Why 'Friends' Remains So Successful — And So Divisive — Even In 2019

It's Been a Minute

NPR

Society & Culture, News, News Commentary, Religion & Spirituality, Spirituality

4.7 • 9.2K Ratings

🗓️ 17 December 2019

⏱️ 30 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

The NBC sitcom 'Friends' has been around for 25 years, and its popularity endures. Netflix says 'Friends' was the second most popular show on its streaming platform this year, based on minutes watched, and the show has also struck a chord with a younger generation. What is it about 'Friends' that resonates with viewers, and what does it say about us? Sam Sanders spoke to listeners, reporters and a critic to find out what it is that people love — and despise — about Chandler, Joey, Monica, Phoebe, Rachel and Ross.

See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

NPR Privacy Policy

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Hey, I'll say I'm Sanders here with my cubicle mate and dear friend Melissa Kipers say hi.
0:07.1	Hi, Sam.
0:08.1	What is your title?
0:09.1	Operations Coordinator in PR West.
0:11.6	So you coordinate connections and interviews and all kinds of stuff throughout the public
0:16.4	radio network, which means that you have a very intricate understanding of what this network
0:20.6	represents.
0:21.6	And I brought you in here because you described the network in a very special way.
0:25.5	Tell us.
0:26.5	You know it's special?
0:27.5	Seven layer dip.
0:28.5	Yes.
0:29.5	That's what we are.
0:30.5	Public radio network is a seven layer dip.
0:32.5	That's right.
0:33.5	Let me explain.
0:34.5	So if we think of our listeners as the chip, they're going to consume this seven layer
0:38.3	dip.
0:39.3	So you got your first layer, that's beans.
0:41.3	That's like our flagship shows.
0:43.5	Could you just dip your chip into beans?
0:46.4	You could.
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from NPR, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of NPR and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.