The hit sitcom FRIENDS has been a part of pop culture for decades and will remain so for years to come.
The six friends, living in New York and having a permanent seat on the Central Perk couch, along with their witty banters and soulful friendship, became a part of our lives and just never left. And even after decades since the show was aired for the last time, fans still can be found often quoting lines from the show, or humming to the theme song.
Whether it’s the lobsters – Ross and Rachel, or the fan-favorite Mondler, aka Monica and Chandler, or our favorite duo – Joey and Phoebe, fans were able to relate to these characters and their stories. And while four out of the six ended up with each other, two characters had a different angle to their characters, but only slightly, if you ask Matt LeBlanc.
The characters of Joey and Phoebe were best of friends, but they never crossed the line to being something more. While Ross and Rachel had their on-again-off-again relationship from the very beginning till the end, and Monica and Chandler never let go of each other once they found their ‘one,’ it was Joey and Phoebe who remained just friends till the end. But according to Matt LeBlanc, they had actually pitched a relationship between Joey and Phoebe which never panned out.
This would have completely changed the dynamic of these two characters for the audience. While many fans had hoped that they would get together someday because of the amazing chemistry LeBlanc shared with Lisa Kudrow, the execs did not think this relationship was needed for the show.
Joey and Phoebe have always seemed to have an easy friendship in FRIENDS. When Phoebe was carrying triplets for her step-brother Frank and his wife, Joey asked her to marry him without a second thought. Even Phoebe had readily accepted his proposal. Their easy flirting, and how comfortable they were with each other also added to it.
If the show had greenlit LeBlanc’s idea of making Joey and Phoebe casual lovers, who had been there this whole time, it would have been like a ‘How did we miss this? It was right in front of our nose!’ bit. The rest would have been none the wiser, as these two characters would be together all this time, and no one would have known.
But that’s not to say that what FRIENDS did do with these two characters was any less. Fans adored Mike and the relationship between him and Phoebe. And keeping Joey single, which is what he always wanted, also did not take anything away from the character. While we will never know what it would have been like to have Joey and Phoebe come together, the relationships they formed with others, and the friendship they shared with each other, was just as, if not more special.
