"Friends" finale - who will be watching?

You know, I used to be a big fan of the show. Even had some of the DVDs for awhile. But I got sick of the show after awhile, and stopped watching two or three seasons ago (around the time it jumped the shark).

I might watch, if I'm home.

 

I will be there for them...

 

Wha? Friends is going off the air? Who knew? Why didn't somebody tell me?

 

I used to watch a bunch of reruns and liked it. Eventually just lost interest, as there seemed to be nothing new. I might watch tonight.

 

Steve, I'm actually surprised to hear such a response from you. I don't disagree that they make a *lot* of moolah, but the show brings in a lot of bucks and the dough's gotta go to someone, right? So why not to the actors? ('Cause the public doesn't care who the producers and writers are! ) The show probably makes hundreds of millions, especially in syndication.

 

I gave up on that show just as Survivor came into existence. It has always been a pleasant show with some good laughs but the romantic triangles between the Friends kinda turned me off.

I'm frankly a bit sick of these characters and actors to care tonight.

 

As to the question, yep, I'll be watching. I've been a big fan of the show from its inception - it's been one of my favorite sitcoms (and I don't like too many of them). I'm not sure if the show ever really "jumped the shark" (and man, am I starting to get tired of that overused phrase), though I will admit that it has changed considerably over the years and not always for the better. But it's really hard for any TV show to last for ten seasons without change. It's hard to come up with 250+ stories using the same characters and basic situations. I think the show is still funny - it benefits from some of the better sitcom writers - but it is showing its age. Though I'll miss it, I'm glad to see it go before it starts to become embarrassing - like some other shows that stayed around far too long.

 

I got tired of Friends a couple of years ago, when they ran out of semi-interesting story lines. However, I did watch for years and will watch tonight, though my hopes aren't high for anything really good. Hopefully there will be at least a few laughs.

Jeff

 

My wife will be all over this show tonight.
Me, I'll be watching baseball.

Peace-
Norm

 

I would like to think that I would! The fact is, I don't know what they're doing with their money (a million per episode IIRC) - they may be funding clinics on the side for all I know, but it really isn't any of my buisiness to tell them what to do with it. Do I think they're *worth* it? No, not really, but obviously NBC and the show's producers thought they were to agree to pay them so much. (It's not unlike, say, Alex Rodriguez, getting a $250 million baseball contract.) To me, it has nothing to do with what the actors do with the money they earn - I would like to believe they are philanthropic - but since they are such a fundamental part of the show's success, shouldn't they try to get as much as they can? If they don't get their (bigger) cut, the profits would just go to the network and the producers. It's not an either (TV show) or (free clinic) proposition.

 

Hopefully the end of the show means the end of those awful promos.

I'll take Three's Company any day over that dreck!

 

Frankly, there's a whole lot of overpaid actors, sports stars, rock stars, rap stars, Corporate CEO's, etc. who could be doing great, charitable things with their money. Lots of them do, in fact. Kind of hard to single out only the Friends cast for not saving the world.

 

Easy to predict what'll happen: Ross and Rachel get married, the gang splits up, and Joey heads for California.

Me, I'll be working! Watch A&E's Biography and order a copy of the show; you just might get me on the phone!

Evan

 

I will not be watching this last episode...

I'd rather watch 10.5 again!

Bob

 

The FRIENDS cast make as much as the network is willing to pay and still make their profits. Nobody is required to be charitable no matter how much they make (should they be? Sounds like socialism to me). We don't really know what these folks do with all their money, but it's theirs and if they want to sit on it, so be it. Sinatra gave away millions during his life and much about his philanthropy was unknown until after he died. If you're gonna be angry at TV stars for their salaries, let's at least be even-handed. Do you patronize Laker games? A-Rod? Mick Jagger? Steve Wynn properties? Or are you boycotting them until they pony up for a free clinic too?

PS I saw one episode of FRIENDS three years ago and that was plenty...blech. The level of their self-absorption and immaturity in that one ep made the pea-brain characters on SEINFELD look like volunteer hospice workers by comparison.

 

As far as I know, David Schwimmer, at least, has poured lots of money into keeping his old theater group at home alive. Why single these 6 out for getting what they deserve business-wise, when the same could be said for hundreds of rock stars (some of who you have worked with), and Hollywood types (not to mention overpaid CEOs & the like). What about Ray Romano, who makes the same money for a show that doesn't have 1/10th of the quality of a Friends (flame suit on)?
I, for one, will have the tissues out!

 

Steve has talked about this kind of thing before in regards to others(Paris Hilton), and while I see his point, we are talking about ACTORS here; not exactly the most intellectual of occupations.

Young people are caught up in themselves, and are not thinking of any social issues that involve giving away huge amounts of money. I could imagine Jennifer Anison is afraid it could all go away now that Friends is through, and it sure could for her.

Evan

 

OK. For the amount of great work I have seen from them for the last 10 years, they deserve every penny. Besides, we Gellers have to stick together!

 

How's Uri anyway, Larry?


Evan

 

The 60s: Bruce Geller (producer of Mission Impossible) jokes
The 70s & 80s: Uri Geller jokes
The 90s: Sara Michelle Gellar (now everybody spells my name wrong) jokes
The 00s: Ross & Monica jokes

I can't win!

 

Kelsey Grammer leaves the air as Frasier a bit later this year, and as I understand it, makes more than anyone else on TV, so we'll have to start a new thread to get Steve's feelings for the end of that show later...

 

Well, I'll be seeing Van Helsing this evening, so I won't be seeing the last Friends until later, Tivo'd. So don't anyone tell me how it ends.