"Friends" Article in Philadelphia Inquirer

There is an article in today's (Thursday's) Philadelphia Inquirer newspaper about Friends. It contains SPOILERS for those who have not seen the most recent episodes. The URL is:

In article , [email] (Essex9999) wrote:

Thanks for the spoiler warning, it relates to episodes 812-815

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Whatever the Ross & Rachel fans might say, they'll keep watching the show whatever happens - while it's the Joey & Rachel thing that is bringing in the extra millions of viewers. Those are the people most important to Kauffman & Crane, who decide what happens next.

Tennant Stuart

Tennant wrote

That's the author's conclusion, and he may be right for all I know. It's quite a backhanded compliment, however, since his view is that Joey and Rachel belong together because they're both intellectual lightweights!

--Rollie

In article , [email] (Essex9999) wrote:

Well, I'd be glad to describe myself as an intellectual lightweight, since I also find "Citizen Kane" boring - and you wouldn't catch me awarding a major arts prize to a room where the lights go on & off.

Tennant

tennant wrote:

Just to be clear, the implication about Joey's and Rachel's limited mental capacities came from the author of the article, not from me.

In article , [email] (Essex9999) wrote:

But of course. :)

Tennant

Tennant Stuart wrote in message news:...

I know I'll boycott Friends if they pair Rachel and Joey up and that's good enough for me.

Nielsen ratings for friends have a season average of 24.45 million. The last three episodes exclduing 816 have averaged approximately 3.5 to 4 million viewers more. Am I to understand the extra 3.5 to 4 million viewers are most important to Kauffman and Crane?

The Joey & Rachel plot is bringing in extra millions but can that be taken for granted that the majority want a Joey and Rachel romantic pairing?

<< > Thanks for the spoiler warning, it relates to episodes 812-815

I know I'll boycott Friends if they pair Rachel and Joey up and that's good enough for me.

Nielsen ratings for friends have a season average of 24.45 million. The last three episodes exclduing 816 have averaged approximately 3.5 to 4 million viewers more. Am I to understand the extra 3.5 to 4 million viewers are most important to Kauffman and Crane?

I agree with this last statement. I know a lot of people who are watching more to see what happens, but are not specifically hoping for a Joey and Rachel pairing. (Also, with Will and Grace, the NBC lineup is still great.) The story telling has just been good. LeBlanc and Aniston have been giving fineperformances. But, I just can't see the romantic pairing of the two. I love the growth of Joey's charactor and I like the unrequited part of it. Its painful, real and interesting to watch. Do I want Ross and Rachel to end end together when all is said and done? The jury is out on that for me. Do I think that Ross and Rachel WILL get together at the end of the series? There is not a doubt in my mind.

In article , [email] (Figgers) wrote:

Fans have said things like that in the past, but when it came to the crunch, it turned out that most of them kept watching.

Yep. They're the most volatile, like the floating voters in an election, while the diehard fans are like the members who'll always vote for the party no matter what the official candidate is like.

Would you be happy if they got together at the end of the final episode, even though what happened after that was left to your imagination?

Tennant

<< The story telling has just been good. LeBlanc and <<Aniston have been giving fine performances. But, I <<just can't see the romantic << pairing of the two.I love the growth of Joey's <<charactor and I like the << unrequited part of it. Its painful, real and <<interesting to watch. Do I <<want Ross and Rachel to end end together when all <<is said and done? The << jury is out on that for me. Do I think that Ross and <<Rachel WILL get together at the end of the series? <<There is not a doubt in my mind.

To which our Tennent posed: <<Would you be happy if they got together at the end of the final episode, even though what happened after that was left to your imagination?>>

You have lost me with this query, Tennent What couple are you referring to here: Ross and Rachel? Joey and Rachel? Do explain. Many thanks

Cheers

Actually, he may have meant Joey and Ross. Remember how they enjoyed sleeping together in that episode back in Season 7? And then there was another episode in the same season in which they got stuck together on the terrace of a building, and shared a little fondling on their way down a fire escape.

So how about the following scenario? Rachel marries Tag (who has overcome the initial shock of finding out that Rachel was pregnant) or Paolo (who in the last six or so years has become something of a decent human being). Then, both Joey and Ross are left broken-hearted, so they turn to each other for support and end up becoming gay and falling in love. I always knew there was something fishy about Joey's obsession with his manhood.

:) :) :) :)

In article , [email] (Figgers) wrote:

Sorry Figgers, I wasn't clear enough.

I meant Ross & Rachel, since you are such a fan of them as a couple.

Tennant

Figgers<< In article , [email] (Figgers) wrote:

Sorry Figgers, I wasn't clear enough.

I meant Ross & Rachel, since you are such a fan of them as a couple. >>

LOL

Tennent, you are wrong here.

THIS is what I said:

<<I agree with this last statement. I know a lot of people who are watching more to see what happens, but are not specifically hoping for a Joey and Rachel pairing. (Also, with Will and Grace, the NBC lineup is still great.) The story telling has just been good. LeBlanc and Aniston have been giving fine performances. But, I just can't see the romantic pairing of the two. I love the growth of Joey's charactor and I like the unrequited part of it. Its painful, real and interesting to watch. Do I want Ross and Rachel to end end together when all is said and done? The jury is out on that for me. Do I think that Ross and Rachel WILL get together at the end of the series? There is not a doubt in my mind.>. (End cut & paste)

Can you tell me why you think I am such a fan of Ross and Rachel from what I wrote here?

Life seems to be very black and white for you. Or , rather, Rachel and Joey or Rachel and Ross.

There IS grey, my dear.

Figgers

In article , [email] (Figgers) wrote:

*�I agree with this last statement. I know a lot of people who are *�watching more to see what happens, but are not specifically hoping for a *�Joey and Rachel pairing. (Also, with Will and Grace, the NBC lineup is *�still great.) The story telling has just been good. LeBlanc and Aniston *�have been giving fine performances. But, I just can't see the romantic *�pairing of the two. I love the growth of Joey's charactor and I like the *�unrequited part of it. Its painful, real and interesting to watch. Do I *�want Ross and Rachel to end end together when all is said and done? The *�jury is out on that for me. Do I think that Ross and Rachel WILL get *�together at the end of the series? There is not a doubt in my mind.

No, because you have just quoted the *third* paragraph of your post, and my assumption was also based on the *first* paragraph of your post, which was...

**�Whatever the Ross & Rachel fans might say, they'll keep watching the **�show whatever happens

*�I know I'll boycott Friends if they pair Rachel and Joey up and that's *�good enough for me.

Now, I agree that you didn't say who you supported, only that you were very against Joey & Rachel. However, you were replying to my remark about Ross & Rachel fans, then later you twice talked about Ross & Rachel, and you never once mentioned the name "Phoebe", so it was a fair assumption.

Yes there is my dear, and if you knew me better, or had read my reviews, you would know that I do not regard life as black & white.

So, who do you support? No couple at all, or some other couple that does not include Joey or Rachel? If so, why threaten to boycott the show?

And please notice that my name is spelt

Tennant

tennant wrote:

final episode,

You didn't ask me, but I'll answer anyway. :-)

The short answer is yes, but since I'm pathetically incapable of short answers, I'll elaborate.

Yes, I could be happy with this if the writers have given it a proper build-up, showing us hints of a growing affection between the two, teasing us with the possibility of a reunion, allowing us to have the pleasure of anticipation and hope, and treating Ross' character with respect. No, I would not be happy if we have 22 weeks of Mental Geller, arguments and unhappiness between Ross and Rachel, and lengthy relationships with other people, only to have them fall into each others' arms, against all logic, in the final moments of the final episode.

On a totally unrelated topic, do you think there is hope that Ross will be well treated by the writers this year, based on the idea that they had to pursuade DS to sign on again? Similarly, do you think Phoebe will finally get some decent storylines as a payback to LK for agreeing to return? I hope there's hope.

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

pairing?

more

story

I

Its

end

There

I will be very disappointed if they end with RnR.

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

I have my own theory on this. I think more people are watching Friends because Friends has gotten much better this season and Survivor has gotten tired.

More people are watching it because the quality has improved? Too simple to be satisfying?

Before I begin, Tennant, I wanted to apologise for the spelling your name correctly. My name is often mispelled and i don't like it eaither.

I am afraid that we have both fallen victim to the danger of all the protracted cut and pasting on boards. The original statement of which you are questioning is not mine. It wasn't "quoted" properly by the time I posted. Sorry for the confusion.

Here is the orginal post and its writer: BTW they also answered the question that you asked me.

Cheers

<< Subject: Re: "Friends" Article in Philadelphia Inquirer From: [email] (NARAG) Date: Thu, Feb 28, 2002 11:11 PM Message-id:

Tennant Stuart wrote in message news:...

I know I'll boycott Friends if they pair Rachel and Joey up and that's good enough for me.

In article , [email] (Figgers) wrote:

Thanks.

OIC. Oh well, never mind. This is why I try to keep the quoting straight in my posts, but it isn't always easy. :)

Tennant