16 Facts You Probably Didn't Know About 'Friends'

There are some things that even a die-hard Friendsfanatic wouldn't know.

If you can recite entire episodes, you probably think you know everything there is to know, right?

Well, you're wrong!  We have a list with hidden things about the show that pretty much defined the '90s. 

SHAREif friends would be as surprised from these facts as they were finding out Rachel had a giant schnoz!

1. Before the show aired on TV, the cast went to Las Vegas. Apparently, director James Burrows had a "feeling" about the show and paid for everything!

2. Ellen DeGeneres was the one who was first offered the role of Pheobe, but she turned it down..

THIS is BRAND NEW INFORMATION!

3. Joey and Monica were supposed to end up together after being in a long on and off relationship like Rachel and Ross did.

But producers and writers saw that Jennifer Aniston and David Schwimmer had insta-chemistry so they changed their minds.

4. The intro wasn't even done in the real Central Park, it was in some Warner Bros studio in Hollywood.

Dancing in a fountain?? Just... why?

PS everyone thought this actor was actually gay, just like his character..

5. Speaking of studios, none of the show was ever shot in New York.

In fact, the only shot of New York was the outside of the apartment block.

6. Reese Witherspoon's character was only one the show once because Aniston hated working with her.

In fact, Jennifer Aniston made sure she never got a callback. I KNOW!

7. The cast thought Matthew Perry was actually gay... 

...just like the characters thought Chandler Bing was gay in "The One Where Nana Dies Twice."

8. Joey, the lovable, resident boob of the group was supposed to be an egghead.

The writers pictured the character being an intellectual – but Matt LeBlanc was the one leading the charge that Joey should be a little slow.

Plus there was another main character could have been missing from the final season... Can you imagine?

9. NBC thought the show taking place in a coffeehouse was too trendy.

When the producers pitched the show initially, the brass at NBC loved everything except where the the characters hung out. Luckily, cooler heads prevailed and we still got Central Perk.

10. Rachel could have been missing on the final season because Jennifer Aniston was waaaaaay too busy.

Jennifer wasn't 100% sure that she wanted to do it. She was at the high point of her career getting calls for lots of roles and one of the most famous people in the world. But eventually she caved and soldiered on and the whole cast was united going into the finale.

11. Bruce Willis lost a bet and didn't get paid for his cameo on the show.

 Bruce lost a bet with Matthew Perry and he acting fee went to charity.

12. Mathew Perry had a drug and alcohol addiction during filming.

In fact, his weight fluctuated wildly during shooting. He told the cast when he said he couldn't hide it anymore. 

And finally, two actors' names for one episode were changed to the same last name..

13. The role of Ross was designed specifically for David Schwimmer.

He was actually the first character cast. Executive producer Kevin Bright had worked with Schwimmer before, so the writers were developing Ross’s character for Schwimmer’s whiny, nasally voice.

14. Ben saying "Dada" was one of the hardest scenes to shoot

According to Mental Floss, "The plot of the episode is that Rachel hears the first word of Ross’s son, Ben. Ross is desperate to hear Ben talk again and spends the rest of the episode trying to get his son to talk. In one scene, Ross says, “It’s Ben and his Dada. Dada. Can you say ‘Dada’?” He’s supposed to be met with silence, but the child actor kept actually responding, 'Dada.'"

15. The entire cast had the last name "Arquette" in the sixth seasonpremiereepisodeThe One After Vegas.

It was also the first episode after Courteney Cox married David Arquette. In the credits, her name was switched to “Courteney Cox Arquette” and the other cast members followed suit with new names like “Jennifer Aniston Arquette. The episode is dedicated: “For Courteney and David, who did get married.”

16. There is no real Central Perk in New York... but there are replicas all over the world.

In 2010, Friendsfan Du Xin opened a Central Perk replica in downtown Beijing and even Liverpool.

SHAREwith friends who'd love these facts about Friends! (Sorry. I'm so sorry for that one)

Main and collage image via G Magazine