The Friends star Matthew Perry, who passed away last year, remains an icon for his portrayal of the memorable character Chandler Bing in the beloved sitcom. The actor is known for his quick wit and improvisational skills that brought an extra layer of charm to his character.
However, he would have encountered a creative environment starkly different if he had worked with The Big Bang Theory creator Chuck Lorre. The showrunners of the hit sitcom did not follow the same approach as Friends, as actress Melissa Rauch later revealed that they were instructed not to go off script or improvise any scenes.
The Big Bang Theory Cast Was Instructed to Stick to the Script
Friends and The Big Bang Theory, both have earned a place among some of the most acclaimed and beloved sitcoms. While the shows have been immensely successful, they have followed markedly different approaches.
One such difference was regarding the improvisation and script adherence. While Friends allowed its cast significant freedom to improvise, leading to numerous memorable moments, The Big Bang Theory relied heavily on meticulously crafted scripts.
“Big Bang’ is very tightly scripted,” Melissa Rauch, who played Bernadette in the series, told HuffPost Live in an interview, attributing to the live audience format. “Because we shoot in front of a live audience,” she said before adding, “It’s basically like doing a filmed piece of theatre, really.”
The actress also emphasized that the scripts were always on point and hardly needed any improvisation for them to do. She shared during the interview,
I love it so much, but you don’t want to mess with what they write because it’s almost like this beautiful concerto that you don’t want to mess up one note of.
One of the factors that limited the possibilities of any improvisation was the scientifically dense monologues. Jim Parsons, who played Sheldon Cooper in the series, had to adopt a different method of memorizing his monologues.
Matthew Perry’s Quick Wit Enhanced Chandler Bing’s Charm
In the scripted world of Friends, where adherence to the script was generally the norm, Matthew Perry, in his role as Chandler Bing, often injected his quick wit and improvisational talent, creating memorable moments that have since become iconic.
One of the memorable improvisations from the late actor was his line in the last episode where Rachel suggests they have coffee before they part ways. Chandler’s sarcastic response, “Sure, where?” was Perry’s spontaneous addition to the scene, adding a touch of Chandler’s trademark humor.
Another memorable improvisation by Perry comes during a scene where Chandler confronts Joey about his tailor. When Joey recalls when he first had a suit made, Chandler quips, “You have to stop the Q-tip when there’s resistance!” The off-the-cuff remark showcased Perry’s comedic timing and ability to enhance his character’s dialogue.
These improvisations and unscripted moments, such as Chandler’s “blue blazer black” mix-up and the mishap with Joanna’s office cabinet, have solidified Perry’s portrayal of Chandler Bing as one of the most beloved and enduring characters in sitcoms.
Perry’s improvisational contributions added a layer of spontaneity and humor that resonated deeply with audiences, ensuring Chandler Bing’s place as a cornerstone of the show’s enduring popularity and cultural impact.
The Big Bang Theory and Friends are available to stream on Max.
