Season 8 started here (the Netherlands) recently, and the episodes so far have been much, much better than the ones in season 6 and 7. I thought the characters were actually caricatures in those two seasons, even more than characters in sitcoms usually already are.
Is there a reason why the sense of humor exhibited in seasons 6 and 7 is so very different from the one in seasons 1 to 5, and now apparently also in season 8? Were different writers used in 6 and 7? Is Matthew Perry's input so valuable that his addictions had a detrimental effect on the qualitiy of the show (other than that he possibily looked less attractive :-), or are there yet other reasons?
Anyone?
J.
PS: I don't visit this group very often, so my apologies if this question has been posted before.
The following episodes were written by writers used in S6 and S7...
(Some people beware that some of the S8 titles are spoilerish)
101 "TOW Monica Gets a Roommate"
102 "TOW the Sonogram at the End"
106 "TOW the Butt"
108 "TOW Nana Dies Twice"
110 "TOW the Monkey"
112 "TOW the Dozen Lasagnes"
116 "TOW Two Parts (part 1)"
117 "TOW Two Parts (part 2)"
120 "TOW the Evil Orthodontist"
121 "TOW the Fake Monica"
123 "TOW the Birth"
202 "TOW the Breast Milk"
203 "TOW Heckles Dies"
208 "TOW the List"
211 "TOW the Lesbian Wedding"
215 "TOW Ross and Rachel... You Know"
217 "TOW Eddie Moves In"
219 "TOW Eddie Won't Go"
220 "TOW Old Yeller Dies"
221 "TOW the Bullies"
301 "TOW the Princess Leia Fantasy"
303 "TOW the Jam"
305 "TOW Frank Jr."
306 "TOW the Flashback"
307 "TOW the Race Car Bed"
308 "TOW the Giant Poking Device"
310 "TOW Rachel Quits"
312 "TOW All the Jealousy"
314 "TOW Phoebe's Ex-Partner"
316 "TOT Morning After"
317 "TOWo the Ski Trip"
318 "TOW the Hypnosis Tape"
319 "TOW the Tiny T-shirt"
320 "TOW the Dollhouse"
322 "TOW the Screamer"
323 "TOW Ross's Thing"
324 "TOW the Ultimate Fighting Champion"
325 "TOA the Beach"
401 "TOW the Jellyfish"
403 "TOW the 'Cuffs"
404 "TOW the Ballroom Dancing"
405 "TOW Joey's New Girlfriend"
406 "TOW the Dirty Girl"
407 "TOW Chandler Crosses the Line"
409 "TOW They're Going to Party!"
410 "TOW the Girl from Poughkeepsie"
411 "TOW Phoebe's Uterus"
413 "TOW Rachel's Crush"
414 "TOW Joey's Dirty Day"
415 "TOW All the Rugby"
416 "TOW the Fake Party"
418 "TOW Rachel's New Dress"
419 "TOW All the Haste"
420 "TOW All the Wedding Dresses"
421 "TOW the Invitation"
422 "TOW the Worst Best Man Ever"
424 "TOW Ross's Wedding (part 2)"
501 "TOA Ross Says Rachel"
502 "TOW All the Kissing"
503 "TOW the Triplets"
505 "TOW the Kips"
507 "TOW Ross Moves In"
508 "TOW the Thanksgiving Flashbacks"
509 "TOW Ross's Sandwich"
510 "TOW the Inappropriate Sister"
511 "TOW All the Resolutions"
513 "TOW Joey's Bag"
515 "TOW the Girl Who Hits Joey"
516 "TOW the Cop"
517 "TOW Rachel's Inadvertent Kiss"
519 "TOW Ross Can't Flirt"
520 "TOW the Ride Along"
521 "TOW the Ball"
522 "TOW Joey's Big Break"
523 "TOI Vegas (part 1)"
524 "TOI Vegas (part 2)"
801 "TOA 'I Do'"
803 "TOW Rachel Tells..."
804 "TOW the Videotape"
805 "TOW Rachel's Date"
808 "TOW the Stripper"
809 "TOW the Rumor"
810 "TOW Monica's Boots"
812 "TOW Joey Dates Rachel"
813 "TOW Chandler Takes a Bath"
814 "TOW the Secret Closet"
816 "TOW Joey Tells Rachel"
819 "TOW Joey's Interview"
820 "TOW the Baby Shower"
821 "TOW the Cooking Class"
822 "TOW Rachel is Late"
Well, first of all, season eight - if it's just started there, prepare yourself for a disappointment because it doesn't get better again for a *long* time. The writing has taken a serious downturn.
Interesting you bring up Matthew -- this is something I've thought about too. I've read and heard on several occasions that he regularly contributes to the script and to each individual scene, and he often works with the writers crafting jokes. Since his humor is very distinctive, I think that he has in the past been very influential to Friends behind the scenes. And I agree that when he was going through the worst of his personal problems, not only did the character of Chandler suffer, but the show suffered as well. Whether this is due to the cast chemistry being off-balance because of his problems and subsequent absence last year, or due to the lack of his direct influence on each script, is probably a toss-up. I'm sure it's no coincidence that the quality of the show went down when he was no longer able to give it 100%, and probably wasn't too enthusiastic about coming to work for a time there. Lately Chandler has become a great character again, and the show has improved steadily as MP's health has improved. So, who really knows, but it's a good point. Guess we'll have to wait for the E! True Hollywood Story for Friends ten years from now. <g> I'm happy that he's healthy again and I hope he takes the opportunity to do some writing and directing during Friends final season next year. That would be fantastic.
Matthew Perry has contributed to the odd joke here and there. When the writers are stuck, they have approached him but I don't think we can say that he regularly contributes to each individual scene. He doesn't get paid for that.
And I agree that when he was going through
His health had a direct affect on his performance on the show. He had to work around his rehab situation to shoot the last few episodes last season. Also the writers might not have felt comfortable to give him meaty stories fearing that he wasn't upto delivering the jokes as he used to. He is looking healthy these days and is getting back on form.
I'm happy that he's healthy again and I hope
He's signed on a number for films. It looks like he's going to have a busy summer.
Yorin ("Friends" is the only decent show they have, so I usually pronounce this as "urine", rather than the way the channel's marketing people probably prefer me to pronounce it: "you're in"), Tuesday, around 8:30pm.