Julia Roberts Had An Unexpected Requirement For Appearing As A Guest Star On The Popular Comedy Friends
Matthew Perry says that Julia Roberts had an unusual requirement to be a guest star on the hit comedy show Friends.
Actor Matthew Perry outlines Julia Roberts‘ requirements for appearing as a guest on Friends. The sitcom starred Matthew Perry as Chandler, Courteney Cox as Monica, David Schwimmer as Ross, Jennifer Aniston as Rachel, Matt LeBlanc as Joey, and Lisa Kudrow as Phoebe, and lasted for ten seasons on NBC from 1994 to 2004. The series had a profound impact on culture, and its resurgence on streaming has introduced it to a whole new audience. Friends‘ cultural significance and good ratings meant that it regularly hosted A-list celebrities.
During the second season, Julia Roberts made an appearance on Friends in the two-part episode “The One After the Superbowl.” Besides Chris Isaak and Brooke Shields, Jean-Claude Van Damme appeared in that episode arc as a guest star. Susie Moss, the character portrayed by Roberts, is an old elementary school friend of Chandler’s.
Chandler’s development as a person is in part due to the fact that Susie first seems to have romantic feelings for him, but in reality, she has a grudge against him and wants revenge. Roberts and Perry’s humorous turns added a lot of fun to an already enjoyable plot.
A preview of Perry’s upcoming memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, was published in The New York Times on October 30. Roberts, who was in a serious relationship with Perry at the time, was offered a guest role on Perry’s sitcom, but only under one condition, as shown in the snippet. Read what Perry had to say in the following passage:
Friends Became Famous for Its Star-Studded Episodes
Given their great chemistry and hilarious banter, it seems logical that Roberts would only guest star on Friends if she could be included in Perry’s plot arc. Since they were also romantically involved off-screen, the narrative is all the more endearing.
Perry’s willingness to produce the scholarly paper she wanted demonstrates their shared commitment to starring in the film. Roberts was probably one of the celebrities who came on the show and had the most unusual requests. However, their hard work paid off, because the episode with Roberts was the most watched in Friends’ history.
Jennifer Grey and George Clooney were among the first notable guest stars on Friends. Robin Williams, Charlie Sheen, Winona Ryder, Selma Blair, Jeff Goldblum, Danny DeVito, and Brad Pitt were among the many A-listers who guest starred on the sitcom over the years.
Tom Selleck, who played Monica’s boyfriend, Richard, was one of the few celebrity guest performers to have a significant story arc. Friends always struck a remarkable balance, using guest stars in surprising and entertaining ways that didn’t interfere with the story and frequently resulted in character development or discoveries for the main characters, despite the risk of derailing the plot of an episode with a well-known guest star.
About Friends
Friends is an American television sitcom that ran for 10 seasons on NBC from September 22, 1994, to May 6, 2004, and was developed by David Crane and Marta Kauffman.
The sitcom centers on six friends in their 20s and 30s who reside in Manhattan, New York City, and features an ensemble cast that includes Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, and David Schwimmer. Bright/Kauffman/Crane Productions, in collaboration with Warner Bros. Television, produced the television show. Originally, Kevin S. Bright, Kauffman, and Crane served as executive producers.
