Here’s Aniston and Perry backstage hanging out. The two shared a lot of laughs and some special moments. Aniston was there for him when times got dark. When Perry spiraled into prescription pill addiction, Aniston tried to talk him into letting her be his personal trainer.
Sadly, Perry struggled with alcohol and drug addiction. He says he “doesn’t remember three years of filming.” He checked into rehab twice during the show’s production, and finally overcame it. He opened up his own recovery house in his Malibu home and he was awarded the Champion of Recovery Award from the Obama’s White House from the Office of National Drug Control Policy.
Marcel
The white-headed capuchin monkey who starred as Ross’ little buddy Marcel was only around for two seasons, but maybe she’ll make a comeback in HBO Max’ Friends? Yes, Marcel is actually a female monkey named Katie, and she is still alive! Capuchin monkeys can live up to 40 years, and “Marcel” is only in her 20s. The cute little primate also starred in Y: The Last Man.
Not everyone liked Marcel. LeBlanc admitted recently to Jimmy Kimmel that Schwimmer did not like the monkey. “I liked the monkey. I like animals,” LeBlanc said, “Schwimmer, not so much.” He’s the one who had to work with Katie. In 1995, Schwimmer said that he would have liked to bond more with the monkey but the trainers would not allow it. One time it scampered up to the rafters during a scene and it took a half an hour out of the day’s shoot. It probably comes as no surprise that Marcel was written out of the show because the mischievous monkey was too difficult to work with.
The Huddle that Included Kudrow’s Baby
Phoebe’s pregnancy was not an act. Lisa Kudrow was actually pregnant, working through it all the way. She recalled the experience with People in 2018, of how the six of them would huddle backstage and tell how much they love each other, when she was pregnant, the cast would say the same to her belly. How sweet!
Here’s a snapshot from Episode 20, Season 4, “The One with All the Wedding Dresses.” Monica and Phoebe try to cheer Rachel up wearing gowns. With Kudrow pregnant, it was no easy task searching out a gown that fit her full-term frame. The production team tracked one down at It’s Not Too Late, a specialty wedding gown boutique they (luckily) discovered.Fun fact: It seems somewhat fitting that Phoebe Buffay is responsible for giving us the expression “BFF.”
The Fountain of Illusion
The fountain depicted in the show’s iconic opening credits will not be found in NYC. Even though it has an unmistakable resemblance to the Cherry Hill fountain in Central Park, and many have photographed it as a Friends souvenir shot, it is not, not, not located in NYC.
The fountain is actually a prop at Warner Bros. studios. And, what you see here is not even a New York film set. No, the fountain and those background buildings are replicas of Boston townhomes. One feels a bit ripped off! On the upside, you can still visit the famous fountain the stars actually sat on and frolicked in. Just check out the Warner Bros. Ranch backlot in Burbank, California.
The Phoebe and Chandler Surprise
Without Phoebe and Chandler, Friends would have been a virtual snooze fest. The two oddballs bring a welcomed range; Phoebe with her alternative commentary and Chandler with his neuroses. It was always hilarious when he inserted his cold hard logic into the group’s mindless convos. But did you know Kudrow and Perry joined the cast only as supporting characters?
Kudrow brought her own sense of quirky humor. In writing the show, Crane says, “Phoebe doesn’t have a lot to do in the pilot, but Lisa was so funny that it actually seemed like she carried as much weight.”It’s hard to believe the two characters were set up for ancillary roles, scheduled to make appearances only seldomly. The plan was for the story to revolve around just four friends, Rachel, Monica, Ross, and Joey. Zzzzzz.