Editing Friends (section)

== Reception ==
=== Critical reception ===
{{Television critical response
| rotten_tomatoes1  = 70% (43 reviews)	<ref>{{Cite web |title=Friends: Season 1 {{!}} Rotten Tomatoes |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/friends/s01 |access-date=2025-01-17 |website=www.rottentomatoes.com |language=en}}</ref>
| metacritic1       = 65% (24 reviews)	<ref name= "Metacritic"/>
| rotten_tomatoes5  = 100% (6 reviews)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Friends: Season 5 {{!}} Rotten Tomatoes |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/friends/s05 |access-date=2025-01-17 |website=www.rottentomatoes.com |language=en}}</ref>
| rotten_tomatoes6  = 100% (6 reviews)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Friends: Season 6 {{!}} Rotten Tomatoes |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/friends/s06 |access-date=2025-01-17 |website=www.rottentomatoes.com |language=en}}</ref>
| rotten_tomatoes8  = 100% (7 reviews)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Friends: Season 8 {{!}} Rotten Tomatoes |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/friends/s08 |access-date=2025-01-17 |website=www.rottentomatoes.com |language=en}}</ref>
| rotten_tomatoes9  = 20% (5 reviews)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Friends: Season 9 {{!}} Rotten Tomatoes |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/friends/s09 |access-date=2025-01-17 |website=www.rottentomatoes.com |language=en}}</ref>
| rotten_tomatoes10  = 80% (25 reviews)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Friends: Season 10 {{!}} Rotten Tomatoes |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/friends/s10 |access-date=2025-01-17 |website=www.rottentomatoes.com |language=en}}</ref>
}}

Early reviews of the series were mixed;<ref>{{Cite news |last=Middis |first=Jessie |date=September 22, 2021 |title=Why Friends' first episode was 'The one with the mixed reviews' |url=https://uk.news.yahoo.com/on-this-day-why-critics-slammed-friends-when-it-premiered-013102084-084618164.html |access-date=November 18, 2024 |work=[[Yahoo News|Yahoo News UK]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Viruet |first=Pilot |date=September 4, 2014 |title='Friends' Doesn't Deserve Your Nostalgia |url=https://www.flavorwire.com/475487/friends-doesnt-deserve-your-nostalgia |access-date=November 18, 2024 |work=[[Flavorwire]] |quote=The show premiered in 1994 with a rather unimpressive pilot and an uneven first season that received mixed reviews}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=James |first=Emily St. |author-link=Emily St. James |date=September 9, 2014 |title=Today is the 10th anniversary of the sitcom Joey. How are you doing? |url=https://www.vox.com/2014/9/9/6126361/joey-sitcom-10-nbc-matt-leblanc |access-date=November 18, 2024 |work=[[Vox (website)|Vox]] |quote=Friends, which received decidedly mixed reviews when it debuted in 1994}}</ref> the first season holds a [[Metacritic]] score of 65 out of 100, based on 24 sampled reviews, indicating "generally favourable reviews".<ref name="Metacritic">{{Cite web |title=Friends Season 1 |url=https://www.metacritic.com/tv/friends |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140516111958/http://www.metacritic.com/tv/friends |archive-date=May 16, 2014 |access-date=March 29, 2014 |publisher=[[Metacritic]]}} </ref> Tom Feran of ''[[The Plain Dealer]]'' wrote that the series traded "vaguely and less successfully on the hanging-out style of ''Seinfeld''",<ref>Feran, Tom (September 22, 1994). "New Series Softens Dabney Coleman—A Little", ''[[The Plain Dealer]]'', [[Advance Publications|Newhouse Newspapers]]. Retrieved on January 4, 2009.</ref> while Ann Hodges of the ''[[Houston Chronicle]]'' called it "the new ''Seinfeld'' wannabe, but it will never be as funny as ''Seinfeld''."<ref name="Hodges">Hodges, Ann (September 22, 1994). "[https://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl/1994_1227698/nbc-sitcoms-make-thursday-less-funny.html NBC sitcoms make Thursday less funny] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130226224328/http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl/1994_1227698/nbc-sitcoms-make-thursday-less-funny.html |date=February 26, 2013 }}", ''[[Houston Chronicle]]'', [[Hearst Corporation|Hearst Newspapers]]. Retrieved on January 4, 2009.</ref> In the ''[[Los Angeles Daily News]]'', [[Ray Richmond]] named the series as "one of the brighter comedies of the new season",<ref name="rayreview">Richmond, Ray (September 22, 1994). "[http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=LA&p_theme=la&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EF66B174A1CE015&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D Season Premiere of ''Friends'' Leaves Room to Grow] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181125074053/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=LA&p_theme=la&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EF66B174A1CE015&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D |date=November 25, 2018 }}", (Registration required). ''[[Los Angeles Daily News]]'', [[Los Angeles Newspaper Group]]. Retrieved on January 4, 2009.</ref> and the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' called it "flat-out the best comedy series of the new season."<ref>Rosenberg, Howard (September 22, 1994). "[https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-09-22-ca-41409-story.html NBC's Strongest Evening of the Week Has Its Weak Spot] ", ''The Los Angeles Times'', [[Tribune Company]]. Retrieved on January 4, 2009.</ref>

The ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]''{{'}} Ginny Holbert found Joey and Rachel's characters to be underdeveloped,<ref>Holbert, Ginny (September 22, 1994). "[http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CSTB&p_theme=cstb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB421DE1111933C&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D X Marks Spot For ''Friends'' On Thursday] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181125074047/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CSTB&p_theme=cstb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB421DE1111933C&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D |date=November 25, 2018 }}". (Registration required). ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]''. Retrieved on January 4, 2009.</ref> while Richmond commended the cast as a "likeable youth ensemble" with "good chemistry."<ref name="rayreview" /> Robert Bianco of ''[[USA Today]]'' was complimentary of Schwimmer, calling him "terrific." He also praised the female leads, but was concerned that Perry's role as Chandler was "undefined" and that LeBlanc was "relying too much on the same brain-dead stud routine that was already tired the last two times he tried it."<ref name="Bianco">Bianco, Robert (September 22, 1994). "Six ''Friends'' Sittin' Around, Talking", ''[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]]''.</ref> The authors of ''Friends Like Us: The Unofficial Guide to Friends'' thought that the cast was "trying just a little too hard"; in particular, Perry and Schwimmer.<ref>Sangster, p. 14</ref>

As the series progressed, reviews became more positive, and ''Friends'' became one of the most popular sitcoms of its time. It is now often ranked among the [[List of television shows considered the best|all-time best TV shows]].<ref name="Time">{{Cite magazine |last=Poniewozi |first=James |author-link=James Poniewozik |date=September 6, 2007 |title=All-Time 100 TV Shows |url=http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/completelist/0,,1651341,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090226031518/http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/completelist/0%2C%2C1651341%2C00.html |archive-date=February 26, 2009 |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]}}</ref><ref name="cbsnews.com">{{Cite news |date=April 26, 2002 |title=TV Guide Names Top 50 Shows |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tv-guide-names-top-50-shows/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120904061715/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/04/26/entertainment/main507388.shtml |archive-date=September 4, 2012 |work=[[CBS News]]}}</ref><ref name="empireonline.com">{{Cite web |last1=Dyer |first1=James |last2=Williams |first2=Owen |last3=Gross |first3=Ed |last4=White |first4=James |last5=Nugent |first5=John |last6=De Semlyen |first6=Phil |last7=Hewitt |first7=Chris |date=June 15, 2016 |title=The 50 Best TV Shows Ever |url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/best-tv-shows-ever/?tv=7/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180923204754/https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/best-tv-shows-ever/?tv=7%2F |archive-date=September 23, 2018 |access-date=February 10, 2020 |website=[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]]}}</ref> Critics commended the series for having consistently sharp writing and for the chemistry between the main actors.<ref name="friendsreviews" /> Noel Holston of ''[[Newsday]]'', who had dismissed the pilot as a "so-so ''Seinfeld'' wannabe" in 1994, repudiated his earlier review after re-watching the episode and felt like writing an apology to the writers.<ref name="friendsnewsday">{{Cite web |last=Holston, Noel |title=''Friends'' that were like family |url=http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/news/ny-friendsfanfare,0,6756416.story |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090124163208/http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/news/ny-friendsfanfare%2C0%2C6756416.story |archive-date=January 24, 2009 |access-date=January 1, 2009 |website=Newsday}}</ref> [[Heather Havrilesky]] of ''[[Salon.com]]'' thought that the series "hit its stride" in the second season. Havrilesky found the character-specific jokes and situations "could reliably make you laugh out loud a few times each episode", and the quality of writing allowed the stories to be "original and innovative."<ref name="reviewsalon" />

[[Bill Carter]] of ''[[The New York Times]]'' called the eighth season a "truly stunning comeback." Carter found that by "generating new hot storylines and high-decibel laughs", the series made its way "back into the hearts of its fans."<ref name="plottwists">{{Cite news |last=Carter |first=Bill |date=February 18, 2002 |title=Plot Twists Paid Off For ''Friends'' |work=The New York Times |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE3D7113FF93BA25751C0A9649C8B63 |url-status=live |access-date=November 13, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071118115851/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE3D7113FF93BA25751C0A9649C8B63 |archive-date=November 18, 2007}}</ref> However, [[Liane Bonin]] of ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' felt that the direction of the ninth season was a "disappointing buzzkill", criticizing it for the non-stop celebrity guest spots and going into [[Jumping the shark|jump the shark]] territory. Although disappointed with the season, Bonin noted that "the writing [was] still sharp."<ref name="friendsoverstay" /> Havrilesky thought that the tenth season was "alarmingly awful, far worse than you would ever imagine a show that was once so good could be."<ref name="reviewsalon">{{Cite news |last=Havrilesky, Heather |date=May 7, 2004 |title=Never forget your ''Friends'' |work=[[Salon.com]] |url=http://dir.salon.com/story/ent/tv/review/2004/05/07/friends_finale/print.html |url-status=dead |access-date=January 1, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090122133540/http://dir.salon.com/story/ent/tv/review/2004/05/07/friends_finale/print.html |archive-date=January 22, 2009}}</ref> ''Friends'' was featured on ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]''{{'}}s list of "The 100 Best TV Shows of All-Time", saying, "the well-hidden secret of this show was that it called itself ''Friends'', and was really about family."<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=August 13, 2007 |title=Friends&nbsp;- The 100 Best TV Shows of All |magazine=Time |url=http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/article/0,28804,1651341_1659188_1652526,00.html |url-status=dead |access-date=April 27, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090430194439/http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/article/0%2C28804%2C1651341_1659188_1652526%2C00.html |archive-date=April 30, 2009}}</ref>

Reviews of the series finale were mostly positive. ''USA Today''{{'}}s Robert Bianco described the finale as entertaining and satisfying and praised it for deftly mixing emotion and humor while highlighting each of the stars.<ref name="finalerob">{{Cite news |last=Bianco, Robert |date=May 7, 2004 |title=Rachel stays, so ''Friends'' are able to leave together |work=USA Today |url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/television/reviews/2004-05-06-friends-finale_x.htm |url-status=live |access-date=January 1, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081101152402/http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/reviews/2004-05-06-friends-finale_x.htm |archive-date=November 1, 2008}}</ref> Sarah Rodman of the ''[[Boston Herald]]'' praised Aniston and Schwimmer for their acting, but felt that their characters' reunion was "a bit too neat, even if it was what most of the show's legions of fans wanted."<ref>{{cite news|title=Six pals depart on a classy note |last=Rodman|first=Sarah|date=May 7, 2004 |newspaper=[[Boston Herald]]|page=3<!--|access-date=January 1, 2009 -->}}</ref> Roger Catlin of the ''[[Hartford Courant]]'' felt that newcomers to the series would be "surprised at how laughless the affair could be, and how nearly every strained gag depends on the sheer stupidity of its characters."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Catlin |first=Roger |date=May 7, 2004 |title=The Long Farewell is Over; Lots of Fans, Little Fanfare for Mich-Anticipated Finale of ''Friends'' |work=[[Hartford Courant]] |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/courant/access/629993481.html?dids=629993481:629993481&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=May+07%2C+2004&author=ROGER+CATLIN%3B+Courant+TV+Critic&pub=Hartford+Courant&desc=THE+LONG+FAREWELL+IS+OVER+%3B+LOTS+OF+FANS%2C+LITTLE+FANFARE+FOR+MUCH-ANTICIPATED+FINALE+OF+%60FRIENDS%27&pqatl=google |url-status=dead |access-date=January 1, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090122233106/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/courant/access/629993481.html?dids=629993481:629993481&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=May+07%2C+2004&author=ROGER+CATLIN%3B+Courant+TV+Critic&pub=Hartford+Courant&desc=THE+LONG+FAREWELL+IS+OVER+%3B+LOTS+OF+FANS%2C+LITTLE+FANFARE+FOR+MUCH-ANTICIPATED+FINALE+OF+%60FRIENDS%27&pqatl=google |archive-date=January 22, 2009}}</ref> Ken Parish Perkins, writing for ''[[Fort Worth Star-Telegram]]'', pointed out that the finale was "more touching than comical, more satisfying in terms of closure than knee-slappingly funny."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Perkins |first=Ken Parish |date=May 7, 2004 |title=Farewell to ''Friends'': The finale to the 10-year series wraps up all the loose ends |work=[[Fort Worth Star-Telegram]] |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=ST&s_site=dfw&p_multi=ST&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=102C895664833147&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D |url-status=live |access-date=March 7, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181125115410/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=ST&s_site=dfw&p_multi=ST&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=102C895664833147&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D |archive-date=November 25, 2018}}</ref>

{{blockquote|text=It may have been impossible for any one episode to live up to the hype and expectations built up around the Friends finale, but this hour probably came as close as fans could have reasonably hoped. Ultimately, the two-hour package did exactly what it was supposed to do. It wrapped up the story while reminding us why we liked the show and will miss it.|sign=Robert Bianco of ''USA Today'' on the series finale.<ref name="finalerob" />}}

In a 2021 program on [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]], ''[[Mr. Bean]]'' writer [[Richard Curtis]] accused the ''Friends'' writers of stealing the joke which involved Joey getting a turkey stuck on his head in "[[The One with All the Thanksgivings]]" from the 1992 episode "[[Merry Christmas, Mr. Bean]]". In that episode, [[Mr. Bean (character)|Mr. Bean]] ([[Rowan Atkinson]]) got a turkey stuck on his head after losing his watch while stuffing the turkey and put his head in to try to retrieve it. Rowan Atkinson, however, argued that jokes are meant to be stolen, or to inspire.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Damian |date=January 21, 2021 |title=Richard Curtis reckons 'Friends' stole 'Mr. Bean' turkey-on-the-head gag |url=https://www.nme.com/news/tv/richard-curtis-reckons-friends-stole-mr-bean-turkey-on-the-head-gag-2853946 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211123015004/https://www.nme.com/news/tv/richard-curtis-reckons-friends-stole-mr-bean-turkey-on-the-head-gag-2853946 |archive-date=November 23, 2021 |access-date=July 13, 2021 |website=NME}}</ref>

=== Awards ===
{{Main|List of awards and nominations received by Friends}}

To maintain the series' ensemble format, the main cast members decided to enter themselves in the same acting categories for awards.<ref name="community2003" /> Beginning with the eighth season, the actors decided to submit themselves in the lead actor balloting, rather than in the supporting actor fields.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lowry, Brian |date=July 19, 2002 |title=Its Coffin Overflows |work=[[Orlando Sentinel]] |url=http://www.orlandosentinel.com/topic/cl-et-newemmys19jul19,0,7220504.story |url-status=dead |access-date=December 19, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090122034847/http://www.orlandosentinel.com/topic/cl-et-newemmys19jul19%2C0%2C7220504.story |archive-date=January 22, 2009}}</ref> The series was nominated for 62 [[Primetime Emmy Award]]s,<ref>[http://www.emmys.com/shows/friends Friends] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111010090803/http://www.emmys.com/shows/Friends |date=October 10, 2011 }} ''emmys.com''. Retrieved June 1, 2014.</ref> winning six.

Aniston and Kudrow are the only main cast members to win an Emmy, while Cox is the only actor not to be nominated. The series won the [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series]] at the [[54th Primetime Emmy Awards]] in 2002, receiving nominations in [[47th Primetime Emmy Awards|1995]], [[48th Primetime Emmy Awards|1996]], [[51st Primetime Emmy Awards|1999]], [[52nd Primetime Emmy Awards|2000]], and [[55th Primetime Emmy Awards|2003]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Advanced Primetime Awards Search |url=http://www.emmys.tv/awards/awardsearch.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090121204901/http://www.emmys.tv/awards/awardsearch.php |archive-date=January 21, 2009 |access-date=January 5, 2009 |publisher=[[Academy of Television Arts & Sciences]]}} Type "Friends" in the "Program" field, select "1993" and "2008" in "Year range" field, and select "NBC" in "Network" field.</ref> The series also won an [[American Comedy Awards|American Comedy Award]],<ref>{{Cite news |last=Keck, William |date=June 2, 2005 |title=Kudrow back in the fold |work=USA Today |url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2005-06-02-kudrow_x.htm |url-status=live |access-date=January 5, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090124162829/http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2005-06-02-kudrow_x.htm |archive-date=January 24, 2009}}</ref> one [[GLAAD Media Award]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 25, 2005 |title=15 years of recognition |url=http://goliath.ecnext.com/coms2/gi_0199-4133520/15-years-of-recognition-Special.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090122051128/http://goliath.ecnext.com/coms2/gi_0199-4133520/15-years-of-recognition-Special.html |archive-date=January 22, 2009 |access-date=January 5, 2009 |publisher=TelevisionWeek}}</ref> one [[Golden Globe Award]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=HPFA&nbsp;- Jennifer Aniston |url=http://www.goldenglobes.org/browse/member/29209 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090121055257/http://www.goldenglobes.org/browse/member/29209 |archive-date=January 21, 2009 |access-date=January 5, 2009 |publisher=[[Golden Globe Award]]}}</ref> three [[Logie Award]]s,<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 12, 2003 |title=Fed: Logie Award winners |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-73851066.html |url-access=registration |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121216080213/http://www.highbeam.com/Search?searchTerm=Fed+Logie+Award+winners&searchType=Article&currentPage=0&orderBy= |archive-date=December 16, 2012 |access-date=January 5, 2009 |publisher=[[Australian Associated Press]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=April 19, 2004 |title=Fed: Full list of Logies winners |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-93575833.html |url-access=registration |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121216074334/http://www.highbeam.com/Search?searchTerm=Fed+Full+list+of+Logies+winners&searchType=Article&currentPage=0&orderBy= |archive-date=December 16, 2012 |access-date=January 5, 2009 |publisher=[[Australian Associated Press]]}}</ref> six [[People's Choice Awards]],<ref>{{Cite news |title=Entertainment Awards Database |pages=2–3 |work=Los Angeles Times |url=http://theenvelope.latimes.com/factsheets/awardsdb/env-awards-db-search,0,7169155.htmlstory?searchtype=category&query=Favorite+Television+Comedy+Series&x=0&y=0 |url-status=live |access-date=January 5, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090903235242/http://theenvelope.latimes.com/factsheets/awardsdb/env-awards-db-search,0,7169155.htmlstory?searchtype=category&query=Favorite+Television+Comedy+Series&x=0&y=0 |archive-date=September 3, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=March 6, 1995 |title=Tim Allen Wins Twice at Awards |work=[[Rocky Mountain News]] |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=RM&p_theme=rm&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB4E258D9CBCB83&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D |url-status=live |url-access=registration |access-date=January 5, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181125073924/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=RM&p_theme=rm&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB4E258D9CBCB83&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D |archive-date=November 25, 2018}}</ref> one [[Satellite Award]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=2001 5th Annual Satellite Awards |url=http://www.pressacademy.com/satawards/awards2001.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081218060819/http://www.pressacademy.com/satawards/awards2001.shtml |archive-date=December 18, 2008 |access-date=January 5, 2009 |publisher=[[Satellite Award]]s}} Select the "Television" field.</ref> and one [[2nd Screen Actors Guild Awards#Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series|Screen Actors Guild Award]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 24, 1996 |title=The 2nd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards |url=http://www.sagawards.org/awards/nominees-and-recipients/2nd-annual-screen-actors-guild-awards |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130525002959/http://www.sagawards.org/awards/nominees-and-recipients/2nd-annual-screen-actors-guild-awards |archive-date=May 25, 2013 |access-date=July 10, 2013 |publisher=Screen Actors Guild Awards}}</ref>

=== Ratings ===
The table below shows the ratings of ''Friends'' in the United States, where it consistently ranked within the top ten of the final [[Television program#Seasons/series|television season]] ratings.<ref name="RatingsBySeason">Ratings for ''Friends'' by television seasons:
* Season 1: {{cite web
 |title=TV Season Rankings 1994–95
 |date=April 20, 1995
 |url=http://www.spokesman.com/stories/1995/apr/20/tv-season-rankings/
 |url-status=live
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150903224557/http://www.spokesman.com/stories/1995/apr/20/tv-season-rankings/
 |archive-date=September 3, 2015
}}
* Season 2: {{cite web
 |title=How Twitter is Changing Television
 |url=https://prezi.com/jh1vkem_a0p9/how-twitter-is-changing-television/
 |url-status=live
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150903224557/https://prezi.com/jh1vkem_a0p9/how-twitter-is-changing-television/
 |archive-date=September 3, 2015
}}
* Season 3: {{cite web
 |title=A Milestone Year
 |website=[[Los Angeles Times]]
 |date=May 23, 1997
 |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-05-23-ca-61847-story.html
 |url-status=live
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150630104546/http://articles.latimes.com/1997-05-23/entertainment/ca-61847_1_recent-years/2
 |archive-date=June 30, 2015
}}
* Season 4: {{cite magazine
 |title=What Ranked and What Tanked
 |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]
 |url=https://www.ew.com/article/1998/05/29/what-ranked-and-what-tanked
 |url-status=live
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150216222920/http://www.ew.com/article/1998/05/29/what-ranked-and-what-tanked
 |archive-date=February 16, 2015
}}
* Season 5: {{cite web
 |title=TV Winners & Losers
 |url=http://geocities.com/Hollywood/4616/ew0604.html
 |url-status=dead
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091029011819/http://geocities.com/Hollywood/4616/ew0604.html
 |archive-date=October 29, 2009
}}
* Season 6: {{cite news
 |title=Nielsen Ratings for 1999–2000
 |newspaper=Sfgate
 |date=May 26, 2000
 |url=http://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/NIELSEN-RATINGS-FOR-1999-2000-2776698.php
 |url-status=live
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203214816/http://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/NIELSEN-RATINGS-FOR-1999-2000-2776698.php
 |archive-date=February 3, 2014
}}
* Season 7: {{cite magazine
 |title=Friends Or Foes?
 |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]
 |url=https://www.ew.com/article/2001/02/09/friends-or-foes
 |url-status=live
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150903224557/http://www.ew.com/article/2001/02/09/friends-or-foes
 |archive-date=September 3, 2015
}}
* Season 8: {{cite web
 |title=How Did Your Favorite Show Rate?
 |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/television/2002/2002-05-28-year-end-chart.htm
 |url-status=dead
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151015225616/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/television/2002/2002-05-28-year-end-chart.htm
 |archive-date=October 15, 2015
}}
* Season 9: {{cite web
 |title=A Look at the Good Ol' Days of Broadcast Primetime TV: You Know, 2003
 |work=Broadcasting Cable
 |date=March 14, 2013
 |url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/news-articles/look-good-ol-days-broadcast-primetime-tv-you-know-2003/114241
 |url-status=live
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150903224557/http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/news-articles/look-good-ol-days-broadcast-primetime-tv-you-know-2003/114241
 |archive-date=September 3, 2015
}}
* Season 10: {{cite web
 |title=Nielsen TV Index Ranking 2003–04
 |url=http://www.quigleypublishing.com/TandValmanac/TV_listing_08.html
 |url-status=usurped
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150818042736/http://www.quigleypublishing.com/TandValmanac/TV_listing_08.html
 |archive-date=August 18, 2015
}}</ref> "Rank" refers to how well ''Friends'' rated compared to other television series that aired during primetime hours of the corresponding television season. It is shown in relation to the total number of series airing on the then-six major English-language networks in a given season. "Viewers" refers to the average number of viewers for all original episodes, broadcast during the television season in the series' regular timeslot. The "season premiere" is the date that the first episode of the season aired, and the "season finale" is the date that the final episode of the season aired. Following the [[September 11 attacks]], ratings increased 17% over the previous season.<ref name="plottwists" />

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+Ratings table
|-
! scope="col" style="padding:0 8px;" rowspan="2" | Season
! scope="col" style="padding:0 8px;" rowspan="2" | Timeslot
! scope="col" style="padding:0 8px;" rowspan="2" | Season premiere
! scope="col" style="padding:0 8px;" rowspan="2" | Season finale
! scope="col" style="padding:0 8px;" rowspan="2" | TV season
! scope="col" style="padding:0 8px;" rowspan="2" | Rank
! scope="col" style="padding:0 8px;" rowspan="2" | Viewers<br />(in millions)
! scope="col" style="padding:0 8px;" colspan="2" | Most-watched episode
|-
! scope="col" style="padding:0 8px;" | Title
! scope="col" style="padding:0 8px;" | Viewers<br />(in millions)
|-
| scope="row" | [[Friends season 1|1]]
| Thursday 8:30&nbsp;pm <br /> <small>(1–16)</small> <br /> Thursday 9:30&nbsp;pm <br /> <small>(17–24)</small>
| September 22, 1994
| May 18, 1995
| [[1994–95 United States network television schedule|1994–95]]
| [[Top-rated United States television programs of 1994–95|8]]
| 24.3<ref name="RatingsBySeason" />
| "[[The One Where Rachel Finds Out]]"
| 31.3<ref name="BuzzFeed">{{cite news |first=Ira |last=Madison III |title=You Won't Believe What America's Favorite "Friends" Episodes Are |url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/iramadison/you-wont-believe-what-americas-favorite-friends-episodes-are |work=[[BuzzFeed]] |date=October 31, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150620234026/http://www.buzzfeed.com/iramadison/you-wont-believe-what-americas-favorite-friends-episodes-are |archive-date=June 20, 2015 }}</ref>
|-
| scope="row" | [[Friends season 2|2]]
| rowspan="9"| Thursday 8:00&nbsp;pm
| September 21, 1995
| May 16, 1996
| [[1995–96 United States network television schedule|1995–96]]
| [[Top-rated United States television programs of 1995–96|3]]
| 30<ref name="RatingsBySeason" />
| "[[The One After the Superbowl]]"
| 52.9<ref name="BuzzFeed" />
|-
| scope="row" | [[Friends season 3|3]]
| September 19, 1996
| May 15, 1997
| [[1996–97 United States network television schedule|1996–97]]
| [[Top-rated United States television programs of 1996–97|4]]
| 24.9<ref name="RatingsBySeason" />
| "[[The One Where Chandler Can't Remember Which Sister]]"
| 29.80<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tv.zap2it.com/news/ratings/networks/970106networks.html |title=Zap2it.com {{!}} TV {{!}} Shows {{!}} Features |website=Zap2it |access-date=11 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010622061032/http://tv.zap2it.com/news/ratings/networks/970106networks.html |archive-date=22 June 2001 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
| scope="row" | [[Friends season 4|4]]
| September 25, 1997
| May 7, 1998
| [[1997–98 United States network television schedule|1997–98]]
| [[Top-rated United States television programs of 1997–98|4]]
| 24.0<ref name="RatingsBySeason" />
| "[[The One with Ross's Wedding]]"
| 31.61<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times/41304257/|title=National Nielsen Viewership (May 4–10, 1998)|date=May 13, 1998|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=April 24, 2021|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|archive-date=May 14, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230514074234/https://www.newspapers.com/article/41304257/the-los-angeles-times/|url-status=live}}{{free access}}</ref>
|-
| scope="row" | [[Friends season 5|5]]
| September 24, 1998
| May 20, 1999
| [[1998–99 United States network television schedule|1998–99]]
| [[Top-rated United States television programs of 1998–99|2]]
| 23.5<ref name="RatingsBySeason" />
| "[[The One After Ross Says Rachel]]"
| 31.12<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times/41307174/|title=National Nielsen Viewership (Sept. 21–27, 1998)|date=September 30, 1998|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=April 25, 2021|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|archive-date=May 14, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230514040007/https://www.newspapers.com/article/41307174/the-los-angeles-times/|url-status=live}}{{free access}}</ref>
|-
| scope="row" | [[Friends season 6|6]]
| September 23, 1999
| May 18, 2000
| [[1999–2000 United States network television schedule|1999–2000]]
| [[Top-rated United States television programs of 1999–2000|5]]
| 20.7<ref name="RatingsBySeason" />
| "[[The One with the Proposal]]"
| 30.73<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times/41303427/|title=National Nielsen Viewership (May 15–21, 2000)|date=May 24, 2000|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=May 6, 2021|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|archive-date=May 12, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230512174544/https://www.newspapers.com/article/41303427/the-los-angeles-times/|url-status=live}}{{free access}}</ref>
|-
| scope="row" | [[Friends season 7|7]]
| October 12, 2000
| May 17, 2001
| [[2000–01 United States network television schedule|2000–01]]
| [[Top-rated United States television programs of 2000–01|5]]
| 20.2<ref name="RatingsBySeason" />
| "[[The One with Monica and Chandler's Wedding]]"
| 30.05<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times/41488110/|title=National Nielsen Viewership (May 14–20, 2001)|date=May 23, 2001|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=May 10, 2021|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|archive-date=May 12, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230512174543/https://www.newspapers.com/article/41488110/the-los-angeles-times/|url-status=live}}{{free access}}</ref>
|-
| scope="row" | [[Friends season 8|8]]
| September 27, 2001
| May 16, 2002
| [[2001–02 United States network television schedule|2001–02]]
| [[Top-rated United States television programs of 2001–02|1]]
| 24.5<ref name="RatingsBySeason" />
| "[[The One Where Rachel Has a Baby]]"
| 34.91<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times/41463107/|title=National Nielsen Viewership (May 13–19, 2002)|date=May 22, 2002|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=May 16, 2021|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|archive-date=May 12, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230512190116/https://www.newspapers.com/article/41463107/the-los-angeles-times/|url-status=live}}{{free access}}</ref>
|-
| scope="row" | [[Friends season 9|9]]
| September 26, 2002
| May 15, 2003
| [[2002–03 United States network television schedule|2002–03]]
| [[Top-rated United States television programs of 2002–03|2]]
| 21.8<ref name="RatingsBySeason" />
| "[[The One Where No One Proposes]]"
| 34.01<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times/41465735/|title=National Nielsen Viewership (Sept. 23–29, 2002)|date=October 2, 2002|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=May 18, 2021|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|archive-date=May 12, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230512190132/https://www.newspapers.com/article/41465735/the-los-angeles-times/|url-status=live}}{{free access}}</ref>
|-
| scope="row" | [[Friends season 10|10]]
| September 25, 2003
| May 6, 2004
| [[2003–04 United States network television schedule|2003–04]]
| [[Top-rated United States television programs of 2003–04|4]]
| 22.8<ref name="RatingsBySeason" />
| "[[The Last One (Friends)|The Last One]]"
| 52.46<ref name="finale ratings">{{cite web |work=[[American Broadcasting Company|ABC Medianet]] |date=May 11, 2004 |url=http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=051104_04 |title=Weekly Program Rankings (May 3–9, 2004) |access-date=May 26, 2021| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110707093757/http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=051104_04| archive-date= July 7, 2011 | url-status= live}}</ref>
|}

=== Syndication ===
Because of syndication revenue, ''Friends'' continues to generate approximately $1 billion each year for [[Warner Bros.|Warner Bros]]. That translates into about $20 million in annual residuals each for Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry and David Schwimmer, who each get 2% of syndication income for ''Friends''.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Thompson|first=Arienne|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/entertainthis/2015/02/27/youll-never-believe-how-much-money-the-friends-cast-still-earns-today/77593556/|title=You'll never believe how much money the 'Friends' cast STILL earns today|work=USA Today|access-date=April 5, 2018|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180405093541/https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/entertainthis/2015/02/27/youll-never-believe-how-much-money-the-friends-cast-still-earns-today/77593556/|archive-date=April 5, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

All episodes became available on [[Netflix]] on January 1, 2015, introducing a new generation to the show. UK ''Friends'' reruns' ratings in 2015 increased by more than 10% annually. The 2016 reruns' US weekly audience, not including streaming, of 16 million would make it a hit on network television were the show still being produced.<ref name="sternbergh20160321">{{Cite magazine |last=Sternbergh |first=Adam |date=March 21, 2016 |title=Is 'Friends' Still the Most Popular Show on TV? |url=https://www.vulture.com/2016/03/20-somethings-streaming-friends-c-v-r.html |magazine=New York |access-date=July 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190718051800/https://www.vulture.com/2016/03/20-somethings-streaming-friends-c-v-r.html |archive-date=July 18, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> In the US, the series has a syndication deal through multiple networks, including [[Nick at Nite]], [[TBS (American TV channel)|TBS]], and [[Paramount Network]]. In July 2019, it was announced that from the beginning of 2020, ''Friends'' would not be available on Netflix in the US and instead would be shown on [[Warner Bros. Discovery]]'s video-streaming service HBO Max,<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://time.com/5622979/friends-leaving-netflix-for-hbo-max/|title='Friends' Won't Be There for You on Netflix Starting in 2020|magazine=Time|language=en|access-date=October 22, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190810145912/https://time.com/5622979/friends-leaving-netflix-for-hbo-max/|archive-date=August 10, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> which launched in May 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Walsh |first=Savannah |date=May 27, 2020 |title=Friends Is Now Streaming On HBO Max |url=https://www.elle.com/culture/movies-tv/a32223466/friends-hbo-max-streaming-release-date/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200916080809/https://www.elle.com/culture/movies-tv/a32223466/friends-hbo-max-streaming-release-date/ |archive-date=September 16, 2020 |access-date=August 19, 2020 |website=Elle |language=en}}</ref>