Parents' Guide to Friends

While the characters take on more responsibility over the course of the series, in most ways the friends cling to their idiosyncrasies and compulsions rather than display more maturity. Jokes that lampoon personality traits are one of the series' weaknesses. For example, Joey's "libido" (which borders on predatory behavior, like when Rachel jokes that "taking care of a drunk naked woman sounds like a job for Joey!" and he lunges for the woman, only to be held back by Chandler). Or Chandler's wimpiness (he's sometimes made fun of for "seeming gay"). And then there's the unrealistic picture of New York City as being mostly White. Many of the show's juicier plot developments were obviously thrown in to boost ratings and sometimes seem borrowed from soap operas. Still, the writing can be intelligent, and the acting is skillful. Longtime fans are often rewarded with jokes that reference past episodes and personality quirks; familiarity makes this show all the funnier.

There are trade-offs for families to consider. The comedy may be inappropriate for kids, and yet the storytelling can be more original and thought-provoking than in sitcoms geared specifically to younger viewers. Characters' contradictions and mistakes make them questionable role models but also account for why so many viewers relate to them. The friends frequently talk through their problems openly and honestly with one another, which could be viewed as a model for communication within families.