mr dave

^ a bit of both. was it really one of the most watched tv shows because it was good or because it was always connected to either Seinfeld or Frasier when it was broadcast?

i think that's why most people watched. it was just there, let's see what these wannabe yuppies are going to do this week before we get to laugh at Kramer's shenanigans or whatever Niles will undoubtedly stress over.

really though, what are some of the classic Friends episodes? what are some of the story arcs that permeated pop culture? where's their Yadda Yadda Yadda? their Soup Nazi? their rules about casual sex? their bro/manssiere? shrinkage? SHRINKAGE!!!

i'm really starting to think that Seinfeld wasn't the actual show about 'nothing' on NBC back in the day, it was Friends - Friends was about nothing, and if you try to watch more than about a half season's worth within a week it becomes painfully apparent (my friend's wife could not stop running those dvds endlessly a couple of years ago).

__________________
i am the universe

Mojo

I think where i dont understand your argument though is where you seem to be suggesting that the "average" viewer couldn't stomach more than half a season of the show before they got sick or bored. That really cannot be true, not given how hugely successful it was.

It's the same with Seinfeld (in the States at least) and the likes of The Simpsons. Whether a person likes these shows or not, it would be incorrect to assume that the typical or average viewer shared their opinion because the ratings show how many people are tuning in each week and have been doing so for years.

Also it would be foolish of me to comment on whether Friends picked up an audience in the States on the back of other, established prime time shows or not. It would be foolish of me because i don't live there so what do i know? But it seems to me that this is often how American TV networks, NBC especially, do it. They often test a show in a poorer time slot and if it does well they move it to a better, more stable slot and somewhere within this process it may be paired with one of these established shows to run either just before it or just after it to help it a long the way.

This is exactly what happened with Seinfeld. Larry David has described it as being "Cheers' little brother" when Seinfeld was paired with Cheers as that show was nearing the end of its run and ultimately Seinfeld performed well in that slot and took it over when Cheers ended. If Friends did gain viewers off the back of another show then i would say that this could just as easily be because a lot of people were first introduced to it this way, not because it was a weak show but they forgot to turn the TV off or something and upped the ratings.

__________________

Last.FM | Echoes and Dust

Grace_Under_Pressure

Phoebe!!

__________________

"If you don't eat yer meat, you can't have any pudding. How can you have any pudding if you don't eat yer meat?"

James

How is Pheobe beating Rachel? Seriously? I always thought Rachel was like every guys dream girlfriend.

TheCunningStunt

Chandler, by far.

__________________

Last FM

James

Yeah I voted Chandler, could he be any more hilarious?

Cressidagater

i think you mean

could he BE any more hilarious??

i can never decide whos my favourite. It's the whole friends dynamic that makes it awesome.


to your poll

Dude monica is my dream she's a kinky ho

TheCunningStunt

Rach 0
Phoebe 3

That's an absolute outrage.

__________________

Last FM

mr dave

i think i was getting stoned and rambling. i still think the majority of the initial success Friends enjoyed was directly related to its proximity to much stronger shows. had it been aired on a Tuesday night instead of Thursdays between Fraiser and Seinfeld it would have ended up like Boston Common. remember that one?

if it hadn't enjoyed being the meat in the sandwich between the two biggest sitcoms on tv at the time i really don't think Friends would have survived past its second season. you're right that it's how network's operate, it's only sensible to test out a similar product in association with similar established products.

i'm just remembering being a teenager here (and puffing hahah) but still... i recall people paying attention for a bit and then, that was it, it was 'that' show that you had on, while you waited for Seinfeld to start. whether or not people at home were paying attention or just leaving the tv on doesn't actually change the program's ratings. every now and then there was a funny bit that was worth noticing. though for the most part it seemed to be about wannabe yuppies.

__________________
i am the universe

Dr.Seussicide

Why the fuck do people like Phoebe? She's so goddamn annoying.

__________________