11/07/2025
The cast of Friends went on a trip to Vegas before the show aired in 1994. The producer told them it would be the last time they would be able to go on vacation without being famous.
In 1994, just before Friends made its debut on NBC, the six young actors who would soon become household names were still complete unknowns. To mark the moment, executive producer James Burrows took Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, and David Schwimmer on a trip to Las Vegas. Burrows reportedly told them to enjoy the getaway, because it would likely be the last time they could travel together anonymously. His prediction was spot-on. Within weeks of the show’s premiere on September 22, 1994, their lives changed forever.
Fun fact: when Friends first aired, NBC actually wasn’t sure it would be a success. The original title of the show was Insomnia Café, later changed to Friends Like Us before finally becoming simply Friends. Another fun tidbit: Jennifer Aniston and Courteney Cox originally auditioned for each other’s roles, with producers later deciding they were better suited swapped.
The Vegas trip has become something of a legend. At the time, none of the cast could have imagined the phenomenon awaiting them. Friends would go on to run for 10 seasons, win an Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series, and generate over $1 billion in syndication revenue. Each of the six actors eventually earned $1 million per episode in the final season—making them the highest-paid sitcom stars in history.
