'Friends' Co-Creator now wishes she made the show more diverse

[PinkJelly 1,768]

I’ve never been able to make it through a whole episode of friends, really don’t get the appeal 

[KORG 4,756]

We had a show in the uk with Jasper Carrot, it featured every bit of diversity you can think of. White man, middle aged, step mother (muslim), new age lesbian daughter, one child disabled, another adopted etc etc.. covered all bases.

It bombed because it was pandering garbage. Friends was about the kids of middle class white americans living an out of touch adult life. The cast outside of the main 6 was quite diverse.

Was the fresh prince diverse enough?

We dont need your tokens.

[A Hybrid 11,049]

4 hours ago, Red said:

Better than being like "boo hoo i'm sorry for the 90s "

Yeah but they're both bad ideas 

[HotLikeMexico 5,128]

I don't get why y'all are so pressed. She just made a comment saying she wished she did this back then. Good for her on seeing that diversity is incredibly important in the media. Why are y'all crucifying her for it?

[Adakam 2]

9 hours ago, Rio said:

 

Done with everyone saying the show was homophobic too. The show came out in a very different time and we even lucky gays were even mentioned in the show so freely and in a light manner like it did in the 90s. 

And the humour around it wasnt disrespectful and landed where it should, like Chandler forgiving and accepting his father so he could be there at his wedding. Why is it ok to joke around stuff like Ross being a nerd, but not about seeing Chandler's mom and dad argue about their dresses? Thats what I dont get about sjw humour.

[Doot 2]

11 hours ago, Dramatica said:

Rachel's former roommate is an awkward woman and everyone makes jokes about how they were "Lovers" as if that's something funny, and at then end she married a guy.

And Ross's ex wife is allegedly bisexual who hid her feelings towards women and married Ross and then cheated on him with her gym female partner.

Don't let me pull out the receipts, I've watched that show sweetie

The storylines of the show make no difference to what I was saying 

I was simply pointing out there WERE more gay characters than was originally stated. 

[Gracious Gaga 17,163]

ha don't cast all white ppl next time 

[Jose P 23,341]

Friends might have had some jokes that could be considered problematic nowadays and the cast was not as diverse as it should have been, but many are forgetting how progressive it actually was for its time. While there were often jokes about Ross’s lesbian ex wife, Carol and Susan were portrayed as a genuine and loving couple, there was even a whole episode dedicated to their wedding, all of this in the 90s. Many things could have been handled differently, but it’s a product of its time, and it was still fairly progressive nonetheless.

[Adakam 2]

25 minutes ago, Jose P said:

Friends might have had some jokes that could be considered problematic nowadays and the cast was not as diverse as it should have been, but many are forgetting how progressive it actually was for its time. While there were often jokes about Ross’s lesbian ex wife, Carol and Susan were portrayed as a genuine and loving couple, there was even a whole episode dedicated to their wedding, all of this in the 90s. Many things could have been handled differently, but it’s a product of its time, and it was still fairly progressive nonetheless.

Exactly, they gave topics like that a place in the humour, but never ever implied that people like that are worth less or that they deserve less rights.

The Carol and Susan relationship, as well as gay adoption, was a thing from the very first episode.

Chandler's trans dad plot was all about Chandler accepting him for who he was.

I believe that as long as its as respectful as the kind of jokes that non-minority characters get, good humour like this is better than shielding those minorities from that same humour, imagine if we start saying that the show discriminates chefs because the jokes on Monica's restaurant make chefs look bad.

Comedy exists because we can joke and laugh at ourselves, and that applies to any human being.

And I do wonder why does friends get this kind of attacks, but Ive never seen others like The big bang theory getting them when they exploted stereotypes way more. 

Raj being an Indian was exploited from every angle, Penny being a dumb blonde got overused, Howard being a nerd desperate about sex humiliating himself for it, the guy from their office with a speech impediment got mocked for it on nearly every scene, and I dont think I can remember any gay character on the show (or even a black one).

But most importantly, Raj and Howard's gay tension for years, which landed absolutely nowhere. 

[Jose P 23,341]

1 minute ago, Adakam said:

Exactly, they gave topics like that a place in the humour, but never ever implied that people like that are worth less or that they deserve less rights.

The Carol and Susan relationship, as well as gay adoption, was a thing from the very first episode.

Chandler's trans dad plot was all about Chandler accepting him for who he was.

I believe that as long as its as respectful as the kind of jokes that non-minority characters get, good humour like this is better than shielding those minorities from that same humour, imagine if we start saying that the show discriminates chefs because the jokes on Monica's restaurant make chefs look bad.

Comedy exists because we can joke and laugh at ourselves, and that applies to any human being.

And I do wonder why does friends get this kind of attacks, but Ive never seen others like The big bang theory getting them when they exploted stereotypes way more. 

Raj being an Indian was exploited from every angle, Penny being a dumb blonde got overused, Howard being a nerd desperate about sex humiliating himself for it, the guy from their office with a speech impediment got mocked for it on nearly every scene, and I dont think I can remember any gay character on the show (or even a black one).

But most importantly, Raj and Howard's gay tension for years, which landed absolutely nowhere. 

I think Big Bang Theory is more problematic for the mere fact that it’s a recent show. But I do think it’s gotten a lot of critiques over that. Friends just gets a ton bc it’s an immensely popular show with a huge following.

[Adakam 2]

14 hours ago, Azor Ahai said:

No such thing as forced diversity. 

Have you ever heard a phrase that goes something like "the black guy always dies first in scary movies", or "the black guy is always the comedic relief"?

 

 

[Tycho 3,694]

I think the statement is really for the fans so they can continue to enjoy it the way the do and have, which is nice!

They didn't have to really say anything but it's nice they have been thoughtful about it.

[HausOfAntonio 8,021]

16 hours ago, Knife said:

What did she wish she knew? That non-white people exist, especially in NYC where Friends takes place?

Friends wanted to be the white Living Single. It's probably a good thing that there weren't many non-white characters on Friends because they'd probably be poorly-written stereotypes.

 

 

Sis... I love friends but... 

[dynamite 57,332]

1 hour ago, Jose P said:

I think Big Bang Theory is more problematic for the mere fact that it’s a recent show. But I do think it’s gotten a lot of critiques over that. Friends just gets a ton bc it’s an immensely popular show with a huge following.

I love Big Bang Theory and it's on TV all the time lately. But tonight's episode was an old one where Sheldon keeps comparing himself to African slaves because he was being forced to go to thanksgiving and especially given what's going on lately I was like... 

[Jose P 23,341]

15 hours ago, Azor Ahai said:

No such thing as forced diversity. 

If a a POC or gay or trans person is cast in a movie and they are given a stereotypical badly written character that serves no purpose to the story and are just there for diversity points, then it’s forced. If they are given a good role and the character actually adds something to the plot and is well rounded and well written, then that’s genuine diversity.