Friends TV series marks anniversary of 1994 NBC premiere

The television sitcom ‘Friends’ premiered on NBC on September 22, 1994, marking the beginning of a decade-long cultural phenomenon. Created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, the series follows six friends living in Greenwich Village, New York, navigating themes of sex, commitment, and life's meaning.

Over its ten-season run, which included 236 episodes, the show maintained high viewership, consistently ranking in the Nielsen top five and reaching number one during its eighth season. The series finale was watched by more than 52 million people.

Economically, the show proved to be a massive success for Warner Bros. Television. The cast members became some of the highest-paid actors on American television, and the series continues to generate hundreds of millions of dollars through reruns, international licensing, and streaming services.