The show that gave us these one liners, defied all logic of how a part-time waitress and chef could afford a spacious Manhattan apartment, and monopolized both our Thursday nights in the 90s and our current Netflix binges is turning 25 years old this year. You read that right.
Friends debuted 25 years ago.
Monica, Rachel, Phoebe, Ross, Joey, and Chandler came into our lives a quarter of a century ago; and while the show said farewell in 2004, it still holds popular today. My own 15 year old nephew just “discovered” it and for an entire week, I received texts filled with Friends gifs, one liners, and favorite moments. The best part? I was his same age when it first debuted, and I remember being just as excited after each episode. I also remember trying to get the Rachel haircut my sophomore year of high school. It was absolutely horrific and all photographic evidence has since been destroyed.
So, Friends fanatics, how are we going to celebrate this year? Sure we could binge the show again (Been there, done that), make our favorite recipes from the official Friends cookbook (Yes, it does exist), or even recreate the opening montage (Don’t act like you and your actual friends haven’t tried to dance in a fountain). You could do all this or you could go big. I’m talking Red Ross big.
Here are just some of the ways to celebrate this Friends-versary.
Friends 25th: The One With the Anniversary
Okay, good news/bad news.
Bad News: All cast members have confirmed that there will never be a Friends reboot aka The Only Reboot I Will Ever Watch.
Good News: They are returning to the big screen!
Actually, it’s the episodes. In a three night engagement, over 1,000 theaters are going to air the most popular episodes, remastered in 4k. All that 90s/Y2K fashion in high definition, people! Audiences will also be treated to never-before-seen footage and cast interviews.
Episodes are coming soon to a theater near you on September 23rd, September 28th, and October 2nd. Here’s just the run down:
September 23: Pilot –ReDo, The One With The Black Out, The One With The Birth, The One Where Ross Finds Out
September 28: The One With The Prom Video, The One Where No One’s Ready, The One With The Morning After, The One With The Embryos
October 2: The One With Chandler In A Box, The One With Ross’s Wedding – Part 2, The One Where Everyone Finds Out, The One Where Ross Got High
To find out if Friends 25th: The One With the Anniversary is coming to your local movie theater, click here!
Friends LEGO
I’ll admit it, when I first heard that LEGO was releasing a Friends Central Perk set, I scoffed. LEGOS are for children, I cantankerously thought.
That was until I saw the tiny LEGO coffee cups…
The Central Perk menu board…
Two words: LEGO. GUNTHER.
Don’t mind me. I’ll just be over here, shamelessly playing with my LEGOS and recreating Ross and Rachel’s first kiss.
LEGO’s Central Perk is available here!
The One With the Actual Apothecary Table
The year was 2000. Rachel was living with Phoebe, and wanted to put her own little touch on their common space. Enter the infamous Pottery Barn apothecary table. Y’know, a purchase any typical twenty something person on a limited budget could afford.
It was then that one of the most shocking secrets of Phoebe was revealed. More shocking than her evil twin, Ursula, or her green card marriage. More shocking than her being the surrogate to her half-brother’s triplets. Phoebe hated Pottery Barn.
In celebration of Friends’ 25th anniversary, Pottery Barn is doing the unthinkable: they are re-releasing the apothecary table.
Described as “from the days of yore,” the table will set you back about $1,099. No wonder Phoebe hated this place. Don’t want to spend that much on a table you’re probably going to hate in a year? No worries, Pottery Barn is also hawking lesser priced goodies such as Friends themed pillows, Central Perk mugs, and tea towels embroidered with Rachel’s meat and fruit English trifle.
Call me crazy, but I still wonder how that trifle tasted.
