STORM2K

Series Finale schedules
~Friends "The Last One" - Thursday, 5/6/04 9:00 EST (The next to last one, aka "The One With Rachel's Going-Away Party," airs again tonight at 8:30 EST). Also, be sure to watch the clip show "The One With All The Other Ones" at 8:00 EST on Thursday
~Frasier "Goodnight, Seattle" - Thursday, 5/13/04 8:54 EST (follows a special clip show called "Analyzing The Laughter" at 8:00 EST and a special Dateline on Tuesday, 5/11/04 9:00 EST)

Season Finale schedules
~ER "Drive" - Thursday, 5/13/04 10:00 EST
~24 "Day 3: 10:00AM - 11:00AM" - Tuesday, 5/11/04 9:00 PM EST
~Third Watch "Monsters" - Friday, 5/7/04 10:00 EST (Come on...I know there have got to be some Third Watch fans here! If not TW, what about Gene Simmons? He plays the bad guy in the season finale!)

I guarantee ANYONE who watches the Friends finale will think of little ole me during a couple of small segments of the show. Any non-Friends watchers gonna tune in just to see how it ends?

24 has 3 episodes (hours) left.

Great thread. I'll HAVE to watch Friends, despite being a die-hard Survivor fan. Also, don't they have a special with Katie and Matt and all the cast on tonight or did I miss it already?

And ER? NO WAY would I miss that. What's up with Carter crying? Anyone know the scoop?

southerngale wrote:24 has 3 episodes (hours) left.

Ah, I stand corrected. I couldn't find any other listings for it.

Suzi -- nope, the special Dateline Friendsday airs tonight on NBC.

As for ER, do you really want me to give it away? It's hard enough for me to have to restrain myself from telling Mary about the sad/happy/sad/whatever will it be! ending to Friends.

Okay, well...if you want to know -- keep reading. If not, skip the rest of this post. From what I can gather about this week's episode (not the finale), Carter'sgirlfriendKemlosesthebabyandthatiswhyheisupset. Also, Abby and Neela graduate (that quick???) and Rachel Greene pops in for a visit.

Shawn - well you know I'm watching Friends! Been taping the morning Today shows to catch segments with the cast, will watch Leno (Thursday night) and Oprah (Friday) also. Both of those shows will feature the entire cast after the finale airs.

I have to admit I'm having a very hard time saying goodbye to Friends. I know it's time but I get very attached to my most favorite shows! And I do cry when they finally go off the air. I'm certain I'll feel the same when the last prime time Friends moment ends. It's so sad - please if you're not a fan of this show, don't slam it. Be kind I ask!!! You see I tuned into Friends from the very first night and knew it would be a runaway hit. Same with ER. TV Guide said viewers have said goodbye to other cherished shows like Friends before - M*A*S*H, Cheers, etc. - and I agree. Friends is in that category! My Thursday nights will just never be the same! When our children were little, we'd faithfully tape it each Thursday, since 8 p.m. was their bedtime. We didn't want to chance them coming out into the hall, seeing the adult themes. LOL Then we'd settle down at 9 or 10 to watch it. Some friends my age are amazed I'm into this show - I dunno, maybe I just don't want to grow up! Hubby's into it too. Again, can you tell I'm having a hard time with this?

Thanks for all the reminders. I'll watch Frasier also but I don't think I'll be very emotional when it ends. Same with ER, when that day comes. ER has changed so much since it first aired. The entire core cast is almost gone, save for Carter and Susan.

Mary

I'll watch the final Frasier... I love that show!!

Miss Mary wrote:I have to admit I'm having a very hard time saying goodbye to Friends. I know it's time but I get very attached to my most favorite shows!

I can remember when The Facts Of Life ended after 9 years -- way back when it still had the title of "longest running sitcom on NBC," thanks in part to the late, great Brandon Tartikoff who loved FOL. *sigh*

I remember when we were talking about spin-offs. Did I happen to mention FOL? There were three "attempted" spin-offs:

An untitled one that would have spun off the episode "Jo's Cousins" with Mary's and my favorite Anne, Megan Follows.


"Eastland Academy" with Blair (Lisa Whelchel) as the new headmistress and also starring Seth Green, Mayim Bialik, and Juliette Lewis. ]

"Big Apple Blues" with Natalie (Mindy Cohn) and David Spade and Richard Grieco.

Shawn - that's our Anne alright. I don't care what MF does for the rest of her life, career wise, she will just always be 'our Anne' (to my daughter Nina and me). Always nice to see her in something else but she sure nailed that role of Anne didn't she?

So I take it FOL was one of your faves Shawn? That was a good show, didn't watch faithfully but my girls have watched reruns. Question - how many VCR's have you worn out? Me? 4 and I'm on the 5th. But hubby is considering getting a Tivo or DVR, and upgrading our satellite level.

Mary

So far, I've had three VCR's and one TV/VCR combo. At one time, I had two hooked up at once because I was working 2nd and 3rd shifts in the ER and never knew when I'd need to record everything and then watch on one while the other one recorded more.

Now I have the DVR. I play the DVR recording of whatever it is I want to archive and then record the program or movie onto VHS through the TV/VCR.

If FOL ever comes back to cable, I'll have to go out and buy a couple of 10-packs of VHS tapes. Yup, it's one of my all-time faves since I grew up watching it and was basically the same age as the girls. That, and I really liked Blair (Lisa Whelchel is a Texas-born blonde).

MF was absolutely the best Anne.

I am going to totally miss Friends. I love that show!

Just stumbled upon this heartfelt goodbye letter/review, on tvguide.com. Have no idea who this Damian person is, but I take it she/he works for TV Guide? Or possibly she's just a fan (if so, I'm soooo envious. Shawn, you and I could have written a letter!!!!).

This is why I'm having a hard time saying goodbye to Friends, this article nails it. Although I liked the six from the get-go.

________________

TV Guide
http://www.tvguide.com/tv/review/

Bye Lines
Friends
(8 pm/ET, NBC)

Dear Friends,

Wow. I didn't expect this to be so difficult. I mean, I've known you were leaving for a while now, so I should be more prepared. Especially since you were supposed to go last year. Thankfully, you were having too much fun — and some might say being paid too much — to sign off until now. But with so much being written about you these days, it's tough to find something new to say. Other than I'll miss you terribly.

Which may explain why I'm a bit torn here. Although I hate to say goodbye, it's almost as if you should go. Let's face it, 10 years is a long time. Beats most marriages and definitely shames other sitcoms. If we look at it that way, then yes, it's a good thing. Now we can all move on and make new plans for Thursday nights. I bet we'll be fine, though I worry about NBC. They may never recover from this loss.

Not that there haven't been rough spots. Like in every friendship, we've let each other down along the way. Truthfully, I wasn't all that thrilled when I first met the six of you back in '94. The timing was just off and the hair was so... '90s. Except for Rachel's. Girl, you were always such a trendsetter. I think I even tried that flip thing.

Still, it's been a blast. I can't imagine a time when we didn't hang out every week, singing "Smelly Cat" or dodging Janice or just trying to figure out if Gunther had a last name. Even that bad seventh season, which I like to call our "dark period," was saved by Monica and Chandler's hook-up. And what a great couple, huh? The suburbs are lucky to have you two. And Harmonica, I know you are going to make a great mother. Just don't let Chandler and Joey watch the kid.... Remember, they left Ben on a bus before.

Speaking of Ben, I'm rooting for you, too, Ross. After years of back-and-forth, I love that you and Rach have remained close. There aren't many exes who can have a daughter, date other people and still flirt around with one another. Since things are going to be sad enough tonight, maybe you two could give us something to be happy about? Plus, it would be good for Ben and Emma.

As for my dear Phoebe, I think I'll miss you the most. Your songs, your style, there's nobody else like you. Many have tried (like that lame Dharma) and all have failed. Watching you marry Mike right there in the street, I was overcome by how far you've come. No longer the wacky psychic masseuse with awful taste in men, I see great things for you, dear. Think feature films, OK?

I guess that leaves you, Joey. I know you're headed West and all, but we are so going to keep in touch. That you can even make this leap is a testament to how much faith we have in you. I don't know if it was that fling with Rachel or what, but the guy who used to be nothing more than the "How you doin'?" punch line has grown up before our eyes. Now, go and godspeed. I can't wait to see how you do in L.A.

In closing, I'd like to thank you all for being there for us like you said you would. For 10 years, through national tragedies and personal calamities, you gave us a reason to laugh and a show to love. We can never return the favor, but just know that if any of you want to come back, your friends will always be saving a seat for you at Central Perk.

Until then, be well and God bless.

Love,
Damian J. Holbrook

______________________

Mary

Awwwwwww, I love that! Thanks for sharing, Mary!

BTW, did I mention my appearance on the show tonight?

GalvestonDuck wrote:Awwwwwww, I love that! Thanks for sharing, Mary!

BTW, did I mention my appearance on the show tonight?

WHAT??? Could you ~BE~ more vague......LOL

You're kidding.....right?

I saw a quick 5 minute live segment with the actress that plays Janice today. She predicts it will be a long, long time before we see chemistry like the Friends' cast had again. I agree. And before the short interview was up, they asked her one more time to say OMG......she politely shrieked one more time, OMG......something to the effect, it's over......

Mary

You'll see.

Shawn - I have it on tape to watch again later with hubby (he's at a Reds game, where are his priorities? LOL). Were you an extra? Or pulling my leg?

Let me know when you've watched it.

And did I cry? Yes and I'm still crying!!! OMG (picture Janice here) I will miss this show!

Mary

Duck was stuck in the fooz ball table. LOL!!!

LOL so that was who was making those chirping noises

It's not the first time Joey had a chick and a duck either:
"Do you guys know how to get a chick out of a VCR?" - Joey in "TOW A Chick, And A Duck"

Yup, "Duck, Jr." was in the foosball table.

Shawn - did you catch it at the end, when it was revealed Ross lived in the apt. briefly once? Another trivia moment. I'm sure someone out there is archiving that tidbit for a new trivia game....wait, there will be no more trivia. This is it unless we have reunions. That makes me so sad!!!

Good memory with the Duck and Chick. I knew Monica wouldn't be in favor of having them. LOL

So I'm a little confused. As the finale ends, Joey is still living in his apt. Not even thinking about going west. I guess this will all be explained in his show's pilot?

Did anyone notice the plug's for the Frasier finale and the Dateline Frasier special next week? I know Kelsey Grammer is upset that Friends garnered more attention than his show did. Kelsey, give it up! Your show was a fine-fine show but Friends was different, from the start. On TV Guide's website it was revealed that either Frasier's producers or Kelsey himself was behind a pitch to NBC, asking if another spin-off could be written. To feature Frasier's next phase in life....thoughts anyone? I think enough is enough. Ride off into the sunset Frasier/Kelsey!!!! You can always have a reunion. Heck, my favorite show of all-time, the Waltons, had at least 2 reunions and I want to say maybe 3. There is another life after a series' finale.
Here's that article on tvguide.com if anyone is interested:
http://www.tvguide.com/news/entertainment/040503.asp

Mary

LOL! Yeah, even the FOLers, after vowing to NEVER do a reunion recently had a reunion movie. So did L.A. Law.

What about all the "Friends" references in commercials? That was pretty clever. And did you see the previews for Joey's new show?

I did hear on one of the talk shows or something that this was all about saying goodbye for the "Friends." So they weren't going to use it as a vehicle to spin off Joey's show or anything. They said all that would be answered in his show -- how he got there, what he does, and so forth.