There have been a few Friends deleted scenes that have resurfaced over the years, and while it’s confusing why some of them were cut, one in particular is completely understandable. The scene in question involved Matthew Perry’s Chandler Bing, and the actor voiced his concerns regarding a surprising twist in the lead-up to shooting.
Although the Friends cast all moved on to new sitcoms and other projects after the show ended in 2004, they’re all still associated with the characters they played throughout all 10 seasons of Friends. However, their input into the beloved sitcom went beyond their acting talents. For instance, David Schwimmer directed 10 episodes of Friends alongside his duties of playing Ross Geller.
That said, it’s the chemistry between the main Friends cast that is perhaps the biggest element that led to it becoming one of the best sitcoms of all time. The interactions between them often feel natural and effortless, with a few notable exceptions. If one deleted scene had remained in place, the delicate interpersonal balance would probably have been permanently disrupted.
Matthew Perry Protested A Friends Storyline Where Chandler Cheated On Monica
Friends Season 5 Almost Ended Very Differently
Speaking with TMZ, guest star Lisa Cash spoke about her time on Friends. Appearing in season 5’s “The One in Vegas” two-parter in 1999, Cash had her role in the episode heavily altered after Matthew Perry voiced his concerns regarding the damage his character’s reputation could suffer as a result of one scene that never made it to air.
“The day before we were shooting in front of a live audience I was told that [Matthew Perry] went to the writers and said the audience will never forgive him for cheating on Monica, which he was probably right. That would have changed possibly the course of the show and of his character.”
– Lisa Cash to TMZ.
During a period where Chandler and Monica (Courteney Cox) had fallen out over the latter’s meeting with ex-boyfriend David (Tom Selleck), Perry’s character would have retreated to his hotel room. While there, Cash’s “hotel worker” character would have arrived at Chandler’s door, and the two were originally intended to hit it off.
Cash’s comments during the interview imply the scene was, at the very least, rehearsed.
Chandler and the hotel employee would ultimately have ended up sleeping together, which obviously would have meant Perry’s character being unfaithful to Monica. Cash’s comments during the interview imply the scene was, at the very least, rehearsed, as she talks about the positive experience of working with Matthew Perry during the sequence.
Friends Eventually Cut The Chandler Cheating Scene – And Was Better For It
It Would Have Been Tough to Come Back From Chandler’s Infidelity
Matthew Perry’s concerns were taken on board, and the sequence that would have seen Chandler cheating on Monica was abandoned. Lisa Cash still appears in the episode, but as an air flight attendant in a different scene. Although the removed scene would certainly have resulted in some juicy drama, Perry was right.
Although he was in the middle of a rough patch with Monica, he was still utterly devoted to and madly in love with her.
Chandler sleeping with Cash’s character would have made it difficult for the audience to continue rooting for him. Plus, it wouldn’t make sense for Chandler to do. Although he was in the middle of a rough patch with Monica, he was still utterly devoted to and madly in love with her. He wouldn’t have thrown that all away for a moment of chemistry with a stranger.
Besides, cheating storylines have a tendency to be overused in sitcoms. They’re often included merely for the sake of stirring things up. While they can have merit in certain circumstances, utilizing the trope in Friends, especially like this, would have cheapened the show. I’m very relieved the show’s writers listened to Matthew Perry’s logic.
Lisa Cash makes a great point in her TMZ interview. She explains that although Monica and Chandler are fighting at the time, they’re still together. So, if Chandler’s cheating scene had been included, there wouldn’t be the same excuse/gray area as when Ross (David Schwimmer) slept with someone else during his infamous break from Rachel (Jennifer Aniston).
Plus, the fallout of Chandler’s betraying Monica wouldn’t have been likely to contain itself to their relationship. The rest of the gang wouldn’t take kindly to the occurrence, and if they did, it would have felt like very shoddy and convenient writing. Thankfully, none of that happened.
Chandler Cheating Would Have Destroyed Friends’ Best Romance
Matthew Perry Saved His Character’s Eventual Marriage
Friends is filled with iconic love stories. Although Ross and Rachel’s romance has been immortalized thanks to the couple’s legendary will-they/won’t-they arc, Chandler’s relationship with Monica has a solid foundation almost immediately after they get together in season 4. Like most couples, they have disagreements, but it rarely seems like it’s all about to end.
If Matthew Perry hadn’t objected, it’s tricky to see how his character could have experienced the same happy ever after with Monica as he ended up with. While it’s possible Monica could have forgiven him, this would arguably have been just as out of character for her to do as it would have been for Chandler to cheat on her in the first place.
The majority of the relationship drama in Friends came from Ross and Rachel’s sporadic entanglements, so there didn’t need to be another couple always at each other’s throats for similar reasons. Keeping Chandler and Monica as the couple to aspire to was the right choice.
Matthew Perry’s reluctance is just one example of many when it comes to how valuable the sitcom’s cast was. While it could be argued that they were only ever expected to bring the scripts to life, instances such as these are proof that Friends was far more than just an acting job to them, as they truly cared about how the story progressed.
Source: TMZ
8/10
- Release Date
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1994 – 2004
- Showrunner
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Marta Kauffman