5/6/2004

AMONG FRIENDS

In case you hadn’t noticed, the last new ‘Friends’ episode airs tonight. I am going to watch it with my wife. The official New Millenium Real Man Code requires me to state that I’m only watching it to humor her, that I hate the show, I don’t care how it ends, and TV will be better when it’s gone.

I can’t really say that, though. Why? Firstly, because NBC will just drop another reality show in the time slot. ‘Friends’ may be a melodramatic, unrealistic sitcom, but it’s probably kept some lousy high-concept reality show off the air for the last four years. For that alone it deserves the respect of anyone with an ounce of human decency. If you think I’m wrong, I hereby sentence you to watch every minute of “Who Wants to Fear Real World Maternity Survivor Apprentice Dates,” airing this fall on NBC, 8 pm Eastern on Thursday nights. There are some things worse than people living in apartments they could never afford in real life. Watching scrub quarterbacks try to date psychotic women is one of those things; seeing college students eat 30-year-old fish brains is another.

Secondly, even though I’m not a fan of the show, I do really want a final answer to the Ross and Rachel question. (I’m pretty sure that answer is going to be, “No, they don’t,” but I digress.) For ten years that’s been the dynamic driving the show, and it’s the last epic storyline left in TV. “Frasier” has resolved all of its big questions; hence, it’s departing quietly and Kelsey Grammer can finally play another character. (He’s been portraying Frasier for nineteen years, in case you’re keeping track.) But Ross and Rachel remains unresolved. If I watch the ending and see the answer, I can feel like I know enough of the story to satisfy myself.

Thirdly, the end of ‘Friends’ will bring a little peace to my house. No longer will my wife have to wonder whether she’s going to watch ‘Survivor’ or ‘Friends’ on Thursday nights. I assure you, this is no small consideration.

Lastly, with ‘Friends,’ ‘Frasier,’ and ‘The Drew Carey Show’ all leaving the air within weeks of each other, that leaves only ‘The Simpsons’ to carry the banner of quality comedy on TV. And whatever brings greater glory to Homer is just fine with me. Plus it’s nice that there’s still one show on that I used to watch when I was in high school.

That’s my final word on ‘Friends.’ You want more reaction? That’s what LiveJournal is for.

Posted by Mark @ 5:22 pm | | Permalink
This post is filed under: Media

2 Comments

  1. K & J are hunkered down with tissues at the ready. I have been told to tape it even though they are watching, because…. well, because. ‘Friends’ doesn’t bother me - I’m never been a fan, have watched a few episodes. But it has had a devoted following in my household. ANd, as you say, it’s replacement will be something along the lines of “Here’s A Married Couple On An Island With Ten Beautiful Women And Ten Handsome Men, Which One Of The Couple Will Cheat First? And Will The Network Dare To Show Actual Sex And Flesh During The Course Of The Show?”

    Comment by Harry — 5/6/2004 @ 6:54 pm

  2. OK, I might watch that.

    Comment by Mark Hasty — 5/6/2004 @ 7:08 pm

RSS feed for comments on this post.

Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.