As a lifelong fan of Friends, I can’t help but feel a sense of gratitude towards John Shaffner and Kevin Bright for their unwavering dedication to creating such a relatable and iconic show. The behind-the-scenes stories, like the one about the initial design of Monica and Rachel’s apartment, only serve to deepen my appreciation for the series.
Could you envision a scenario where Joey and Chandler didn’t reside next to Monica and Rachel? Frankly, that thought is hard to fathom for me – yet it was nearly so.
John Shaffner, the production designer of a cherished TV show, recently shared with Architectural Digest that his original concept for Monica (Courteney Cox) and Rachel’s (Jennifer Aniston) New York City apartment set included an additional foyer area located outside the hallway. However, executive producer Kevin Bright initially declined this extra space during the pilot episode.
Shaffner reminisced about resisting the initial concept, explaining to Bright then, “It seems more appropriate to create a separate venue for the performance. Don’t you agree that it would be ideal for Matt LeBlanc’s Joey and Matthew Perry’s Chandler to share an apartment next door?
Eventually, Bright decided to keep some additional room, resulting in numerous iconic “Friends” scenes taking place in that hallway during the series’ 10-year span, starting in 1994 and ending in 2004.
Shaffner further shared with AD that he originally intended to use the uppermost apartments in the building for season one, finding amusement in watching the cast struggle to catch their breath each time they arrived at the landing after climbing the stairs.
Shaffner noted that there was a time when they thought, ‘That gag might be outdated,’ so they decided to move it to an earlier point in the storyline and didn’t bring it up afterward. (It’s worth mentioning that Monica’s apartment number shifts between seasons one and two.)
As a dedicated fan, I can’t help but appreciate the deeply personal touch that went into designing the New York City apartment building for the show. This layout mirrors my own sixth-floor walk-up in Manhattan, a place I once shared with my partner Joe Stewart. Throughout the process of creating these sets, Shaffner drew upon his real-life memories and experiences to breathe life into the world of Friends.
He stated that the fictional New York from our decade-long series served as an unexpectedly comforting representation of the city. We often idealized it. After all, where else could one feel safe enough to keep their apartment door unlocked?
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2024-09-19 03:55