(no subject)

[jfb]

I recalled as the finale ended that the first season of Friends started when I was living in Palo Alto after college, the first time I'd really lived alone. I remember proselytizing for it that fall, commending its self-awareness about sitcom history while I quietly got hooked on the Ross and Rachel storyline. I've gone through phases of watching and not watching, but it's basically been around for my whole adult life.

I enjoyed the finale okay. My favorite bits were all Phoebe, with a little Ross and Rachel for old time's sake.

Comments

[dougo.livejournal.com]

I pointedly avoided Friends when it started because it was at the height of mainstream "Gen X" marketing (not long after Reality Bites) and it just smelled totally fake and stupid (and the addition of a monkey during the first season didn't help). I didn't start watching until like season 4 or 5, which is when I realized that it was actually pretty smart and funny, and the actors were all great. (The show never did quite get any of the hair/clothing styles right, though, so I think I was right about the fake part.) I never really liked the Ross & Rachel thing, and all the endless marriages and babies made the last few years kind of a chore. But it never quite jumped the shark, thankfully.

I don't really remember any Phoebe parts from the finale, except for the cab driving, and keeping up the "Chick and Duck went to a farm" thing for Joey. My favorite parts were the Joey & Chandler moments, saying goodbye to the foosball table. And I was glad they didn't forget about Gunther, though I was really hoping Rachel would run off with him instead.

I was glad several of the clip shows (yes, I watched Dateline and a bunch of E specials) showed parts of the trivia contest where the guys won the girls' apartment ("actually, that's Miss Chnandler Bong"), but none of them showed my other favorite show, where Joey is auditioning to be a game show host ("Bamboozled!") and has to learn the ridiculously complicated rules:

Joey: Whoa, what's complicated? You spin the Wheel of Mayhem to go up the Ladder of Chance; you go past the Mud Hut; through the Rainbow Ring to get to the Golden Monkey; you yank his tail, and BOOM you're in Paradise Pond!

It's kind of too bad they're having Drea de Matteo play Joey's sister in the spin-off, instead of getting one of the actresses who really did play his sisters. But I guess none of them are famous enough, and they need some star power to keep it from dying on the vine...

[jfb.livejournal.com]

Yeah, Bamboozled was good. My favorite Phoebe bit last night was her attempts to turn it into a musical--I wish they'd kept that up a little longer. I also liked that she used the word "philangie" (sp?)--sort of like George Costanza always resorting to "Art Vandelay" under pressure.

It was totally fake, but, you know, it's TV.

[greyaenigma.livejournal.com]

I was interested to learn this morning that Frasier, which has been on the air even longer is leaving this year without much fanfare. I remember that coming on the air when I first moved out to Portland.

[jfb.livejournal.com]

Well, they have been selling the finale pretty energetically, making reference in the ads to its eleven years and "acclaimed" status. I imagine we'll be seeing the big push this week, now that Friends is out of the way.

But it's been losing energy and audience for a couple of years--as I understand it it was cancelled, not voluntarily ended--and of course it never was the juggernaut that Friends was.

[greyaenigma.livejournal.com]

I hadn't heard a peep about Frasier until this morning when someone mentioned it -- in a conversation about the Friends finale. Of course, I don't watch NBC, so that may account for some of it, but I've been deluged with people talking about Friends -- from last show parties on the radio to NPR commentary, to TiVo telling me to change my viewing habits to make sure I get the final episode and the pre-show whatever, and even my trainer at the gym has been asking me every Thursday if I'm going to watch the show that evening.

While I understand Frasier has flagged and its ratings sagged in recent years, I think it was still a better show (at its best), juggernaut or not. I can't wait for the Eddie! spin-off.

[michaelpop.livejournal.com]

i just commented to someone on how phoebe had the best lines last night.

sure the finale was predictable (even 3 years ago you knew that when the show ended it would have to end with ross and rachel riding off into the sunset), but i thought it was funny and did a fairly good job of sending everyone off. it's been a part of my life for 10 years too, and after so long, you really do start identifying with the characters. admittedly i haven't paid much attention to the last two seasons, but it'll always have a special place in my heart.

surprisingly, i didn't shed a tear. truly i am dead inside.

[jfb.livejournal.com]

Just like Chandler! Nicely done.