After working on Freaks and Geeks, Patty Lynn had the opportunity to write for the hit NBC sitcom in 2000 during the show’s seventh season. The idea of writing for big stars like Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, and David Schwimmer got her going. But if she was excited at first, her joy quickly faded.
“The novelty of seeing the big stars up close quickly wore off. The cast seemed unhappy to be stuck in a tired old series when they could have branched out, and I felt like they were constantly wondering how each storyline would serve them in particular.– writes Lin in his memoirs End Credits: How I Left Hollywood (via time and deadline). He continued:
They all knew how to make people laugh, but if they didn’t like Valve, they seemed to sabotage it on purpose because they knew we’d rewrite it. Dozens of good jokes have been thrown just because one of them uttered the phrase through a bite of bacon.
Lin goes on to write that the actors voiced their opinions “vehemently” when they didn’t like something in the script.
“They rarely had anything positive to say, and when they did raise issues, they didn’t offer solutions. Considering themselves as guardians of their character, they often claimed that they would never do or say this or that thing. This was helpful at times, but overall these sessions had a disruptive, aggressive nature that lacked all the grit one would expect from a sitcom director.“
And it was no better in the script room
He was also quick to criticize his former co-workers (via Variety ): “The Friends writing team was a clique, more so than any other show I’ve worked on. They reminded me of the rich, preppy kids in my high school who shopped at Abercrombie & Fitch and drove new convertibles.“
The former screenwriter, who has also worked on shows such as Desperate Housewives and Breaking Bad, said she suffered from ‘impostor syndrome’ during her time on Friends.
“But imposter syndrome, I later learned, is a common experience for racial minorities who work in fields where they lack representation.“, he explained. “As the only Asian screenwriter in many venues, I felt very alone, bowing to represent my entire race and prove that I deserved a seat at the table – or a seat on that stage.“
And after the end of season 7, Lin’s contract was not renewed for season 8:I was sad and angry. I also calmed down a bit. No more all-night rewriting, no more anxious jokes, no more feeling nervous at the popular kids’ table.“
Patty Lynn Adds Judd Apatow, producer Freaks and geekswarned him not to do the job Friends Because it was already a “well-oiled machine” and could not learn anything. He states: “I didn’t learn much except that I didn’t want to work on a sitcom anymore. But the choice was clear then. And, for better or worse, Friends will remain my most recognizable asset.“
Friends is available to stream on Netflix.
Source: Allocine
Camila Luna is a writer at Gossipify, where she covers the latest movies and television series. With a passion for all things entertainment, Camila brings her unique perspective to her writing and offers readers an inside look at the industry. Camila is a graduate from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a degree in English and is also a avid movie watcher.
