One of the most seminal shows in the history of television, Friends has been nothing short of a phenomenon in the past quarter-century. The hit NBC hangout comedy debuted 26 years ago and it remains as popular now as it was then. (Take the streaming wars for an example. Everyone wants Friends.)
Despite this enormous popularity, few seasons were as perfectly realized and mapped out from the beginning as the first. This arc burst the show and its six stars onto the scene in an irrevocable fashion. Yet, there are still some hidden details in the episodes of season one that even the most devoted of fans could have missed along the way.
The Library Card
When Friends began, it started off with a surprising moment: Rachel rushing into Central Perk looking for Monica in a wedding dress. This was just the first step on Rachel's journey to becoming a fully independent woman in New York.
Another of these steps came when she cut up her credit cards. Although, Rachel might have later regretted this because it is shown that one of the cards she cuts up is not a credit card at all. It is, in fact, a library card and might have been worth keeping.
The Warner Brothers Lot
In the season one episode, "The One Where Nana Dies Twice," the show's setting turns to a graveyard. Some moments in the graveyard are played solemnly, but some are played for laughs. As a result, real cemeteries were not keen on having a comedy film on location.
Therefore, Friends took this episode to the greater Warner Brothers lot. In the background of the graveyard, the hidden details of many notable Warner Brothers buildings can be spotted. There was plenty of set dressing here to create a cemetery, but it still might take the most vigilant viewers out of the episode.
Laugh Track?
There is another interesting moment in "The One Where Nana Dies Twice" concerning laughter. When Ross is tasked with alerting his friends and sister that Nana has actually died for a second time, the laugh track of the show can be heard.
Obviously, this was a mistake, as the audience would never have laughed at such a sad moment in the show. Fans might be accustomed to hearing laughter, so the detail might not be apparent on initial or subsequent viewings. This is especially true with how funny David Schwimmer is naturally.
Watering With Coffee
Returning to the pilot, "The One Where Monica Gets a Roommate," a fun hidden detail of comedic continuity can be noticed. Granted, Friends was not always known for its meta-humor or commitment to continuity. But this detail in the first episode remains a fun one.
Rachel brews up coffee for Chandler and Joey, who find something troubling about its taste. Opting instead to pour it into the tabletop plant, the taste doesn't fare well with this creature either. The plant is dead by the end of the episode, showing that Rachel's coffee-making skills had room for improvement.
A Crush On Joey
In the first plotting of Friends, the initial plan was to pair together Monica and Joey as a romantic couple. As the casting for the show evolved, Ross and Rachel became the "it" couple, but every now and then, there are still hidden details that point towards the Joey and Monica potential pairing.
In "The One with the Blackout," this is alluded to when Monica tells Joey that she liked his arms the first time they met. Obviously flattered, Joey begins to flex his arms, only to be put down by Monica. They were never meant to be, save for in an alternative television reality.
Jimmies Or Sprinkles
One last trip to the pilot will reveal another hidden detail that might have simply been an unavoidable bit of nomenclature for Matt LeBlanc. Hailing from Newton, Massachusetts, LeBlanc is accustomed to many of the regional New England sayings and verbiage.
This includes the substitute nickname for sprinkles known as "jimmies." (It's a regional thing.) In the pilot episode, Joey talks about the toppings of ice cream and mentions whipped cream, along with "jimmies." This would definitely give away LeBlanc's heritage, as the Joey character was supposed to be a New Yorker through and through. (They're called sprinkles in New York.)
Uberweiss
Speaking of interesting names for things, the season one episode, "The One with the East German Laundry Detergent", features a titular object that needed translation. The detergent that Ross uses to do his laundry is named Uberweiss, which translates in German to "overly white."
Obviously, there are a great many reasons why Ross is not the best at laundry, as evidenced by this episode. However, the label is subtler detail that shows this. Somehow, Ross even managed to use a detergent that makes his whites "too white," if such a thing were possible. (Friends shows that it's quite possible, however.)
Monkees For Monkeys?
Of course, Ross always makes unique decisions. From buying "overly white" detergent to adopting a pet monkey, he is certainly an unpredictable guy (though perhaps not as unpredictable as Phoebe or Chandler). Yes, that's right. Ross adopted a monkey, Marcel. This is often forgotten after the disparate later season storylines.
The season one Thanksgiving episode, "The One Where Underdog Gets Away," features a hidden detail that might just foreshadow this adoption in the immediately succeeding episode. When Ross sings to the baby, his melody is the theme song from The Monkees. Simple coincidence or clever hint? It's a thoughtful joke all the same.
An A-peel-ing Pin
Later in the season, Ross is forced to relinquish his friendship with Marcel because it is what is best for the monkey. This surprisingly sad goodbye takes place in "The One with the Fake Monica." However, when Ross brings Marcel to the airport, there is a hidden detail attributed to his wardrobe that makes the whole affair at least bring smiles to the faces of some.
On the lapel of Ross' coat, he is wearing a banana pin. Maybe this helped put him at ease or maybe it helped Marcel. Either way, it is a fun reprieve that is noticed only sparingly. It's a good thing monkeys like bananas, after all.
Shiny Happy People
This fact might have to go straight to Scott Aukerman and Adam Scott's podcast, "R U Talkin' R.E.M. Re: Me?" Originally, "Shiny Happy People" by the iconic band, R.E.M., was slated to be the theme song for Friends. Ultimately, "I'll Be There for You" by The Rembrandts was chosen and it became synonymous with the show.
That did not mean R.E.M. was outright eschewed from the canon of Friends, though. In the season one episode, "The One with the Monkey," the New Year's Eve party at the apartment features the original theme song choice. Obviously, it fits because this group of six was shiny and happy indeed.