The One With All The "Friends" Books...and More!
Could we BE any more excited?! With six simultaneous Instagram posts (from all the co-stars!) we learned about the reunion we’ve all been waiting for! After 15 years and 9 months, HBO Max announced that the full cast of Friends - Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer, Matt LeBlanc and Matthew Perry - will be reuniting for an unscripted special set to air in May 2020!
This is especially exciting around my house - my daughter and I have been reading “I’ll Be There For You” (see below) since January. For her, it’s some historical perspective on the show that the teens were all binging (until it was recently pulled from Netflix). For me, it’s a walk down memory lane of my must-see-TV nights - with some new behind-the-scenes info thrown in! (Nancy McKeon was considered for the role of Monica? Jo from Facts of Life? I don’t see that.)
Anyway, we’re all excited - and I’ll bet more than a few of you are, too! Get ready by checking out these book, gift and game ideas to get you ready for the May release!
Today, Friends is remembered as an icon of ’90s comedy and the Must See TV years. But when the series debuted in 1994, no one anticipated the sensation it would become. From the first wave of Friends mania to the backlash and renaissance that followed, the show maintained an uncanny connection to its audience, who saw it both as a reflection of their own lives and an aspirational escape from reality. In the years since, Friends has evolved from prime-time megahit to nostalgic novelty, and finally, to certified classic. Ross, Rachel, Monica, Chandler, Joey and Phoebe have entered the pantheon of great television characters, and yet their stories remain relevant still.
I’ll Be There for You is a deep dive into Friends history and lore, exploring all aspects of the show, from its unlikely origins to the societal conditions that amplified its success. Journalist and pop culture expert Kelsey Miller relives the show’s most powerful moments, sheds light on its sometimes dated and problematic elements, and examines the worldwide trends that Friends catalyzed, from contemporary coffee culture to the wildly popular ’90s haircut The Rachel. Taking readers behind the scenes, Miller traces the cast’s rise to fame and untangles the complex relationship between the actors and their characters. Weaving in revelatory interviews and personal stories, she investigates the role of celebrity media, world-changing events and the dawning of the digital age—all of which influenced both the series and its viewers.
I’ll Be There for You is the definitive retrospective of Friends, not only for fans of the series, but for anyone who’s ever wondered what it is about this show—and television comedy—that resonates so powerfully.
In September 1994, six friends sat down in their favorite coffee shop and began bantering about sex, relationships, jobs, and just about everything else. A quarter of a century later, new fans are still finding their way into the lives of Rachel, Ross, Joey, Chandler, Monica, and Phoebe, and thanks to the show’s immensely talented creators, its intimate understanding of its youthful audience, and its reign during network television’s last moment of dominance, Friends has become the most influential and beloved show of its era. Friends has never gone on a break, and this is the story of how it all happened.
Noted pop culture historian Saul Austerlitz utilizes exclusive interviews with creators David Crane and Marta Kauffman, executive producer Kevin Bright, director James Burrows, and many other producers, writers, and cast members to tell the story of Friends’ creation, its remarkable decade-long run, and its astonishing Netflix-fueled afterlife. Readers will go behind the scenes to hear from the people who were present as the show was developed and cast, written and filmed. There will be talk of trivia contests, prom videos, trips to London, Super Bowls, lesbian weddings, wildly popular hairstyles, superstar cameos, mad dashes to the airport, and million-dollar contracts. They’ll also discover surprising details—that Monica and Joey were the show’s original romantic couple, how Danielle Steel probably saved Jennifer Aniston’s career, and why Friends is still so popular that if it was a new show, its over-the-air broadcast reruns would be the ninth-highest-rated program on TV.
The show that defined the 1990s has a legacy that has endured beyond wildest expectations. And in this hilarious, informative, and entertaining book, readers will now understand why.
A fully illustrated and authorized episode guide celebrating the twenty-fifth anniversary of the hit-television show Friends, including a look behind-the-scenes of cult-favorite episodes, exclusive photos from Warner Bros., brand new interviews with show creators Marta Kauffman, David Crane, and set designer John Shaffner, and more.
Could this BE any more delicious?
You’re the ultimate fan of Friends. You’ve seen every episode (multiple times). You get all the inside jokes. You even know how to make that trifle. But with this fun and funny cookbook, you can take your fandom one step further by whipping up incredible entrées inspired by this iconic 1990s sitcom. Whether it’s a going away party when you move to Yemen, a Friendsgiving dinner in your unaffordable NYC apartment, or just having some nibbles during a binge viewing party, The One with All the Recipes will be there for you!
Welcome to Mental Perk. Grab yourself a coffee, get comfy on the couch and settle in for some fun Friends trivia. Inside this book, there are 400 questions separated into 25 individual quizzes. There are 15 general knowledge rounds and 10 rounds on specific subjects. General knowledge questions become increasingly harder as you progress through the book. There’s also a round of tiebreakers designed to help you figure out who really knows the most about Friends. Do you have what it takes to be the next Joey Triviani?
Let your best buds know that you'll be there for them with this DIY gift book inspired by the gang from Friends: Rachel, Ross, Joey, Monica, Phoebe, and Chandler. Whether or not your best pal has hair as awesome as Rachel, cooks like Monica, sings like Phoebe, or is as smooth as Joey, this is the perfect way to let them know you're friends for life. Once you fill in the prompts, this book becomes a personalized gift full of ridiculous, potentially embarrassing, or sweet expressions of appreciation that are as quirky as your favorite friends.
And of course - now that they are no longer on Netflix - you need your very own copy of ALL the shows!
Why stop at books and shows? There are so many other great gifts out there for fans!
