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View Full Version : Why Do You Think So Many People enjoy Watching "Friends"

DG
03-09-2003, 04:12 AM
I have my own theory so won't say just yet .. but would be interesting to know what elements of Friends you think make it so enjoyed around the world.

http://www.screensaverarchives.com/tv-friends1.jpg
RonHaze
03-09-2003, 10:41 AM
American telly is always so easy to watch. The jokes are spoon fed to the audience coz its designed for yanks who aint the most intelligent of people. no thinking required
jake0
03-09-2003, 11:01 AM
Originally posted by RonHaze
American telly is always so easy to watch. The jokes are spoon fed to the audience coz its designed for yanks who aint the most intelligent of people. no thinking required

i have to agree with you :)
NinjaMaster
03-09-2003, 11:42 AM
Erm.... cause it's got Jennifer Aniston in it :p :p

It does tend to be the same week in week out but if it ain't broke don't fix it. I personally prefer the earlier episodes.

And Joey cracks me up everytime. :lol:
*butterfly*
03-09-2003, 12:03 PM
No one does enjoy watching friends...

It isn't funny, has no story line and is so overrated.

And it has never ever been funny either.
lipsy
03-09-2003, 12:11 PM
Originally posted by ilovebusted
No one does enjoy watching friends...

It isn't funny, has no story line and is so overrated.

And it has never ever been funny either.

speak for yourself

i think its funny, especially the earlier series. i think it helps that the cast is easy on the eye.

diamond is your theory something to do with maybe people can relate to the characters as in they are similar to themselves or their own friends. or that maybe its like this really great situation, 3boys, 3girls being best friends and its something that they want themselves -to live in a nice apartment and have fun witht their mates etc.

or maybe im looking to deeply into it
Cheezie Grin
03-09-2003, 12:47 PM
I can honestly sit and watch through an episode of friends without laughing. I can see the attraction, but I think the humour is a bad attempt at trying to be an English sitcom.

Not my cuppa I'm afraid.
BumbleBee
03-09-2003, 01:09 PM
Originally posted by ilovebusted
No one does enjoy watching friends...


What a fucking stupid thing to say!
ElysiumUnknown
03-09-2003, 01:12 PM
Originally posted by ilovebusted

It isn't funny, has no story line and is so overrated.

And it has never ever been funny either.

I thought I was the only one who doesn't like it!
VinylVicky
03-09-2003, 01:13 PM
Originally posted by ElysiumUnknown
I thought I was the only one who doesn't like it!
I thought I was too :D
DG
03-09-2003, 01:47 PM
Originally posted by lipsy
diamond is your theory something to do with maybe people can relate to the characters as in they are similar to themselves or their own friends. or that maybe its like this really great situation, 3boys, 3girls being best friends and its something that they want themselves -to live in a nice apartment and have fun witht their mates etc.

or maybe im looking to deeply into it


OK this is my theory ... I think one of the reasons people enjoy watching is it because it's storylines operate on two leves. On one hand you can just take out any episode of Friends and watch as it is BUT there is also a development of story lines going on in the background, like Monica is seeing richard, people are getting married and having babies, etc.

Most comedies series I've noticed have little or no underlying storyline that pushes the characters forward. For example if you watch Becker none of the charcters ever really change or develop.

It's just something I noticed watching programmes like Baywatch - I used to watch it when I was younger but quickly stopped after a few season because it had NO story line at all ... and I don't watch the re-run .. but quite enjoying the new Baywatch Hawaii as it's brand new and there's lots of storylines developing...

It just got me thinking about programmes I really enjoy and wondering why I enjoy them .... Only Fools and Horse was My favourite and also had a stroyline that developted long term with Delboy getting married, etc.

I was just wondering what makes a good script!!
DG
03-09-2003, 02:36 PM
Originally posted by BritJames
Game on,
Men behaving badly,
teachers,
this life,
coupling


All those have storylines which continue week after week yet are set with the same characters who develop and change over the series

Best of all - they're British! :D

There you go - kind of backs up my theory ... all pretty successfull ... now think of some of th really bad comedies ... I wonder how many of them have such underlying storylines?
lipsy
03-09-2003, 02:48 PM
i don't think will & grace really have developing characters.. but i think that show is hilarious
Tim the Enchanter
03-09-2003, 06:41 PM
Originally posted by RonHaze
American telly is always so easy to watch. The jokes are spoon fed to the audience coz its designed for yanks who aint the most intelligent of people. no thinking required

Ahh yes, nothing like a sweeping generalisation... :rolleyes:

Doesn't the fact that these shows designed for those who "aint the most intelligent of people" do so well over here maybe tell you something?
carlito
03-09-2003, 07:17 PM
Probably because its feelgood, easily watchable TV with a sometimes vaguely engagingor movingstoryline.

Also unconsciously most people wish they could live in a massive, beautiful, downtown NY loft-style apartment with our friends, wear designer clothes, while having to do next to no work to pay for them.
budda
04-09-2003, 11:05 AM
I really dont think we are in a good place to have a go at US TV for being unintelligent, there are so many shows on British TV that are just foul.

Any of the 'uncovered' series on Sky for example, or, well preaty much anything on Five or ITV.
DG
04-09-2003, 02:05 PM
Originally posted by lipsy
i don't think will & grace really have developing characters.. but i think that show is hilarious

The newer series is moving this way with Will & Grace trying for a baby. And jack having a son.

having only 4 main characters in W&G does limit the storylines a bit. But the famous people doing guess appearences is really cool .. and best of all when the play themselves like Cher and Kevin Bacon.
RonHaze
04-09-2003, 02:10 PM
Originally posted by bongbudda
I really dont think we are in a good place to have a go at US TV for being unintelligent, there are so many shows on British TV that are just foul.

Any of the 'uncovered' series on Sky for example, or, well preaty much anything on Five or ITV.

Admittedly a lot of british telly aint great but friends is one of the US's best show, they export it all over the world. Imagine what their crap programs are like?
DG
04-09-2003, 09:55 PM
Friends is due to finsih in about 1 year's time... but it will be going for years and years as re-runs!! And those 6 will be earning a fortune from it for years to come.
*Lisa*
04-09-2003, 11:06 PM
It has never appealed to me. I think its shit. :)
Faith
04-09-2003, 11:09 PM
I think it's fab! Has me in stitches every time :D

Also I think you can relate to bits of every character, or spot your mates in them. Oh and I want to marry Joey and be Rachel :yes:
Jaloux
05-09-2003, 01:43 AM
Oh! People that don't like Friends! I, like some had already stated, don't like it either. :p

I can watch an episode every now and then, but I really hate how EVERYBODY seems to suggest "Friends" when a group of people are going to watch the TV. And msot have seen the episodes before. It's just :mad: :mad: :mad: and I end up being bored to death meanwhile.

I haven't noticed much of a storyline in it. Or perhaps I've missed it entirely because I so rarely watch it, but the fact that the characters don't develope through the seasons is a tad bit boring, and makes the effect of the "plot" fade.

But that's just my opinion. :)