30 years of Friends: How was the first episode of the series almost censored?

One of the most famous Hollywood sitcoms, Friends completes 30 years since the airing of the first episode, entitled “The One Where Monica Gets a Roommate,” this Sunday, 22nd. However, the chapter was almost censored by the executive of NBCbroadcaster responsible for production.

The reason? At a certain point in the pilot episode, Monicaplayed by Courteney Coxhad casual sex on the first date with a man. David Craneone of the names behind the most beloved series on television, revealed in an interview with Entertainment Weekly what Don Meyerat the time, president of the channel, did not like the character’s “sexual behavior” with Paulthe “Wine Guy,” played by John Allen Nelson.

“He thought it was a problem for Monica to sleep with a guy on the first date. He said, ‘We’re not going to like her!’ But we insisted,” he said. But, after all, how did the show’s team manage to keep the script’s idea?

James Burrowsdirector of Friendsshowed the audience’s reaction when the episode was shown to Meyer and convinced him by saying that everyone liked the Monica regardless of anything.

Additionally, Crane recalled the reaction of fellow series creator Marta Kauffman: “I could see Marta was huffing and puffing.” In the end, “The One Where Monica Gets a Roommate,” also called “The Pilot,” “The First One” or “The One Where It All Began,” aired without a hitch.