quite the identity crisis during the pitching process at NBC. It was initially called "Insomnia Café," then shifted to "Six of One," followed by "Friends Like Us," before ultimately being trimmed down to simply "Friends." Years after the show ended, the cast reunited for a Friends Reunion special that premiered on HBO Max on May 27, 2021.