| Killing Rachel? by Joal Ryan Long live Rachel Green. If the writers of Friends ever contemplated killing off Jennifer Aniston's TV alter ego (and they swear they haven't), then they'd probably squash the idea now just to spite a certain supermarket tab that hit the streets with a cover story about...the writers of Friends killing off Jennifer Aniston's TV alter ego. First things first: NBC says the article--subtly headlined, "Jennifer Aniston Dies Giving Birth"--in the current issue of the Star is not true. When asked if such a storyline was even being considered, a network spokesman answered, "No." Well, that's rather nice and boring, isn't it? Not at all like the story in the Star. Speaking of which, let's review: Per the tab, Friends staffers are planning "three top-secret, sensational endings" for May's finale, which may or may not be the top-rated sitcom's series finale depending on how the begging, er, contract talks go with its six stars. One supposed ending would see Aniston's Rachel, now preggers by perennial sorta-boyfriend Ross (David Schwimmer), wed roomie Joey (Matt LeBlanc). One supposed ending would see Rachel wed Ross (again). And one supposed ending would see Rachel die during child birth and bequeath her healthy babe to newlyweds Monica (Courteney Cox Arquette) and Chandler (Matthew Perry). Say, that sounds like a snappy sitcom ending! Um, don't think so? Neither do many fans. "They would never kill off Rachel," wrote one poster on a Friends newsgroup rampant with that sentiment. "They know better then that. Any rumors of that are all bull. You know why I know? Because the producers, writers and NBC would know that fans of the show would just go [berserk]." Happily, it appears no one will be going berserk. Those associated with the show say they have no idea where the tab got the story. (The Star credits a "well-placed insider.") For what it's worth, not even the tab seems to think Rachel Green will die--something for which they'll gladly take credit. "I suppose now that the Star has let the cat out of the bag, the writers will have to put their thinking caps back on," editor Tony Frost told Associated Press. |