Friends' Final (And Arguably The Best One) Line Wasn't In The Script
After ten years on the air, the final episode of the phenomenon that was Friends ended.
Throughout the show, the group of New Yorkers saw much change in the characters, and the last scene of the series represented a poignant moment between them all.
However, as sentimental as the scene may have been, one actor couldn't help but ad-lib one final line. Becoming the last words of the episode, and the perfect way for the show to end.
The concluding episode of the tenth season wraps up many of the story arcs for each of the characters. Chandler and Monica prepare to move to their new home with their kids, Ross and Rachel finally get back together, and Joey and Phoebe come to terms with their close friends leaving.
In the last scene, the remaining items are being moved out of Monica's apartment. As the group tearfully leave their keys on the kitchen side, Rachel suggests they all go for coffee one final time. Although the scene was meant to show the friends simply leaving the apartment together, Matthew Perry ( Chandler) couldn't help but improvise the line "sure, where?".
Perry's spontaneous quip helped break the sombre tension of the moment, ending with a shot of the empty apartment just before the credit roll, to the music of "Embryonic Journey" by Jefferson Airplane.
For both the characters and the actors, the scene was an emotional one, as this was also one of the last things the cast filmed in the series. Much of the tears and emotions were quite real. They were later quoted as saying their makeup never had to be redone so many times than on that last day of shooting.
Ironically the Central Perk set had already been taken down, which possibly is what Perry was secretly referencing in his ad-lib.
It was revealed after the series had ended, there was a final wrap-up party for all the cast and crew. The 1,000-guest celebration was all-out, held at the Park Plaza Hotel and featured performances from Sheryl Crow as well as The Rembrandts. The event also allegedly featured cocktails named after references to the show and saw the cast reenact the first scene from the pilot.
The actors may have been portraying friends in the series, yet over the ten seasons, they became just as close in real life. The final episode was more than just a goodbye for its characters. It was a goodbye for the cast too.