08/12/2020
Friends moments that make us cringe today
A smash hit and cultural phenomenon when it first aired, there had never been (and probably never will be) a sitcom quite like Friends. The funny, charming series concerned six, well, friends, living and loving in New York City. Joey, Monica, Chandler, Rachel, Phoebe, and Ross entered the TV canon with their often relatable adventures, not to mention their indelible catchphrases (especially "We were on a break!" and "How you doin?"), as well as Jennifer Aniston's inescapable haircut, "the Rachel."
Friends still draws big audiences in syndicated reruns and on Netflix, despite it often feeling like a time capsule of the era of its original run from 1994 to 2004. Ten years is a lengthy spell, and in exploring the lives of six main characters in that period, Friends didn't always produce universal, timeless comedy gold. Some of its plots and bits have aged very poorly, as things that were funny or acceptable 20-odd years ago just seem uncomfortable in the present day. Here are some of the most awkward, cringeworthy moments from Friends.
A cultural phenomenon when it first aired between 1994 and 2004, there had never been a sitcom quite like Friends. The funny series concerned six, well, friends, living and loving in New York, but didn't always produce timeless comedy gold. These are the Friends moments that make us cringe today.