From sidekicks to fan-favorites: These two Friends leads were originally meant to be supporting characters

Can you imagine Friends without any one of the six main leads? Well, we are certain you can’t, but series creators originally did. The initial script of the acclaimed sitcom was written with just four friends in mind.

The friendship between Joey, Rachel, Phoebe, Monica, Chandler, and Ross has made the characters immortal. However, the series creators initially planned to base the story only around Joey, Rachel, Monica, and Ross, while Chandler and Phoebe were envisioned as mere supporting characters.

The plan fortunately changed, and Chandler and Phoebe were included in the main characters list before Friends began production. Over the years, the two ended up becoming fan favorites, and it has become impossible to imagine the sitcom without them.

Chandler and Phoebe were initially written as supporting characters in Friends

At first, Friends was meant to focus mainly on four characters: Ross, Rachel, Monica, and Joey. Chandler and Phoebe were not intended to be a part of the core group and were supposed to pop in occasionally, much like sidekicks to the main cast. Had that happened, the sitcom would have turned out to be pretty different.

Chandler became one of the funniest and most important characters on the show over the years. His jokes and sarcasm not only made people laugh but also showcased different layers of his personality. He used humor to hide his fears and insecurities, which made his character more real and relatable.

If Chandler had stayed a minor character, the show would have missed out on this kind of humor and emotions. His romance with Monica and his bromance with Joey might never have happened, and the group certainly wouldn’t have worked the same way.

Phoebe, on the other hand, brought an entirely different energy to the group. With her eccentric and impulsive personality, Phoebe was not afraid to speak her heart out but was always there for the group whenever someone was in need.

At first, she did not seem as connected to the group as the others, but that is part of what made her special. Her life story was sad, yet interesting. These things gave her character depth and helped the show deal with serious topics in a fun and thoughtful way. If Phoebe had been pushed aside, the show would have lost its unique charm.

Some of the funniest moments in the series came from Chandler and Phoebe. One example is The One Where Everybody Finds Out, when Phoebe pretended to flirt with Chandler. That scene is still remembered as one of the most iconic moments from the show. Their bond was fun to watch as it was different from the other pairings on the show.

As per the initial script of Friends, Chandler and Phoebe could have been left out easily, as other characters had stronger connections. Monica and Ross were siblings, and they both knew Rachel from childhood. Chandler was added as Ross’s college friend, and Phoebe was Monica’s old roommate. Hence, the original plan would have sidelined the two fan favorites without any trouble.

But the creators eventually decided to give them bigger parts and make the show about six people instead of four. Chandler ultimately went from being scared of commitment to becoming a loyal husband and father.

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Meanwhile, Phoebe went from being a lonely outsider to finding love and starting her own family. Watching these two grow over the years gave the show its identity. Hence, giving Chandler and Phoebe equal time was one of the best choices the creators made, as it helped turn Friends into one of the most loved TV shows of all time.

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