9 most shocking BTS facts about Friends that only true fans would know about

Friends is not just a heartwarming sitcom but a cultural pillar that stands tall decades after its 1994 debut. The genius of Friends wasn't the giggles or the iconic haircuts; it was the heart.

The show hit millions of fans right in the feels with its story: A Phoebe, a Chandler, or a Monica in just our corner. This intense emotional resonance is why the show felt like home for many.

The show's pilot drew a solid 22 million viewers, a popularity that soon translated into cult status. Friends was a tale of the messy, beautiful struggle of twentysomethings navigating their messy, yet beautifully funny lives in New York City.

Throughout its 10-season run, what happened before the theme song played was as hilarious as the script itself. From last-minute changes to the anthem saga, here are 9 Most Shocking BTS Facts about Friends that showcase the pivotal decisions and happy accidents behind this landmark series.

9 most shocking BTS facts about Friends that only true fans would know about

1. The Monica-Rachel Mix-Up: The showmakers initially wanted Courteney Cox to play the iconic Rachel Green. However, Cox felt that she had a stronger match to the tightly wound, nurturing Monica and successfully convinced the producers she was better suited for that part. Co-creator Marta Kauffman later acknowledged this, stating how this change added more nuance to the now iconic Monica.

2. Ross wanted to focus on theatre: Ross Geller has become synonymous with the actor David Schwimmer, but due to an unpleasant experience that he previously had, he swore off TV work and wanted to focus on theatre.

The creators had approached the much-celebrated actor to take the role, narrowly securing one of the show's most iconic characters.

3. The Unpopular Anthem: One of the ways how fans can immediately connect to the now iconic opening song "I'll Be There for You” was initially disliked by the cast.

During an interview, Jennifer Aniston (we cannot think of Rachel in any other way, thanks to her!) expressed how the entire cast felt the opening to be odd.

4. Matthew Perry saved Chandler Bing’s arc: Friends’ Season 5 had a major plot twist in which Chandler would cheat on Monica while the pair were in Vegas.

But Matthew Perry did not like this plot line, intervening and arguing that fans would not fondly accept the character for such a betrayal. Eventually, this twist was vetoed, preserving the integrity of their relationship.

5. A huge leap for a guest star: Matthew Perry was involved in a strange exercise to get Julia Roberts, one of the most memorable guest stars to feature on the show.

When Perry sent a letter to Julia with the request, Julia replied to the letter with a request. Perry had to write a full paper on quantum physics, which he promptly faxed over to her.

6. The couch was dumpster diving gold: One of the most interesting BTS from Friends involves the iconic orange couch.

The Central Perk's famous, slightly old, burnt-orange couch was not a pre-curated prop but an impromptu addition by decorator Greg Grande, who spotted the gem from the Warner Bros. studio basement.

Who would have thought the discarded item would become a poster icon for the show?

7. The accidental line that became history: There is one particular line from the show that accidentally created history and became a memorable addition in its own right.

Ross saying "I take thee, Rachel" instead of "Emily" at his wedding created a huge cliffhanging scene. Here is where it gets even more interesting. Reportedly, this historic line was inspired by a real-life error by David Schwimmer.

During rehearsals, he said, "Rachel, the taxi's here" instead of "Emily, the taxi's here." The writer saw the dramatic potential in the mistake and gave it a place in the show.

8. The audience dictated the comedy: It is no new fact to the fans that Friends was filmed in front of a live studio audience. To capture the comic element, the show relied heavily on audience reactions.

Lines of the original script were constantly edited and rewritten if they did not induce a suitable reaction. Actors would also put effort into delivering the dialogue in different ways until it hit the laughter spot.

This exercise often meant tapings went as late as 1 or 2 a.m., sometimes changing exhausted or sleepy audiences for less sleepy ones.

9. Anonymity's last hurrah: Before the pilot of Friends aired, an interesting BTS happened. The show director, James Burrows, took the entire cast to Las Vegas, giving them a heartwarming warning: "This is your last shot at anonymity."

The statement spoke volumes for the success the sitcom would then become. He pushed them to enjoy their moments of freedom and even took care that they could play games at Caesar's Palace.