The girls ate lunch together at every shoot for 10 years. It was a tradition that each loved. Today they love to reminisce about it. Cox reminsied about how they always had the same thing. It was the Cobb salad with turkey-bacon and garbanzo beans. They called it the Jennifer Salad, a healthier version of the standard Cobb.
But, really? Every. Single. Day. For. Ten. Years? Yep. Evidently, it’s a pretty tasty recipe. Cox said, “If you’re going to eat the same salad every day for 10 years, it better be a good salad, right?” Who else bets the Jennifer Salad was stored in the little fridge?
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.
Central Perk Café
The coffee house hangout is the heart of the show. But NBC didn’t like the idea. The network thought a diner setting, more like Seinfeld would be best, arguing that the Central Perk meet up would be too trendy and age out. Luckily, Friends creators stood firm to their original idea created around the “Insomnia Café” theme.
Like the purple walls of Monica’s apartment, the orange couch in Central Perk is an equally definitive element of the show. The couch was excavated from the basement of Warner Bros. studios. Originally it was going to be a beige sofa. This time the studio execs were spot on when they called for a different color.
Gunther Shared a Snack with an Extra on Set
James Michael Tyler portrayed the bleach-blond barista who had a crazy-creepy crush on Rachel. Gunther was a fan favorite. The character wasn’t even supposed to have any lines, but, gradually, the writers (and the audience) warmed up to Rachel’s helpful coworker, and he was included in the script. One reason he got the part was because he knew his way around an espresso machine. Gunther was a barista in real life. Ironically, though he was cast because of his skills, he never made an espresso on the show.
Some want to know about his hair. Yes, it’s dyed. Though he’s naturally blond, makeup had to bleach his hair once a week for ten years to get that particular Gunther look. As it happened, Gunther and his friend developed the style. The night before he was cast, his friend bleached his hair. The producers thought it was perfect for Gunther, so, for 10 seasons, Tyler’s hair stayed white.