Season 1
Friends is an American sitcom created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman which follows the lives of six friends living in New York: lovable but clueless Joey Tribbiani, spoilt rich kid Rachel Green, neurotic Monica Geller, nerdy Ross Geller, offbeat Phoebe Buffay and wise-cracking Chandler Bing.
The series aired in the USA on NBC from 22 September, 1994 to 6 May, 2004. There are 236 half-hour episodes in 10 seasons.
Friends originally aired in South Africa on M-Net, ending its run on Wednesday 6 October, 2004. It later aired on e.tv (from 1 October, 1998 to 15 August, 2008), beginning on the first night the channel began broadcasting. It also aired on DStv's M-Net Holiday and Sony Entertainment Television (SONY) channels.
See "Seasons" below for seasonal broadcast dates and times.
Friends premiered on SONY on Wednesday 2 November 2011, at 19h35. New episodes broadcast on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at the same time. There are 24 episodes in the first season.
Season 1
Friends has been one of the most successful shows ever and follows the lives of six friends living in New York.
There's lovable but clueless Joey Tribbiani, spoilt rich kid Rachel Green, neurotic Monica Geller, nerdy Ross Geller, offbeat Phoebe Buffay and wise-cracking Chandler Bing.
As the plot begins, Rachel has just left her fiancé Barry at the altar and moves in with her childhood best friend, Monica.
They live across the hall from Chandler and Joey and hang out with Monica's brother, Ross – who recently divorced his lesbian wife.
Our friends regularly meet at a coffee shop – Central Perk. Ross has just recently divorced his wife Carol, after she realises that she is a lesbian.
Rachel, Monica’s rich spoiled friend moves in with her after Rachel leaves her groom at the altar. Ross discovers his ex-wife is pregnant and she gives birth to a boy, named Ben, who is raised by Carol and her partner, Susan.
Chandler gets involved with Janice, who shows up repeatedly throughout the entire series. Ross reveals he had a crush on Rachel in high school and he still has feelings for her.
Throughout the season, he fails to make his feelings known to her and Chandler and Joey eventually persuade him to move on. Ross leaves for a trip to China.
While away, Chandler reveals to Rachel that Ross is in love with her.
Rachel decides that she has feelings for Ross, but when she goes to meet him at the airport, Ross returns with another woman.
Seasons
Note: seasonal broadcast dates and times for M-Net and e.tv are incomplete.
Season 1 (24 episodes)
Channel: e.tv | Premiere: 1 Oct 1998 | Finale: 11 Mar 1999 | Thursdays, 19h00
Channel: SONY | Premiere: 2 Nov 2011 | Finale: 26 Dec 2011 | Mon/Wed/Fri, 19h35
Season 2 (24 episodes)
Channel: SONY | Premiere: 24 Feb 2012 | Finale: 18 Apr 2012 | Mon/Wed/Fri, 19h30
Season 3 (25 episodes)
Channel: SONY | Premiere: 20 Apr 2012 | Finale: 15 Jun 2012 | Mon/Wed/Fri, 19h35
Season 4 (24 episodes)
Channel: SONY | Premiere: 18 Jun 2012 | Finale: 10 Aug 2012 | Mon/Wed/Fri, 19h35
Season 5 (24 episodes)
Channel: e.tv | Premiere: 23 Dec 2005 | Finale: 2 Jun 2006 | Fridays, 19h30
Channel: SONY | Premiere: 12 Oct 2012 | Finale: 5 Dec 2012 | Mon/Wed/Fri, 18h45
Season 6 (25 episodes)
Channel: e.tv | Premiere: 9 Jun 2006 | Finale: 24 Nov 2006 | Fridays, 19h30
Channel: SONY | Premiere: 7 Dec 2012 | Finale: 1 Feb 2013 | Mon/Wed/Fri, 18h40
Season 7 (24 episodes)
Channel: e.tv | Premiere: 1 Dec 2006 | Finale: 11 May 2007 | Fridays, 19h30
Channel: SONY | Premiere: 4 Feb 2013 | Finale: 1 Mar 2013 | Mon/Wed/Fri, 18h40
Season 8 (24 episodes)
Channel: M-Net | Premiere: 10 Jul 2002 | Finale: 18 Dec 2002 | Wednesdays, 19h30
Channel: e.tv | Premiere: 18 May 2007 | Finale: 26 Oct 2007 | Fridays, 19h30
Channel: SONY | Premiere: 4 Mar 2013 | Finale: 29 Mar 2013 | Mon/Wed/Fri, 18h35
Season 9 (24 episodes)
Channel: M-Net | Premiere: 4 Jun 2003 | Finale: 5 Nov 2003 | Wednesdays, 19h30
Channel: e.tv | Premiere: 2 Nov 2007 | Finale: 11 Apr 2008 | Fridays, 19h30
Channel: SONY | Premiere: 1 Apr 2013 | Finale: 26 Apr 2013 | Mon/Wed/Fri, 18h35
Season 10 (18 episodes)
Channel: M-Net | Premiere: 16 Jun 2004 | Finale: 6 Oct 2004 | Wednesdays, 19h30
Channel: e.tv | Premiere: 18 Apr 2008 | Finale: 15 Aug 2008 | Fridays, 19h30
Channel: SONY | Premiere: 29 Apr 2013 | Finale: 17 May 2013 | Mon/Wed/Fri, 18h35