TV News: David Schwimmer Says He Fought for More Diverse Friends Casting (Asian actress were BOOED on set) UPDATE: Matthew Perry RIP
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Erika Alexander Explains 'Friends' Success Vs. 'Living Single': "They Have The Complexion For The Protection" - Blavity
Hit ’90s show Living Single became one of the most iconic shows in TV history. Starring Queen Latifah as Kadijah James, Erika Alexander as Maxine Shaw, Kim Fields as Regine, Kim Coles as Sinclaire, T.C. Carson as Kyle Barker, and John Henton as Overton, Living Single followed 20-something young...
Erika Alexander Explains 'Friends' Success Vs. 'Living Single': "They Have The Complexion For The Protection"
March 08 2019
Hit '90s show Living Single became one of the most iconic shows in TV history. Starring Queen Latifah as Kadijah James, Erika Alexander as Maxine Shaw, Kim Fields as Regine, Kim Coles as Sinclaire, T.C. Carson as Kyle Barker, and John Henton as Overton, Living Single followed 20-something young Black professionals making their way in Brooklyn. Produced by A Different World's Yvette Lee Bowser, Living Single inspired a generation of young Black folks to achieve. In what's being called the Maxine Shaw Effect, Alexander's character alone sparked young Black women to go to law school like Max.
Yet, after 5 seasons, the show ended in 1998. The all-white version of the show, Friends premiered in 1994 to very different acclaim.
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"The difference between Friends and Living Single is one of marketing and skin color," Alexander told Shadow And Act. "What does Paul Mooney say? 'They have the complexion for the protection,'" she laughed.
While Friends went on to a ten-season run with each cast member raking in $1 million per episode, Living Single never received the financial success of its successor.
"If you were on a show with a Black cast you weren't seen as a show with a Black cast, which is how I like to see it. They saw you as a Black show. So they would often put you in a cultural ghetto. That would undermine any sort of ambitions that you might have to grow the show beyond its locked-in demographic," she said.
"I'm saying we should have gone beyond that. And I think it was just a lack of imagination and people who left money on the table," Alexander said.
It's funny,that in many cases, the Republican actors/directors/producers are/were more inclusive diversity-wise than the liberal ones. Kelsey Grammer had blacks on his show(Kim Coles and lightskin brutha who used to be in 'Trapper John') and 2 real-life bottymen-Dan Butler(Bulldog) ,David Hyde Pierce(Niles). Grammer's company, Gramnet,also produced 'Girlfriends.' Bruce Willis has often had black co-stars in major roles in his films. Same with Schwarzenneger. Stallone also. Let's not forget Clint Eastwood, who also employed blacks,latinos and asians as co-stars. Ironic that the Republicans in Hollywood are often more inclusive than the national party and liberals. I guess the Hollywood Repubs are looking at talent and $$.
Fisher Stevens apologizes to the cast of 'Friends': 'I was an a--hole'
Fisher Stevens wants to apologize to the cast of 'Friends' for being "an a--hole" during his season 1 episode.
Fisher Stevens apologizes to the cast of Friends: 'I was an a--hole'
By Sydney Bucksbaum
February 05, 2021 at 11:00 AM EST
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Watch the full episode of Couch Surfing streaming now on PeopleTV.com, or download the PeopleTV app on your favorite device.
In the first season of Friends, Fisher Stevens played Phoebe's (Lisa Kudrow) psychiatrist boyfriend Roger who uses his analytical powers for evil, acting like a huge jerk to all six of the titular friends. And now Stevens wants to apologize to the Friends cast for behaving like Roger on set and acting like a real "a--hole" while filming his episode.
In the latest episode of PeopleTV's Couch Surfing, Stevens reflected on why he felt the need to say he's sorry. "At that moment in my career, I had never done a sitcom before," he says. "I had never heard of Friends because it was just the beginning of the show and I didn't watch TV at the time much."
After he learned his lines from the script and flew to Los Angeles to film the episode, he quickly discovered when he got to set that the entire script had already been rewritten. "Because that's what sitcoms did. And I didn't know that," he says. "I was kind of an a--hole, I have to admit. 'What do you mean? So I have to relearn lines that you've written that are worse than what you'd originally written?' Yeah, I was a d---. I've rarely seen any of those people on Friends again, but I'm sure if you asked them about me, they would go, 'What a New York snob.'"
Stevens has since seen the error of his ways and wants to let Kudrow, Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, and David Schwimmer know how sorry he is. "Yeah, I'm sorry guys. I'm sorry I was a d--- to you all," he says. "I apologize. I was bad, I was wrong."
Watch the full interview above now.
Fisher Stevens apologizes to the cast of 'Friends': 'I was an a--hole'
Fisher Stevens wants to apologize to the cast of 'Friends' for being "an a--hole" during his season 1 episode.ew.com
Fisher Stevens apologizes to the cast of Friends: 'I was an a--hole'
By Sydney Bucksbaum
February 05, 2021 at 11:00 AM EST
ADVERTISEMENT
SaveFBTweetMore
×
Watch the full episode of Couch Surfing streaming now on PeopleTV.com, or download the PeopleTV app on your favorite device.
In the first season of Friends, Fisher Stevens played Phoebe's (Lisa Kudrow) psychiatrist boyfriend Roger who uses his analytical powers for evil, acting like a huge jerk to all six of the titular friends. And now Stevens wants to apologize to the Friends cast for behaving like Roger on set and acting like a real "a--hole" while filming his episode.
In the latest episode of PeopleTV's Couch Surfing, Stevens reflected on why he felt the need to say he's sorry. "At that moment in my career, I had never done a sitcom before," he says. "I had never heard of Friends because it was just the beginning of the show and I didn't watch TV at the time much."
After he learned his lines from the script and flew to Los Angeles to film the episode, he quickly discovered when he got to set that the entire script had already been rewritten. "Because that's what sitcoms did. And I didn't know that," he says. "I was kind of an a--hole, I have to admit. 'What do you mean? So I have to relearn lines that you've written that are worse than what you'd originally written?' Yeah, I was a d---. I've rarely seen any of those people on Friends again, but I'm sure if you asked them about me, they would go, 'What a New York snob.'"
Stevens has since seen the error of his ways and wants to let Kudrow, Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, and David Schwimmer know how sorry he is. "Yeah, I'm sorry guys. I'm sorry I was a d--- to you all," he says. "I apologize. I was bad, I was wrong."
Watch the full interview above now.
I only remember Fisher Stevens from Playing Ben in Short Circuit and Short Circuit 2...basically a stereotypical indian character..
I never ever had the desire to watch that crap...I never even watch fuckin seinfeld and
I seen clips which I have to admit was pretty funny, but fuckin friends
never seen one clip I saw funny, not even a chuckle...
Id be angry if I had to sit through an episode,
almost as angry as I was when My ex had me sit through that mind numbing
the hills on mtv..
bruh now that show could turn me into a serial smacker, just smacking muthafuckas
for no reason at all like Bernie Mack..
RIPower the the legend!!
I had planned on sitting through an episode of Friends, once that theme song started I was gone.
This was one part of the controversy. People use to complain about how you wouldn't even see black folks or people of color as background characters when they were out in public.
Watched less than 5 minutes of one episode. Thought, "there is not one fucking thing New York about this show," plus it ain't funny, turned and haven't looked back. Same with seinfeld.
Picture the crazy 90s. NE Ohio. Some weekday at 7pm at the rockspot and I got Seinfeld reruns on the tv. This was back when cats would have the Box on playing videos damn near 24/7. Brew in one hand. Mild in another. 9 on my hip. Cats knew not to say shit.
What attracted me to the show was that they didn't 'do the right thing' like damn near all the shows. No message. No redeeming qualities. Just no fucks to give.
I was just watching Friends on HBO MAX. Still hilarious
It's wild. Black people can watch shows I have absolutely no black people and still enjoy them good point, but white people if they're not represented they completely ignore it
I was so young when Seinfeld came out that I had no interest in it which continued throughout my teens.
However when I got my first apartment and couldn't afford cable those Seinfeld and 3rd Rock From the Sun syndication episode were the only thing on after hours so it was either them or infomercials.
I came to find out that both shows were funny as hell and I've been a fan ever since.
what do you think of the finale tho...?? I mean larry david wrote it,
and fuckin curb your enthusiam is fuckin hilarious
Finale was garbage. I was out east at the time in 98. Fridge filled with 40s from the package store. Watched that shit on a black and white tv. Was so disappointed after the episode that I turned on the black light, put on C-Murder's Life or Death, cracked open another brew and got ready to go to the club. I turned down pre-club pussy for that finale.
Friends is a great tv show.
I dont understand why people want a diverse cast.
For what? Just to make things weird?
I dont have white friends that I hang out with.
I dont understand why people want a diverse cast.
For what? Just to make things weird?
I dont have white friends that I hang out with.
Agreed
I ain't gonna lie....this doesn't bother me. I don't like when shows try to force a demographic in a show just to say they have it in there. If they had just randomly started putting cacs on Martin or Fresh Prince as main love interests....I Dont' watch that Friends bullshit enough to care about this but maybe minorities who do watch it would feel a way?
Friends was an often-used example because it was an immediate hit, but NBC had a problem with diversity overall during the majority of the 'Must-See TV' era.
This was NBC's shows for the 1996-97 season:
3rd Rock from the Sun, Boston Common, NewsRadio, The Jeff Foxworthy Show, Mr. Rhodes, Suddenly Susan, Fired Up, Wings, Something So Right, Fraiser, The Naked Truth, Caroline in the City, Just Shoot Me!, The Single Guy, Men Behaving Badly, Seinfeld, Dark Skies, The Pretender, ER and Profiler.
Now, NBC wasn't really alone with the virtually 100% white schedule, but since they were by far the most popular network for the late 90s and so many shows that kind of felt like they were in the same New York universe you can see why it rubbed some people the wrong way.
Could This Friends Reunion Trailer Be Any More Sappy?
By Devon Ivie@devonsaysrelax
\
Despite the absurd amount of money the Friends cast is reportedly getting to return for an HBO Max reunion special, its teaser seems to possess the low-budget charm of the middle-school PowerPoint slideshows you were forced to create for art class. But, like Marcel’s presence in season one, we don’t really care. Hello, old friends! We’ve missed you. Here’s our first look at Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, and David Schwimmer in the unscripted special, which was filmed at the show’s original soundstage in Burbank, cozy Central Perk couch and all. Joining the sextet will be a variety of beloved Friends supporting actors, including Christina Pickles, Tom Selleck, James Michael Tyler, Maggie Wheeler, and Elliott Gould. What the hell, the chick and the duck were busy? Friends: The Reunion will end its break and premiere on May 27.
By Devon Ivie@devonsaysrelax
\
Despite the absurd amount of money the Friends cast is reportedly getting to return for an HBO Max reunion special, its teaser seems to possess the low-budget charm of the middle-school PowerPoint slideshows you were forced to create for art class. But, like Marcel’s presence in season one, we don’t really care. Hello, old friends! We’ve missed you. Here’s our first look at Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, and David Schwimmer in the unscripted special, which was filmed at the show’s original soundstage in Burbank, cozy Central Perk couch and all. Joining the sextet will be a variety of beloved Friends supporting actors, including Christina Pickles, Tom Selleck, James Michael Tyler, Maggie Wheeler, and Elliott Gould. What the hell, the chick and the duck were busy? Friends: The Reunion will end its break and premiere on May 27.
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The One With Everything That Happened on Friends: The Reunion
Easter eggs, guest appearances, and a lot of crying.
www.vulture.com
China censors 'Friends' reunion, cutting Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, and BTS from special
Yes, 'Friends' is universally beloved — but in China, they might as well have titled the reunion episode "The One Where The Guest Stars Were Censored."
They all copied Three's Company.
Courteney Cox and Ed Sheeran recreate Ross and Monica's epic 'Friends' dance routine
The Grammy winner boasted that he's "obviously better than Ross."
David Schwimmer isn't over the 'Friends' reunion, and neither are we
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Friends' Gunther actor James Michael Tyler reveals he’s battling stage 4 prostate cancer and is paralysed
FRIENDS star James Michael Tyler has revealed he has been battling stage 4 prostate cancer since 2018. The actor – who played Rachel’s admirer Gunther in all ten seasons – shared …
www.the-sun.com
'Friends' co-creator Marta Kauffman addresses the show's lack of diversity
The executive producer elaborates on her own role in the show's lack of inclusion of people of color.
Friends co-creator Marta Kauffman addresses the show's lack of diversity
The executive producer elaborated on her own role in the show's lack of inclusion of people of color.
By Ruth Kinane
July 19, 2021 at 11:20 AM EDT
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On Sunday night's episode of CNN's special History of the Sitcom, during a segment reflecting on the success of beloved '90s sitcom Friends, the lack of diversity on the show once again came to the forefront.
The topic was initially addressed by former Designing Women actress Sheryl Lee Ralph, who stated that she "never watched Friends because they could not possibly find a way to add anybody of color."
Marta Kauffman, co-creator and executive producer of Friends, also took part on the special and expounded further on the NBC show's diversity problem.
"It was, to a certain extent, a product of the time period and of my own ignorance," Kauffman said. "There were Black shows and there were white shows. There weren't a lot of shows that were interracial."
CREDIT: REISIG & TAYLOR/NBCU PHOTO BANK/NBCUNIVERSAL VIA GETTY
This isn't the first time the writer and producer has addressed the subject of the predominantly white extended cast. Last year, the creator discussed the lack of diversity during a panel at ATX TV Festival.
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"I wish I knew then what I knew today, I would have made very different decisions," she said. "We've always encouraged people of diversity in our company, but I didn't do enough."
Kauffman continued, "Now all I can think about is what can I do, what can I do differently. How can I run my show in a new way? That's something I wish I knew when I started showrunning but all the way up through last year."
From 1994 to 2004, Friends told the stories of six white friends living in New York City and was based on the life experiences of Kauffman and her longtime friend and Friends co-creator, David Crane. Over the 10-year run, guest roles were also predominantly white with the exception of a couple of Ross's (David Schwimmer) girlfriends .
"I guess at the time I was thinking, 'This is what I know. This is what I know,'" said Kauffman on the CNN special.
History of the Sitcom airs Sundays nights at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT on CNN.