Opinion: Thirty years of Friends – how the US sitcom became an enduring global sensation

THREE KEY FACTS On September 22, iconic sitcom Friends will mark 30 years since the first episode aired in 1994. Since then, its stars including Jennifer Aniston, David Schwimmer and Courteney Cox are continuing to profit from its popularity, earning millions in residuals each year . The final episode aired on May 6, 2004, and the entire series is currently available to stream on Netflix and TVNZ+ in New Zealand.

Richard Howells is an Emeritus Professor of Cultural Sociology at King’s College in London. OPINION: Friends relied on the power of the ensemble cast and everyday storylines to draw in generations of fans. I have to be honest – I didn’t actually watch the first episode of the classic TV series Friends when it originally aired in the US on September 22, 1994.



Nor did I bother when it first turned up on British television the following spring..