Friends star, Courteney Cox, reveals she felt hurt when she realized she was the only cast member without an Emmy nomination. The beloved television sitcom premiered in 1994 and ran for ten years. During this time, it amassed a substantial viewership and launched the ensemble cast into superstardom. The series followed a group of twenty-something adults navigating their professional and personal lives in New York City. Often called one of the best TV shows of all time, critics praised the sitcom for its clever writing and chemistry among the core characters. By the end of its run, Friends had transformed into a pop culture phenomenon. Notably, over 50 million viewers watched the series finale in 2004.
On Friends, Cox played Monica Geller, a caring and neurotic friend who shared an apartment with her best pal from high school, Rachel Green (Jennifer Aniston). Throughout the show, Cox’s character became known for her competitive nature and fierce loyalty. Despite Monica’s popularity with viewers, Cox did not receive an Emmy nomination for her role. However, the rest of the cast did garner nominations during Friends. Lisa Kudrow, who played the eccentric and lovable Phoebe Buffay, won an Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 1995. David Schwimmer, known for his portrayal of Monica’s brother, Ross Geller, also received a nomination that same year. Over time, Aniston nabbed an Outstanding Leading Actress Award in 2002, while Matthew Perry and Matt LeBlanc also got Emmy noms.
During an interview on The Howard Stern Show, Cox shared her dismay upon noticing that she had been left out of the Emmy process. While she always supported her cast mates and cheered their wins, she also couldn’t help but feel hurt about the noticeable exclusion. Read what Cox said below:
Sure. Yeah, it always hurt my feelings. When every single cast member was nominated but me, it definitely hurt my feelings. I was happy for everybody, and then when it was finally like, ‘Oh, I’m the only one?’ It hurt.
Despite Cox’s lack of an Emmy nomination, her contributions to the series have often earned praise from critics and viewers alike. Even now, years after the show’s conclusion, fans persistently pushed for a cast reunion to again witness the dynamic camaraderie among the group. After a prolonged postponement due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this eventually culminated in the recent HBO Max special, Friends: The Reunion with Cox, Aniston, Kudrow, Schwimmer, Perry, and LeBlanc. The much-awaited special broke UK viewership records and became the most-watched show on Sky One ever.
Although Cox did not receive an Emmy during Friends, her portrayal of Monica remains a celebrated touchstone of the series. Her character’s evolving romance with Chandler Bing (Perry) garnered an enthusiastic reception from viewers, who enjoyed their quirky, lovable progression from friends to lovers. She excelled as the intense yet considerate friend willing to fight for those she loved, no matter the cost. At the end of the day, Cox’s legacy as Monica Geller lives on, regardless of whether or not she got a shiny award in the process.
