Since its debut in 1994, “Friends” has held audiences captive with witty humor and tangled plots. Although the series has received 55 Emmy Award nominations, including six for Outstanding Comedy Series, this season marks its last.
Fans of the show make it a priority to tune in each Thursday night to stay updated on the lives of their “friends.”
The apartment of senior Haley Bragg has been a “Friends” gathering place for the last three seasons.
“When we started, I always made a dessert. It has evolved into a bunch of people coming over and (we) began calling it ‘Friends Night,'” Bragg said.
Crowds of up to 20 fans gather weekly at Bragg’s apartment.
The question that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats now is, “What about Rachel, Ross and Joey?” With Pheobe (Lisa Kudrow) and new boyfriend Mike’s recent engagement, and Chandler (Matthew Perry) and Monica’s (Courteney Cox-Arquette) dysfunctional-yet happy-marriage, fans were waiting to see whether Joey (Matt LeBlanc) and Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) would end up together after last season’s cliff-hanger.
“Mike and Pheobe make a funny couple,” said freshman Jillian Gundy.
“Ross and Rachel just need to get together. They have a baby to take care of,” she said.
Gundy has been a faithful fan for the last four seasons and is anxiously awaiting the relationship resolution that, in her opinion, must come in order for the show to end.
“I think it’s probably time for the show to end because the characters are getting older,” Bragg said. Bragg said the characters are getting to difficult places in life and the show either needed to take a new perspective or quit while it was ahead.
“They have to get on with their lives at some point,” she added.
LeBlanc will get on with his life on and off of the show “Friends” by premiering next season with his very own spin-off series “Joey.”
Junior John Peters is looking forward to LeBlanc’s series, which will continue Tribbiani’s story line.
“I think he’s one of the funniest characters on the show. I can’t wait to see that,” Peters said.
“Friends” began its 10th season as the leadoff series on NBC’s “Must See TV” Thursday-night lineup and has held the role of No. 1 comedy on television among adults 18-49 for five years in a row.
The cast won a Screen Actors Guild Award in 1996 for Outstanding Ensemble Performance in a Comedy Series and has been nominated four times for a Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series, Musical or Comedy.
“Friends” won the People’s Choice Award for Favorite New Comedy Series in its first season, and has since won three more times as Favorite Comedy Series, including in 2002.
“It’s been a great show,” Gundy said. “But it’s time to move on.”