The Best Friend Group
in TV History

Many people may not think Friends is the best sitcom of all time, but they'll likely agree it had one of the best friend groups ever shown on TV. They ticked every box in a typical adult friend group: the smart one, the stylish one, the one who cares for everyone, the annoying one, and the life of the party.

What's also great about these six characters is that they're far from one-dimensional. Sure, some leaned on tropes a little too much at times, but they all had incredible moments throughout the 10-season run.

Rachel wasn't just the typical spoiled rich girl; she actually worked and became successful. Joey wasn't just the dumb himbo; he's actually pretty caring, especially to his friends. And as goofy as Monica and Chandler were, they had one of the best friends-to-lovers sitcom romances I've ever watched.

You simply can't replace these friends, and for better or for worse, we recognized some of them in ourselves and in our own friends. The show was always funny, but also emotional, deep, and relatable. It was pure, high-quality entertainment, the kind that's unfortunately so rare nowadays.

Naturally, the show wouldn't be as beloved today without its amazing cast. Warner Bros. Television and Bright/Kauffman/Crane Productions really hit the jackpot with all six of these actors. They cast them in their best roles, and unsurprisingly, they're now some of the biggest stars of the past 30 years.

I'll never forget meeting these icons at the taping of Must See TV: An All-Star Tribute to James Burrows, the special that aired in February 2016. Only five of them were there—Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, David Schwimmer, Lisa Kudrow, and Matt LeBlanc. Matthew Perry was rehearsing for a play in London, but he also sent a video to pay tribute to their former director.

That was the first time we saw them together, sans Perry, in a long, long while. My friend, who helped produce the special, invited me along because we both loved the show growing up. She tasked me with getting their autographs on our Friends posters, the famous one with them all sitting on the orange couch at Central Perk.

I only had a half-hour window to ask them to sign the posters, but I did it. It was right before their segment, and I went up to each one while they waited and watched the show.

All five of them were actually pretty nice about it. They were friendly, charming, and none gave me a diva moment. They simply signed the poster and gave it back to me. I also wanted to take a picture, but I held back because I was afraid that it would've been too much.

Still, apart from Matthew Perry, it was mission accomplished! Unfortunately, though, my friend and I never got to meet the late Matthew Perry, who passed away in October 2023. We still regret it to this day, and honestly, I don't laugh as loudly as I used to when I watch the show again.

I still love it, don't get me wrong, but I can't help feeling sad that Chandler isn't here anymore. Even worse is that we never got to see him in person when he was still alive.