+ The Set
Most of the time the situations in Friends are set in appartments, or Central Perk, or on the street... But what is it like for the actors to be on the real set? Does it really look the same way as it does on screen? Where does it begin and stop? You can find it out here! Many, MANY thanx to Andrea C. from The Friends Fan Site for the great pictures of the set and the descriptions! We strongly suggest that you check out her site - it's huge and certainly worth a visit!
Chandler and Monica's Apartment
(room no. 20 - it used to be room no. 5)
This apartment was not always Chandler and Monica's. It was originally Monica and Phoebe's when Monica's grandma let her illegally sublette it. Eventually ( TOW The Flashback) Phoebe moved out because Monica was too much of a neurotic clean-freak to live with and she didn't want it to ruin her friendship with Monica. Then (TOW Monica Gets a New Roommate / The Pilot) Rachel moves in with Monica. They live together for a very long time after that but when they lose a bet, Chandler and Joey swap apartments with them. Eventually Monica and Rachel get the apartment back (TOW All the Haste) by kissing each other for one minute. Soon after that Chandler and Monica start dating and then Chandler moves in so Rachel moves out to live with Phoebe. Then when Phoebe and Rachel's apartment catch on fire Rachel moves back in. Then, Rachel moves out and Phoebe moves in. Then Phoebe moves out to give Monica and Chandler some space and then moves back in after living with Ross. Eventually, Phoebe moves out again when her apartment is fixed.
(Click on the images to enlarge)
Joey's Apartment
(room no. 19 - it used to be room no. 4)
Originally, Chandler and a guy named Kip lived in this apartment. Then, when Kip left after breaking up with Monica, Chandler went looking for a roommate. He chose Joey (TOW The Flashback) and they lived with each other for a really long time after that. Then Joey moved out to live in a new apartment with money from being Dr. Drake Remorray on Days of Our Lives. While Joey was gone Chandler got a new roommate named Eddie who, apparently, was a psycho path. After many attempts to get Eddie to move out Joey moves back in and they finally get Eddie to leave. Eventually Chandler and Joey won a bet with Rachel and Monica and swapped apartments with them. Then, Monica and Rachel convince them to swap apartments again by kissing each other to get their old apartment back. Later Ross moves in with Chandler and Joey because he is kicked out of his apartment. Ross moved out soon after into Ugly Naked Guy's old apartment. Eventually Chandler started dating Monica and he moved in with her. Then a homeless Phoebe moved in with Joey after leaving her apartment that set on fire. Then, Phoebe moves out and Rachel moves in. But, Rachel recently moved in with Ross so that Ross could be closer to their baby.
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Ross and Rachel's Apartment
(Ugly Naked Guy's old apartment)
All of the Friends would watch their neighbor, whom they called "Ugly Naked Guy" from Monica and Rachel's apartment window. For many years he was mentioned in the show using things like trampolines and gravity boots, all which he broke. But when Ugly Naked Guy decided to move out of his apartment Ross quickly wanted to move in. So, to "tip the scales in his direction" or to win the apartment over, he sat and talked naked with Ugly Naked Guy. His plan worked and he got the apartment. Then Phoebe, homeless because of a fire, moved in with Ross. Eventually Phoebe moved out. Now, with Rachel having his baby, Rachel moved in with Ross.
(Click on the image to enlarge)
Phoebe's Apartment
Phoebe lived in this apartment for quite some time, or ever since she moved out of Monica's. It was her grandmother's old apartment. When Rachel moved out of Monica's apartment she moved in with Phoebe. Then, after a house fire, Phoebe's apartment turned into a one-bedroom apartment and Rachel decided to move in with Joey so Pheebs could have the apartment for herself when it was fixed.
(Click on the images to enlarge)
Central Perk
(the coffee house and hangout)
Central Perk is a coffee shop in the show that's located in New York City. In reality it's based on an actual coffee shop in New York City that's called "Insomnia Cafe", which by the way was also a proposed title for 'Friends'. It is the usual hangout of all the Friends and is featured in almost every episode. It actually used to be bar but was changed. (TOW the Flashback)
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The Street
(outside Central Perk)
The street just outside of Central Perk was actually added after the first season. It has cement sidewalks and you can actually drive vehicles onto the street which is made of real asphalt.
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