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Friends

Comedy Series

About This Show

Friends is a sitcom created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, which aired on NBC from September 22, 1994 to May 6, 2004. The series revolves around a group of friends in Manhattan. The series was produced by Bright/Kauffman/Crane Productions, in association with Warner Bros. Television.

Created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman

Starring:

  • Jennifer Aniston
  • Courteney Cox
  • Lisa Kudrow
  • Matt LeBlanc
  • Matthew Perry
  • David Schwimmer

Opening theme "I'll Be There for You" by The Rembrandts

No. of seasons 10

No. of episodes 236 

Production

  • Executive producers: David Crane, Marta Kauffman, Kevin S. Bright
  • Michael Borkow (season 4)
  • Michael Curtis (season 5)
  • Adam Chase (season 5–6)
  • Greg Malins (season 5–7)
  • Wil Calhoun (season 7)
  • Scott Silveri (season 8–10)
  • Shana Goldberg-Meehan (season 8–10)
  • Andrew Reich (season 8–10)
  • Ted Cohen (season 8–10)

Location(s) Warner Bros. Studios

Burbank, California

Camera setup Film; multi-camera

Running time 20–22 minutes (per episode)

22–65 minutes (extended DVD episodes)

Production company(s) Bright/Kauffman/Crane Productions

Warner Bros. Television

Distributor NBC

Warner Bros. Television (worldwide)

Broadcast

Original channel NBC

Original run September 22, 1994 – May 6, 2004

People Who Talked About This Show

  • Danny DeVito
  • David Crane and Marta Kauffman
  • Don Ohlmeyer
  • Elinor Donahue
  • James Burrows
  • Leslie Moonves
  • Marlo Thomas
  • Peter Bonerz

Featured Content

Video Clip: Season 2 opening sequences from Friends

Resources

Friends DVD

DVD: Friends: The Complete Series Collection

YouTube video player - HTML5 compatible.
  • Highlights

Highlights

  • David Crane and Marta Kauffman on their proudest achievement, <i>Friends</i> - "it was perfect"David Crane and Marta Kauffman on their proudest achievement, Friends - "it was perfect"
    Clip begins at: 08:29
  • David Crane and Marta Kauffman on how James Burrows set the tone for <i>Friends</i> in the pilot and what he brought to the showDavid Crane and Marta Kauffman on how James Burrows set the tone for Friends in the pilot and what he brought to the show
    Clip begins at: 07:37
  • David Crane and Marta Kauffman on the <i>Friends</i> opening title sequenceDavid Crane and Marta Kauffman on the Friends opening title sequence
    Clip begins at: 12:00
  • David Crane and Marta Kauffman on the "Ross/Rachel" story arc on FriendsDavid Crane and Marta Kauffman on the "Ross/Rachel" story arc on Friends
    Clip begins at: 37:37
  • David Crane and Marta Kauffman on the success of <i>Friends</i> over 10 yearsDavid Crane and Marta Kauffman on the success of Friends over 10 years
    Clip begins at: 55:05

People Talking About This Show

  • James Burrows
    • James Burrows on directing Friends  and knowing it would be a hit; on the cast
      Clip begins at: 05:03, Duration: 10m 53s
  • David Crane and Marta Kauffman
    • David Crane and Marta Kauffman on the comedic characters they had created on Friends and why each actor was right for their roles
      Clip begins at: 05:49, Duration: 01m 48s
    • David Crane and Marta Kauffman on how James Burrows set the tone for Friends in the pilot and what he brought to the show
      Clip begins at: 07:37
    • David Crane and Marta Kauffman on the theme song for Friends; Kauffman's husband wrote the music and they did the lyrics "I'll be there for you"; the Rembrandts recorded it
      Clip begins at: 09:56
    • David Crane and Marta Kauffman on the Friends opening title sequence
      Clip begins at: 12:00
    • David Crane and Marta Kauffman on the cast of Friends; 
      Clip begins at: 18:49
    • David Crane and Marta Kauffman on  Friends' moving to the NBC "must-see TV" Thursday primetime lineup
      Clip begins at: 20:08
    • David Crane and Marta Kauffman on how 9/11 affected production on Friends
      Clip begins at: 52:29
    • David Crane and Marta Kauffman on "Monica"'s fat suit on Friends
      Clip begins at: 36:58
    • David Crane and Marta Kauffman on the "Ross/Rachel" story arc on Friends
      Clip begins at: 37:37
    • David Crane and Marta Kauffman on the success of Friends over 10 years
      Clip begins at: 55:05
    • David Crane and Marta Kauffman on their proudest achievement, Friends - "it was perfect"
      Clip begins at: 08:30
  • Danny DeVito
    • Danny DeVito on his Friends appearance as Uncle Herb
      Clip begins at: 17:44
  • Elinor Donahue
    • Elinor Donahue on her appearance on Friends
      Clip begins at: 02:06, Duration: 02m 49s
  • Leslie Moonves
    • Leslie Moonves on the development of Friends
      Clip begins at: 07:43, Duration: 07m 52s
    • Leslie Moonves on the casting of Friends
      Clip begins at: 11:11, Duration: 03m 50s
  • Don Ohlmeyer
    • Don Ohlmeyer on Friends
      Clip begins at: 22:53, Duration: 03m 36s
    • Executive Don Ohlmeyer on the costly negotiations to keep ER at NBC
      Clip begins at: 09:18, Duration: 02m 28s
  • Peter Bonerz
    • Director Peter Bonerz on the experience of directing Friends— on the writing, the ensemble
      Clip begins at: 39:48, Duration: 03m 10s
    • Director Peter Bonerz on the Friends ensemble and their characters
      Clip begins at: 45:25, Duration: 02m 43s
    • Director Peter Bonerz on the Ross/Rachel kiss from Friends season two episode "The One Where Ross Finds Out"
      Clip begins at: 51:21, Duration: 01m 17s
  • Marlo Thomas
    • Marlo Thomas on guest starring on Friends;  on positing that "Rachel" is a modern "That Girl" 
      Clip begins at: 00:20, Duration: 03m 26s
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