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Why “Friends” is one of the best series of all time

By Alexandre Marain

Vogue reveals why Friends is still a cult series worldwide, 25 years after it was first broadcast.

1. For its 10 seasons and 236 episodes

In the space of 10 years, Friends became one of the most popular TV series in history. It tells the story of the sometimes complicated, and always funny, everyday lives of six close friends - Monica, Rachel, Phoebe, Ross, Chandler, and Joey . In all, 236 episodes were produced, all of which you can watch now on Netflix before the streaming platform removes them in early 2020.

2. For its hilarious and relatable characters

Monica 's neurosis, Rachel 's passion for fashion, Joey 's charming stupidity, Chandler 's sarcastic jokes, Ross 's bad luck stricken love life, Phoebe 's timeless songs such as Smelly Cat ... Each character has their unique qualities. Friends fans essentially grew up with these characters, often relating to them and their complicated, crazy lives.

3. For its life lessons

Despite the humor and sarcasm that mark the series, each Friends episode essentially ends with a life lesson. The most important of which, of course, is to always count on your friends, and to not care so much about other people's opinions. However, the most important life lesson came from Ross , who helped viewers learn that they should NEVER wear leather pants on a first date.

By Jade Simon

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4. For its celebrity cameos

The Friends series featured numerous cameos from some of today's biggest names in Hollywood. Among the most well-known: Brad Pitt , who played an old friend of Ross's, Danny DeVito , who played a stripper during Phoebe's bachelorette party, also David Arquette, Kristin Davis, Alec Baldwin, Dakota Fanning , and even Winona Ryder , who plays a lead role in Netflix 's Stranger Things .

5. For the iconic 1990s style

It's worth knowing that Rachel 's long bob haircut, worn during the first two seasons, was so beloved that it earned its own nickname ( "The Rachel" ), and was subsequently adopted by a host of young women across the globe. Friends put 1990s style on the map, a style which continues to inspire today's fashion trends. From white tank tops with Levi 's jeans, slip-dresses, and starter jackets to good ol' dad shoes and platform flip flops, the series showcased the best.

6. For its timeless theme song and opening credits

"I'll be there for you, (Cause you're there for me too)". .. It's impossible to mention Friends without mentioning these iconic lyrics, which I'm sure we've all heard a few hundred times. This refrain from The Rembrandts, written exclusively for Friends and composed by Allee Willis, who passed away on 24th December 2019, is still stuck in our heads even 15 years later. Only a few hours the song's completion, the Friends cast filmed the opening scene, which was shot in the heart of Warner Bros Studios .

Translated by Zoe Hofmann and Isabella Martin

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How ‘Friends’ became a cultural phenomenon and top moments to see ahead of the reunion special

Entertainment ott.

Fans from UAE can watch the ‘Friends’ reunion special on May 27 on OSN

Also in this package

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The One Where They Become Famous

By Bindu Rai, Entertainment Editor

It’s hard to recall a time when ‘Friends’ wasn’t a part of our lives. First aired on September 22, 1994, the sitcom opened to negative reviews before turning into a cultural phenomenon and changing television history forever.

At its peak, the six lead stars of the series, namely Jennifer Aniston (Rachel Green), Courteney Cox (Monica Geller), Lisa Kudrow (Phoebe Buffay), Matt LeBlanc (Joey Tribbiani), Matthew Perry (Chandler Bing), and David Schwimmer (Ross Geller), were the highest paid actors on television, famously negotiating their contracts together for a better and equal pay out.

When the series finally bowed out on May 6, 2004, more than 52 million Americans watched the finale, with countless others watching ‘Friends’ even today through reruns on TV and across streaming platforms in several markets across the globe, including Netflix in the UAE.

While the answer perhaps lies somewhere in between the reasons shared, the series made the stars overnight sensations, while sparking trends including Aniston’s hairstyle that became ‘The Rachel’ and Joey’s catchphrase ‘How you doin’? catapulting itself into one of the most used pick-up lines around.

With the much-delayed cast reunion coming at a time when the world needs a bit of cheer on the tails of a global pandemic, here’s a look at everything we know about the unscripted episode and our favourite moments from ‘Friends’ over 10 seasons.

The One with the Reunion

‘Friends: The Reunion’, which is titled ‘The One Where They Get Back Together’, will reunite the six lead cast members in an unscripted special that is being hosted by actor-comedian James Corden.

Aniston, Cox, Perry and the gang have reunited for the first time in 17 years on the original Warner Bros soundstage, Stage 24 for the one-time special.

The trailer has given fans a glimpse of what is to come, with the cast doing a walkthrough the set that served as Monica’s loft in New York, while also appearing to play a version of that infamous quiz in season 4 of the show that saw the Geller sibling and her roommate Rachel lose the apartment to Chandler and Joey.

The cast also appear to do a reading from one of the most famous episodes of the show, ‘The One Where Everyone Finds Out’ that saw the group learn that Monica and Chandler were secretly dating.

Along the way, some cast regulars do make an appearance, including Tom Selleck who played Monica’s much older boyfriend Richard Burke, along with Maggie Wheeler who played the annoying Janice “Oh my god” Hosenstein.

Several celebrity guests are also set to make an appearance including Cara Delevingne, David Beckham, Justin Bieber, Reese Witherspoon, Lady Gaga, BTS and many more.

Gulf News editors pick their favourite moments from ‘Friends’

I’m not quite sure when ‘Friends’ became a part of my life. Maybe it was a familiar face that gave me comfort when I was studying thousands of miles away from home. Or perhaps when they got me laughing till I cried, when the only option available was to curl up and weep. They became my friends, somehow, sharing hope, joy and little bit of snark as the years went by. Today, life has come full circle with ‘Friends’ giving me a reason to bond with my 12-year-old niece who is just discovering that bit of magic that has held millions under its spell.

The One with the Cop: Ross Geller screaming “Pivot, PIVOT!” is pure television gold that continues to draw the laughs even today with equal abandon. The scene, which aired on season five of the series, is also perhaps one of the most real moments of ‘Friends’. Three friends struggling to carry a too-large couch up a narrow flight of stairs in New York; what could go wrong? With Chandler Bing and Rachel Green in on the struggle, the endless command to ‘Pivot’ by Ross leaves us in splits even today. David Schwimmer went on record to say that was the funniest moment of ‘Friends’ he ever shot.

The One With Unagi: Chandler Bing probably had the wittiest lines on the show but it was Schwimmer who emerged as the funniest actor. ‘The One With Unagi’, which aired on season six of the series, saw Rachel and Phoebe all charged up after returning from a self-defence class. But Ross being Ross thought it was time to take matters into his own hands, what with his own expertise in “Ka-Ra-Tay”. Which is when he decides to got into the concept of “Unagi”, which he describes as a state of complete awareness. A few scenes later, watching him get beaten up by the girls is a riot.

The One Where No One’s Ready : One of the best moments in season three. Ross is anxious to reach a work function on time and is eager for the friends to get ready for the big event. But that’s the night Chandler decides to hide all of Joey’s underwear. In retaliation, Joey puts on all of Chandler’s clothes that he can get his hands on. The chemistry between Joey and Chandler is pure perfection. And watching Joey mouth that famous line: “Could I be wearing any more clothes?” still leaves us in splits.

By Jennifer Barreto, Assitant Editor, Features

Would I be considered a fan of ‘Friends’? Maybe not. I can’t recall exact quotes from the series nor can I tell you what happened in particular seasons. However, whether I like it or not, the show has been a part of my life in some way or the other. It was the one show that was always playing on TV as reruns so it was my constant friend when I was bored and had nothing else to watch. When I was stressed out and wanted to give my brain a break, I knew I could watch any random episode and get a few laughs out it. Also, as someone who has a fascination for the 80s and 90s, the show is a source of wonder for me — I want to see all the fashion, the kitschy interior decor and — of course — the hairstyles. I wouldn’t say that ‘Friends’ has impacted my life in a major way, but it’s certainly always there for me when I need it.

The One on the Last Night: In this episode, Rachel is packing her stuff to prepare to move out of the apartment she shares with Monica. In typical BFF fashion, they end up arguing. However, they quickly make up as they remember all the things they love about each other. It’s touching and special because we’ve seen their relationship bloom through the show in that very apartment and things are going to change. We know Monica is preparing to enter her new life with Chandler and that her friendship with Rachel will still be strong, but it’s hard not to tear up as they close this chapter as flatmates.

The One Where Ross Got High: Who can forget the epic fail that was Rachel making the beef trifle? It all begins with Monica letting Rachel make the dessert for Thanksgiving. What the culinary challenged Rach was not prepared for, however, was the cookbook pages to be stuck together leading to her adding the wrong ingredients to the layered dish. Need a reminder of when went into the trifle-Shepherd’s pie hybrid? There were ladyfingers, jam, custard, raspberries, beef sauteed with peas and onions, bananas and then whipped cream. The episode is a comedy of errors and you can see the gags coming from a mile away, but it’s still so much fun to watch.

By Manjusha Radhakrishnan Assistant Editor, Features

There’s an adage that goes something on the lines of ‘You can never choose your family, but you can always choose your friends’. I couldn’t agree more as I chose to spend a good part of my 20s in the company of ‘Friends’, the fictional but fabulous sextet. It’s safe to say that ‘Friends’ ruined it for me as I began to look for these fabulous six — Ross, Rachel, Monica, Phoebe, Joey or Chandler — prototypes in the potential friends I meet. This good-looking bunch, who entertained us for a whopping 10 seasons, may have lacked boundaries in their friendship, but their series made us realise that it’s OK if your friends are your soulmates for life. Their camaraderie and the way they used to pull each other’s chains with a mix of sarcasm and genuine love for each other made them the portrait of how fulfilling comrades in life can get. Thank you universe, for gifting us ‘Friends’. Family may shape our identity, but they taught us how wonderful companions and camaraderie can be.

The One Where Everybody Finds Out: Monica and Chandler are secretly dating, but Rachel and Phoebe are intent on making them admit that they are seeing each other clandestinely. The scenes in which Phoebe pretends to be attracted to Chandler to arm-twist him into admitting that he’s romantically involved with her best friend Monica is comic gold. When Chandler eventually caves in and declares that he loves Monica and is not merely dating her will melt even the most hardened, cynical hearts. Plus, Phoebe’s questionable art of seduction and her idea of feminine wiles will just make you laugh. “The messers becomes the mess-ies” is my favourite one-liner as Phoebe manages to win the battle of wills.

The One With The Embryos: Ross as this stoic and wicked quiz master who puts together questions for his friends on how well they know each other is hilarious. Monica and Rachel are in one team, while Chandler and Joey are in the opposition. The manner in which the quiz heats up and the stakes become high — when a super-aggressive Monica puts her fancy apartment as a winner is one of the highlights. The questions are smart and funny and makes you wonder how is that none of his friends know what job Chandler holds? Their collective dynamic, their co-dependence, their chemistry with each other is what shone through.

By Shyama Krishna Kumar, Pages Editor

Although the ‘Friends’ originally aired at a time when I absolutely should have been all over a show like that, somehow the cultural zeitgeist completely passed me by. It was only as a full-grown almost-30-year-old that I finally found myself being pulled into the superhit show that almost anyone and everyone was constantly quoting stuff from. And it’s safe to say I’ve never looked back. What’s not to like about a show that tells the story of six friends who through the ups and downs of fresh adulthood together? Whether its work, love or just plain goofing around, the nostalgia for a time when we had fewer cares and a cup of coffee with friends could make everything right is definitely strong.

The One With All The Resolutions: I will forever stand by the fact that no one on the ‘Friends’ cast can be funnier than David Schwimmer. In this episode, Ross is still dealing with his divorce with Emily, and decides to start the New Year by making the resolution to try something new every day. On this particular day, he tries leather pants on his first date with one Elizabeth Hornawaggle, only to use the bathroom at one point in the date and realise he can’t get his pants back on. The ensuing hilarity features Ross desperately calling Joey for help, and some of the best physical humour of the entire show.

The One with the Rumor: ‘Friends’ was always known for its impressive roster of guest stars. But no other guest generated quite as much hype as Brad Pitt, who at the time was married to Jennifer Aniston. Appearing in the show as one of Ross’ old schoolmates, Will Colbert, the Thanksgiving episode revealed that Ross and Colbert were on a ‘I Hate Rachel’ club in high school, and that the two were responsible for spreading the rumour that Rachel was a hermaphrodite (the show was later criticised for deeply insulting the intersex community). However, the episode stands out for Pitt’s standout performance and playing completely against type as he rages against his real-life wife. A memorable quote from his character: “Look at her standing there with those yams. My two greatest enemies, Ross. Rachel Green and complex carbohydrates”.

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• "Friends" Reflected Change in American Society, Among First TV Shows to Portray "Youth on Their Own," says UB Pop-Culture Expert

"Friends" Reflected Change in American Society, Among First TV Shows to Portray "Youth on Their Own," says UB Pop-Culture Expert

By john dellacontrada.

Release Date: April 16, 2004 This content is archived.

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The sitcom "Friends," which is ending its 10-year run on TV next month, will be remembered as one of those rare shows that marked a change in American culture, according to a pop-culture expert at the University at Buffalo.

"'Friends,' stands out as a sign that we are now living in a culture where youth rules, where the image of youth has become the dominant image of our culture," says Elayne Rapping, Ph.D., professor of American studies in the UB College of Arts and Sciences.

"'Friends' will be remembered as the show that made America aware that being in your 20s is really being in the prime of life," Rapping adds.

Other cultural landmarks from TV-land include the Mary Tyler Moor Show, for its depiction of the single working woman, and the O.J. Simpson trial for the way it exposed race and class tensions in this country, says Rapping who teaches a course on "Television and Society" and is author of "Law and Justice as Seen on TV."

"Friends" and "Beverly Hills 90210," according to Rapping, were among the first shows to depict young people who were very much on their own, without significant parental interaction. Prior sitcoms were almost always centered on the lives of nuclear families, where father and mother knew best, Rapping says.

"The characters in 'Friends' and '90210' pretty much were running their own lives and looked to each other for moral guidance," Rapping says. "They constructed their own family among each other.

"This became a dominant theme on many sitcoms, and reflected a mainstream trend in our society," she says.

This theme, according to Rapping, grew partly from an awareness that, for the first time in American history, a generation of young people would not be better off than its parents.

"And so you had sitcoms like 'Friends' and 'Seinfeld,' where the characters lived in apartments, not in houses, where the characters were not upwardly mobile, and where they had the same friends forever and never grew up," Rapping points out.

The premise of these shows, Rapping says, often centered on trivial matters in the characters' lives -- sending the message that it's okay to not be serious about anything because nothing really bad is likely to happen in a young person's life.

Since 9/11 -- and with the country's current economic problems -- that attitude has changed, which may be one reason why sitcoms like "Friends" are not in style anymore and are in decline as a major ratings draw, Rapping says.

"What we are seeing now instead is the immense popularity of TV reality shows, with their depictions of corporate, cut-throat values, whose characters are concerned solely with competing and getting ahead of other people.

"That's the opposite of what 'Friends' was about," she says.

Media Contact Information

John Della Contrada Vice President for University Communications 521 Capen Hall Buffalo, NY 14260 Tel: 716-645-4094 (mobile: 716-361-3006) [email protected] Twitter: @UBNewsSource

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Friends: 5 times the show defied social norms (& 5 it didn't).

In many ways, Friends was ahead of its time and often defied social norms. But the show wasn't without its faults, and still a product of the 90s.

The mega-hit sitcom, Friends focuses on the group dynamics of 6 characters going through everyday life and working towards social stability. Their day-to-day activities showcased a variety of social interactions and subsequently reflected the changing cultural and social norms.

RELATED:  Friends: 10 Most Relatable Moments From The Show

Take, say, Sandra Green who went straight from her father's house to the sorority house to her husband's house. Her daughter, Rachel, on the other hand, lived life on her own terms. But much has been written about Friends and its inability to reduce prejudices. Compelling arguments can be constructed for both sides.

Defy: Phoebe Followed Her Own Rhythm

Out of the group of closely-knit people,  Phoebe Buffay always marched to the beat of a different drum . She acted independently and once checkmated Ross in his attempt to convince her about evolution. She resisted Pottery Barn for a long time because she didn't like her stuff to be mass-produced.

Phoebe's biggest wishes were world peace and good things for the rainforest. She refused to conform to traditional "acceptable" standards of conduct and abstained from lying about her childhood experiences in front of Mike's upper east side parents.

Didn't Defy: Distinct Expectations For Boys & Girls

Season 1's "The One with the Sonogram at the End" was an insight into how prejudiced the Gellers were towards Monica . At the end of the dinner, she was distressed by the long list of damaging expectations her parent's placed on her.

Judy and Jack Geller couldn't stop fawning over Ross, whereas they had low expectations for their daughter. Jack set a limit to Monica's potential by pointing out "people like Ross needed to shoot for the stars" and thanked God their daughter wasn't "trying to have it all." Judy refused to eat Monica's food, and she actively lied to her friends about her daughter's profession.

Defy: Adoption

After struggling with infertility as a couple, Monica and Chandler decided to adopt. The birth mother was a young girl named Erica who reasonably put her babies (originally baby) for adoption because she knew she didn't have the adequate means to care for them.

RELATED:  Friends: 5 Reasons Monica & Chandler Are The Best Couple (& 5 Reasons They're The Worst)

Friends accurately portrayed the real-life struggles of the Bings' adoption journey. Monica and Chandler met with the adoptive parents, Bill and Colleen, to familiarize themselves with the process. The show normalized adoption by considering various aspects of the deal and by creating a welcoming and loving environment for baby Erica and Jack.

Didn't Defy: Traditional Age Gap

Friends  adopted a hypocritical stance on the acceptable age difference between men and women. Initially, Monica and Richard Burke's romance was looked down up, but her friends eventually came around. He was her family's ophthalmologist, her father's close friend, and they were 21 years apart in age.

By contrast, Tag and Rachel's age difference was negligible. She had a meltdown on her 30th birthday and suddenly realized she was too old to be dating a 24-year-old with a different set of priorities. All things considered, Tag and Rachel's age gap acted as a barrier in their relationship, but not so much in Monica and Richard's where the main point of contention was to have or not to have kids.

Defy: Sharing Wedding Expenses

Friends set a positive example by having Jack and Judy pay for half of Ross's wedding to Emily. It is by no means mandatory nor any longer acceptable for the bride's parents to bear the entire cost of the wedding. "To h*ll with tradition. We're happy to do it," said Jack as Stephen Waltham handed him his share of the bill.

Although Emily's father tried to take advantage of Jack and basically charged him for re-modeling his house, the show nonetheless set a good example by doing away with the traditional norms.

Didn't Defy: Ross And Rachel's Pretend Marriage

At Geller's 35th marriage anniversary, Ross and Rachel were amused to watch people walk up to them and congratulate them on the baby and wedding. They were whisked away by Judy who forced them to pretend to be married. "While we think it's simply marvelous that you're having this baby out of wedlock, some of our friends are less open-minded. Which is why we told them you're married," she said.

RELATED: Friends: 10 Ways Ross & Rachel Are The Worst Sitcom Couple

Friends  squandered an excellent opportunity to dismantle the taboo surrounding single-parent families, and instead, had Ross and Rachel go along with the lie and make outlandish stories about their wedding.

Defy: Surrogate Motherhood

Phoebe's friends and her birth mother were hesitant about her agreeing to be a surrogate mother for Frank and Alice. She defended her position by saying the gift of life was the greatest gift of all. Everyone advised her to think it through but regardless professed their love and support.

Frank and Alice were able to rely on Phoebe's altruism and the show explored another dimension of motherhood. Phoebe did the greatest thing by helping her brother and sister-in-law have children. She did put her body through a lot, but in the end, she happily gave the triplets away.

Didn't Defy: Idealization Of Marriage

Friends,  on the whole, reinforces the idea of marriage and sees it as a stepping stone to a successful life. Throughout the course of the show, Ross idealizes the concept of marriage and yet fails to uphold its sanctity.

For people like Chandler, Rachel, and Phoebe marriage was never really on their radar. While Chandler fell in love and in due time wanted to be with the woman of her dreams , Rachel and Phoebe made bizarre marriage deals with Joey and Ross. Phoebe almost said yes to David because Mike wouldn't remarry, and Rachel felt a pang of jealousy when Monica got engaged.

Defy: Workplace Segregation

Season 4's "The One With Phoebe's Uterus" was an eye-opener in that it went beyond the usual group dynamics by showing conflict in the workplace. During Joey's stint as a tour guide at Ross's museum, he realized the scientists and tour guides couldn't eat lunch together due to employment segregation.

It was Ross who drew everyone's attention to the unacceptable nature of the division . He invited Joey to sit with him and called upon everyone to break down barriers.

Didn't Defy: Lack Of Higher Education

Joey, unlike the rest of his friends, skipped college education and went into the acting business. The Geller siblings and Rachel Green came from affluent families and benefitted from their social capital . Joey and Phoebe, on the other hand, grew up poor in America. He had seven sisters and only one out of those (Dina) had access to higher education.

In "The One Where Chandler Doesn't Like Dogs," Ross shamed Joey for his lack of education, by saying "It's kind of disgraceful that a group of well-educated adults and Joey can't name all the states." While Phoebe compensated for her lack of formal education by learning skills and languages, the fact of the matter is Joey didn't need to go to college to get into acting, much less be censured for it.

NEXT:  Friends: Joey's 5 Best (& 5 Worst) Story Arcs

Three Episodes of “Friends” Television Program Essay

• Friends, one of the most popular television programs in the USA, was created by Marta Kauffman and David Crane. Nowadays this television program is considered to be one of the most successful media projects, highlighting serious problems faced by youth through irony and humor.
• The three episodes of this program to be analyzed are the following: ‘The One Where Nana Dies Twice’, ‘The One Where Eddie Won’t Go’ and ‘The One Where Ross is Fine’.
• It is necessary to underline the fact that the program covers no theme of ethnic minorities or inequalities; most critics argue, that the media describes ethnicity as sinful.

Introduction

Friends, one of the most popular television programs in the USA, was created by Marta Kauffman and David Crane; the American sitcom was demonstrated to the public in 1994 on NBC, disclosing the group of best friends living in New York. Nowadays this television program is considered to be one of the most successful media projects, highlighting serious problems faced by youth through irony and humor. It is necessary to underline the fact that Friends was initially developed under the name ‘Insomnia Cafe’, and only after some changes in the series, as well in the title, the project was premiered. The show is on the pick of popularity having 236 episodes and more than 52 million viewers.

The analysis of advertising content of Friends program is to be based on the themes developed for its target audience. The project covers the combinations of the most important themes for the people of different ages; nevertheless, the target audience of the show is people of 20-27 years old. In most cases, it is students and people of middle ages. It should be stressed that with every passing season, one can notice the challenges in the relationships and feelings, turning the film message into more family-like. (Vivian, 117) This fact can explain that housewives, schoolchildren, and students are predominantly interested in this project; the audience covers people with SES close to the characters of the program; white people who rent apartments for living and try to find their place in life, being in constant search for ideals and job of all their dreams. (Veltman, 329)

The program is aimed at showing the environment of white America; the central heroes, Monica, Rachel, Ross, Joey, Chandler, and Phoebe, are presented as the generation of 90s, with all the values, principles, and idols of this period. The three episodes of this program to be analyzed are the following: ‘The One Where Nana Dies Twice’, ‘The One Where Eddie Won’t Go’ and ‘The One Where Ross is Fine’. The episodes are taken from different seasons for the purpose of investigating the development of themes and key values.

It is necessary to underline the fact that the program covers no the theme of ethnic minorities or inequalities; most critics argue, that the media describes ethnicity as sinful. Most popular television shows try not to cover such aspects, not to shock the public and put under the risk the show’s popularity. Young Americans, disclosed in the show Friends, are considered to be the representatives of racially biased society, highlighting the most important enjoyed qualities of modern population. (Vivian, 115)

‘The One Where Nana Dies Twice’

The episode ‘The One Where Nana Dies Twice’ covers the theme of sexual orientation characteristics; Chandler is perceived by everyone as gay; so, he is on the way of self-understanding and investigating his principle behavior mistakes and wrong language. (Friends Episode Guide. 2008) Beside, the episode discovers the theme of generation gap through Monica and her mother’s relationships; it is built upon constant criticism and misunderstanding between daughter and mother. It is necessary to underline the idea that humor and ironic manner managed to cover the central problems of youth of all generations. (Veltman, 328)

‘The One Where Eddie Won’t Go’

The episode ‘The One Where Eddie Won’t Go’ is aimed at disclosure of the following basic themes: the idea of feminism showed through the book and its set of attitudes; the decision of lifestyle change by Joey, who refused to continue working and moved to Chandler’s apartment; and the problem of psychological condition and relationships with new roommate being in the state of psychic misbalance. (Friends Episode Guide. 2008) The program covered the atmosphere of modern period through the reflection of past generation, touching feminist elements and lavish lifestyle; this episode covered the conflict between Chandler and Joey, which resulted in friends’ unity and friendship strengthening. (Smith, 233)

‘The One Where Ross is Fine’

One more episode to be analyzed is ‘The One Where Ross is Fine’, where the central theme is focused on relationships and adoption problems. It should be stressed, that this part reflects love affair of Rachel and Joey through Ross’ sufferings and freaking; Ross’ despair and internal sufferings lead to emotional breakage and drunken condition. The episode touched the complexity of child adoption by Chandler and Monica through the fatherhood responsibilities and family difficulties connected with upbringing and parents’ duties. One should underline the fact that the episode highlighted the dramatic nature of interpersonal relationship vial love triangle leading to internal sufferings. Besides, the episode turned to be concentrated on family problems making the characters more adult and responsible for their decisions and challenged lifestyle. (Friends Episode Guide. 2008)

The episodes, watched by me, influenced the formation of personal opinion, as to the television program’s role in modern society; one cannot but agree on the point that this media project contributed to the development of youth’s self-consciousness development and social values understanding. The problems covered by the characters’ play provide indirect impact on the upbringing process inside the person; it is necessary to stress the idea that Friends managed to become the classical reflection of American environment from the 90s. Nevertheless, this program is similar to other shows by its avoiding the problems of ethnic minorities and discrimination, contributing to the formation of mistakable opinion about unprejudiced American society. (Smith, 213)

The audience of Friends has been enjoying this program for more than ten years; despite the seriousness of its message, the project is made in humorous genre, making it easier for understanding and perception. Million of viewers of different generations became the fans of this program through its realism, and charismatic nature disclosed through professional play of the actors.

Friends Episode Guide. 2008. Web.

Smith, R. Groping for ethics in journalism. 5 th Edition. Wiley-Blackwell, 2003.

Veltman, K. Understanding new media: augmented knowledge & culture. University of Calgary Press, 2006.

Vivian, J. The media of mass communication. 9 th Edition. Allyn and Bacon, 2007.

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IvyPanda. (2021, November 25). Three Episodes of “Friends” Television Program. https://ivypanda.com/essays/three-episodes-of-friends-television-program/

"Three Episodes of “Friends” Television Program." IvyPanda , 25 Nov. 2021, ivypanda.com/essays/three-episodes-of-friends-television-program/.

IvyPanda . (2021) 'Three Episodes of “Friends” Television Program'. 25 November.

IvyPanda . 2021. "Three Episodes of “Friends” Television Program." November 25, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/three-episodes-of-friends-television-program/.

1. IvyPanda . "Three Episodes of “Friends” Television Program." November 25, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/three-episodes-of-friends-television-program/.

Bibliography

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Where Can I Watch “Sex and the City”? How to Stream the Original Show, Movies and Spinoff

S arah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon, Kim Cattrall and Kristin Davis star as best friends discovering themselves in the iconic New York City-based series

It’s been over 25 years since Sex and the City first brought viewers into the glamorous world of New York City, filled with love, style and, of course, Cosmopolitans.

Based on Candace Bushnell 's book of the same name, the HBO original series ran for six seasons from 1998 to 2004. The franchise later expanded to include two movies, Sex and the City in 2008 and Sex and the City 2 in 2010. Despite early versions of a script being in place for a third film, plans eventually fell through .

In all of the installations of the dramedy, Sarah Jessica Parker stars as fashion-obsessed columnist Carrie Bradshaw, along with Cynthia Nixon as high achieving lawyer Miranda Hobbes, Kim Cattrall as publicity expert Samantha Jones and Kristin Davis as hopeless romantic Charlotte York.

Related: 'Sex and the City' Cast: Where Are They Now?

The four friends lean on each other as they navigate different chapters of their lives, from apartment hunting to dating and the possibility of kids.

Parker, Nixon and Davis reprised their roles in the spinoff series And Just Like That... , which premiered in 2021. Aside from a brief cameo in season 2, Cattrall has not returned to reprise her role of Samantha.

In addition to Max, Sex and the City 's six seasons are now available on Netflix starting today (April 1, 2024).

If you want to dive into Carrie's world with her best friends, here’s where to watch every season of Sex and the City , including the original show, the Sex and the City movies and spinoff, And Just Like That...

Where can I watch every season of Sex and the City ?

All seasons of Sex and the City are available to stream on Max and Netflix.

Individual episodes and full seasons can also be purchased on platforms such as Amazon Prime Video , Apple TV and YouTube .

First premiering in June 1998 on HBO, Sex and the City ran for a total of 94 episodes across six seasons until February 2004.

The show is narrated by Carrie, a sex and relationship writer with a love for fashion who chronicles her and her friends' love lives in a weekly newspaper column. Over the six seasons, viewers see Carrie face various relationship ups and downs, mostly with John James Preston ( Chris Noth ), a.k.a. Mr. Big and Aidan Shaw ( John Corbett ).

Miranda is a dedicated lawyer who is often the voice of reason within the group, as she is unafraid to share her opinion. She unexpectedly welcomes a son, Brady, with on-again-off-again Steve Brady ( David Eigenberg ) in season 4.

A few years older than the other girls, Samantha loves sex and living her life with no filter. She works in PR and is generally opposed to monogamy until she falls hard for someone special, like Richard Wright (James Remar) and Jerry “Smith” Jerrod ( Jason Lewis ).

Charlotte works in an art gallery and has fairly high standards when it comes to romance. She marries Trey MacDougal ( Kyle MacLachlan ) within a few months of meeting, but issues soon arise in their marriage that are unresolvable. It isn't until Harry Goldenblatt ( Evan Handler ) comes along that she learns what true love really is, even if he doesn’t check off any of her traditional boxes.

Where can I watch the first Sex and the City movie?

Sex and the City is available to stream on Max . It is also available to rent or purchase on Prime Video , Apple TV and YouTube .

Sex and the City was released in theaters on May 30, 2008. The film is set a few years after the series wrapped, with Carrie and Big in a happy relationship. While looking at new apartments together, he suggests they marry, and she agrees.

Across the city, Miranda and Steve are busy in Brooklyn raising their son Brady, but Steve admits to cheating on Miranda, and she leaves him.

Meanwhile, Samantha and Smith are still together and living in Los Angeles, but she feels stagnant in their relationship and frequently travels to N.Y.C. to see Carrie, Miranda and Charlotte. In the midst of this, Charlotte continues growing her family.

On the day of Carrie and Big’s wedding, he backs out, causing emotional turmoil for everyone. The girls go with Carrie on what should have been her honeymoon to Mexico, and when they return, she attempts to put her life back together again.

Where can I watch Sex and the City 2 movie?

Sex and the City 2 is available to rent or purchase on Apple TV and Vudu .

Two years after the first film, Sex and the City 2 was released on May 27, 2010. Carrie and Big are married but grappling with keeping a spark between them.

Samantha is now single and trying to fight the changes that come with menopause. On the other hand, Miranda quits a job that makes her miserable, while Charlotte tries not to admit that she’s having a hard time juggling her daughters.

The foursome leave their problems in the Big Apple behind and jet off to Abu Dhabi on an all-expenses-paid trip to a luxury resort where Samantha has a business meeting with the owner. Still, Carrie’s marriage gets even more confusing when an old flame reappears halfway around the world.

Where can I watch And Just Like That... ?

And Just Like That... is available to stream on Max .

Carrie, Miranda and Charlotte returned to small screens with the premiere of the spinoff series in December 2021.

Originally planned as a 10-episode miniseries, a second season of And Just Like That… premiered in June 2023. The series has been renewed for a third season , set to release in 2025.

Season 1 of And Just Like That... highlights the many changes that have happened to the friends since viewers last saw them. Most notably, a rift between Carrie and Samantha has ended their friendship, and the PR maven now lives in London.

On the relationship front, Carrie works to navigate life as a widow and podcaster after Big has a heart attack and dies at the end of the first episode .

Meanwhile, Charlotte deals with parenting her teenagers, and Miranda also faces changes of her own as she pursues a master's degree and a new relationship.

The new series is filled with fresh faces, like Sara Ramírez as Che Diaz and Nicole Ari Parker as Lisa Todd Wexley, plus familiar ones like Bridget Moynahan as Natasha Naginsky.

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Read the original article on People .

More From Forbes

Here’s everything new on netflix in april 2024 — including ‘rebel moon: part two’.

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Left: Sofia Boutella as Kora in Rebel Moon — Part Two: The Scargiver | Right: Andrew Scott as Tom ... [+] Ripley in RIPLEY

April is almost here, which means an exciting new lineup of titles will arrive on Netflix throughout the month. Discover all the TV shows and movies coming to Netflix in April , including highlights like Rebel Moon—Part Two, The Circle Season 6, and more.

Rebel Moon — Part Two: The Scargiver, the second film in Zack Snyder’s sci-fi epic , is dropping on April 19. The second chapter follows Kora and the surviving warriors as they prepare to fight for the brave people of Veldt and defend their village against the forces of the Motherworld. Sofia Boutella, Djimon Hounsou, Ed Skrein, Michiel Huisman, Doona Bae, and Anthony Hopkins and more star in the interstellar film.

Also arriving in April is the limited series Ripley by filmmaker and Academy Award winner Steve Zaillian (The Irishman, The Night Of ). Based on Patricia Highsmith’s bestselling Tom Ripley novels, Andrew Scott stars as Tom Ripley, the career criminal and serial killer, in the Netflix suspense thriller. Johnny Flynn and Dakota Fanning are also part of the cast.

Ripley. Andrew Scott as Tom Ripley in Episode 101 of RIPLEY. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2024

On April 5, viewers will also meet the women who secured the BBC’s 2019 interview with Prince Andrew in The Scoop , the upcoming film based on real-life events. “I want to put the audience inside the breathtaking sequence of events that led to the interview with Prince Andrew — to tell a story about a search for answers, in a world of speculation and varying recollections,” director Philip Martin ( The Crown ) told Netflix . “It’s a film about power, privilege, and differing perspectives and how — whether in glittering palaces or high-tech newsrooms — we judge what’s true.”

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Netflix subscribers can also look forward to Season 6 of The Circle . The social media reality series returns on April 17, with new episodes dropping every Wednesday leading up to the finale on May 8. In Season 6, the show is heading to a different city with new twists but still promises “catfish, connections, and chaos await as new influencers enter the chat and compete for a huge cash prize,” according to the streamer .

Other notable mentions include the first season of the Netflix original series Dead Boy Detectives, Starz’s pirate drama Black Sails, and BBC’s Killing Eve starring Sandra Oh and Jodie Comer.

TV Shows And Movies Coming to Netflix in April 2024

Here’s the full list of Netflix originals, TV series, feature films, and documentaries arriving on the streaming giant in April 2024.

Netflix Originals

The Magic Prank Show with Justin Willman

Demetri Martin: Demetri Deconstructed

Crime Scene Berlin: Nightlife Killer

Files of the Unexplained

Rodeio Rock

I Woke Up A Vampire: Season 2

The Tearsmith

The Antisocial Network: Memes to Mayhem

Parasyte: The Grey

Spirit Rangers: Season 3

Neal Brennan: Crazy Good

Anthracite: Secrets of the Sect

The Hijacking of Flight 601

Unlocked: A Jail Experiment

What Jennifer Did

As the Crow Flies: Season 3

Heartbreak High: Season 2

Midsummer Night

Amar Singh Chamkila

Love, Divided.

Woody Woodpecker Goes to Camp

Jimmy Carr: Natural Born Killer

The Circle: Season 6

Don't Hate the Player

The Grimm Variations

Our Living World

The Upshaws: Part 5

Rebel Moon — Part Two: The Scargiver

CoComelon Lane: Season 2

Fern Brady: Autistic Bikini Queen

Brigands: The Quest for Gold

Fight for Paradise: Who Can You Trust?

City Hunter

Dead Boy Detectives

The Asunta Case

Hack Your Health: The Secrets of Your Gut

Honeymoonish

Other Movies and TV Shows

American Graffiti

Baby Driver

Born on the Fourth of July

Happy Gilmore

Hotel Transylvania

Hotel Transylvania 2

How to Be Single

Inside Man: Most Wanted

It’s Kind of a Funny Story

The Matrix Reloaded

The Matrix Revolutions

Molly’s Game

Mortal Engines

One Piece Film: Red

Role Models

Sex and the City: Season 1-6

Smokey and the Bandit

Smokey and the Bandit II

Step Up: Revolution

The Land Before Time

The Little Things

Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby

The Theory of Everything

Wild Things

You’ve Got Mail

Space Jam: A New Legacy

100 Days to Indy : Season 1

The Bricklayer

Meekah: Season 2

Strange Way of Life

The Fairly OddParents

Hans Zimmer: Hollywood Rebel

Killing Eve: Seasons 1-4

Black Sails : Seasons 1-4

Duran Duran: There's Something You Should Know

Ahead of the Curve

King Richard

TLC Forever

Boiling Point : Season 1

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