This Original 'Friends' Script Reminds Us Not to Judge a Show By Its Pilot

By Vivian Kane | Miscellaneous | December 1, 2014 |

By Vivian Kane | Miscellaneous | December 1, 2014 |

I’m always fascinated by sitcom pilot scripts. Reading them, it’s hard to imagine how any actually get made. Most are totally generic— bland stock characters acting out one-joke scenes. This script for the pilot of Friends (then titled Friends Like Us) is 100% no exception. It’s not that it’s bad, it’s just nothing special. It’s reminiscent of every other sitcom pilot before or since. But a pilot is not a good representation of a show (one of the many reasons pilot season is an idiotic concept), and a pilot script even less so. The good shows take a basic bland script, cast great actors, and tailor it to fit their personalities. Take a look at these original character descriptions:

Monica’s a little more cynical, Phoebe’s a little dumber, but they’re all about halfway to where they eventually end up, wouldn’t you say? Although “A Paleontologist. Not that it matters” is the perfect complete description of Ross.

Via Vulture.