The disappointment continues…

No hot older man, no crazy flat-mate, no starring in a day-time hospital TV drama.

You ever feel like life isn’t turning out how you expected?

“The One Where I Forget Where I Live”

If writers were writing my life, as they write Dr Drake Ramorays, I feel like something BIG would have happened by now. Your twenties can often feel like that. Being perpetually stuck in the first twenty minutes of a film. Awaiting the train crash of the first act, which determines what your life will be:

Comedy, Tragedy, Romance… History?

And then you find plays and films are the exception not the rule. For all their caricatures, overly stylised witty banter, and forced situations – it’s the sitcoms that are really close to life. Tiny problems writ large over a backdrop of gradual change. Day to day living lightened by moments of humour with friends. Truly, these are the Days of Our Lives…

But if that’s so HOW CAN FRIENDS™ NOT BE MATCHING MY LIFE?! It feels like ages since we’ve had one of those glorious coincidences that make this project feel worthwhile.

But, alas, I have no control. Unlike the Days of Our Lives writers, I am unable to manufacture the high drama of a hidden half-sibling, or to drop my Real Live Friends down a lift-shaft as revenge for them insulting me.

Poor Joey, losing his success so soon, although I felt more sorry for Eddie, clearly hurt by his recent break-up, as his ex comes round to return his fish tank to Chandler.

Eddie: “You had sex with her didn’t you?”

Oh wait, no he is crazy…

Adam Goldberg (previously of Saving Private Ryan™) does a wonderful job with Intense Eddie, making him one of the most memorable minor Friends™ characters. I wondered what he’d been up to since and was surprised to find he played a different (though no less intense) character in Joey™.

How’s that for a bit of Friends™ trivia?!

We’ll have to see if I feel up for watching Joey™ seven and a half years from now…

Joey is, of course, the most promiscuous friend, but T.O.W.D.R.D. also hints at Monica’s promiscuity. She’s not the only one shocked to find Richard’s only been with two people. That is pretty tragic Richard…

My partner and I had a similar conversation about who we’d slept with at the start of our relationship. Fortunately we’re about the same. Number, I mean. Not the same people.

Maybe if Richard had had sex with more than two women he’d have the savvy to bring his own protection? They declare their love for each other (aw) and Monica heads to the bathroom for a condom (ew). Only to find Rachel in a similar predicament – and only one condom.

If you were in the mood, wouldn’t finding out your friend was about to have sex with your brother ruin it somewhat?

Real Live Sitcom Moment:

My best mate just came round to watch Star Wars: The Force Awakens™ (4 Stars).
It’s been so long since anyone’s been to mine I forgot my house number and gave him the wrong one!

In a sitcom this could have been a whole episode. Him getting lost and meeting wacky characters (our neighbours are definitely pretty wacky…) but instead the problem was quickly fixed thanks to our phones.

I’ve noticed before how smart-phones interfere with sit-com plots.

It must be impossible being a modern day sit-com writer!

I’ve been liberated at last!

Well, obviously I haven’t spent two weeks trapped in a study… Although it feels a bit like it.

Remember I started drinking again on St Patricks day? I haven’t really stopped since. With our surprise General Election looming, I’ve decided I may as well just see how bad things can get. I'm feeling a bit muddle but it has been fun drinking with Real Live Friends again. From what I can remember…

With that in mind, I don’t really feel like much has happened so it might be a bit of a struggle writing this week.

Appropriately though I do feel like one smelly cat…

“The One Where The Premise Starts to Fall Apart”

And so we kick off with Phoebe’s incredible Smelly Cat video.

They did a great job of capturing the cheesy vibe of low budget music videos with this. And Lisa Kudrow looks every inch the pop star. It’s a reminder she’s probably the most versatile actor of the cast. Certainly the one least similar to their character in real life.

Aside from this, the Friends™ are mostly dealing with the troubles of roommates at the moment. Or a lack of them, as Chandler and Joey continue their longing glances. This time their story-line does end up firmly with them being like a couple. Chandler even hits the rebound with new flatmate Eddie.

We’re constantly connected. And you have to wonder if Joey and Chandler would have felt quite so lonely, with no idea how to spend their new free time, without the internet.

Monica and Ross have the opposite problem, as Rachel and Ross’s relationship forces them to spend more time together. Having siblings in the cast was a smart move. It adds a new dimension to the Friends™ as well as a bit more weight. It’s sad seeing Ross realising Monica doesn’t feel the joy he does at their little spats.

We learn how to act domestically as children, so it’s no surprise that how we interact with our siblings influences it. And that we can revert to these silly little games all so easily.

My partner told me I act exactly like Ross here when I’m in an immature mood. But all I heard was “Nyeh, Nyeh NNeh”.

Real Live Sitcom Moment:

… nope, I’ve got nothing. Dammit, something must have happened?! How can my life not be matching up to Friends?!?! ™