Friendssaw its main characters dating various people throughout 10 seasons, with some of them dating each other, as happened with Joey (Matt LeBlanc) and Rachel (Jennifer Aniston), but a scrapped couple would have made more sense than them.Friendscontinues to be regarded as one ofthe best TV shows of all time, but that doesn’t mean that it’s a flawless sitcom. As entertaining asFriendsstill is, many things about it haven’t aged well, and others are as controversial as they were when the show was airing.
Friendsfollowed the lives of Monica (Courteney Cox), Chandler (Matthew Perry), Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow), Ross (David Schwimmer), Joey, and Rachel, as they did their best to navigate adulthood and everything that came with it. AlthoughFriendsspent a lot of time focusing onRoss and Rachel’s relationship, it eventually shared the spotlight with Monica and Chandler, and briefly with Joey and Rachel. The latter was one ofFriends’ most controversial couples, but a scrapped pair would have been better, though it would have completely changed the show.
It Was Matt LeBlanc & Lisa Kudrow’s Idea
Friendshad some scrapped ideas that have been revealed over the years, and one of them wasJoey and Phoebe secretly hooking up. Speaking toPeoplein 2015,LeBlanc revealed that he and Kudrow pitched to the writers ofFriendsthe ideaof Joey and Phoebe having secretly been hooking up the entire series. The idea was for the rest of the group to reminisce about specific but “historical” scenes, and right before it clicked in their minds,Joey and Phoebe would come out of a broom closet together.
However, the writers rejected the idea, and LeBlanc and Kudrow simply dropped it and carried on with what was planned for their characters. In the end, Joey and Phoebe never hooked up, though they casually kissed a couple of times and Phoebe once shared a plan in which they ended up together (with Chandler’s money), and Phoebe married Mike (Paul Rudd) inFriends’ final season, whileJoey finally settled down with Alex(Andrea Anders) in his spinoff show.
Phoebe & Joey Make More Sense Than Joey & Rachel
Despite how shocking it would have been for the group to learn about Joey and Phoebe’s secret relationship, it would have made a lot more sense than Joey and Rachel. The latter got together at the end ofFriendsseason 9, and thankfully, they didn’t last long.TheJoey and Rachel relationshipfelt very forced, and the lack of romantic chemistry between them was very evident, and they became one of the most controversial couples inFriendshistory.The chemistry between Joey and Phoebe, however, was very obvious.
Phoebe and Joey are one of the best pairings inFriendsdue to their matching vibes and Phoebe always supporting Joey, no matter how silly or nonsensical his ideas and actions were. Joey also deeply cared about Phoebe, and he showed it many times throughout the show.There was also some occasional sexual tension between them, which adds to why having them secretly hook up would have made sense. Surely, Phoebe and Joey would have remained a casual thing, and they wouldn’t have become a serious couple, but it would have made a lot more sense than Joey and Rachel.
How Phoebe & Joey’s Secret Relationship Would Have Changed Friends
Friends Wouldn’t Have Been The Same With Phoebe & Joey Hooking Up
As much as Phoebe and Joey secretly hooking up would have made sense and been better than Joey and Rachel, it would have been too risky, as it would have changed the show. Going back to “historical scenes” to show that they had been together back then would have messed with the timeline, especially as Joey was always dating, sothis would have risked turning Joey and possibly Phoebe, too, into cheaters.
The big reveal of Phoebe and Joey hooking up for years would have most likely happened after Joey and Rachel got together, whichwould have made everything even more awkward between the three of them, risking their friendships. Ultimately, Phoebe and Joey were better off as friends, and so would have been Joey and Rachel, butFriendschose to make the latter a reality, although briefly.
Friends
Cast
Friends is a television sitcom that debuted in 1994, revolving around six young New Yorkers navigating the complexities of adulthood. The series highlights their friendship as they support each other through personal and professional challenges, encapsulating the ups and downs of life in a comedic and relatable manner.
