Maggie Wheeler was supposed to play Chandler’s date as an extra in one episode. Her one-time-gig morphed into a role as an on-again-off-again girlfriend. She showed up for the first time in Episode 2 as Chandler’s date, and we simply had to see her again, so the writers continued to invite her back. And, Oh. My. God. We are so glad they did.
She’s the extra who became a cult favorite. E! News interviewed Wheeler last year in NYC and she shared a story about what it’s like to be Janice. “People stop me on the street, and they say, ‘Will you laugh? Will you do the oh my god?’ whatever it is, and we have a great time.” She says she loves it, and knows full well that this character brought people a lot of laughter and joy. In all, Janice delighted audiences for 19 episodes and was part of the cast until the last season.
Ross is 29 – for Three Years
Ross doesn’t get older. In seasons 3, 4, and 5, Ross says he is 29. Time passes. Christmas is celebrated again and again, but still he says he is 29. And, his birthday is not easy to pin down either. First, we learn his birth month is December. However, years later, he says his birthday is October 18.
In the fifth season, he says he got divorced twice before age 30. In the pilot, Ross is 26, so in Season 5 when he says he’s been married twice by 30, he should actually be 31.
Joey and Phoebe Shared Some Chemistry?
Out of the entire friend group, Phoebe and Joey are the least likely to couple up. Joey’s no-nonsense blue-collar womanizing style just doesn’t mesh with up-in-the-clouds Phoebe randomly rambling with expansive thoughts, but they shared a close friendship. On-screen, the chemistry of that closeness was irresistible. When Phoebe thinks she’s pregnant, Joey offers to marry her and raise the baby as his own.
Because of their friendship, many fans hoped the two would get together. LeBlanc said the idea was pitched, that they had secretly hooked up, but then rejected. The writers opposed it consistently, even after Kudrow and LeBlanc pitched it to them. It wasn’t meant to be.
Rachel Green or Rachel Greene?
If you watch the credits, Jennifer Aniston’s character is “Rachel Karen Green.” But here, on Rachel’s wedding invitation from Ross and Emily, her name is spelled “Greene.” And that’s not all. Rachel Green was spelled with an “e” not only at her Bloomingdale’s office desk but also on the door at her Ralph Lauren gig.
Yet, on top of the bakery box of her daughter Emma’s first birthday cake, “Rachel Green” was scrawled. Fans love to note these inconsistencies. Here’s another one: On the outside envelope of the invitation, we learn the address of Monica’s apartment is 495 Grove Street. Never mind that it is actually a Brooklyn address. . .
“The One After Vegas”
In this scene, Monica and Chandler have returned from Vegas and Chandler carries Monica, injured, over the threshold. This shot was taken just after the director called for the cut. In the show, Chandler’s looking for signs for whether or not he and Monica should be married. After lifting her into the apartment, he realizes carrying the bride over the threshold is a marriage tradition. A sign?? Monica and Chandler’s relationship was a lot of fun because of the element of secrecy. In the days before social media, the scene where Monica pops out of Chandler’s bed just after Ross stops by was taped in front of a live audience.
The studio exploded in squeals and screams. The episode wouldn’t air on television until later, but the secret did not get out. These days, a revealing scene like that would have had to be recorded on a closed set. Writers played the relationship by ear. Keeping it secret allowed them to test Friends fans preference for the hook up. Co-writer and former executive producer Scott Silveri said that had to be very protective.