“Friends” at 25 (Part V): The One With the Great Performances
In my fifth and final article in my series about the legacy of the blockbuster sitcom Friends, I take a close look at the great performances delivered on the series. First, I countdown my 25 favorite performances by guest stars and then I take a deep dive into the greatest performances of the 6 main cast members.
Author’s Note: This is the fifth and final part of a series on the legacy of Friends as it reaches its silver anniversary. Click here for Part I, where I analyze the show’s pop culture legacy. Click here for Part II, in which I delve into what the show meant to me personally. Click here for Part III, where I take a deep dive into the classic Thanksgiving episodes. Click here for Part IV, where I rank the 25 best episodes of the show. For my recap of the reunion special that aired in 2021, click here.
When I look back at what I loved about Friends, I think of many things — the moments of swooning romance, the farcical setups, the witty dialogue, the jaw-dropping cliffhangers, the iconic style, and the overall sense of warmth and comfort that it imbued in me. But most of all, I think about the cast and the many truly wonderful performances they gave on the show. The on-screen chemistry and off-screen camaraderie of the main sextet is the stuff of television legend. It’s no surprise that over the course of…
