10 Friends Storylines That Got Scrapped (& Where They Were Headed)
10 Dropped Friends Storylines and Where They Were Headed
Welcome to MsMojo, and today were looking at the Friends storylines that never saw the light of day, or that the show simply forgot to wrap up.
Emilys Return to New York
Ross and Emilys marriage was effectively destroyed the moment he said the wrong name at the altar. Despite his efforts to salvage their relationship, they were never able to reconcile. The abrupt nature of their divorce wasnt the original plan Emily was supposed to return to New York. However, Helen Baxendales real-life pregnancy forced her to film her scenes alone. Baxendale also disliked the tabloid attention surrounding the role and chose not to return. Originally, Ross and Emily were supposed to give their marriage a shot before things fizzled out. According to director James Burrows, Emily was written out because of the lack of chemistry between Baxendale and David Schwimmer.
Pat the Cop
While Friends features many notable recurring characters, the six main characters are the heart of the show. In the original draft, though, a seventh friend was planned to be a visible presence. NBC, wanting a more mature presence in the group, asked the showrunners to add an older character. David Crane and Marta Kauffman came up with Pat the Cop, a police officer who would occasionally hang out with the group. Although never intended to be as central as the main cast, Pat was meant to be a regular part of their world. Unenthusiastic about the idea, the showrunners compromised by expanding the role of the friends parents, scrapping Pat the Cop entirely.
Ben's Disappearance
Ross was never the most attentive parent, but Ben does make frequent appearances. After Emma arrives, however, Ben mysteriously disappears from the show, save for a few passing mentions. Despite fans hopes to see Ben meet his baby sister, the show never gets around to it. The most likely reason is that Emma became central to Ross and Rachels storylines, leaving little room for Ben, whose relationship with Ross continued off-screen. Jane Sibbett and Jessica Hecht, who played Carol and Susan, jokingly suggested that Ben was sent to boarding school after the family moved to England. Cole Sprouse, on the other hand, thinks Ross was never a present father to begin with.
Joey & Phoebes Casual Relationship
The Rachel/Joey romance is one most would rather forget. But imagine the reaction if Joey and Phoebe had been an item all along. In an interview with People Magazine, Matt LeBlanc and Lisa Kudrow revealed they pitched a wild retcon: a series of flashbacks showing Joey and Phoebes secret fling over the entire ten years of the show. These moments, woven into some of Friends most popular scenes, would have completely changed the nature of their relationship. While the actors found the idea hilarious, the showrunners retained the pairs platonic bond, preserving their friendship the way fans know and love.
Monica & Chandlers Airport Detainment
Monica and Chandlers honeymoon plans were originally set to take a much darker turn. Through a series of misunderstandings, the newlyweds are detained by airport security, and each attempt to explain themselves lands them in deeper trouble. While played for laughs, the storyline was pulled from the air, as the episode was broadcast two weeks after the events of 9/11. Since the original plot was so soon after the tragedy, showrunners replaced it with a lighter one of Monica and Chandler competing with another couple. The original scenes were later released as part of the Friends deleted scenes collection.
Elizabeths Pregnancy
Season seven ends with an absolute bombshell: Rachel is pregnant. While that twist was always planned, the original arc was far longer and much more complicated. Initially, the sixth season was supposed to end with Rosss girlfriend Elizabeth announcing she was pregnant with his child. After dealing with this for the entirety of the following season, Ross would have discovered he wasnt the father. Just when he thought he was in the clear, he wouldve been blindsided by Rachels pregnancy. However, the show never went through with this plan, and Elizabeth was written out by the end of the sixth season. Had the original vision panned out, fans would've had two seasons of essentially the same storyline.
Chandler & Rachels Romance
Ross and Rachel are easily among TVs most iconic couples. But they were never meant to last. Initially, the plan was to pair Rachel with Chandler a storyline that never saw the light of day due to a lack of fan interest. Showrunners tested their chemistry with season threes The One with the Flashback, where the two interact in a flashback. While they have a steamy fantasy sequence, the episodes reception was lukewarm at best. As a result, Chandlers romance was pivoted to Monica, permanently altering the course of the show. If things had played out as envisioned, Chandler could have turned the Ross and Rachel romance into a full-blown love triangle.
Chandler Cheats On Monica
Amidst all the drama surrounding Ross and Rachel, Chandler and Monica were Friends happiest and most stable relationship. But it could have all gone horribly wrong, had Matthew Perry not stepped in. Originally, after an argument with Monica over her meeting with Richard, Chandler was set to cheat on her with a hotel employee in Vegas. Lisa Cash, the actress cast to play the character, learned the storyline had been cut the day of filming. Concerned that audiences would never forgive Chandlers betrayal, Perry convinced showrunners to abandon the plot. Chandler and Monicas relationship was thankfully spared, while Cash ended up playing a flight attendant on Ross and Rachels plane to Vegas.
Gunther & Rachel Become Roommates
After Monica and Chandler decide to move in together, Rachel finds herself in a bind. Torn between choosing Ross and Joey as potential roommates, she ultimately moves in with Phoebe. But if the showrunners had their way, Rachel wouldve been forced to live with Gunther instead. While the idea might have created a hilariously awkward situation, neither Jennifer Aniston nor James Michael Tyler was on board. In an interview with Metro, Tyler shared that he and Aniston convinced David Crane and Marta Kauffman to drop the storyline. Despite the opportunity for more screen time, Tyler believed the plot felt contrived and didnt live up to the shows organic standards.
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
Chandler's Trip to Yemen
Janice Seems to Be the Only One Who Remembers His Ill-Fated Trip
Chandlers Visits to an Exotic Dance Club
Matthew Perry Shot This Idea Down Pretty Soon
Tags Job
Why Did He Stop Working at Ralph Lauren After Breaking Up with Rachel?
Phoebes Parents
We Never Hear From Them Again Despite Their Reunion
Drake Ramoray's Brain Transplant
Wasnt He Supposed to Be Jessica in Drakes Body?
Moving to Minnesota
Chandler briefly moves to Tulsa in season nine, balancing life between two cities before returning to New York. According to Saul Austerlitzs book Generation Friends, which explores the shows behind-the-scenes events, Chandler was meant to relocate to Minnesota during the fifth season. In an even bigger twist, the entire gang was set to follow him. The show would have chronicled the friends adventures, as they tried to adapt to the Midwest, including a brand-new intro and a replacement for Central Perk. Ultimately, showrunners realized that Friends just wouldnt be the Friends that fans loved without the New York City backdrop. Still, the radical overhaul remains one of the most intriguing what ifs? in the shows history.
Which of these storylines would you have liked to see the most? Let us know in the comments.
