Over the weekend, Friends fans collectively lost it when they noticed an expiration date of Jan. 1, 2019 on the show’s landing page on Netflix.

But on Monday, the streaming giant confirmed that the beloved NBC sitcom would remain available in the U.S. throughout 2019 — and according to the New York Times, the extra year came with a hefty price tag.

The company will reportedly pay around $100 million to continue licensing the program from its owner, WarnerMedia. Netflix, which acquired all 236 episodes on Jan. 1, 2015, had previously paid $30 million a year to stream the show.

https://people.com/tv/netflix-paid-100-million-to-keep-friends/?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=social-share-article

I bet the cast gets the HIGHEST residuals of ANY actor of any sitcom.

I was lucky enough to work on "Friends" and the security there was like entering The White House.

ChocolateBox3121 said:

I was lucky enough to work on "Friends"

reason for the thread

EmmaMcG said:

wow! that's a loyal fanbase

2045RadicalMattZ said:

Guess I'm one of the few who absolutely hate that fucking show. Granted Lisa Kudrow had comedic talent before....the show is insanely stupid and CONSTANTLY ROUTED WITH CANNED LAUGHTER...i find it a sad commentary on anti-social lifestyles and always picture a bedraggled human zombie grunting out (with mouth agape) F-RRRR-IIENDS! And then staring in a stupor as life goes by. The laugh track should be banned unless filmed in front of an audience (*which is also more hype and fakery) That shit creeps me out. It's an idiotic show. Literally every 3 seconds the click goes. It's frightening ....like that RICHARD PRYOR SHOW segment with the woman that has mental illness... the one shot in black and white. It's a disturbing show and phenomenon

LIES!

I worked on the show and the waiting list to attend a taping in front of a STUDIO AUDIENCE was months in some cases YEARS!!

ChocolateBox3121 said:

2045RadicalMattZ said:

ChocolateBox3121 said:

LIES!

I worked on the show and the waiting list to attend a taping in front of a STUDIO AUDIENCE was months in some cases YEARS!!

Yeah but as with every taping the audience gets a sign when to laugh etc unless it's humoresque as in the styling of a character read. The show is still cultist garbage. I lived through that era. I guess it's for some people. Still gets watched on lunch breaks.

That show had DIEHARD fans that didn't need a sign to tell them when to laugh.

ChocolateBox3121 said:

I worked on the show

2

EmmaMcG said:

The only reason why they're all friends with each other is because nobody else would want to be friends with them.

love it

Most overrated show in TV history....piece of fucking garbage.

Never watched Friends except for a couple of snippets here and there, never full episodes so I'm not one of the ones they are doing this for.

I have to admit it's going on months since I've streamed anything from Netflix. With Disney pulling the plug, a sizeable chunk of their streams are going with it. I like a couple of their original productions, I mostly like it for shows from other countries I've found quite a few of those I like. Occassionally, there's a show I missed out on from the States that I like but there are so many that don't allow the streaming streaming of their shows that I'd be interested in. With everybody trying to have their own streaming service, I can see I won't be seeing as many shows as I have enjoyed in the past. I suspect soon movie theaters will be dividing up like this soon if they can generate enough membership services. Books and libraries are the last refuge.

Actually "Friends" was an inspired by blatant rip off of the hit sitcom "Living Single"(A show I used to go visit a few times) .

ChocolateBox3121 said:

(A show I used to go visit a few times) .

3

Living Single was about the women. The two guys were like their Lenny and Squiggy. On Friends they were all equally important.


People also need to understand when a movie or show is a product of it's time and stop comparing it to modern sensibilities. The next time I see someone ranking "The Outing" at the bottom of a Seinfeld episodes list I'm going to order a hit out on them. It's a perfect episode of television.

It's quite refreshing to see people absolutly HATING on Friends. I also hate how overrated it is.

But the show itself, I mean I grew up watching it, thought it was hilarious. I think many are probably like me, they find the show nostalgic rather than clever. I don't think it's particularly well written but I do like the chemistry between the 6 and they have their moments. Some episodes are just down right shit though I admit.

Anyways 100 Mil payment doesn't surprise me at all. It's even more popular outside the States, any international student I've met at college knew Friends and for many Friends was their America. I hear it's especially in high demand in India, Indonesia, Korea etc. so surely Netflix wouldn't lose any money with this contract!

MoBettaBliss said:

EmmaMcG said:

MoBettaBliss said:

3

You think it will reach double figures?

i'm predicting 7

I used to love the show when I watched it way back when, but I think that's a telling commentary on society - there must be a whole lot of people who have no friends in REAL LIFE who would have to take recourse in this "alternate reality" to feel happy! What do you think?

domainator2010 said:

Like someone said it's constantly on television. I mean it's on a couple channels right at this moment. But I think it's more of a commentary on young people just not watching actual televisions anymore.

To me Friends is kinda like The Simpsons now. If there's absolutely nothing on you can sit there and get a good 4-5 laughs out of it and get your nostalgia fix all wrapped up in a big bow.

Other shows that you might've missed during their original run yet offer the same benefits but are WAY funnier are My Wife and Kids and Everybody Loves Raymond.

CynicKill said:

Ah, 'Friends'; the show for people who don't have any.

EmmaMcG said:

CynicKill said:

Like someone said it's constantly on television. I mean it's on a couple channels right at this moment. But I think it's more of a commentary on young people just not watching actual televisions anymore.

To me Friends is kinda like The Simpsons now. If there's absolutely nothing on you can sit there and get a good 4-5 laughs out of it and get your nostalgia fix all wrapped up in a big bow.

Other shows that you might've missed during their original run yet offer the same benefits but are WAY funnier are My Wife and Kids and Everybody Loves Raymond.

Only Fools And Horses is the best sitcom of all time. I introduced a few of my American friends to it and after they acclimatised to the cockney accents, each one agreed that it ranked among the best sitcoms ever created.

Our public television recently started showing this show "Miranda". It's your basic unorthodox female but it's funny. I couldn't help but think they probably hate her over in England though.

CynicKill said:

EmmaMcG said:

That's a waste of money. That piece of shit is constantly on television. CONSTANTLY. As in, it's always on. No matter what time of day, you're guaranteed to come across Friends.

If I loved "Friends" that much... I'd purchase the DVD collection. I only watched Friends once, cuz my cousin had a small role, standing in line as one of restaurant customers. Friends was boring as hell.

The funniest comedy is easily Arrested Development, a show that fell out of favor because it was too unique to be IN favor in the first place!