‘Friends’ Director James Burrows Spills It On Why ‘Emily’ Was Quickly Written Off The Show

Burrows believed that Baxendale, 53, and Schwimmer, 56, lacked natural on-screen chemistry compared to Ross and Rachel, Jennifer Aniston’s character.

“Schwimmer had no one to bounce off. It was like clapping with one hand. In sitcoms and any type of romantic comedy, the funny is just as important as the chemistry. We discovered that any new girlfriend for Ross needed to be as funny as Rachel.”“Often, you can’t recast, because of tight shooting deadlines or other logistical considerations,” he wrote. “You need someone who gets laughs. Sometimes you start an arc and it ain’t working out, so you have to get rid of that person.

Burrows noted that the reverse was true, adding, “If there’s chemistry, the writers go to work to figure out some way of keeping the actor.” Baxendale’s Emily was first introduced in season 4, appearing in a total of 14 episodes. Emily and Ross married in season 5. But Ross nearly blew it, uttering Rachel’s name during the vows instead of hers.Must Read Stories

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