Friends

I'm not crazy. This show really did exist. I remember watching it while I was at my grandmother's house in Florida. I was ten. I remember liking the show so much that I never really forgot it. How could you say that about any show you saw when you were ten? There are the classics like Incredible Hulk or even White Shadow or Greatest American Hero, but here was a show on NBC, with stories about kids my age. When NBC put Friends on the air years later, I always remembered this show, that still is in the back of my mind. I had no idea it was on just for two months. I remembered it disappeared, but it was a good memory from my childhood. It would be nice if they put it on DVD so we could relive those five episodes, that I remembered liking.

I remember the show very well, it came on Sunday night at 7 o'clock and I had no idea now as an adult that it only had five episodes. I remember liking it so much, and when I saw Jill Wheelan on Love Boat remembering that she came from this show. I was about 12 years old when it came out and remember thinking that this was a show about me and my friends. My parents were going through a divorce at the time, and I just remember relating to the friendship of the three kids. I would love to see a DVD with these five episodes produced, if I came across it I'm sure I would buy it. This is one of those shows that nobody seems to remember but is burned in my brain so well that I could picture the room that I had to watch it in, because I had to watch it on the second TV as my family would like something else in the living room. It's a nostalgic childhood memory and one that I will never forget.

The three friends were a white girl, a white boy, and a black boy, not the most common grouping at the time. I remember a particularly poignant episode where the white boy has lied to his athletic father, claiming to be the star pitcher on his little league team. The old man will never know - he works 6 days a week running his dry cleaning business. Then the dad announces he will make a major sacrifice and take Saturday off just to see the kid play. Horrified, the boy seeks advice from his older sister:

Sister: Just tell him. You can talk to your father. He's not going to hit you.

Boy (with a whine that makes it clear how much worse this is): He'll LOOK at me!

I always ask people about this show, and people look at me like I am crazy. Finally, redemption! Anyway, this was an original premise for a show, I remember enjoying it and my mother actually watching it with me. This was not a common occurrence, believe me. It centered around three friends and their lives. Kind of soap opera meets "Family" meets an "ABC Afterschool Special." One particular storyline centered around the crush of Jill's character of Pete Richards. It was very realistic and not written from an adult perspective, as most of these usually are. I think this would have been a good example of shows that can work for kids today. Not sure why they haven't thought about modernizing it for today...goth/"emo" kid, rock/surfer kid, prep/clique kid and athlete/sports junkie and theater/dance kid have been friends since elementary school--their parents were best friends growing up (maybe even the original "cast" characters). Now, even though they are all different, they are friends and go through trials and tribulations together. An intelligent "Saved By The Bell." All of my friends were buzzing, but I guess the time slot wasn't conducive. :( I wish I could see some of these episodes now (you tube, anyone)?

I remember this show too and I was around 12 or 13 when it came out. I was barely in high school. Not into boys yet either but the one thing I know I remembered was the "Love Boat" girl was on it. It was such a cute show and although I can't remember the episodes too well, I do remember the title and that 3 kids were hanging out together. I think this came out right after the "James at 15" series. The 70s had such great kid's shows especially the "ABC Afterschool Specials". Another thing is they had great kid's shows on the weekends like "Banana Splits" and "H.R. PuffNStuff". Too bad they don't make kid's shows the way they used to. They are not as innocent and family friendly. Totally retro, loved it!