NBC has been a longstanding network on the small screen, and it's been home to many great shows throughout the years. Sure, the network has not always done things right, but they've lasted this long thanks to its storied history.
During the '90s, the network was home to both Friends and Seinfeld. These two shows dominated their competition, and while they are completely separate from one another, Jerry Seinfeld has previously taken some credit for the success that Friends was able to find when it debuted.
Let's take a look at these two classic sitcoms, and learn why Jerry Seinfeld took credit for the success of Friends.
Friends' Iconic Run Started In 1994
1994 was the year that everything changed for TV in the 1990s, as this was when Friends made its official debut on NBC. The series, which was hardly original in its idea, became one of the most popular shows of all time, and is still loved and cherished to this very day.
Starring Lisa Kudrow, Courteney Cox, Jennifer Aniston, David Schwimmer, Matthew Perry, and Matt LeBlanc, the show was an instant success for NBC, and it was apparent early on that this was going to be a hit. People, however, could not have predicted just how big Friends would get.
Few projects have ever had the same type of impact that Friends did when it was in its prime. It was a phenomenon that dominated the cultural zeitgeist of the era. People watched it, quoted it, and even changed their look because of it.
Friends did incredible things during its run on NBC, and impressively, it was actually preceded by another one of the greatest sitcoms of all time.
Seinfeld Was A Network Staple Prior To 'Friends'
Prior to the debut of Friends on NBC in 1994, Seinfeld was already one of the biggest shows on television for the network. Though it debuted back in the 1980s, Seinfeld is often lumped in with shows from the 1990s, as this was the decade when the show officially became a juggernaut on the small screen.
Starring Jerry Seinfeld, Julia Louis Dreyfus, Jason Alexander, and Michael Richards, the show about nothing was exactly what audiences were looking for when it finally hit its stride. It became must-see TV, and it, like many other major shows in history, was a money-making force that paid its stars top dollar during its later seasons.
Much like Friends, Seinfeld remains one of the most popular and loved TV shows of all time. The stars might not have the same amazing deal as the cast of Friends, but they etched their place in history with their work on the show.
Now, these shows stood on their own feet, but years back, Jerry Seinfeld let Lisa Kudrow know that she owed him a thank you for her show's success.
Jerry Seinfeld Took Credit For The Success Of Friends
So, why did Jerry Seinfeld take credit for the success of Friends? Well, it all came down to timing.
When speaking with The Daily Beast, Kudrow was asked about Seinfeld, and whether Friends ever felt competitive with it.
"No. I did not at all. Not to take anything away from the writing on Friends, or the cast, or how good Friends really was, but the first season our ratings were just fine," Kudrow said.
She then opened up about Seinfeld taking credits for Friends' success.
"We held onto enough of Mad About You and starting building, but it was in the summer when we were in reruns after Seinfeld, where Seinfeld was our lead-in, where we exploded. I remember going to some party and Jerry Seinfeld was there, and I said, “Hi,” and he said, “You’re welcome.” I said, “Why, thank you… what?” And he said, “You’re on after us in the summer, and you’re welcome.” And I said, “That’s exactly right. Thank you,'" Kudrow continued.
To a degree, Seinfeld has a point. There is no denying how popular that series was, and any other show that was following it up in the lineup was sure to attract plenty of viewers. That said, Friends was great in its own right, and it would have been a major success, regardless of the time slot that it was put in.
NBC having both Seinfeld and Friends during the '90s helped it dominate the competition. Though Seinfeld could have been kinder with his words, his show did help get Friends off to a hot start all those years ago.