Friends (the sitcom)

[Vikram A Punathambekar]

Yup, I know it's late, but hey, I couldn't help it.

I've come across it while flipping channels in my college days (didn't have cable TV in my school days) but I hardly gave it a second thought. A friend gave me season 1 on DVD last year and I put it away for six months until last month. I've been hooked since episode 1! I'm now more than halfway through season 3, and it's fantastic! Chandler is my favourite character and the one I resemble the most. I like Phoebe and Joey too. I resemble Monica a bit too, for the fastidiousness, although that counts against her. Ross and Rachel are just too irritating: Ross for his insecurity and Rachel for her shallowness. Which of the six do you resemble the most? Whom do you like the best? Could Chandler BE any funnier? "Rock... hard place... me!" has me spilling my guts out laughing :laugh: every time I see it. Also memorable are "The fifth dentist caved and now they're all recommending Trident?" and "Well, I'm not showing you my tat".

Cheers, Vikram.

Current activities: Films: The classic Pink Panther series TV series: Friends, season 3 Books: Liar's Poker, by Michael Lewis.

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Carpe Diem.

modified on Monday, May 11, 2009 10:26 AM

[Ennis Ray Lynch Jr]

So you are saying that by season three you will be addicted to crack?

Need custom software developed? I do C# development and consulting all over the United States. A man said to the universe: "Sir I exist!" "However," replied the universe, "The fact has not created in me A sense of obligation." --Stephen Crane

[Judah Gabriel Himango]

Ugh. :thumbsdown:

Religiously blogging on the intarwebs since the early 21st century: Kineti L'Tziyon Judah Himango

[Shog9 0]

Heh... I've watched some pretty dumb TV, but still never could get into Friends. Always saw it as essentially a Seinfeld knock-off whose writers lacked the guts to admit to themselves that their characters were shallow and unpleasant people at heart.

[Dalek Dave]

Vikram A Punathambekar wrote:

Which of the six do you resemble the most?

None, I am English, Intelligent, Don't drink coffee, have a job, sort my own problems out, don't own a duck, and I am not on an overly high salary for producing dull, cliched and predictable comedy.

------------------------------------ "Children today are tyrants. They contradict their parents, gobble their food and tyrannize their teachers. I despair for the future." Socrates 400BC

[Mustafa Ismail Mustafa]

I'm surprised you find this either enjoyable or funny or any positive combination thereof! I could never stomach the show, but my wife, her sisters and my sisters along with the general global populace apparently love the show :shrug:

If the post was helpful, please vote! Current activities: Book: The End of Eternity by Isaac Asimov Project: Hospital Automation, final stage Learning: Image analysis, LINQ Now and forever, defiant to the end. What is Multiple Sclerosis[^]?

[realJSOP]

But Jennifer Aniston is hot - I never much cared for the "Ross" character - he's a whiner.

"Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass..." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997
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"...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001

[John M Drescher]

Well definitely not Joey or Phoebe as I have a brain. The rest I would have to watch some episodes again. My first thought is Ross but its been years since I have watched this series.

John

[John M Drescher]

John Simmons / outlaw programmer wrote:

I never much cared for the "Ross" character - he's a whiner.

Hmm. That may strike my Ross answer off..

John

[Vikram A Punathambekar]

Mustafa Ismail Mustafa wrote:

I'm surprised you find this either enjoyable or funny or any positive combination thereof!

:~ I don't know what to say, except perhaps I have very low standards? :rolleyes: I discovered a couple of guys at work love it too, and we spend our breaks talking about this.

Cheers, Vikram.

Current activities: Films: The classic Pink Panther series TV series: Friends, season 3 Books: Liar's Poker, by Michael Lewis.

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Carpe Diem.

[Dalek Dave]

John Simmons / outlaw programmer wrote:

Jennifer Aniston is hot

In the UK we have a saying... < leering tones> "She'd Get It!" < /leering tones>

------------------------------------ "Children today are tyrants. They contradict their parents, gobble their food and tyrannize their teachers. I despair for the future." Socrates 400BC

[Mustafa Ismail Mustafa]

Vikram A Punathambekar wrote:

I don't know what to say, except perhaps I have very low standards?

I don't think so. I think you got enamored by it the first time around, sorta like getting bedazzled by a car dealer that gets you suckered into buying a lemon.

Vikram A Punathambekar wrote:

I discovered a couple of guys at work love it too, and we spend our breaks talking about this.

To each his own I guess

If the post was helpful, please vote! Current activities: Book: The End of Eternity by Isaac Asimov Project: Hospital Automation, final stage Learning: Image analysis, LINQ Now and forever, defiant to the end. What is Multiple Sclerosis[^]?

[hairy_hats]

I could never cope with the way hardly any jokes lasted more than a single scene. In British comedy sometimes a throwaway line in scene one had a big payoff at the end of the show, so you have to actually pay attention and have an attention span longer than a mayfly's, but in Friends every punchline came no more than about 30 seconds after the feed. X|

[Nish Nishant]

Woah! I'd have expected you to like Seinfeld, Frasier, or even Everybody loves Raymond. But Friends? Wow - I didn't see that coming. What next, Hannah Montana? :rolleyes:

Regards, Nish

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Nish’s thoughts on MFC, C++/CLI and .NET (my blog)
My latest book : C++/CLI in Action / Amazon.com link

[PompeyBoy]

Steve_Harris wrote:

In British comedy sometimes a throwaway line in scene one had a big payoff at the end of the show

Fawlty Towers "a Gin and Tonic, a glass of water and a lemonade" (or something along them lines) sprang to mind

[Joe Woodbury]

I watched it when it first came out, but it wore thin after a few seasons and I find it's unwatchable in repeats. For a truly excellent comedy in the same vein, Coupling from BBC is much, much better.

Anyone who thinks he has a better idea of what's good for people than people do is a swine. - P.J. O'Rourke

[Vikram A Punathambekar]

I've watched a couple of British comedies, and Mind Your Language isn't at all like you describe. Yes Minister and YPM fit your model closer. I watched both end-to-end last year, and they were fantastic!

Steve_Harris wrote:

In British comedy sometimes a throwaway line in scene one had a big payoff at the end of the show, so you have to actually pay attention and have an attention span longer than a mayfly's, but in Friends every punchline came no more than about 30 seconds after the feed

That is the exact reason I put off the American Friends for six months, but I must admit I like it! I can't help it if my standards are very low ;) One memorable scene stands testimony to your statement. In "A Question of Loyalty": Sir Humphrey Appleby: I sometimes think our minister doesn't believe that he exists unless he reads about himself in the papers. I'll bet you the first thing he says when he gets into the office is, "Any press reports on my Washington speech?" Bernard Woolley: How much do you bet? Sir Humphrey Appleby: A pound. Bernard Woolley: Done! He won't because he's already asked. In the car on the way back from Heathrow. Sir Humphrey Appleby: You're learning, Bernard. Sit down. Later... Humphrey: Welcome home, Minister! Hacker: Hello, Humphrey. Hacker: Bernard, didn't you say there were some press cuttings on my speech? Woolley: Yes, I put them in the box, Minister (stuffs two pounds into Sir Humphrey's hands behind his back)

Cheers, Vikram.

Current activities: Films: The classic Pink Panther series TV series: Friends, season 3 Books: Liar's Poker, by Michael Lewis.

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Carpe Diem.

[Vikram A Punathambekar]

I never heard of the three shows you mention until fairly recently. And no, I haven't seen any yet.

Nishant Sivakumar wrote:

What next, Hannah Montana?

Smart aleck. :-\

Cheers, Vikram.

Current activities: Films: The classic Pink Panther series TV series: Friends, season 3 Books: Liar's Poker, by Michael Lewis.

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Carpe Diem.

[Rama Krishna Vavilala]

Nishant Sivakumar wrote:

What next, Hannah Montana?

That would be fun if he posts about it.

[dandy72]

I couldn't even stand the commercials for that nauseating show when it was on. I've always figured that if those were representative of the actual show, then I haven't missed anything over the last 10 years or whatever. And judging by the other replies so far, that was a good call.