Should Friends have a WTC episode?

Hello.

I know I'll be flamed no matter how I phrase it. 'Friends' is set in New York City in the present. Should there be a WTC episode? Each friend would be worried about the others. Could Phoebe's twin sister Ursula be among the missing?

jsl

"jsl151" wrote in message news:[email]...

I will try to keep from making my reply sound like a flame.

I don't think this set of writers has the mammoth sensitivity required to make this work. I also don't know how anybody could make it funny. What you are suggesting is not so much lacking in respect as simply too hard to manage successfully.

absolutely not. plain and simple.

On 17 Sep 2001 19:04:08 GMT, [email] (SHNOCODY) wrote:

I second that. You just don't joke about a tragedy like this.

"abrahammy" wrote in message news:wjbp7.12442$[email]...

Why does it have to be funny?

Many comedies have super serious episodes, All in the Family, Mash, Cheers, Taxi, ...

Make it impact the show... kill off their cousin (the one played by Denise Richards...)...

F This would require some serious balls...

Freakster wrote in message news:[email]...

You're right. Balls which the producers, not to mention the other writers, have already demonstrated they don't have. Something like The West Wing can get away with it - but unfortunately for you, Friends is *not* any of the sitcoms you cited, and given that it's more than likely their last season is not about to become that now. We're talking about a show that *mocks* "Very Special Episodes", for them to become what they mock would be ridiculous, regardless of the circumstances.

"Tina" wrote in message news:9oqid7$hjv$[email]...

writers,

can

is

"Very

They mock to be unique...

No other sitcom would be daring enough to stop the comedy for a show or two, and do something serious... The rest are going to pretend it didn't happen...

Which, is much more insulting to the memory of those who lost people, then to confront it...

F High Drama and Comedies can exist... Alley McBeal, when they killed off her ex-boyfriend is a good example... however, that show had bettter writing than this one has had in the last year or so...

"Freakster" wrote in message news:[email]...

the

season

ridiculous,

two,

The writers of this show simply are not up to anything as difficult as what you are proposing. The best we can hope for, I think, is a quiet mention that one of the Friends has gone to give blood, or the sporting of a red, white and blue ribbon on somebody's collar.

(Ghastly poor-taste-attempting-to-be-funny scene comes into my head; Monica and Phoebe try to convince Rachel to give blood, but she gets all "squinky" when she sees the needle. No, wait, we'll be spared that; pregnant women can't give blood. Phew.) I think a quiet written statement before or after the show, expressing sympathy for the grieving of New York, is probably the most likely and the most fitting tribute. I don't think they'll ignore it, but I don't think they'll depict the Friends living through it.

But wait! Ross isn't pregnant and doesn't like needles. They could try to get him to donate! I could see Monica beating him up to do so. But they still shouldn't try it. Not because I don't think they should but because I don't think they could do it tastefully.

This is me!

What kind of scary ass clowns came to your birthday parties?

In article , [email] (abrahammy) usenetted:

In a way, that's a shame: I think the show about Monica running a relief kitchen would be a pretty interesting mix of comedy and drama -- the kind of mix M*A*S*H managed on a weekly basis.

Phoebe picking several suddenly homeless folks to bring home might be interesting, though.

Indeed, seems the most likely and most sensible. Though long-term I think it's going to have a problem pretending to take place in an NYC where the attacks never happened.

wg

wrote in message news:9ov4ob$ppk$[email]...

But MASH didn't air while the war was still going on. I doubt it would've been received as positively as it was (frankly, I always found it overrated, but that's beside the point) had it been on the air at the same time as the war.

Lewis.

BS!

This(friends) is NOT real life! And they CANNOT make a WTC episode! Its ridiculous. We want things back to normal! Not to forget what happened but we want to watch Friends, the way it always is. Adding WTC thing will ruin Friends!

Sofya

"Freakster" wrote in message news:[email]...

the

season

ridiculous,

two,

her

I believe a "In Memory..." frame at the end of an episode is appropriate. This is a SitCom...the last half stands for comedy. Comedy and Tragedies don't go well together. I think this was demonstrated on a few Seinfeld episodes. The first one that comes to mind is George's Fianc�e dying.

I don't see not mentioning it causing harm. Like Sofya said, Friends is not real and I am sure others are like me and enjoy watching the show to get out of the daily grind and reality for 30 minutes once a week.

-Robert

"Sofya" wrote in message news:9oti7k$79f$[email]...

but

Wing

then

Thank you Robert, i completely agree.

Sofya

"Robert" wrote in message news:ckws7.894$[email]...

not

out

ruin

of

*mocks*

or

off

writing

It would be good, but it would have to be a very serious and solemn episode. Not much kidding around...

nbc101

jsl151 wrote in message news:[email]...

"Doug Sommerville" wrote in message news:...

I don't think they'd have to have a whole episode dedicated to it, but I think they could mention something in an episode about volunteering for help with it, giving money to Red Cross or whatever. People seem to forget that acknowleging something like this doesn't necessarily mean the whole episode has to be dominated by it. For starters, to recreate it for purposes of the Friends watching it from Monica's window would probably be just as upsetting for the many viewers who are affected by it as the Chandler/Monica airport bomb joke plot that's just been pulled. What would make more sense would be for the gang to be shown dealing with the aftermath in small ways - that way it's being acknowledged, but hopefully not causing any major offence or upset, and not forcing the writers into a necessarily "no intended laughs" episode (even The Morning After had quite a few laughs, in spite of the fact it's still remembered by most as the saddest and most upsetting episode to date).

Which episode was that? "The Morning After?" It doesnt ring a bell with me. Thanks

Christy "Tina" wrote in message news:[email]...

news:...

episode.

me.

It's one after the night Ross slept with the Xerox girl. "The One The Morning After" is the exact title, I think.

Tina wrote:

I don't think touching that subject with a ten-foot pole is a good idea. Not even if they're depicting it in a serious manner. Then, the episode that airs a week later will. . . what? return to the fun and games and laughs that makes up the Friends' world?

Not sure what they're going to do about the various lead-ins and lead-outs that show the twin-towers, however. . . .

Of all the shows that are set in NY, Friends (and also Will & Grace) will probably have the easiest time in terms of handling the tragedy. Just because the stories are so insular (the show is about the six friends and that's it), they can completely ignore it ever happened without skipping a beat. Law & Order, Third Watch (ESPECIALLY this show), Just Shoot Me, Spin City and The West Wing (set in Washington, of course--will they just ignore that the Pentagon was blown up?) will have a more difficult time since their stories are so much based on a working environment and the city.

Lewis.

In article , [email] (Lewis Nguyen) usenetted:

Spin City especially. But also, what about Sex and the City? I can easily imagine an episode: "How soon after a tragedy is it OK to start having sex?"

wg

I don't think so. Too sensitive material. Not to be put in a sitcom, IMHO.

/Faskil.

I was thinking about that.I did one for my "Three's Company spinoff "Melody and Chrissy" over at Sitcoms online and it was the only episode of that show that got #1 in the ratings so maybe.

In article , "maryelleen" writes:

No, because people will accuse them of capitalzing on a tradgedy. Plus it could do more harm than good in bringing it up again, like re-opening a painful wound. People are going to want to escape from reality and catch a good laugh.

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Hey! Don't I know you from somewhere? :)

This is me!

What kind of scary ass clowns came to your birthday parties?

Hah velvet..the aol friends board. :)

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There is a very good reason why you'll be flamed, because it's probably the most stupid suggestion I've ever heard. When you finally wake up and realise that Friends ISN'T real, you'll realise why you don't make a bubble gum comedy out of a major world tragedy.

Bryan

"jsl151" wrote in message news:[email]...

"jsl151" wrote in message news:[email]...

Why? Are people that touchy?

As are many shows...

Absolutely... at this point, ignoring it is far more disrespectful then not...

Sure... They need to have a serious episode... it will tone the show up a couple of notches... it has come very close to jumping the shark (actually, many have stopped watching, believeing that it jumped two years ago when Ross and Rachel broke up...)

Actually, I was thinking of the cousin, played by Denise Richards...

But they need to resolve the wedding/honeymoon thingy...

F

ABSOLUTELY NOT! It might be all dramatic and intersting to viewers not from New York, but for those of us who lived through (and continue to live with) the agony of missing people, of seeing the memorials EVERYWHERE and the "missing" posters on every lamp-post in the city, it would be too much to bear. Even *if* the writers could pull it off (which is being debated in other posts), it is not what people watch Friends for. No-one in New York wants to have to go through all of this on some tv show - we've got CNN for that. And for those not in New York who are missing the experience, thank God for that! You don't wnat that kind of agony.

"j-me" wrote in message news:[email]...

I was born and raised in Washington Heights, and went to high school at Art & Design on 57th and 2nd... I used to work a block from the South Tower...

Used to hang out at J & R Music world (the one across from City Hall...), and South Street SeaPort...

My mom was supposed to go to the North Tower to see her Broker... she was sick that day, and didn't go...

All the circuits were busy, so I didn't know she was okay to late that afternoon...

My college roommate was wounded, and they didn't find him until Wednesday...

F The real question here is whethere there is any writing skill that can pull this off...

"j-me" wrote in message

This is true but...I suspect that the people who make Friends will want to pay their respects to the people of New York at this tragic time. After all they have used New York for 7 years.. surely they will want to pay something back. I can't see how they can write anything suitable into an episode but I think an on-screen message and a moment of silence instead of a pre-credits scene might be appropiate. This would allow viewers of Friends around the world to also have a brief moment to reflect on events too. After this time though viewers should expect to see Friends go back to its own little insulated world. If this still insults then you would have to stop watching the show.

Just my 2c.

Pete

In article , "Freakster" wrote:

I hate to say this, but they broke up 4� years ago, all since was teasing.

Tennant Stuart (who is *not* gloating)

On Wed, 26 Sep 2001, Tennant Stuart stated this considered view. Waking from my doze, I hastily scrawled -

What about their Vegas marriage?

In article , Paul Hyett wrote:

Teasing.

Tennant

On Wed, 26 Sep 2001, Tennant Stuart stated this considered view. Waking from my doze, I hastily scrawled -

What about (S8 spoiler - ROT-13) Ebff orvat gur sngure bs Enpury'f onol?

In article , Paul Hyett wrote:

No comment until I see the episode in a few days time.

Tennant

On Thu, 27 Sep 2001, Tennant Stuart stated this considered view. Waking from my doze, I hastily scrawled -

Your secret source again? :)

In article , Paul Hyett wrote:

The voyage begins...

Tennant

English please!

"Paul Hyett" wrote in message news:[email]...

In article , "Sofya" wrote:

It was in English, but rotated by 13 letters. Use this to decipher it...

       A-B-C-D-E-F-G-H-I-J-K-L-M-N-O-P-Q-R-S-T-U-V-W-Y-X-Z
       N-O-P-Q-R-S-T-U-V-W-Y-X-Z-A-B-C-D-E-F-G-H-I-J-K-L-M

..but don't reveal what it says!

Tennant Stuart

On Fri, 28 Sep 2001, Tennant Stuart stated this considered view. Waking from my doze, I hastily scrawled -

Yes, it is a highly classified grade A spoiler! :)

The spoiler is scrambled. Your news reader probably has a unscramble feature marked ROT-13 somewhere. Use that and then you can read the spoiler.

-Robert

"Sofya" wrote in message news:9p08oo$f2l$[email]...