Friends VS The Big Bang Theory
Round #1: Friendship
Top 10 Underrated Friendship Moments on The Big Bang Theory
While both sitcoms focus on the friendships at the center of the show, the chemistry and bond between Monica, Rachel, Ross, Chandler, Joey, and Phoebe is tough to compete with. Whether through sibling relationships, romantic entanglements, or roommate situationships, this friend group is more intertwined than most. There is almost no friend pairing in the group that is closer than another, as they all have their special moments. The whole point of this show is friendship, and how friends can be your chosen family, and “Friends” set the stage for many friendship-centered shows that followed. The friendships on “The Big Bang Theory'' are nothing to scoff at, and the friendships shared among the gang are truly heartwarming and memorable. From unlikely friendships like Sheldon and Penny’s, to staple ones like Raj and Howard, they all had their moments in the sun and reminded us of what real friendship can look like. Besides the friendships though, the central focus of this show is the lifestyle of geniuses as they try and interact with the real world, as opposed to “Friends” which, you know, is clearly solely about the group of friends. “The Big Bang Theory” has more complexity to it, and the special friendships in it are undeniable, but “Friends” has to take the cake here. WINNER: Friends 1 / The Big Bang Theory 0
Round #2: Relationships
Top 10 TV Relationships No One Knew They Wanted Until They Happened
The friend groups in both “Friends” and “The Big Bang Theory” date within and outside of their group throughout the show. Ross and Rachel are a classic will-they-or-won’t-they couple, and Monica and Chandler are the more steadfast duo. Joey dates endlessly, Phoebe allegedly never has a serious relationship until she ends up getting married, and who could forget about the on-again-off-again relationship with Janice? We love the romantic situations on the show, but as we already know, the friend group is the focal point here, and on “The Big Bang Theory,” the romantic relationships are more impactful and meaningful. “The Big Bang Theory” starts with Penny moving in across the hall from Sheldon and Leonard. Penny is a part of the friend group right away, and Bernadette and Amy join when they become involved with Howard and Sheldon, so the romantic relationships play a huge part in forming this beloved friend group. The reason the romantic relationships on the show are so relevant is that they forced the boys to grow into men by interacting with women who challenge them. It seems like the character development that happens throughout the show is due largely to the courtships and marriages that occur on it. For that reason, this round has to go to “The Big Bang Theory.” WINNER: Friends 1 / The Big Bang Theory 1
Round #3: Cultural Impact
Top 10 TV Episodes That Were So Good They Were a Cultural Reset
“Friends” has found its way into our everyday world, with it being internationally recognized as one of the best sitcoms of all time, and it’s beloved by generations even decades after the airing of the finale. Even though the show ended nearly twenty years ago, it’s still a comfort show for most, and at the very least a nostalgic viewing for many. From the Rachel haircut to the Thanksgiving episodes to that iconic theme song, this show has stood the test of time in terms of popularity, and only time will tell if “The Big Bang Theory” will have the same longevity. With twelve seasons total and one successful spin-off, there’s no doubt that “The Big Bang Theory” has seen wild success, and is groundbreaking in its depiction of nerd culture and unconventional friend groups. The show even had a real-life impact on viewers who were encouraged to pursue careers in science and technology, so its impact may be even further reaching than we realize. While both sitcoms had a long, syndicated run, “Friends” is a phenomenon in the television world and continues to be long after the series finished, with global appeal that is truly unrivaled. “Friends” takes this round. WINNER: Friends 2 / The Big Bang Theory 1
Round #4: Catchphrases
Top 10 Sitcom Catchphrases
Both “Friends” and “The Big Bang Theory” have several iconic lines that are easily recognizable by millions of fans. On “Friends,” Joey’s “how you doin’?” is infamous as being the most well-known from this smooth-talking, ladies man. Who could forget Ross’ incessant use of “We were on a break!” when talking about the controversial situation with him and the copy girl when he and Rachel were taking some time apart? Top that off with Chandler’s “Could I be (insert anything here)” and even Janice’s “Oh. My. God.” and you’ve got a smorgasbord of quotable moments. “The Big Bang Theory '' doesn’t shy away from recognizable lines, and they became an unforgettable part of the show and the characters' personalities. Most of the more well-known ones come from the quirky theoretical physicist that we all know and love, Dr. Sheldon Cooper. From knocking three times on Penny’s door to being sung “soft kitty” to insisting his spot is in fact his to “Bazinga!” Sheldon delivered on the catchphrases big time. The show simply wouldn’t be the same without them, whereas the catchphrases on “Friends” aren’t as recognizable as part of the character’s everyday lives as much as they are just a fun addition. “The Big Bang Theory” takes the win in the fourth round. WINNER: Friends 2 / The Big Bang Theory 2
Round #5: Guest Stars
Top 20 Best Young Sheldon Guest Stars
“Friends” has appearances from several iconic actors over its ten season run, and it is one of the things that it has become known for. Brad Pitt makes an appearance as Rachel’s sworn enemy and Julia Roberts plays Chandler’s long lost fling who he did wrong. Sean Penn plays Ursula’s fiance turned Phoebe’s boyfriend, and Bruce Willis plays Rachel’s boyfriend and Ross’s girlfriend’s father. That is just scratching the surface of the many actors who were on the show, and we can’t imagine this sitcom without our favorite actors making surprise appearances. “The Big Bang Theory” had its fair share of notable guest stars, most of whom are particularly well known in the academic community or in nerd culture. The interesting thing with the guest stars on “The Big Bang Theory” is that most of them played themselves on the show. Wil Wheaton, James Earl Jones, Stephen Hawking, Elon Musk, Neil DeGrasse Tyson, and Stan Lee are a few we saw appearing as themselves on the show. These are exceptional stars to have on a sitcom, and their appearances perfectly match the tone of the show. The guest stars on “Friends” appeared to a more general demographic and had more noteworthy ones than “The Big Bang Theory,” so they take the win here. WINNER: Friends 3 / The Big Bang Theory 2
Round #6: The Apartments
Top 10 Times Sheldon Was a Savage on The Big Bang Theory
While one sitcom takes place in Los Angeles and the other in New York, both friend groups' living arrangements bear important similarities. They live in apartments across the hall from one another, with one set of friends living on one side and another set on the other. In “Friends,” Joey and Chandler live across from Monica and Rachel, where lots of important moments take place on the show. As we learn in the finale, every member of the friend group lived there at one point, and it’s located right above their favorite hang out, Central Perk. The purple walls, mismatched dining chairs, and rent-controlled bliss are recognizable and the apartments on “Friends” play a central role in the show’s premise. Leonard may have not been thrilled in the beginning to be living with Sheldon, but he sure was happy about it later on, as he got to live across the hall from his future wife. The apartment was a central hangout for their growing gang, with many game nights, movie viewings, and takeout food being consumed throughout the years. It becomes a home to Leonard and Penny. While Penny’s apartment started as a messy oasis, it becomes the girls’ hangout and Amy and Sheldon’s eventual place. Though the stairs to the apartment provided a great narrative device for the show, the apartments here simply aren’t as iconic as the ones on “Friends,” and for that reason, they win this round. WINNER: Friends 4 / The Big Bang Theory 2
Round #7: Pop Culture References
Top 10 Rom-Com References on The Big Bang Theory
In “Friends,” Joey stars on “Days of our Lives,” Rachel is a soap opera fanatic, Monica and Ross appear on “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve,” and Joey plays the pyramid. The friend group is well versed with popular tv shows, movies, and singers, referencing Sting, “Baywatch,” and “Pulp Fiction,” and these references are all super relevant at the time this show aired. Both sitcoms have their own brand of cultural references, with “Friends” being more well-versed and “The Big Bang Theory” being more specific, and given the different time frames, it’s tough to compare the two. This show lives for pop culture reference, particularly those found in nerd culture. It’s no secret that Leonard, Sheldon, Howard, and Raj are massive fans of movies like “Star Wars,” shows like “Star Trek,” and franchises like the DC Universe comics. They go to Comic-Con, build Lego Death Stars, and role play with Harry Potter characters. As shown with the guest stars that are featured, they live and breathe their references. But, the cultural references on “Friends” are extremely pertinent in the 90’s and 2000’s, which makes this round a tie. WINNER: Tie Friends 5 / The Big Bang Theory 3 “The Big Bang Theory” is a great and classic sitcom, but even it can’t outscore “Friends.” By a score of 5 to 3, “Friends is the winner of this Versus battle! Do you agree that “Friends” reigns supreme? Let us know in the comments.
