Friends - The Complete First Season - Now With Footage You've Never Seen!You can...

Now With Footage You've Never Seen!You can never have enough Friends. With this Deluxe 4-Disc Set of the Complete Season One, you have more: each episode contains Never-Before-Seen Moments every fan of Friends will savor. And for all loyal patrons of Central Perk, we've brewed up a fresh pot brimming with Bonus Features. Revisit that first year in which Rachel (Jennifer Aniston), Monica (Courtney Cox Arquette), Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow), Joey (Matt LeBlanc), Chandler (Matthew Perry) and Ross (David Schwimmer) first charmed audiences worldwide. You'll be in fabulous company.

System Requirements:
Starring: Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, David Schwimmer.
Running Time: 587 Minutes, Color.
Copyright 2002 Warner Home Video.

Format: DVD MOVIE

This is the beginning of a beautiful friendship. As its ratings following the tragic events of September 11, 2001, illustrated, Friends has matured into television's most beloved comfort show. The peerless ensemble--Jennifer Aniston, a pre-Arquette Courtney Cox, Emmy winner Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, and David Schwimmer--makes a lasting first impression in the first season's 24 episodes, which are presented chronologically on four discs. The perky "Pilot" introduces unlucky-in-love Monica, runaway bride Rachel, sad sack Ross, New Age ditz Phoebe, wise guy Chandler, and womanizer Joey. The focus of the first season is Ross's unrequited love for Rachel, but we have these moments to remember: the arrival of Marcel the monkey ("The One with the Monkey"); Monica, Rachel, and Phoebe's "cleansing ritual" ("The One with the Candy Hearts"); the escalating game of shower peek-a-boo ("The One with the Boobies"); Joey as Al Pacino's butt double ("The One with the Butt"); Ross taking lessons from Joey in how to "talk dirty" ("The One with the Stoned Guy"); former "Must-See TV" stars Helen Hunt and George Clooney ("The One with Two Parts"); and Chandler spilling the beans to Rachel about Ross's feelings for her ("The One Where Rachel Finds Out"). Though its devoted fans can recite these episodes chapter and verse, Friends maintains its sparkle through repeat viewings, a testament to the sharp writing as well as the cast's lightning-in-a-bottle chemistry and lived-in performances. The episodes are presented uncut and extended, with previously unseen dialogue and scenes. And those who hate Friends and would like to drown the characters in the opening credits' fountain are directed to the episode "The One with the Boobies," in which guest star Fisher Stevens hilariously nails the "dysfunctional group dynamic ... co-dependent, emotionally stunted, sitting in your stupid coffeehouse and you're all like, 'Define me, define me.'" --Donald Liebenson

Customer Reviews:

the beginning of the best show
Friends isn't the kind of comedy I watch often, but I remember the first season. I remember how fresh and new everything was back then.

I have to recommend this first season to everyone who wants to look back at the wonderful show, and how it started off so great. Please look into it.
--2006-10-29

Get By With A Little Help From Your Friends
The first season of friends can only be described in one word...Fantastic! When it comes to television shows, it takes the cake, the gold, and any other expression you can think of. This started it all. Friends-fever. You meet these people for the first time sitting in what would become the world famous coffee house, "Central Perk". You are introduced to these characters who you quickly identify with and come to love within the first five minutes. Throughout the season, you follow the lives of the six friends as some struggle with being on their own for the first time, while others struggle with relationships and divorce. You get to witness six young, unknown actors who have no clue as to how big they are going to make this show. It delivered week after week with some of the funniest dialogue and situations you could imagine. Heck, within the first couple of episodes, you find out Ross is getting divorce from his wife because she found out she was a lesbian and started cheating on him with another woman. Then just when you think his life couldn't get any more complicated, you find out Ross' ex is pregnant with his baby. And from there it only gets better. The writing is superb and acting and chemistry between the actors is one in a million. If you are going to buy one show on DVD, by this show. Start at the beginning where it all started. You will not be disappointed. Watch as these six people go through the ups and downs of their lives, struggle with real life issues, and wonder how their lives will turn out. Watch as these six start to understand their strength in each other and realize that no matter what the problem, anything can be overcome with a little help from your friends.
--2006-07-24

the one that began it all !!!
six twentysomethings sit in a coffeehouse and talk about life,dating,money,sex,jobs,and anything else that comes up.one has just left a man she didn't love at the alter,one has the worst luck with men,one is a new age flower child,one is a class clown with dating problems,one is an actor who isn't the brightest bulb in the lamp,and one is a newly divorceed man who's wife has just found out that she's a lesbian and is going to have his child. put them together and you have the best sit-com of the 90's ,and one of the best of all time!
welcome to the first year of friends and the group of people who made thursday nights a joy to watch! with sharp writing,skilled direction,and a cast of fresh faced actors this broke out of the gate as a hit and never looked back. jennifer aniston,courteney cox,lisa kudrow,matt leblanc,matthew perry,and david schwimmer are all dead on as a group of friends who share their lives together and with us.
most of the focus this first season is on the sad sack ross(schwimmer), the man who's wife left him for another woman, and his crush on rachel(aniston),the woman who left her boyfriend at the alter! the story is sweet,and both actors do great jobs with schwimmer so perfect and lovable as ross you want the two to get together. the other players all get great story arcs also and before you know it, they have become our friends also. other story arcs are, monica(cox),ross's sister and her never ending quest to find a boyfriend,chandler(perry), looking for a woman and his repeated run ins and outs with ex janice(a perfect maggie wheeler,who would pop up every season to make chandler's life hell)!,phoebe(kudrow)is out in her own world,and joey just wants to act and score with the ladies.
this show will keep you smileing and will be one you will watch over and over again. CHECK IT OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
--2006-07-13

The beginning of a great
Season one of Friends introduces the world to what will be the a great American sit-com. Although I do not feel this is one of the best Friends seasons, it is worthwhile because it sets up the show, the characters, the history, and has several significant moments. Additionally, this season contains a number of excellent episodes, including "The One With the Butt," when Joey has the experience of acting as a butt double, "The One With All the Poker," and "The One Where Underdog Gets Away," which begins the Friends tradition of amazing Thanksgiving episodes. Memorable guest appearances are made by Hank Azaria, George Clooney, Morgan Fairchild, Beverly Garland, Jill Goodacre, Elliott Gould, Jennifer Grey, Helen Hunt, Jay Leno, Jon Lovitz, Sofia Milos, Harry Shearer, Brenda Vaccaro, Noah Wyle.

Quotes from this season:
-"Monica: Okay, everybody. Relax. This is not even a date. It's just two people going out to dinner and not having sex.
Chandler: Sounds like a date to me."
-"Phoebe: Here's my money. But you should all know, it's cursed.
Joey: Cursed?
Phoebe: Oh yeah. I cursed it. And bad things will happen to he who spends it.
Chandler: Here, I'll take it. Bad things happen to me anyway. At least this way I can break them up with a movie."
-"Chandler : She makes the women I dream about, look like short, fat bald men."
--2006-07-07

I still miss this show quite a bit
The premise was pretty simple. Friends followed the lives of six New York suburbanites in their mid-twenties. But NBC won the Lottery when the executives put together six nondescript actors whose very palpable chemistry gave the show its potent magic. It's hard to believe that these actors separately were not a success, some of them having failed in prior sitcoms. Friends changed all that and gave this ensemble cast stellar status and opportunities to branch out and do various endeavors in their craft. The series began with a cast of stereotypes: the ditzy hippie, the princess, the next-door hard-luck girl looking for love, the Italian stud, the sad sack nerd and the smart-alec. But it wasn't long before we knew them more intimately as Phoebe, Rachel, Monica, Joey, Ross and Chandler. This was indeed a true ensemble cast, with any of the six actors carrying the starring role at any given episode.

The main engine of season one (and some of the other seasons) was the Ross and Rachel romance, which left the fans on tenterhooks. But a key part of the show's drawing power was that, while other sitcoms were static, Friends wasn't afraid to evolve as the years went on. We witnessed a decade's worth of the gang maturing, assuming new vocations, engaging in romantic entanglements (some serious, some just plain ridiculous), becoming parents and some of the friends becoming more than friends. Over time, the hit show became the comedy of choice for the television viewing audience, consistently delivering their welcome brand of familiarity, easy rapport and witty humor. The show with regularity scored in the top ratings and won several Emmy and Golden Globe awards, as well as numerous other accolades.

Friends became the staple of my Thursday night viewing, never ever to be missed. I still recall the sadness that washed over me when the last episode aired. All good things must come to an end, I know. Thankfully, I have this 4-dvd set, wherein I can revisit and enjoy time and again what I consider to be the best situation comedy series ever. Now the viewer can be privy to extended versions of their favorite episodes, including footage never before seen on TV.

By virtue of being the freshman year, this season is the most ragged. The actors were still trying to key in on their roles and had yet to make their characters truly their own. Chandler, Phoebe and Joey were particularly not as fleshed out as the rest of the cast. But the season was still peppered with luminous episodes. My favorites of Season One:

The One with the East German Laundry Detergent - Ross and Rachel do laundry and Rachel kisses Ross for the first time; Chandler and Phoebe become break-up buddies (this is the debut of the nasally-challenged Janice, who would plague Chandler for the rest of the series); Joey and Monica go on a hilarious double-date.

The One with the Boobies - most of the cast engage in trying to catch each other nude; a more serious plotline deals with Joey's unfaithful father; no one likes Phoebe's insightful shrink boyfriend (Fisher Stevens).

The One with All the Poker - it's the gals vs. the fellas in a pokerfest, culminating in a showdown between Ross and Rachel (who will fold?); this is where we really notice Monica's streak of competitiveness; this is a great episode.

The One Where Rachel Finds Out - in the season finale, Ross goes to China; Rachel finds out Ross loves her (but Chandler says he loves her too); Rachel buys flowers and goes to the airport to meet Ross on his return; but there's a snag...

The special features were disappointing and is the reason this dvd version gets 4 stars, and not its deserving 5. A seminal show such as this deserves to have a better set of bonus goodies. There's a Central Perk interactive map, clips of guest stars (Friends of Friends), a trivia quiz and a Season Two trailer. There is one informative commentary done by the executive producers on the first episode The Pilot, where they go into fascinating detail about the extensive selection process of the ensemble cast. Future complete season dvds would have more than just one episode with commentary. But the fans would've infinitely preferred hearing the thoughts of the actual stars. Sorry, folks, but outtake segments weren't available until the fifth season dvd came out.

Some cool Friends fun facts:

Surprisingly, Chandler was one of the more difficult roles to cast. Bright, Kauffman and Crane had interviewed hundreds of actors in vain and were at their wits' end. They were beginning to doubt the quality of the writing and humor of Chandler Bing. Then Matthew Perry tested and that was that.

The producers originally had Janeane Garofalo in mind when envisioning Monica. Courtney Cox originally was slated for Rachel's character but wanted instead to try out for Monica.

Working titles for this show were Six of One, Friends Like Us, Across the Hall, and Insomnia Café.

Joey's pick-up line "How you doin'?" was ranked #4 in TV Guide's "TV's 20 Top Catchphrases" (August 2005 issue).

Rachel is the only one to have kissed all the Friends.

The producers, in originally pitching the show, saw Monica and Joey as the hot couple. It wasn't until they actually started writing the script that they realized the focus needed to be on Ross and Rachel.

As per prior sitcoms, the powers-that-be wanted an older character (a father or grandpa figure...) included in the cast to play the sensible, go-to-for-advise role. But wiser heads prevailed.

--2006-06-13

Friends - The Complete First Season

- Warner Home Video