1994 was a big year for pop-culture junkies. It was the year we met Forrest Gump and said goodbye to Kurt Cobain. Quentin Tarantino defied the rules of film and became a household name with “Pulp Fiction” (not to mention reviving John Travolta’s career). O.J. Simpson became the star of his own courtroom drama. And Sept. 22, 1994, NBC premiered their newest Must See TV sitcom, “Friends.”
Nine seasons ago, the world was introduced to Ross, Rachel, Monica, Chandler, Phoebe and Joey. In the first episode of what would become TV’s highest-rated sitcom, we learned that Ross had married a lesbian, Chandler had a job no one really understood, Phoebe was a free spirit, Monica had bad luck with men, Joey was a struggling actor and a very successful skirt-chaser, and Rachel had no job, no money, no qualifications, but really great hair.
Over the last nine years, we’ve learned more about these six people than we know about many of our family members. And although these New Yorkers are not real people (as my concerned loved ones are constantly reminding me), they have certainly had a real impact on our lives. As we’ve watched the lives of these characters unfold with our own, we’ve picked up a few life lessons to carry beyond the final curtain call.
From the eccentric Phoebe we’ve learned that it’s okay to be what some people would call “strange.” She showed us that looking at the world a little sideways only makes things more interesting. Joey taught us that even macho womanizers have a soft side and that sensitivity doesn’t make you any less masculine. (I hope you guys are paying attention to this.) And Monica proved that being neurotic, anal-retentive and the teensiest bit obsessive-compulsive doesn’t mean that no one will ever love you. So girls, it’s okay to embrace your inner head case.
From Ross and Chandler we learned that being a little dorky isn’t so bad. In the long run, just being a nice guy could win you the girl of your dreams. And if you pay attention in school, you could get a job that lets you play with dinosaurs all day. Pretty cool, huh? Last but not least, from the vault of Rachel Green wisdom, we know that a good haircut and a trendy wardrobe are the first steps to solving all of life’s dilemmas.
While the pearls of wisdom bestowed on us by our fictional friends are certainly valuable, we must learn to separate the world of television from the world of reality (at least that’s what my therapist keeps telling me). There are some television lessons that must be left in the black box from which they came. These are just a few of the “Friends” gems that I recommend leaving behind.
First of all, it is not likely that you’ll be able to afford a spacious apartment in the heart of New York City if you don’t have a job that you actually go to on a regular basis. Jobs that subsidize this sort of urban lifestyle do not include out-of-work actor or coffeehouse waitress. And if you do decide to move to the Big Apple, or any city with more than 300 residents, it’s probably not a good idea to leave your apartment door unlocked at all times.
To prevent future frustration and disappointment, you should not expect the best seat in your favorite coffee house to always be available. Chances are somebody else is going to want the couch seat. And for all of you who have been wearing layers in your hair since the mid-’90s, having Jennifer Aniston’s coif does not mean that Brad Pitt is going to marry you. It’s time to give up that dream. Sorry.
Perhaps most importantly, it is not realistic to expect that your closest friends will always live just a few feet from your door. Only in TV land do people never move more than five minutes away. So appreciate them while they’re close.
Television can’t teach you everything. That’s why our parents make us go to school. But every once in awhile, between the commercial breaks and the cheap laughs, you can pick up a tip or two on how to make it in the real world. So a year from now, when the show that America fell in love with fades into television history, just remember what your “Friends” taught you: All you really need in life is a handful of people who love you and a good cup of coffee.
