There are several factors that contributed to making the opening credit for Friends one of the best in the business, as it gives a perfect outlook on what fans can expect from the sitcom. But while the opening sequence itself is upbeat, which involves the iconic fountain scene that sees the whole cast hopping into the fountain in the middle of the night, it wasn’t too cheerful for the cast.
Had it not been for the late, great Matthew Perry, the fountain scene would’ve been a disaster, as the filming was miserable for the entire cast.
Matthew Perry Ensured to Uplift the Cast During Gruelling Shoot
Opposed to series’ set decorator Greg Grande’s recollection of the event, who stressed “they had more fun with the back and forth”, in the fountain, the cast doesn’t quite fondly remember shooting it. Shot on Warner Bros. backlot, according to Courteney Cox, filming the fountain montage was a nightmare for them, as they had to stay in the cold water for hours. On top of that, kickstarting the production at 4 in the morning certainly didn’t make things better.
But while the long shoot was grueling for them, Matthew Perry ensured the sequence wasn’t impacted because of their discomfort. His co-star Lisa Kudrow recalled (via /Film) that the Chandler actor served as a major inspiration throughout the torturous shoot in the fountain, as his quips about the situation would constantly uplift the cast.
Matthew Perry was cracking us up making so many jokes about how long it was taking. I remember him saying, I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t wet. I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t cold.’ We were laughing really hard. That’s what they were shooting – us laughing at Matthew Perry making fun of how uncomfortable it was to be in that fountain.
This added to the authenticity of the fountain montage, as despite being exhausted by the shoot, Perry’s cheerful persona ensured the cast didn’t lose their smiles.
Lisa Kudrow Finally Watched Friends To Celebrate Matthew Perry
It’s not uncommon for actors to not consume their own works, and Lisa Kudrow was in the same boat for a long time. Known for playing Phoebe Buffay in Friends, the actress avoided watching the beloved sitcom to not risk being embarrassed by her work. However, following her co-star Matthew Perry’s tragic demise last year, the actress finally decided to watch the old Friends episodes to celebrate Perry.
She said (via THR):
Honestly, I wasn’t able to watch it because it’s too embarrassing to watch yourself. But if I make it about Matthew, then that’s OK. And it’s just celebrating how hilarious he was — and that is what I want to remember [about him].
Not only did Perry’s Chandler boost Friends from great to iconic, but his presence on set also ensured that most fans wouldn’t skip the opening sequence.
Friends is available to stream on Max.
