The first episode of Friends premiered on NBC over fifteen years ago. In 1994 no one knew what a smash the sitcom would be, and they certainly had no idea that the show would go on in reruns forever after, allowing fans and detractors alike to pick apart every episode that ever aired in incredible detail.
Despite the attention fans have paid over the decades there may be a few details that have gone on living under the radar. But, in the pilot especially, there are a few differences and oddities that stand out from every episode after.
Apartment Numbers
Any good Friends fan knows the numbers of Monica’s apartment along with Joey and Chandler’s. If asked the correct answer would be twenty and nineteen. That’s the truth, except in the pilot episode.
In the first episode Monica’s apartment, along with Joey and Chandler’s, have different numbers than they will have later on. In the pilot, the apartments are number five and four. Just a fun little difference before the show took off.
Ross’s Wife
In the pilot episode of Friends Ross’s wife looks very different than she will over the next decade because it is the one episode where she is played by a different actress.
In the pilot, Carol is played by Anita Barone. After the pilot, Jane Sibbett takes over the role for the rest of the series. Apparently it was David Schwimmer’s performance in the first episode that finally convinced Jane Sibbett to take on the part.
Barry’s Name
The first episode of Friends opens with the gang in the coffee shop and Rachel appearing in a wedding dress. She eventually explains that she has escaped her wedding, leaving her fiance, Barry Finkle, at the altar.
This story stands, of course, except for the fact that, after the pilot, Barry Finkle turns into Barry Farber forever after. When he is spoken of, or when he actually gets married to Rachel’s former friend, Mindy, he is called Farber.
Rachel Is Introduced to Chandler
Monica introduces Rachel around to the group at Central Perk. She introduces her to everyone but Ross, who Rachel already knows from her childhood. The problem with Monica introducing Rachel to Joey, Phoebe, and Chandler is that, apparently, Rachel had already met Chandler before.
In a flashback episode in a much later season, Rachel and Monica both meet Chandler when Ross brings him home from college. So, for real Friends aficionados, this introduction in the pilot doesn’t make sense.
Two Phoebes
Lisa Kudrow’s Phoebe is seen in two places at once in the pilot episode. Everyone is at Monica’s apartment and Phoebe and Rachel are standing in the kitchen area talking about eyelashes.
The scene cuts and Phoebe is suddenly seated on the couch next to Paul the Wine Guy. There is no time for Phoebe to move positions. She’s just in the scene, twice. Logically it makes no sense, though if anyone could do it it would certainly be Phoebe.
Where Are The Stairs?
When Paul the Wine Guy leaves Monica’s apartment he heads off in a strange direction, namely not in the direction regular Friends fans know to be the way to the stairs.
Paul the Wine Guy does not live in the same apartment building as Monica, so this action makes no sense. Apparently where the stairs exist was established sometime after the pilot of the series was shot, and Paul just continues to confuse fans to this day.
The Cast Went to Vegas
Even Rachel seems to get along well with everyone right away, after appearing distraught and in need of a new outfit. How was this possible?
Well, in real life, the six Friends cast members all were sent to Vegas together to bond before the filming of the pilot began. Apparently this mini-vacation was a complete success, as the chemistry of all six of the main characters is incredible on-screen from the very beginning.
Gunther Doesn’t Speak
Gunther, the manager of Central Perk, appears in the pilot, but he does not yet have a name. He is never called Gunther and, in fact, he doesn’t speak. Gunther doesn’t actually receive a line until late in season two of the show.
Despite not being acknowledged or named in the pilot Gunther would hang around for all ten seasons of the show, just like the main six stars.
Is That Jasmine?
Jasmine is a co-worker of Phoebes who appears in four episodes of Friends over the show’s run. However, the actress who plays Jasmine also appears in the pilot episode of the show.
She’s not yet Jasmine, but rather a waitress at Central Perk. Perhaps this is also Jasmine, at an earlier job, before she knows and works with Phoebe. But that fact is never confirmed. Actress Cynthia Mann, however, can still put five episodes, rather than Jasmine’s four, on her resume.
The One With Four Titles
While the first episode of Friends is usually referred to as the pilot it actually has four known titles. First, of course, it has been called “The Pilot”. On the Friends DVDs the episodes, however, is called “The One Where Monica Gets a Roommate”.
But, if a person is ever searching for the pilot in television listings it has also been referred to as both “The One Where it All Began,” and, very simply, as “The First One”.
