Analysis Of Friends Series And Its Influence On America

In this paper, I analyze the television show and American sitcom, Friends. Friends aired for ten years and had such a phenomenal impact on its audience. That impact is still being seen today, over 20 years later. Teens have taken to social media and are continuing to “fangirl” over this show because of how relatable it is. It is an American show, but has made its debut all around the globe throughout the years. Foreign celebrities have admitted that they learned how to speak English by sitting down and watching the show over and over again. The outcome of this show throughout the years has been mostly positive, but entering into the year 2020 there has been a lot of backlash about Friends. This paper examines the role that Friends has played in America, as well as other countries, and how it continues to have effect even to this day.

One of the many concepts that we have been studying in this course is the history of ‘globalization’. This idea emphasizes the role and influence that television and media play in the process of the way the world views things. It is the way that we perceive ideas and values around the world which extends through the way we receive media. This happens through the internet, travel, radio, and even billboards.

In 1994, a television show called Friends aired. The comic sitcom tells the life stories of six friends. It shows us how they deal with everyday problems in their lives. It also shows us the joy they all are able to share together. The friends are very loving and caring towards each other and it has a lot of positivity that radiates throughout the series. Rachel Green starts out as a spoiled and naive daddy’s girl who ran out on her wedding day. We see her grow into a responsible woman by watching her pursue a career, navigate relationships, and become a mother. Monica Geller can be considered the mom of the friend group. She works as a chef and is always making sure everyone is well fed and taken care of properly. She allowed Rachel to move in with her when she had nowhere else to go. Monica constantly struggles for her parent’s respect because they tend to favor her brother. She was overweight in high school which is still a source of embarrassment for her. She also struggles to have children with her husband, but we see her get her happy ending. Ross Geller is Monica’s brother and is the nerd of the group. He works as a paleontologist. Ross is married three times throughout the entire series while fathering two children. He has an on again off again relationship with Rachel and the show displays their relationship in depth during the series. Ross is seen as being the smartest friend and is usually always right, despite his failed marriages. Chandler Bing started out as Ross’s best friend in college. He group up in a dysfunctional family with his parents divorcing and having interesting careers. His mother is a world famous author that writes erotic novels, and his father owns a gay club in Las Vegas called “Viva Las Gaygas”. He has severe commitment issues and uses humor as a defense mechanism. In the middle of the series, he and Monica fall in love and we see how Chandler matures into a father figure. Joey Tribbiani is the Italian womanizer of the group. He is a ladies man and always has a girlfriend or is hitting on a new woman. He lives with Chandler and pretty much relies on his financial support while trying to make it as a struggling actor. Joey proves to always be there for his friends and he has a lot of kindness to give. Phoebe Buffay is the ditzy blonde girl of the group. She had a difficult childhood. Her biological mother gave away she and her twin sister and eventually her adoptive mother committed suicide and her step-dad left them. She spent time living on the street until she found a job as a masseuse. Phoebe also plays the guitar and sings at the gang’s favorite coffee shop. She plays and sings very badly, but everyone is always supportive of her. She is extremely perceptive and has the most life experience out of anyone else.

Our textbook defines Globalization as a world economic trend that generally refers to the lowering of economic trade borders, but it has much to do with culture as well. As globalization takes hold and a particular community becomes more like the United States economically, this community may also come to adopt and personalize U. S. cultural values. Globalization has influenced the way that television and film are made all across the world. Those who create television shows and movies make viewers aware of different values, cultures, and religions. By doing so, more people are able to form opinions and take stances on those problems. Friends was set in New York City but was actually filmed in Los Angeles. Almost everything was shot at the Warner Brothers Ranch in California. The first season was set on Stage 5 and the rest of the seasons were set on Stage 24. They took shots of real buildings in New York and made it look like that was really where the cast members lived. The show has been aired all over the world in countries such as Canada, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Japan, and many more. Friends has been sure to represent other cultures through the entirety of the series. There are three Jewish characters and they are sure to mention that they also celebrate Hanukkah. In season 8, Ross even makes it a priority to teach his child about his religion. In season 4, the finale was filmed in London. Ross was engaged to a British woman and they decided to have the wedding in London. Executive producer Kevin Bright said that, “At the time, this was a new idea: We were the only TV show I know of that shot a show in a foreign country. The reception there made me realize that Friends was an international thing”. Friends also made it clear to people that every person is in charge of their own life. Some people get divorced, have children out of wedlock, or end up losing their job. It reinforced the idea of “all you need is good friends”. According to a pop-culture expert at the University at Buffalo, Friends is 'one of those rare shows that marked a change in American culture. The images of youth and the roles they portray are better defined and represent a lifestyle that centers around creating and sustaining relationships between friends running their own lives and seeking help from each other. ”

Friends has impacted other countries because of how relatable it is and how lighthearted it is for the viewers to watch. The audience really wanted to feel as close as they could to this show. There have been many replicas of the Central Perks coffee shop as seen on the show. In 2006, Iranian businessman Mojtaba Asadian started a Central Perk franchise. The name was registered in 32 countries. The design of the coffee houses is completely inspired by Friends. The couches, counters, and signs are all the same. There are also paintings of the characters from the series. James Michael Tyler, the actor who plays the manager a Central Perk in the series, Gunther, made an appearance at the grand opening of the café in Dubai, where he helped as a waiter. In India, there are six Central Perk cafes and there is also one in Singapore.

Friends is an excellent example of how globalization in television is a very important and true concept. There are thousands of television shows in this world, but this one was successful at bringing together many cultures from around the world. It showed how just one show, out of thousands, really opened up the discussion about diversity. These cultures were able to share and learn about each other, all because of a television show called Friends.