I'll be there for you : the one about Friends / Kelsey Miller.

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  • Additional Information
    • Abstract:
      Summary: A definitive retrospective of Friends incorporates interviews, history, and behind-the-scenes anecdotes to offer a critical analysis of how a sitcom about six twenty somethings changed television forever.
    • Content Notes:
      Introduction: The sweet spot -- The one that almost wasn't -- The one with six kids and a fountain -- The one with Marcel and George Clooney -- The one where two women got married -- The one where we all got the haircut -- The one after "The one after the Super Bowl" -- The one where they all go to London (and everywhere else in the world) -- The one where everything changed -- The one where nobody died -- The one where it ended, twice -- The comeback.
    • Notes:
      Includes bibliographical references (pages 245-293) and index.
    • Other Titles:
      I will be there for you.
    • ISBN:
      9781335928283
      1335928286
    • Accession Number:
      on1044579720
      1044579720
    • Accession Number:
      fay.590107

Reviews

Booklist Reviews 2018 September #2

This detailed, affectionate look at the history of 1990s megahit Friends traces the show from its beginnings, as a buzzed-about pilot in 1994, to one of the defining cultural touchstones for an entire generation. The focus is narrow, to the book's benefit; Miller (Big Girl, 2016) is not concerned with the personal lives of Friends' famous stars, except in cases where real-life events directly affect the show itself (as in the case of Lisa Kudrow's pregnancy leading to the arc in which Phoebe has twins), and this focus keeps the book slim and readable. In addition to an examination of the show's development and mind-boggling popularity, this is also an analysis of common critiques of Friends: for its whiteness, homophobia, and fatphobia. Although Miller's perspective is clearly biased in the show's favor, she does not ignore its more problematic elements, even if her conclusions are not likely to satisfy Friends' critics. Hand this to fans of the show and to readers who enjoy pop-culture histories, who will tear through this smart, nostalgic read. Copyright 2018 Booklist Reviews.

LJ Reviews 2018 October #1

Miller (Big Girl) offers a loving, insightful, and entertaining tour through the ten-season run of the TV sitcom Friends. Beginning with showrunners David Crane and Marta Kauffman pitching a show about six Gen Xers operating as a found family in New York City, the book follows the casting and writing of the program, which ran from 1994 to 2004 on NBC and still enjoys popularity in syndication. Highlights include the cast's determination to work as an ensemble and the importance of filming before a studio audience—with writers retooling jokes on the spot to elicit greater laughs. Miller also revisits the will-they-or-won't-they drama on-screen (Ross and Rachel) and off-screen (publicized contract negotiations that threatened the renewal of Friends). Finally, the author doesn't shy away from more modern criticisms of the series' homophobia, lack of inclusivity, and jokes that rely on body- or slut-shaming. VERDICT Miller successfully revisits a classic television show, demonstrating its larger place in pop culture. A must-read for fans of Must See TV.—Terry Bosky, Madison, WI

Copyright 2018 Library Journal.