The cast and fans are celebrating over 30 years of Friends. A big reason for its lasting popularity is how much the show shaped our expectations for friendships on TV – whether those friendships are purely platonic, romantic, or develop into something more. Each of the relationships between the six main characters is distinct and memorable, and the same goes for the show’s couples. For example, a planned storyline where Chandler was going to cheat on Monica wouldn‘t have been comparable to the famous “we were on a break” situation with Ross and Rachel, so let’s take a closer look.
A little-known detail about Season 6’s original plans involved Chandler Bing feeling jealous when Monica Gellar had lunch with her former flame, Richard Burke (Tom Selleck). This information came to light after Matthew Perry’s passing, through an interview with actress Lisa Cash, who was set to play a minor role in the storyline. She revealed that Perry scrapped the idea of Chandler being unfaithful, as he worried it would drastically change the show and how viewers saw the characters.
Recently, Cash explained to NBC News why the late actor was right to reject the alternate take. She agreed with Perry’s view on the different beat, stating that if it had been shown, the conversation around the iconic R&R break would be completely different today. In her explanation, she pointed out that the couples involved were at very different stages in their relationships, which would have led to a dramatically different result, saying:
I believe he was absolutely correct. The situation with Ross and Rachel – you know, ‘They were on a break’ – is different. This wouldn’t have been a temporary pause in the relationship; it would have been a choice he made while they were still together.
I share the views of both people. No matter your stance on the break debate, there’s more nuance to consider when looking at Ross’ actions. If Perry hadn’t persuaded the writers to remove the storyline where Chandler was actively cheating on Monica while they were a committed couple, the show could have gone in a very different, and potentially damaging, direction and never recovered.
Even for those fans who didn’t enjoy Chandler and Monica’s relationship, I think a breakup would have changed the show too drastically. Because the six friends were so closely linked, it would have affected all their relationships in significant ways. It could have even led to Chandler being ostracized, or portrayed as the bad guy. So, I’m happy that Lisa Cash, who was initially written as a hotel worker having an affair with Chandler, was instead used as Ross and Rachel’s flight attendant.
One Friends Plotline That Matthew Perry Refused To Do
If the planned storyline involving Chandler Bing’s infidelity and a bomb plot had actually happened, it’s hard to imagine the impact it would have had on television and film, even affecting the 2025 TV schedule. It definitely wouldn’t have been open to as much interpretation and debate as the famous “Ross and Rachel were on a break” scene. Personally, I’m glad we’ll never know what might have been. It’s a relief to avoid that alternate reality. Imagine the chaos!
If you want to rewatch or discover Season 6, every episode of Friends is available to stream with a Max subscription.
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2025-10-02 16:08