Please note: The 'Across the Hall' newsletter has absolutely nothing to do with this website. Some abbrieviations:

ATH - Across the Hall (the newsletter)
MC - Michael Curtis
MNL - MayNotLast (Michael Curtis' web name used while posting to ATF)
ATF - alt.tv.friends (a usenet newsgroup where Michael Curtis used to post)
NG - Newsgroup
TOW, TOA - The One With/Where, The One At/After



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As promised, here are all the questions and answers. My newsletter, Across The Hall, used to have a section in 1999 where the ATH readers would send their questions to me, then I'd filter out the best ones and give them to former Friends writer/executive producer Michael Curtis (who worked there during seasons 2-5), then he'd answer the questions, send them back to me, and they'd appear in the next issue of ATH. If you've been on the newsgroup for a while, you'll remember him posting here as MNL. These are categorized as best I could. Enjoy!



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***Behind The Scenes***

ATH: What is the best practical joke ever played during a filming or rehearsal?

MC: Well, my particular favorite was when Marta, David, and Kevin were going to miss the beginning of a show (because they'd been away on a business trip), and we were left "in charge" for the first couple hours. We planned to have a couple Warner Bros. fire trucks parked outside the stage, with their lights flashing... sort of like, "the kids have burned down the house while we were gone." But because the trucks were blocking the street, their limo had to park a ways away, and they had to walk to the stage. They didn't think it was funny.

ATH: Is the hall and the two apartments one set or divided up sets?

MC: One continuous set.

ATH: How many hours of filming was there in the opening credits? How long did the cast know each other before filming it? Was special water used? Who came up with the fountain idea? What exactly were the cast listening to when they were dancing near it--was it actually the Rembrandts song?

MC: It took a few hours, it was filmed after the pilot was shot, so the cast knew each other a little, regular water was used and heated, but it was cold quickly. They were listening to some kind of funky soul thing -- not the Friends song, which hadn't been written yet.

ATH: Would you guys ever consider doing a program of just Friends bloopers, outtakes, practical jokes, etc. that occurred during rehearsals or filmings that were caught on tape, during summer reruns, or as a "holiday special" or the like?

MC: We're trying to convince the powers that be to do a show that is solely "The Friends Read Letters From The Fans." That way, we'd only have to write the answers.

ATH: What was the one scene (or multiple scenes) that you recall as having the highest number of retakes? Is there anything humorous you can share about the retakes (i.e.- bloopers, cause for retakes, cast outbursts, etc.)?

MC: I don't remember exactly the number of takes for any particular scene. They usually do each take two or three times, unless there's a mistake in it or something. Usually, if the cast starts cracking up or something, and can't say their lines, then it might require several takes.

ATH: Who draws the Magna-Doodle pictures on the back of Chandler and Joey's door?

MC: I think whoever happens to be standing next to it one second before the show starts.

ATH: When the pilot episode was done, did everyone expect it to be such a big hit?

MC: I think you can only cross your fingers.

ATH: How were each of the character's names decided on?

MC: I don't know. I didn't work on the pilot, but I know Marta Kauffman had a friend named Chandler.

ATH: I heard that originally, Monica and Joey were supposed to be together. Can you share some other preliminary storylines that didn't work out?

MC: Rachel eats alone, Joey tries to get on Saturday Night Live, The Line Dancer... and many many more.

***Chandler and Monica***

ATH: Michael Borkow is quoted as saying "did we want Monica and Chandler to sleep together? There were strong - really strong - feelings both for and against." Were you personally pro-C&M or anti-C&M?

MC: I was pro. In fact, I seem to recall suggesting that one of the things that could happen at Barry and Mindy's wedding was that Monica and Chandler wake up together in the hotel room. That's the first time I remember that idea coming up, but I'm sure it was around before that.

ATH: Why did you choose to put Chandler and Monica together?

MC: Great dynamic. We thought it would make for a few good ebizomes at the beginning of the season, but it's worked out really well so far.

***Continuity***

ATH: You mentioned that your favorites episodes were the ones with the flashbacks, but what do you think of those details that do not fit with the timeline? For instance, in the first episode Rachel and Chandler do not know each other, though in tow the flashback, Rachel and Chandler meet. And in that episode, they do not seem to know each other...but in TOW the Thanksgiving Flashbacks we know that they had already met... ;-)

MC: Well, the only flashback where Chandler and Rachel ACTUALLY meet, is the Thanksgiving One. And he comes across as such a geek that she probably quickly dismisses him as Monica's brother's friend. (And she barely acknowledges Ross, don't forget.) In the other flashback, years later, he's just some doofus in a bar.

I think this allows some license in their first REAL meeting, in the pilot.

ATH: Or, in college Rachel and Monica seem to be the best friends ever...how come Monica wasn't invited to the wedding (especially when it seems that the Gellers and Greens are friends too)...

MC: Just like in Real Life, best friends quickly fall by the wayside. Especially with someone, at THAT time anyway, who was as shallow as Rachel seemed. (She may also not been too excited about Monica's sexy new look, either. Just a thought)

***Friends on the Net/Fanfic***

ATH: Do any of the Friends cast or crew that are involved with the show surf the web often? And if they do, do they search for Friends sites or try and avoid them?

MC: I know a few do. I don't know what they think of the sites.

ATH: Have you ever read any internet fanfic (especially Dan Silverstein's "The Last One" or "Chandler and Monica")?

MC: No.

ATH: Would you ever think of using a fanfic script on the show?

MC: No.

***Guest Appearances***

ATH: If Ross and Rachel were broken up because they weren't funny as a couple, was Emily really a better alternative considering the distinct lack of humour in all her scenes? (No offence to anyone here by the way - I think Helen Baxendale's a great actress; she was brilliant in "Cardiac Arrest" for example.)

MC: Emily was a catalyst for a dynamic between Ross and Rachel. She didn't have to be THAT funny, just charming and pretty, which, she is.

ATH: In episode 210, there is a character played by 'Snaro' - is this David Schwimmer, and why would he be called that?

MC: Everyone thinks Snaro is David Schwimmer, but he's actually some big star Croatian actor who played the part of Russ. His story has been told many times in the ATF NG.

ATH: In an ideal world, who would you like to play Chandler's dad?

MC: I would like someone like Barry Humphries ("Dame Edna Everage") but not in drag. Others would prefer someone like Chuck Norris (playing it straight).

ATH: Why has there never been someone with dark skin on FRIENDS?

MC: You mean, like, sunburned or something? Because there have been lots of black characters. (Note from ATH: We remember Monica's co-worker in the pilot, Rhonda at Ross's cafeteria in season 4, that dance teacher at Joey's audition, the lady at the store when Ross returned his couch, and the lady interviewing Phoebe for a job but thought she was a whore.)

ATH: Will Eddie ever return with his stupid small fruit?

MC: Adam Goldberg (Eddie) is bigger than all of us, now. He helped save Private Ryan, fer cryin' out loud!

ATH: We know from Seinfeld that Maggie Wheeler does not have an annoying squeaky voice/laugh; who decided for her to have one and why?

MC: I think that's just Maggie's take on the character of Janice. Actually, she's got a deep, sexy voice.

ATH: Speaking of Janice, will she be coming back any time soon?

MC: I'm sure, in a story crunch, you will be seeing Deus ex Janica.

ATH: Would you say that Richard Branson is the worst guest star you've ever had?

MC: LOL!! He was certainly one of the nicest. Anyway, he turned out to be pretty good!

***Miscellaneous***

ATH: Is executive producer on "Friends" a nine to five, Monday to Friday job or do you work odd hours?

MC: Extremely odd hours. 10AM to midnight or worse. 3PM to 7AM, etc.

ATH: You appear in TOW Heckles Dies, various writers appear in the teaser for TOW the Princess Leia Fantasy, Adam Chase was apparently the noisy upstairs neighbor in TOW Chandler Can't Remember which Sister - are there any other guest writer appearances which you found funny?

MC: Ira Ungerleider was "Upstairs Kenny" in that story, not Adam Chase. Wil Calhoun was "Freak" in the coffeehouse whose order was too complicated for Rachel, Greg Malins was a priest in the museum when Rachel and Ross wake up in the diorama, I was also the guy on "Wheel of Fortune" who didn't know "Mount Rushmore." There might be more, but I can't recall.

ATH: How much of an input do Marta Kauffman and David Crane have into the everyday scripts and jokes (eg. TOW the Yeti as opposed to TO Hundredth)?

MC: All the stories have to be "approved" by them unless there's a tremendous time crunch. They are part of the process (in a large way, or less) every day.

ATH: How many more seasons do you think Friends will have and do you have any idea on how to end it?

MC: I guess "Friends" will be on as long as there are interesting stories to tell.

ATH: Where did Michael Borkow and Ira Ungerleider go?

MC: Michael Borkow finished up his run at "Friends" and moved over to Dreamworks, where he is currently putting together a new show for them. Ira Ungerleider created and executive produced "Jesse."

ATH: What happened to Alexa Junge during Season 4?

MC: She went to work on "Veronica's Closet" as a consultant. Fortunately, she [was] back at "Friends" [during season five].

ATH: Will there ever be a Friends movie?

MC: Who knows. There's no plan for one. I can imagine that the Friends, who are trying their hardest to shed their Friends identities and break into movies would balk at a "Friends Movie."

ATH: Is Rachel's last name Green or Greene?

MC: It's "Greeb." (Note from ATH: Yes, he's kidding.)

ATH: Do the characters wear their own clothes?

MC: No, they wear the clothes of the cast of "Everybody Loves Raymond." A lot of shows filmed in Hollywood exchange clothing. The writers of "Friends" tried exchanging clothes with the writers of "Frasier," but we couldn't fit into their silk pantaloons and embroidered waistcoats. We liked the powdered wigs, though!

ATH: I noticed that at the end of TOW The Cat, it says "In memory of Dorothy Kauffman." Was she Marta's mother who passed away?

MC: Actually, it was her cat. Which later came back to life in the form of Adam Chase's mother.

***Personal Questions***

ATH: Have you ever thought of writing for a movie? (not the rumored Friends movie)

MC: With Greg Malins I wrote "...And God Spoke," a Spinal Tap-style documentary about the making and unmaking of a Biblical Epic Movie. We have also done work on "Lethal Weapon 4" and the new Joel Silver movie "House on Haunted Hill."

ATH: Who's your favourite director - Kevin S. Bright / James Burrows etc.?

MC: Well, Kevin Bright is one of my bosses, but James Burrows gets me home by 10:30 on show night. (Instead of 12 midnight or later, which is typical.)

ATH: What are your favorite episodes?

MC: TOW the Flashback and TOW the Thanksgiving Flashbacks.

ATH: What is your absolutely favourite scene?

MC: When Ross can't get his leather pants back on and has to call Joey for help.

ATH: If you could be any of the Friends, which and why?

MC: I would be Rachel, because then I could get free polo shirts at Ralph Lauren.

ATH: It is assumed that writers create plots that are either significant to them in some way, have happened in real life to them or someone they know, or for other reasons. On a more personal query, what inspires you to write?

MC: All of our "real life" stories were used up in season 1 and 2. They're pure fiction, now. "What inspires me to write?" A little something called "bills."

***Phoebe's Songs***

ATH: Is it true Lisa Kudrow makes up her own tunes? Who makes up the lyrics?

MC: Lisa comes up with the music to the words, which are written by the writers and in the scripts.

ATH: Which have you specifically made up?

MC: Anything that's in a script I wrote. "Parading Goats," "Paper Mache Man," "Sticky Shoes" etc.

ATH: Were there any Phoebe songs that weren't approved?

MC: I can't think of any. Some may have been cut for time, but nothing has "not been approved." The one where she sings about her "bitch whore" ex-partner got on, and there haven't been any worse than that.

***Plots in the Show***

ATH: Will you ever give Chandler a job that he likes?

MC: I think Chandler likes his job.

ATH: Was there any reason for not giving Monica anyone to date during the entire fourth season (with the exception of Richard's son)?

MC: After dating Tom Selleck?! How could she want anyone else?!

ATH: Are the writers of the show planning to put Joey and Phoebe together?

MC: LOL! Enough with the pairing off!!

ATH: What happened to Phoebe's triplets? Will we ever see them again?

MC: The best thing about the triplets is that they aren't Phoebe's, and so the show isn't saddled with annoying babies. I mean, come on, we barely see BEN! Maybe the babies will turn up in a story or something, and they'll certainly be mentioned, but I can't imagine them becoming regulars.

ATH: In the episode where Chandler and Janice meet online, was this based on a real life event of any of the writers or staff, or did they just use the internet deal because it was popular?

MC: A little bit of both. The fact that it turns out to be Janice, and not a 300 Star Trek fan, was what we thought was the original spin on a idea that was even then a bit worn out in sitcoms.

***Ross and Rachel***

ATH: How do you and the other writers feel about Ross and Rachel? Is there a possibility of them ever getting back together?

MC: I think if an interesting take could be found on "Ross and Rachel together," there might not be a problem getting them back together somehow.

ATH: In TOW the Invitation (fourth season), why did all the flashbacks consist of events leading up to Ross and Rachel's one year relationship or events after it, but none during it?

MC: Really? I thought it was all the good times vs. the bad times. I don't remember enough of it, I guess, but I thought there were tons of break up stuff (and stuff leading up to the break up), which, technically, was during their relationship.

ATH: Are you the main objector to Ross and Rachel or does most of the writing staff feel the same way?

MC: A lot of people feel that Ross and Rachel shouldn't get together unless an interesting storyline can be thought up for it. No one is fundamentally opposed to Ross/Rachel, if their relationship can be made interesting. When they were courting each other, it was funny and interesting, when they started breaking apart, it was funny and interesting (and dramatic) but when they were dating...? Eh.

ATH: In the first few episodes of season 5, it seemed like a lot of the R&R references got cut out, like Ross saying "I love you too" in TOW All the Kissing and Rachel saying "I would have married me" in TOW The Kips. Did you have something planned for them, but then changed your mind?

MC: I know the "I would have married me" was a last minute addition from Jennifer and David S. when a scene wasn't working, but it was totally wrong for their arc for the rest of the season, so something else was said instead. (I think it was "I would've said the right name" or something like that.)

***Scripts and Writing***

ATH: In the 'Friends' books with the scripts with the writing by the side, is the writing typical for most script pages or are they sort of put there for show to show the readers what you are thinking?

MC: It's all pretend. The real doodles and notes are horribly offensive.

ATH: If people have an interest in writing for television, what courses do you recommend they take? How long did you have to go to school for?

MC: Take some writing courses if you want. Nothing I learned in college helped me get where I am today, except the "growing up" part, between high school and Real Life.

ATH: What, in your opinion, is the funniest joke that has ever been cut from a table draft?

MC: Where Joey says he'll get the duck to make some more pate, and Chandler realizes Joey thinks duck shit is pate.

ATH: In TOW Dr Ramoray Dies, Joey's character is killed off because he annoyed the soap writers by commenting that he wrote some of his own lines. Were there any in-jokes here?

MC: Yes.