Oh My God! Friends’ Crew Had To Hide Janice Before Her Entrances On Set, And The Actress Explained Why

by

In case you’ve ever enjoyed the sitcom “Friends”, it’s impossible to overlook Chandler Bing’s fluctuating love interest, Janice Hosenstein, portrayed by Maggie Wheeler. Despite the show’s abundance of memorable guest roles, Wheeler soon stood out in the crowd, eventually securing a recurring spot. With her increased screen time, the “Friends” cast found themselves concealing her presence until Janice entered the scene – an unusual practice. Later on, Wheeler explained why this became routine behind the scenes.

Wheeler recently chatted with Steve Kmetko on the “Still Here Hollywood Podcast” about her memorable role as Janice on Friends and reminisced about her time on the show. In this episode, uploaded on YouTube (requires Max subscription), they discuss Perry’s sad passing, a topic that still brings tears to Wheeler’s eyes. They also delve into their shared experiences with the late actor during his tenure on the hit sitcom. Kmetko also inquired about the efforts made behind the scenes to keep Hosenstein’s appearances a secret and whether the audience grew fond of her character as they got to know more about her.

Maggie Wheeler promptly confirmed that they had indeed participated, and she was careful to maintain a restricted approach until given the signal, to preserve the surprise. In other words, she waited for her turn before revealing any information.

They would conceal me from public view, restricting my movements even within the craft services area; I was required to remain in my dressing room most of the time. However, on occasion, I’d sneak out and approach the set only when a black screen (scrim) was raised to hide my entrance, keeping the audience unaware of my presence until the door opened.

What doesn’t shock me at all reminds me of Cosmo Kramer from Seinfeld, two shows I find incredibly entertaining to watch again and again. However, since Janice was not a frequent character, her responses seem even more unique and memorable.

As a cinephile sharing my thoughts on “The Parent Trap,” I recently had the chance to quiz the film’s star about her knack for eliciting such strong reactions from audiences. With an air of nonchalance, she admitted that it sometimes feels surreal and over-the-top, as if she’s living a life larger than her own on the silver screen.

It’s a little bit of a rock star feeling.

In those times, it’s fair to assert that Janice and Maggie Wheeler truly achieved rock star status. Whenever she was part of the friend group, it was always a hit. Later, she described this sensation as an exhilarating rollercoaster ride, consistently drawing the same enthusiastic response.

To consistently captivate an audience with awe, laughter, and uproarious applause, one might elicit a powerful emotional reaction.

It seems as though the charm between Wheeler and Perry always remained fresh and exciting. In fact, their on-screen relationship appears to have never grown stale. The actress from “Ellen” shared her thoughts on how they always had a great time working together. This was partly because Perry maintained his professionalism, even during his struggles with addiction.

Wheeler disclosed that the evening Janice spent with Ross reached an unprecedented level of thrill among the audience due to the way the episode escalated the tension. To put it simply, he said the episode was particularly engaging because it heightened the suspense.

It was even more intriguing when I stayed overnight with Ross, as the anticipation had been immense. The secret was so profound that nobody could have guessed what transpired – and the cast persistently asked, ‘Where did you go, where did you go, where did you go?’ They prolonged the suspense until the very end. And when I finally entered, the audience erupted in excitement.

The actress’s reputation on “Friends” is flawless, and her ability to remain hidden highlights just how exceptional she truly was. This tidbit may not be fresh in my memory, but it provides an excellent reason to revisit the classic NBC series. I’m certain that Janice’s arrival at Ross’ would elicit a significant, emotional reaction.

As a devoted film enthusiast, I can’t help but marvel at how a show that turned 30 just last year continues to resonate in our cultural consciousness. Take Chandler’s enigmatic ex-beau, for instance – she’s still making waves! Though her limelight may not shine as brightly as before, Wheeler recently graced the big screen in the 2025 family comedy, Dog Man, adding another memorable role to her impressive repertoire.

Read More

2025-04-17 03:10