Friends: This is one of the series’ most iconic moments, and it was born out of a mistake by David Schwimmer (Ross)!

Here’s how a prank by one of the lead actors led to one of Friends’ most iconic moments! This moment is told by Greg Mullins, the screenwriter and producer of the series, who confides during the interview that one of the key scenes in Friends was accidentally improvised by David Schwimmer.

It was during the season 4 finale that the writing team was struggling to decide on the right way to shoot the scene between Emily and Ross.

dumplings!

In the version that all viewers know, Ross (Schwimmer) is getting ready to marry Emily (Helen Baxendale). At the moment of reciting the vow, his tongue cracks and shows doubts: for he declares before the altar, instead of. “I’ll take you, Emily.” : “I’ll take you, Rachel.”It creates surprise in the audience. And this line was born… by an actor’s mistake!

During rehearsal, David Schwimmer, in another scene in the episode, had to say to Emily: “A taxi is waiting for me downstairs, Emily.”But he was wrong when he said: “A taxi is waiting for me downstairs, Rachel.”. It was then that the writers realized that this was what had to happen at the altar between Emily and Ross. By repurposing this accidental mistake, they created one of the series’ most iconic moments.

• The first version of the credits was not at all what you know!

Obviously, their sense of rhythm led them to end the episode right after this mistake, leaving viewers on a terrible cliffhanger, especially for those who then had to wait months to hear Rachel’s reaction, and especially poor Emily’s answer to it in front of everyone.

For that, you’ll need to watch the first episode of Season 5, which we’ll be careful not to spoil for those who might still discover it. The series is fully available on the Max platform.