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.
Janice: The Girlfriend Everyone Loves to Hate
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.
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. . .
Friends for Real
These pals were playful on and off-camera. Perhaps that is why the friend group chemistry hits home so well. “I think it was unspoken, but we instinctively felt like we need to be friends, we need to get along, we need to connect,” Lisa Kudrow remarked. The cast spent 10 years together through some trying times, so it clearly brought them closer.
Six months into the show, Friends was an insane hit. LeBlanc even told People magazine that if even if they weren't acting together, and just met a party, they definitely would have been friends.
A Word from the Fashion Genius Behind Cast Costumes
Behind the scenes wardrobing was quite a feat. Not only did the show’s designer, Debra McGuire, have to come up with the fashion trends of the decade in each and every scene, she also had to make sure the cast was color-coordinated.
In 2019, McGuire told the Guardian how important it was for the six actors to look good together. Each character had their personal color scheme. Rachel was blues and greens and Phoebe was patterns, so McGuire had to bring each friend together as one stylistically harmonized group.