FRIENDS and random sitcoms

I have figured out why I like Friends more when it first started out. The first season were full of witty quips, little scenarios and hilarious soundbites. Later, bit by bit, it became more of situational comedy, where stupid things would happen to the characters and they would try to wheedle themselves out of tight situations. In the first season, the conversations the 6 of them would have were unforgettable. There was the one where they discussed the weirdest most exciting places they had sex, and then there was the one where the men made an analogy between ice cream flavours and women. Maybe it was necessary back then, to let both the different characters and the audience understand a bit more about where each of them were coming from.

It morphed very slowly. There was some sexual tension amongst the characters, because no one knew whether anyone would get together with anyone else. They were still new with one another. I remember the One with The Boobies, where Chandler chances on Rachel naked, then Rachel chances on Joey, then Joey sees Monica naked and then Monica sees Joey's father naked. That was SO GOOD. I watched that episode again and again. I was so into Friends that I went out to buy the soundtrack and the book on the making of FRIENDS. It was the highlight of my week...

Then FRIENDS took on a new flavour. The characters got more experienced, even sometimes less endearing, one prime example being Ross. He was the Mr Nice Guy, the sensitive soul who believed in true love. And then he HAD TO GO SLEEP WITH THE GIRL AT THE COPY SHOP?? And then they had to put a funny spin on his failed marriages. That ruined the character a tad for me.

It's also sad that not every dog gets his day on the show. Lisa Kudrow is such a talented actress, but she is always being sidelined because her character isn't involved with anyone else on the show. The characters with the onscreen attention are probably Ross, Rachel, Monica and Chandler, precisely because they add the romantic element with one other main character. And it really isn't fair, considering Joey and Phoebe have so much going for them, but they keep getting relegated the very one dimensional jokes and references. Esp Joey. If they were going to do a spinoff on Joey, at least try and usher in more depth as the seasons pass. Or, preferably, choose to do a spinoff on a more 3D character. Or, a character of which not much is known, like Gunther! Joey fails precisely because people know the character, but not enough to see more of him than the womanising and food-loving sides. It's sad.

I watch FRIENDS whenever I can catch it on StarWorld... and this usually means I watch it at least twice. I don't get bored watching the same eps again and again. When the last ep aired, I was watching it in US, at the moment the series closed for real. It sure made me cry.

And now, I look at the dearth of comedy. All the comedies I have loved for the last ten years have faded into the sunset: FRIENDS, Murphy Brown, Seinfeld, Just Shoot Me, Frasier, SATC... @#$$% I need to meet my weekly comedy cravings. Arrested Development is really really good, but I have a feeling it might die soon because it's not popular enough. Hey Americans, don't be stupid... It's your last chance for some good fare!!! Curb Your Enthusiasm is funny, but very frustrating(because the protagonist keeps making such a fool of himself and the people around him react against him so overtly and strongly)

Not always do I meet a crazed enough person like me who will hyperventilate while discussing sitcoms. If anyone feels this strongly too, come find me!!!