Friends star details why critics originally hated show ‘No one wants to watch’
Friends has remained on TV since it arrived back in 1994. While it had an incredible ten-season run, it became one of the most popular sitcoms on TV. However it has now been revealed the show was not liked at all when it first aired. Gunther star James Michael Tyler recently discussed the beginning of the show, where he revealed exactly how it was received during the early days of airing.
Speaking exclusively to Express.co.uk, James discussed sitcoms that have arrived since the end of Friends.
While How I Met Your Mother and The Big Bang Theory took over as the biggest and best sitcoms of the era following Friends, he wasn’t convinced that they took anything from Friends’ storytelling method.
He said: “I don’t know if they borrowed or brought things over.
“I think the formula might have been hit on by Friends to an extent.
READ MORE: Friends: ‘I was absolutely horrified’ star speaks out about Frank and Alice kissing scene
READ MORE
-
Friends: Confusing secret uncovered in pilot episode bombshell
“Because, you know, when Friends first aired the first episode – the pilot – it was panned by some critics.”
James went on to add how fans may be able to find the early reviews of the show which were not too favourable – and even described them as “biting”.
He went on: “[The reviews were] saying this is about a bunch of young people who don’t know what their life is about.
“No one wants to watch people struggle, or young people strive for love – and it turns out that’s exactly what people want to watch!”
Musing about sitcoms which have arrived since the end of Friends, he continued: “So I think sitcoms before that time didn’t follow that formula. I don’t know if that was purposeful.”
Later in the interview James revealed some backstage secrets about the show.
In particular he detailed some on-set moments in the famous coffee shop Central Perk.
And, although most characters were drinking coffee in these various scenes, he explained none of the mugs had any coffee in them.
He said: “The six main Friends, if they actually had to take a sip out of a coffee cup they would actually have a latte or a cappuccino made back stage. They would just bring it out.”
“But as far as the background performers,” he added. “There was no coffee ever in any of those cups.”
As for Gunther and his continuous movement and kineticism throughout each scene, James said he wasn’t really doing anything.
“I was just moving my elbows and wiggling around back there with my back turned,” he confessed.
READ MORE
- Friends: Confusing secret uncovered in pilot episode bombshell
“And reaching for things that weren’t there, and miming basically with a lot of movements!”
While viewers have been enjoying Gunther’s antics over the years, it looks like he was simply attempting to keep himself busy on set.
As many viewers never noticed, what else could have been hidden throughout the show’s ten seasons?
Friends airs daily on Comedy Central and is available on Netflix.
Source: Read Full Article