Season Eight
At Their Best.
Perhaps that helps explain why season eight of Friends-which began in the wake of the tragic events of September 11 2001- turned out to be arguably the shows finest hour. In season eight, Friends seemed infused with a renewed sense of purpose and viewars took note as ratings increased.
"I think Friends was like a comfort food to people at that time", says Marta Kauffman. "And I was really honoured to be the comfort food. We weren't dealing with the larger issues. We were just doing comedy, and I think people wanted to laugh more than they wanted to see all the images over and over and over again of the towers coming down. After a time, people really were ready to laugh, needed to laugh again. That was just a special season, a strong season. It's hard to look at all your children and wonder which one is strongest, but I really did love season eight".
"If I had to pick a favourite Friends season, I suppose for me it would be season eight", Mathew Perry offers in a concurring opinion. "We were percieved as having a big comeback year. Everybody was watching the show again and there was a little bit of that comfort vibe after the 9/11 trauma. That was also my first full, complete sober season which was obviously very rewarding for me personally".
All around, season eight was what David Crane has called " a friendaissance " an especially golden age of admiration for the show by those on the inside and the outside. Monica and Chandler were enjoying a first season of marital bliss. Rachel going through her pregnancy- until THE ONE WHERE RACHEL HAS A BABY PARTS 1 AND 2 which ended the season. "Rachel's pregnancy was very productive- it brought us some great stories" says Marta Kauffman. "We had a field day".
During season eight there was also great guest stars like Sean Penn in THE ONE WITH THE HALLOWEEN PARTY and THE ONE WITH THE STAIN. Alec Baldwin in THE ONE WITH THE TEA LEAVES and THE ONE IN MASSAPEQUA and in THE ONE WITH THE RUMOUR a strong, suprising performance from Brad Pitt, a promising young actor who apparently scored the gig through a family connection.
"Brad was actually really nervous", recalls Matt LeBlanc. "I don't know if that was because Jen is so good and he didn't want to get shown up by the Mrs. But ultimately Brad was really great on the show". One hopes Brad didn't take too method an approach to the role, as he played Will, co-founder (with Ross no less) of the "We hate Rachel", club back in high school.
"It was perfect because the role wasn't what you'd expect from Brad Pitt", says Kevin Bright. "Brad is really sweet. He comes to pick Jennifer up every Friday night. He kind of sneaks in the back door and he hangs out in her dressing room because he dosen't want to steal the thunder from the show, he's a really sweet guy, he even calls his wife ma'am, I think she'd prefer he call her something more intimate".
Season eight also saw the start of Joey and Rachel as a potential item. As Lisa Kudrow recalls, "Some of us were worried with Joey and Rachel because it was like, Oh, No, now is it just like pairing everybody off? But that really worked out well. I think it was a risk that paid off. Then again Matt and I always thought Joey and Phoebe should get together, but that's not happening-damn".
For all the good work in season eight, Friends would finally win it's first best comedy Emmy- a long delayed honour considering the shows overall quality and massive popular success.
"That was a great moment for the show", says Jennifer Aniston, "They sure took their time, didn't they? I guess it's sort of like, good god, they're still here, I guess we should throw them a bone. But the thing is that we knew. It can't be the number one comedy on television and not be loved by people. So that spoke for itself. For years, that was our Emmy, you know. Thankfully it wasn't what was driving us, this need for an Emmy, but boy when it happened, we were sure happy".
Courtesey of The One With All Ten Years by David Wild.
