What's the secret of Friends' success?

I've been watching Friends occasionally, since somewhere in the midle of season 2. I've liked that show, but that's it. Until last year, when I met a girl who lend me her collection of Friends videoboxes of season 1+2 (this girl is now my girlfriend BTW) Friends' status went from "liked" to "love" after i've watched those boxsets in one day and one night. I liked it so much that I went out to buy Season 4+5 on DVD and later Season 3.

Then the status of Friends' raised from "love" to "LOVE". Then I bought season 1+2 and it raised to "ADDICTION! Esp. now I also got Season 6 on DVD and the eps of 7 from the net.

But now I actually wonder. Why did I do that? I've been a tv-addict all my life, but I've NEVER spent such a fortune on a tv-serie!! What makes Friends so special that I actually want to have all series?

On this sleepless night, I've thought it over.

For me, the secret of Friends' success consists of these 4 parts:

1. The viewer never has a chance to "rest". He/she is BOMBARDED with an endless chain of gags. And pretty clever ones too, esp. combined with great quotes.

2. There isn't focus on 1 or 2 characters. There are 6 characters that are stealing the show, each with different personalities. There must be at least ONE that you like.

3 Because it has so many characters, there's always at least TWO different storylines in an episode. So you have more chance that at least one is appealing to you.

4. The actors were quite unknown (esp. for courteney cox) so the viewer won't have many prejeduces about what kind of personality they'll play. (did I mentioned they were great actors from the beginning?)

Well, what do you think? Is that all of them? Can you think off more? I don't think that the usual Babes&Hunks is a reason, since even if you've put the world's pretties people on a show. If the show itself lacks personality, no one will watch it for long.

I agree with you on many of your points. I think the main thing for me, is that the show is about 6 very, very different people. But they also interact with eachother on a consistant basis. On alot of TV shows, each character will go off an do their own thing, then re-join the rest of the cast later. But on Friends I notice that even thoough they each have different things going on in their individual lives, the other 5 are always there for them. Plus it is refreshing to see 6 people were very distinct character traits, who never really put eachother down. Of course, they have arguements - but their friendship always bounces right back from their disagreements even though they are all so different.

Well Phoebe does kind of slam her friends every now & then, especially Chandler.

====== es*o*ter*ic b : of or relating to knowledge that is restricted to a small group

2 a : limited to a small circle

In addition to the factors you mention, I think it's that the characters are distinct. Most sitcom characters consist of randomly thrown together personality traits and neuroses, but the Friends cast are definite individuals. Grace, from Will & Grace, for example, is purportedly neurotic, but she really just goes into a panic about whatever off the wall thing the writers need her to go into a panic about ... whereas Monica is *genuinely* neurotic about specific things. Monica reminds me of ... myself *cough* and several other people I know well. Grace doesn't remind me of anyone I've ever met. They also do without a lot of standard cliche characters, like the leeching best friend. Joey leeched off Chandler to a degree, but he always had a sense of integrity and worked when he could.

i know how u feel i am all addicted could u please tell me stuff about series 7 and do u know who is pregnant in series 7

Yeah, the person who is pregnant is:

spoiler space x x x x x x

No one is pregnant. Don't believe everything you read.

====== es*o*ter*ic b : of or relating to knowledge that is restricted to a small group

2 a : limited to a small circle

I think the success of Friends is due to two reasons:

• Good writing

2. The talent of the actors in their ability to pull it off, especially Lisa Kudrow and Matthew Perry.

Initially I started watching Friends once in a while for a typical male reason: Courtney Cox. Then I noticed that her two female costars were even more attractive than she was. So I started watching it more. Then I noticed that the show was very funny and the writing was wonderful - and I have been watching every episode ever since.

Kevin