If you're not familiar with the show "Friends" and the antics of Chandler, Phoebe, Joey, Rachel, Ross, and Monica, then just know you're doing something wrong. The "Friends" gang brought us happiness, drama, heartbreak, and most importantly, laughter, in that iconic New York apartment complex for 10 seasons before going off-the-air in 2004. Although its series finale holds the title of the fifth most-watched finale in television history and the most-watched episode of the decade (ET online), "Seinfeld" was voted the greatest sitcom of all time in a poll conducted by "60 Minutes", winning with 22 percent of the total votes, while "Friends" only attained 16 percent. "Seinfeld" may have won that contest, but "Friends" should have been the clear-cut winner. Why? I'll explain.
1. "Friends" has a story to enhance its greatness
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"Seinfeld" is literally a show about nothing and, to some, that's what makes it so amazing – a sitcom with no deep plot line, yet one that still has the ability to profoundly entertain audiences deserves to be called "the best." Wrong. "Friends," over the course of 10 seasons, amuses viewers with the way it masterfully considers all the stories it contains. We find out how they all met and came together in the pilot, and each of these stories continues on for 236 episodes, portraying the hardships and good moments they experience along the way through comedy. It's so cliché, yet unbelievably incredible once you watch the whole series.
2. Chandler Bing may just be the most relatable sitcom character to exist
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Throughout the seasons, Chandler becomes known to audiences as the joke-cracking, sarcastic, and witty guy that the rest of the "Friends" characters seem to get annoyed with (but still love anyway). He holds his humor as a defense reaction that emerged due to his parents separating when he was young. He had the fewest relationships of the six; he has massive commitment issues before falling in love with and marrying Monica in the last couple seasons. Chandler, although one of the more underrated characters, will always be kept in the hearts of many as the quirky, comparable one who treated all his friends on the show right and never got the credit he deserved.
3. We will always, ALWAYS clap to the theme song
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I'll Be There For You" by The Rembrandts plays at the beginning of each episode, and it's almost impossible to not reenact the five claps after the singer says, "So no one told you life was gonna be this way…" I've seen every episode about five times each and I still do it. I HAVE to do it for my own well-being. Not to mention, the theme is a masterpiece anyway because of the way it perfectly suits the deeper meaning of the show – no matter what is happening, you're my friend and I'll be there for you through it all.
4. It's impossible to claim you didn't have a crush on Joey Tribbiani
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Didn't you want to be swooned by his alluring "how you doin'" pick-up line? Of course, you did. The Italian, sandwich-loving charmer had a way of winning the hearts of everyone through his good looks, passionate acting voice, and overall goofiness. It may not be so appealing to some that he was with so many women, but you can tell by how he treats his friends so well that he would make a great, loving boyfriend.
5. The series finale will get to you somehow
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We all knew the show would have to end eventually, but the way it does caused heartache yet peace to everyone. After constant breakups, reconciliations, and having a kid together, Rachel gets off her flight to pursue an amazing job in Paris and comes back for Ross instead. Monica and Chandler pick up their newborn twins they adopted from the hospital and move to the suburbs. Phoebe had ended up marrying a guy named Mike earlier in the show, and the future is left unsaid for Joey (but it's obvious he will spend his days acting in random roles and getting with more women).The series closes with all the friends leaving their keys to Monica's apartment on the cabinet and heading to Central Perk, where the friends met about every episode for one last coffee together. Sweet, yet heart-wrenching.
Discovering this show was one of the best things that ever happened to me. Through its wit and its way of showing how true friendships are supposed to work, it gives viewers a good laugh while still presenting valuable life lessons. Although it is now off-the-air, it's on TBS about every weekday and I always find time to watch it— because that's how the greatest sitcom of all time deserves to be treated.
