‘It Was So Skewed’: Friends Creator Opens Up About Disturbing Questionnaire Given By Network Shaming Monica For Sleeping With Co-Worker On First Date

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As a dedicated fan who’s spent countless hours laughing, crying, and growing with the Friends gang over two decades, I must say that Marta Kauffman and David Crane have always been visionaries. They stood their ground against network executives who underestimated the intelligence and empathy of their audience, particularly in regards to Monica Geller’s character arc.

In an interview, Marta Kauffman and David Crane, the minds behind Friends, shared that a network executive at NBC had concerns about Monica Geller’s behavior in the show’s pilot. This executive felt that her sleeping with coworker Paul “the wine guy” on their first date might make viewers dislike her because it went against the character’s perceived likability.

The creators of Friends shared with The Times that they had attempted to demonstrate that viewers would dislike Monica if she slept with a man on their first date. To verify this, the network circulated a survey to the audience during our dress rehearsal, and the results were heavily biased in one direction.

During a dress rehearsal, the NBC executive distributed surveys to gather opinions, questioning viewers about Monica’s actions. For example, one of the questions posed by Crane was, “Does Monica, who sleeps with a man on her first date, label herself as a) promiscuous or b) a prostitute?”

Indeed, several attendees penned remarks such as “none specified,” options that were not initially provided.

In simpler terms, Crane explained why it was acceptable for Monica to sleep with Paul, making her seem more understanding and endearing to viewers despite initial objections from television producers. Over time, this narrative choice proved successful as Monica gained viewer support, confirming the creators’ intuition.

Furthermore, this pair noted that fan responses significantly impacted another key story arc: Monica and Chandler Bing’s romance, portrayed by Courteney Cox and the late Matthew Perry. Initially intended to be a fleeting romantic encounter, the favorable reactions from London audiences transformed it into one of the series’ most significant plot developments. The pair began dating following their intimate moment at Ross and Emily’s wedding in London. This unexpected relationship contributed significantly to one of the show’s major transformative storylines.

67-year-old Kauffman was taken aback by the warm welcome British fans gave them, and this significantly influenced the subsequent events involving these beloved characters. He commented, “We initially thought it would be a fleeting encounter. However, the audience’s enthusiastic response in London significantly changed the direction of our storyline.”

David Crane pointed out that contrary to common beliefs about the British being reserved, they actually showed great enthusiasm for the characters Monica and Chandler.

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2024-08-18 09:52