Friends Just Had to Get Rid of This Character (Along With That Doomed Love Story)

Summary:

• Helen Baxendale was not funny enough to play Ross' girlfriend;
• Emily's character could have stayed on the show longer;
• Baxendale and the rest of the cast didn't become close friends during filming.

We all love Friends for different reasons: for some, it's Ross and Rachel's love story, for others, it's Phoebe's unusual affairs, for some, it's Janice's voice. But there's one thing in the sitcom that makes us all adore it, and that's the brilliant humor.

The comedic effect is achieved in the series with the help of many factors, but of course the writing and the acting are the number one tools. Almost all the characters in the show, whether they are the main characters or the supporting ones, have an amazing sense of humor and when they appear on screen, we just can't help but laugh.

However, there was one character that never fit the show, and we think we won’t be wrong if we suggest you know who we are talking to. Of course, it’s Emily. Despite the fact that Ross becomes obsessed with her and implies how kind and how funny she is, the fans never felt that way towards her.

While it was impossible to look away when Ross and Rachel were on-screen, the chemistry between Ross and Emily was never there even during their best times. In fact, there was more real emotion shown after the legendary “take thee, Rachel” moment…

What Went Wrong With Friends’ Emily?

As the director of the show, James Burrows, mentioned in his newest memoir, when they added Emily to the picture, they wanted to find a funny girlfriend for Ross. Maybe not as funny as Rachel, but still a one who could have competed with her in charm. But casting Helen Baxendale ended up being a huge mistake.

As Burrows recalls, the actress “was nice, but not particularly funny” and that was a huge problem for the show. They even wanted to recast the actress to make the character stay a bit longer, as it was planned initially, but decided not to pursue the idea because there was no time for that.

The director was sure they needed someone who could get laughs from the audience, but Baxendale only made fans cringe with her angry face expressions and British accent. He even felt sorry for David Schwimmer, who played Ross, saying that the actor had no one to bounce off and “it was like clapping with one hand."

So when the infamous moment presented itself during Ross and Emily’s wedding, the director and the writers decided it was best to let the actress go. And we are thankful for that.

Helen Baxendale Didn’t Become a Friend

Another thing that made it easy for the cast and crew to let go of the character was the fact that actress Helen Baxendale never really became close to them. She once said in an interview with the Sunday Mirror that although all her colleagues were nice to her, they never became close enough.

Well, that's understandable. The six main characters had been filming together for years when Emily came on board. And her abrupt departure didn't give them the opportunity to get to know each other better.

Despite all that, the 14 episodes with Emily are still considered the funniest, and the fact that she wasn't the comic relief just makes it all the more hilarious.

Source: People, Sunday Mirror