Can two people really be meant to be? soulmates?

Walked his ex-wife down the aisle after her parents refused to do so

Was an active and involved parent to both his children over the course of the show

Bought Phoebe a bike when he heard how she never owned one as a child - then taught her how to ride it

Loaned his little sister money when she was broke and told her there was no deadline for paying him back

After causing an accident which injured a little girl, sold cookies for her door-to-door to win her a trip to space camp and when he couldn’t win the trip for her, set up her own special space camp in Joey & Chandler’s apartment

Bought Joey’s porcelain dog as a gift so that Joey wouldn’t have to return everything when he lost his DOOL job

Stepped in to escort Rachel to Prom when her date stood her up

Searched all night for Chandler when Chandler disappeared before his and Monica’s wedding

Attempted to help Joey and Chandler mend their rift when Chandler helped Kathy cheat on Joey

Agreed to not date anyone when Rachel asked him not to towards the end of her pregnancy, understanding that she was under enormous stress from the pregnancy and therefore allowed to be irrational

1: Fed all of her friends almost every day for ten years without complaining.

2: Excelled in a traditionally masculine career, (yes, cookery as a profession is generally male-dominated) and in traditionally masculine hobbies (football), without compromising her femininity or sexuality.

3: At the same time, revelled in traditionally female interests such as babies, marriage and housework without apologizing for them, or suggesting they made her inferior or weak.

4: Overcame teenage obesity.

5: Grew up in an emotionally abusive home, with a mother who subjected her to relentless criticism and verbal mistreatment….But still emerged with a sense of her own self-worth, determination to fulfil her dreams and huge capacity to care for others.

6: Stayed friends with her brother who bullied her as a child, and contributed to said-emotionally abusive home. Didn’t blame him for her mistreatment or show resentment towards him.

7: Took former best friend – who abandoned and rejected her for a ‘high society’ life – into her home without question.

8: Prior to this, accepted a woman who had previously lived on the streets, as her roommate and welcomed her into her group of friends.

9: Went through unemployment and shitty jobs, but refused to take unfair advantages she hadn’t earned (i.e. Pete buying her a restaurant). Eventually gained a prestigious head chef position based entirely on her own merit.

10: Walked away from the man she thought was the love of her life, because she wanted children and he’d only have them to make her happy. Even though that option would have been 100 times less painful for Monica, she knew that wasn’t fair on him and refused.

11: After marrying the actual love of her life, she waited until Chandler was ready to have kids, because she knew about his fears of raising children. When they discovered virtually the only option for children was sperm donor-ship (so they’d be her kids but not his), she refused and insisted on adoption. 

12: Was also the one-woman cheerleading team for the aforementioned love of her life, in telling him he could be the amazing boyfriend, husband and father that he never saw in himself. Was proved 100% right.

13: Resisted her control-freak coping mechanisms to give Chandler the power of making the big decisions about their future, (saying ‘I Love you’, moving in together, marriage), so he could work through his commitment phobia. Again, proved it was 100% worth it.

14: Encouraged her husband to quit a job he hated, then supported him – financially and emotionally –through his subsequent unemployment and helped him find his dream career.

Friends premiered on Thursday, September 22, 1994, at 8:30, to generally good reviews and solid but not initially spectacular ratings.

DAVID CRANE: We had absolutely no idea what this show was going to be. For us, it was just another pilot. We’d just had a series canceled. We were thinking we’d never work again, so we were scrambling. You pitch a bunch of stuff. We were doing this thing at Fox and at NBC. Friends was feeling good, but it was just another pilot. Or it was just another pilot until Jimmy Burrows wants to direct it. Excuse me, James Burrows. We thought, That’s crazy.

“Dearest Lisa Kudrow, who’s also one of the most talented actresses. I’ve learned so much from her. As a comedienne, unbelievable. But also a dramatic actress who knocks your socks off. And loving. These girls, what we’ve gained from each other. Taught each other, we watched each other get married, lived through so much… and just so unconditional. And I think she’s amazing and I love her.”