Show Rating: 3 stars (out of 4)
Features Rating: 3 stars (out of 4)
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As the show nears the end of its ninth season, Friends is more popular than ever. The weekly exploits of pals Chandler (Matthew Perry), Monica (Courteney Cox Arquette), Rachel (Jennifer Aniston), Ross (David Schwimmer), Joey (Matt LeBlanc) and Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow) consistently reach the top of the ratings, earning the series’ stars record-breaking salaries for an ensemble situation comedy.
The entire first season is presented spread over four discs, with bonus footage (an entire hour when the additional minutes from each show are added up!) hidden in each episode. Original airdates are presented next to detailed summaries of each episode, and all of the shows have been digitally remastered.
“The Pilot” on the first disc contains a commentary track with producers Kevin S. Bright, Marta Kauffman and David Crane. In just 30 minutes, they reveal the inspiration for the show, how the cast was chosen, what their experience was at the time and miscellaneous background information.
The commentary track is engaging and extremely interesting, and it is unfortunate that commentary tracks were not prepared for any of the other episodes from this season.
As a fun little bonus, each episode has a short preview. These previews are not original promos, but rather a short clip from the corresponding episode. Clicking on the coffee cup next to the listing of each episode can access the previews.
Aside from the extra footage for each episode–more on that later–the additional extra features can be found on disc four. “Friends of Friends” lists 16 notable guest stars from the first season, with clips from when they were on the show.
“A Peek at Central Perk” is an interactive feature about the coffee shop featured prominently in the series, which allows the user to select props and read the history on how it was selected and how it changes from episode to episode. There are also many sound bites by various members of the production crew in this section.
“How Well Do You Know Your Friends?” is a fun trivia game that rewards correct answers with clips from the show. The questions cover episodes from the first season, and some of the incorrect answers cleverly incorporate events from other seasons. Unfortunately, this section comprises only eight questions.
Other than the commentary track, the most significant extra material on this set is the additional footage for each episode. Sometimes only a few shots here and there have been added. At other times, entire scenes or scene extensions can be found. Only those very familiar with the series would be able to pick out the extra moments, but it’s fun to try!
Bottom Line: At long last, the prayers of Friends fans have been answered. The care lavished on bringing Friends–The Complete First Season to DVD appears to have made the long wait worthwhile.
Special Features
• Audio: English
• Subtitles: English, French, Spanish, Korean
• Pilot Episode Producers Commentary
• A Peek at Central Perk: Interactive Map
• Friends of Friends: Memorable Guest Star Moments
• How Well Do You Know Your Friends? Trivia Quiz
• The One with the Trailer of Season Two
• Cast Career Highlights
• Bonus Footage for Each Episode
• Episode Previews
