Why Matthew Perry Wished Friends Wasn't Quite As Popular As It Was During Its Peak
Friends was one of TV's biggest hits, but Matthew Perry had mixed feelings about its success. Here's what he said and which episode he loved most.
Matthew Perry, who portrayed Chandler Bing in the popular sitcom Friends, expressed regret that the show was not as beloved as it was during its peak. In a 1997 Entertainment Weekly interview, Perry recalled that he believed the series lost its special charm once it became a cultural phenomenon. He fondly remembered the early days of Friends, when the show centered around a group of six ordinary individuals simply hanging out and discussing their lives without being famous or trendsetting.
Perry longed for the show to return to its original concept of six characters engaging in authentic, unfiltered interactions. The period he referred to was short-lived, as Friends quickly surpassed expectations, drawing in massive audiences from the very first season. By the time of the post-Super Bowl episode "The One After the Superbowl," it had already attained a staggering 53 million viewers.
While the show's financial success was initially boosted by airing immediately after Seinfeld, it soon developed into a self-sustaining hit, garnering 20+ million viewers per episode by Season 1. Perry was particularly fond of the show's initial season, appreciating the grounded nature of the characters, their relatable financial struggles, and the cozy, relaxed atmosphere that defined the early episodes.
He regarded "The One With The Blackout" as his favorite pre-phenomenon episode, appreciating the opportunity to watch the other five actors interact without Chandler's presence. This episode showcased the ensemble cast's chemistry, a feeling Perry described as "really clicking" during those initial, less celebrated days of the show.
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