As E4 ditches our oldest Friends, here's a look at the impact they had on our collective outlook:
1. Cheating still counts if you’re ‘on a break’ (probably)
It was the Cold War that made Russia and America’s ancient feud look like a silly playground spat. Ross and Rachel were almost never the same after he did the dirty with the ‘Xerox girl’ on the premise that they weren’t officially together. Don't risk it!
2. Coffee can be sexy
Back in the early 90s, to most Brits a coffee was a Nescafe Gold Blend or a Maxwell House. You got the granules from a jar and you drank it in the morning to get you going. Then FRIENDS came along and suddenly, coffee was cool. Central Perk lookalikes sprang up across the country, cappucino and latte sales boomed, and a new dating concept was born: “You wanna go get a coffee?”
3. Everyone lies to their friends
What would FRIENDS have been without a few secrets? For example, Chandler and Monica’s hidden relationship, which Joey struggled to keep under his hat as the two managed to get to know each other away from prying eyes and judging tones. And the greatest lie of all? Everyone pretended to love Phoebe’s music.
4. Mothers and daughters don’t get on
Despite the fact that many mothers and daughters are great friends, US sitcoms invariably peddle the myth that they all have poor relationships. FRIENDS was no exception; Monica’s mother is portrayed as a judgmental harridan with no faith in her daughter, while Rachel’s is sweet but self-indulgent and a mild embarrassment.
5. Lasagne and cheesecake are the food of the gods
The show promoted New York specialties like Joey’s favourite, lasagne, and the clandestine cheesecake that famously tempted Rachel and Chandler into serial theft. Other odd cravings you might have got over the years include meatloaf, jello and Thanksgiving turkey.
6. The backpacking story
Has anyone tried this? This is the story that’s supposedly guaranteed to charm your romantic interest straight into a horizontal position. But does it work?? Answers on a postcard (from Western Europe...)
7. It’s alright to be gay
FRIENDS was one of the first popular programmes to deal openly with homosexuality. The lesbian relationship between Carol and Susan, while providing some comic value at poor Ross’s expense, is portrayed sensitively; they are real characters rather than caricatures. All this tapped into the increasing openness about sexuality in the 90s.
8. How to speak American
Like, everyone totally talks like this a little bit, right? And even if you think you don’t, you so do. Next time your voice goes up at the end of a statement, so it sounds like you’re asking a question?; next time you go into Starbucks and ask, "Can I get a latte?;" next time you decide to "go take a look" (*go AND HAVE a look!) at something – you’ll be speaking American.
9. The power of bromance
Not for the FRIENDS-watching generation the distant nods and awkward backpats between male friends of their fathers' day. Joey, Chandler and Ross ushered in a new era of bear hugs, brotherly heart-to-hearts and even the occasional platonic nap on the sofa. "Blokes of Britain," the show declared, "It's ok to love your mates."
10. Always choose your friends over your lovers
If there’s one enduring lesson from this iconic sitcom, it’s the power of friendship. Not everyone will put up with your philandering, obsessive cleaning, fortune telling, Discovery Channel quoting, bad joke cracking and constant dithering over men, so don’t let go of those who love you for all your quirks.
And if you end up saying a friend’s name at the altar instead of your betrothed's, just go with it and call off the wedding immediately. It’ll save you a lot of time in the long run.
Read E4's parting message, and the heartbroken comments from diehard FRIENDS fans, here.
