Formulas for Success: Friends

I feel like Friends has been around for centuries (sorry Jennifer Aniston, I just made you sound old). And I used to hate it, mostly because I was too young to understand half the humor. But now, as I get older and realize there is literally nothing else on TV, Friends isn't all that bad.

But what makes this show so re-playable? Somewhere, at some time, on some channel, Friends is always on. There's a few things I can think of that have made Friends what it is today.

1. Mostly Family-Friendly Humor

The humor of the show makes more sense to an adult, but is still safe enough for a child to be in the room. Most of the humor floats over the child's head to the adults in the room, and the kids are likely laughing because their parents are laughing. If Disney can do it, why can't Friends?

2. Real-Life Topics

For the most part, the majority of the topics covered in the nine years of Friends were relatable topics with unlikely twists added in. It's not so odd for your wife to admit that she's a lesbian, but it may be unusual to find this out after she's become pregnant with your child. And it's not so strange to do an in-person cooking interview, but it is quite strange that your interviewer is turned on by you chopping the romaine, and that he isn't actually a chef or restauranteur.

3. Great Theme Song
The Rembrandts' "I'll Be There for You" is a perfect fit for the show, and has become synonymous with the characters of the show. And it's catchy too! If you happen to flip to the channel just as the theme is playing, you know what's on without looking, which is a big plus and attractor for the show. I'm sure the band is still very happy about Friends success, too, even if it did make them a one-hit wonder.

4. Everyone Wants It

Nearly everyone wants what the six main characters have: Everlasting friendship. There may be disagreements, fights, tangled romances, and hurt feelings, but in the end, the group is inseparable. The group presumably spends every weekend night together - their schedules line up magically well. Everyone (in the real world) wants to be able to have this close-knit group of friends through thick and thin, with such a perfect variety of friends. Truth be told, this kind of camaraderie is hard to come by, and even harder to hang on to, which is what makes it so desirable. 

That's a little snippet of why I think the show has been so successful, but I don't have time for more. Gotta go - Friends is on.