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Friends 'til the End?I remember a commercial in like January announcing that there were only 4 episodes left of FRIENDS. Wow, this show has been a smash hit for a decade and only 4 left? Oh my. So Friends will be gone in February, huh?, And probably during February sweeps, I thought. So what happened? They dragged those last episodes until May 6th! What a rip-off. Before I even get into the lame finale - I have a bone to pick with all the television critics and executives who were comparing this episode to the likes of MASH, Cheers and Seinfeld. Let's get one thing straight - Friends was a great show but it was no Seinfeld. Do you remember SeinfeldŐs last season? They brought out new episode after new episode. The show left while it was still number one. I wish I could say the same about Friends. This series should have ended a few years ago, but greed took over. Instead of leaving on top, the cast took one more payday and agreed to return for an abbreviated season. Abbreviated season? They got to shoot a few new episodes and their fans get stuck with a season of repeats. Hello? The best of Friends? If I want to relive my favorite episodes I can turn on TBS or the WB nightly and catch the reruns. Scripted television is already on thin ice Đ please don't ruin it by showing repeats EVERY week!! This whole process made me sick, but at least the finale was here! Usually these finales fail to live up to any expectations. Even the last Seinfeld left its fans disappointed. Most finales are full of flashbacks and big events (wedding /baby). So what would we get from our dear Friends? Well going in we knew a few things. We knew Rachel was going to Paris (a new idea - one that hasn't been used on any other series finale, especially one dealing with Sex in some City), but would Ross get his chance to once again tell Rachel how he felt? And would it even matter? We also knew that Monica and Chandler were awaiting the birth of their adopted baby. We also knew that Joey is getting his own spin-off (I am sure that will work-NOT) although we are not quite sure how that will transpire. So when the episode finally aired I was expecting a cheesy retrospective that would bring back some old characters and then wrap everything up in a neat package Đ Boy was I wrong. This was probably the worst Friends episode ever and it didn't answer those questions. First off, Monica and Chandler get their babies - yes I said babies. The mother didn't know she was expecting twins, but to everyoneŐs surprise, two babies were delivered and the Bings took them home. That is nice but let's gets real. Something like this would never happen, but its television and we allow these types of situations sometimes. But that really didnŐt bother me. It was the Rachel/Ross thing that pissed me off. LetŐs cut right to the chase here. Ross races to the airport to tell Rachel how much he is in love with her, hoping she will stay. To my delightful surprise, she hears him out but still goes to Paris!! Now that is an ending. No happy ending for Ross. If the credits would have rolled right there, I would have been so happy and I would have been praising this show for finally being real. But of course this is not how it ended. Ross, sad and defeated, returns home to find as message waiting for him from Rachel. She realized what he said and that she loved him too, but if she could only get off the plane... Oh no, would their love have to wait until she grabs the next flight back? NOPE! Rachel is right there at the apartment waiting for him...This is the part where they want you to cry Đ I did. Why did I think for a minute that this show would do the right thing? Anyway, everyone is happy and they all say goodbye. End of episode, end of series. But hey, what about Joey. They never once mentioned that he might be going to LA or getting a new gig or anything. Maybe the first episode of JOEY will tell us how and why he is where he will be. It is not a big deal, but they could have put a story line in there to set up next season's new series. The good news is do not have watch another new (and disappointing) episode of Friends. Now on the opposite side of the spectrum, we also said goodbye to Frasier. This is a show that I admit, I didnŐt watch regularly, but when I did, I appreciated the classy humor and very talented cast. Just to get to my point, this was a classic sitcom and it ended that way. All storylines were wrapped up and it was great to see Frasier leave Seattle for a new job and new start in San Francisco. But just as the credits roll, you here the flight attendant announce that they are arriving in Chicago. This is where Frasier true love lives and while we just assumed he would go to SF to work, he pulled a fast one on us. These writers like to surprise and you have no idea until the last seconds of the series. This is what I wanted form Friends (or any other series finale). So hats off the Frasier and Kelsey Grammar. Good luck in the future. I also want to say that Survivor All-Stars came and went and while
it was exciting to see our old favorites, the game was a little different.
There were too many personal conflicts and because these people have
become true friends- there were a lot of hurt feelings and broken friendships.
This will probably be the first and last time they gather a group of
former players, and even host Jeff Probst has been saying how he can't
wait for a new fresh cast. Anyway, Amber ended up winning the million
dollars even though she rode Boston Rob's coat tails the whole way.
I mean, I canŐt root for anyone or anything from Boston, but this weasel
scammed everyone and deserved to win. Instead he proposed to Amber right
before she wins the million. Pretty smart - even for a Red Sox fan.
The producers added a twist- giving an additional million to the contestant
the fans liked the best. Everybody knew that Rupert would win - and
he did. I am happy for the guy, but come on already. He lost the first
time he played Survivor (Pearl Islands) and the fans complained. So
they create All-Stars so Rupert can try again. But unfortunately, Boston
Rob got the gang to oust our bearded hero. So, finally Mark Brunett
and his staff finds the one way to get this guy his money - a popularity
contest! Good for him, but it does seem ridiculous that Rupert gets
three chances to win, but hey, sometimes good things happen to good
people. Now that the weather is warming up, our beloved television is
getting boring again. It is once again time to stop hibernating in front
of the tube and enjoy life again...until those damn summer reality shows
begin!!!!!
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