Why It Took Forever To Film That Very Last Episode Of Friends
That final farewell to television's favorite group did not happen overnight.
The process from set to screen was enduring, which speaks volumes to the professionalism of the production crew and the real-life bond shared amongst the cast.
Behind The Scenes
Filmed in front of a studio audience, former attendees have reported a single episode, which only occupied 22 minutes of the allotted runtime, took hours to complete.
From blocking to adjusting the script — with the intent of invoking a more powerful audience response—the show's production was meticulous. It has been noted that a given episode would require a surplus of 70 hours for writing alone.
The final curtain call took that craftsmanship to new heights. The production crew insisted on capturing multiple usable shots that could be combined into the perfect scene. That in itself can attest to the fact that the creators, team and staff alike put their hearts into every episode and wanted the finale to be nothing short of perfection. Since each standard episode took around four hours to record, it makes sense that the final episode took a fair bit longer.
The Emotions Ran High
The cast themselves have gone on record to express the weight of the lead-up and ultimate wrap on the last day of filming. In the retrospective HBO reunion, Matt LeBlanc, who portrayed Joey on the show, remarked that "there was a lot of crying that night" when the final episode was filmed.
Fellow castmate Lisa Kudrow, better known as Phoebe, added that the cast hardly "got through the actual scenes" as each member of the cast, crew and audience was overtaken by the real-life emotions that hit the room like a tidal wave.
Crew members have also noted that the cast spent more time than ever in hair and makeup between scenes. Members of the cast said everyone was crying off their makeup take after take. The group, showing sentiment toward their pre-show huddle, did a couple extra throughout the day.
I'll Be There For You
The ending of Friends was not just the end of an era. It was the end of a place, a refuge, a group in which millions of people from all over the world could feel included. To many, it was the death of a friend; the fabulous six ceased to exist.
The cultural impact of the show can be seen internationally, with many friends-themed cafes and other attractions. For some, the end only marked the beginning, and a lot of us are still rewatching the show to this day.
In honour of the good times, let's sit back and watch our favourite Friends episode as if we never had to say goodbye.