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Carol Actor Almost Became Friends’ Rachel Green(Photo Credit –Instagram/Facebook)

Jennifer Aniston as Rachel Green? Feels like destiny. But for a brief moment in the Friends universe, it almost wasn’t. Before Friends became a cultural juggernaut and before Aniston’s hairstyle alone launched a thousand salon visits, another familiar face nearly landed the role.

Carol Was Almost Rachel?

Yep, Jane Sibbett, who eventually played Carol (Ross’s ex-wife), once auditioned for Rachel Green. In an interview with Sunrise, she clarified the long-running rumor that her pregnancy had cost her the role. When asked if she was originally picked to play Rachel, Sibbett replied, “Almost. It’s a bit of an embellishment.”

She recalled how things played out: “I had left the room from auditioning for Rachel, and I got the phone call from my manager saying ‘They love you, they want you […] You gotta’ come back next week.

It's hard to imagine anyone else sitting on that iconic Central Perk sofa other than the "Friends" we ended up with (leading to one of the best sitcoms of all-time). But had different choices been made, the crucial character of Rachel Green, played by Jennifer Aniston, could've looked like Ross' (David Schwimmer) first ex-wife of the show, Carol, played by Jane Sibbett.

During an appearance on the Australian morning show Sunrise, Sibbett was asked if she almost came close to landing the role of rachel. "Almost. It's a bit of an embellishment," she said. "It's actually that I had left the room auditioning for Rachel, and I got the phone call from my manager saying, 'They love you, they want you, they want you. You've got to come back next week, but they want you.'"

Sibbet, however, was concerned about one slight issue that could crop up for the...

Although "Friends" is seen today as a very safe, cozy sitcom, it did have its moments where it pushed the boundaries of what mainstream television was allowed to do in its time. The show was very frank about its characters' sex lives, and while its depiction of LGBTQ+ people is certainly dated now, "Friends" was pretty progressive in that respect by '90s standards. The mere fact that so much of the first season featured Ross's ex Carol (Jane Sibbett), who raises a child with her soon-to-be wife, was impressive considering that it would take another 20 years before two women in New York were even allowed to get married.

For the most part, "Friends" was allowed to be progressive for its time without being troubled by the networks, but two episodes throughout its run did cause enough controversy to be pulled from certain channels. Season 2's "The One with the...

Hollywood employment can be great fodder for buzzy comedies, from The Larry Sanders Show to 30 Rock. But one sitcom that may have been ahead of its time was The Famous Teddy Z, which debuted on CBS 35 years ago on Sept. 18, 1989.

Created by Hugh Wilson, the series starred Jon Cryer as Teddy Zakalokis, a mailroom worker at a fictional UTA — Unlimited Talent Agency — who punches Hollywood’s top actor shortly after meeting him and is soon picked by the Marlon Brando-esque star to be his rep. The concept was inspired by the real-life story of young McA agent Jay Kanter, who became Brando’s rep after picking him up at a train station.

Cryer had landed a CBS deal off the success of Pretty in Pink, but producer Richard Dubin preferred another on-the-rise actor, Ben Stiller, who also auditioned. “I thought that Jon, while a very able and journeyman actor,...

All but two main characters in the cast of Friends were parents by the time the series ended in 2004, which is leaving people to wonder what the lives of their now-grown children could be like. Now, 20 years later, fans are wondering if a reboot will happen starring the characters children.

Per People, Friends creators Marta Kauffman and David Crane and executive producer Kevin Bright went on the Today show and Bright said that new fans, especially pre-teen fans consistently ask him whether there will be more episodes in the future.

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We get that a lot, Kauffman added. I get emails about it all the time. Everybody has a great idea and the great idea is: their kids,...

Audiences have grown accustomed to dark visions of what could have been. Television alone has been bombarding the public with intriguing dramas that rewrite history, thus showing us the darker recesses of human behavior. Classics such as Sliders and Fringe or modern binge-worthy shows like Dark Matter and The Man in the High Castle make us thankful for our world and the choices we’ve made while horrifying us with glimpses into bleaker universes.

Even some of television’s most popular sitcoms have shown us what could have been, and while they might be trying to create laughs, they still have indirectly sent the odd shiver down the spines of viewers as well. Let’s take a look at some of the most hilarious, yet terrifying alternate realities in sitcoms.

Red Dwarf – “Parallel Universe”

Any fan of the immortal Red Dwarf will probably agree that, while it’s great that...

Lisa Kudrow continues to enjoy her status as a Hollywood mainstay thanks to portraying Phoebe Buffay on Friends for a decade. However, Kudrow reveals that before she played Phoebe, she was set for a major role in another revered '90s sitcom, as she was cast in Frasier.

During an appearance on the SmartLess podcast, Kudrow confirmed Frasier hired her to portray Roz Doyle in the Kelsey Grammer-led series. However, she never filmed the pilot and was fired from the series after director James Burrows expressed dissatisfaction with her work.

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I didnt film it. I got fired from Frasier," Kudrow said, adding that Burrows said, "This isn't working," while doing a run-through for the pilot.

Quick Links Why Did They Replace Carol in Friends? Jane Sibbett Auditioned on Friends to Play Rachel Green What Happened to Carol and Susan in Friends? Carol Willick was Ross's ex-wife and the mother of his son, Ben. She left Ross for Susan, who would later become her wife. Although Jane Sibbett played Carol for most of Friends, the character was first played by Anita Barone in one episode. Anita Barone left the series to play a more prominent character in another TV series.

Carol Willick is one of the most important side characters in Friends. However, the same actress didn't always play her. In her first episode appearance, Season 1, Episode 2, "The One with the Sonogram at the End," Carol is played by Anita Barone. In this episode, she and her girlfriend, Susan, are in the hospital with Ross as they all get a first glimpse at Ben as a fetus.

Ross' ex-wife Carol on Friends was played by two different actors, Anita Barone and Jane Sibbett, throughout the series. Jane Sibbett, who replaced Anita Barone, was initially offered the role of Rachel in Friends but turned it down. While Carol's character on Friends was progressive for LGBTQ representation, some jokes and scenes involving her were problematic and aged poorly.

Ross' ex-wife Carol on Friends had a significant recurring role, but she was actually played by two different actors over the course of the series. At the beginning of the series, Ross had just divorced Carol, his college girlfriend, who had recently come out and left him to live with her partner, Susan. Carol was introduced in Friends' second episode, “The One with the Sonogram at the End,” when it was revealed that Carol was pregnant with Ross' child, who would become his son Ben. However, the Carol introduced in that...

Marcel the Monkey, the white-headed capuchin monkey from Friends, stole the show in each episode he appeared in. Even though Marcel proved to be a hilarious addition to the sitcom for the brief period he was on the show, the Friends monkey was the source of some controversy involving David Schwimmer, who played Ross on the show. But while there may have been monkey drama behind the scenes, Marcel added emotional weight to Ross' storyline early on.

From the time Friends premiered, Ross often had heavier storylines than the other main characters, and this trend continued throughout the series as some of the saddest moments on Friends happen to Ross. Bringing the monkey onto Friends added some much-needed humor to Ross' situation, and Marcel's story concluded in a bittersweet yet fulfilling way. While Friends officially ended its popular run in 2004, the discord surrounding Schwimmer and the monkey from Friends has continued for over a decade,...

Not every young actor gets their start on a famous TV show like Friends, but Cali Sheldon was lucky enough to make her acting debut on the sitcom. After it premiered in 1994, Friends became one of the most popular sitcoms in history and ran on NBC for 10 seasons. One of the reasons the show was so beloved was due to Ross and Rachel's on-again, off-again relationship. Ross (David Schwimmer) and Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) always had the chemistry and connection to make things work, but throughout much of the show's run, timing or miscommunication got in the way of them being together.

As with many people in their twenties, many of the Friends characters start thinking about having kids and raising families. In season 1, Ross is in for a surprise when his ex-wife Carol (Jane Sibbett) reveals she is pregnant. Ross' son Ben is played by Cole Sprouse, and Ben helps...

Friends star Jennifer Aniston comments on the changing comedy landscape and addresses the fact that certain jokes in the hit sitcom are now considered offensive. First airing in 1994 on NBC, Friends follows the daily lives of a group of friends living in New York City. Aniston plays Monica's best friend Rachel in the sitcom, saying farewell to the character in 2004 when the show came to an end after 10 popular seasons.

In a recent interview with Afp (via Yahoo News), Anniston addresses the fact that some people find the jokes in Friends offensive. While lamenting that the cultural landscape of today has made comedy more challenging, she does admit that there were certain jokes in the show that perhaps should've been reconsidered. Check out Aniston's comment about Friends below:

“There’s a whole generation of people, kids, who are now going back to episodes of ‘Friends’ and find them offensive. There...

Friends guest star Marlo Thomas recalls a sweet story involving Matt LeBlanc. Thomas appeared in three episodes of the seminal sitcom, playing the mother of Rachel. In her role as Sandra Greene, Thomas mostly shared scenes with Jennifer Aniston that explored their loving but sometimes contentious mother-daughter relationship. Still, when she did make an appearance, Sandra also mixed it up with Monica (Courteney Cox) and Joey (LeBlanc). In fact, in the Friends season 2 installment "The One with the Two Parties", Joey memorably plants a kiss on Sandra — which leaves her stunned but very appreciative.

In comments to Variety, Thomas discusses her time as Sandra. The actor, who also memorably played Ann Marie on the sitcom That Girl, says it was a lot of fun to be a part of Friends and mentioned filming with LeBlanc. In the scene, Rachel is trying to keep her acrimonious parents from crossing paths. In...

“As a director, I feel like sometimes I don’t have all the details, but I do have a general direction,” admits Roxy Shih about taking risks on her latest film, the Lifetime TV movie “List of a Lifetime.” “I think as long as we all move towards that general direction, and we’re all on the same page towards that path,” she says, adding for our recent Q&a, “what you can find can be so beautiful.” We talked with Shih as part of Gold Derby’s special “Meet the Experts” Q&a event with 2022 Emmy Awards contenders. Watch our exclusive video interview above.

See over 250 interviews with 2022 Emmy contenders

Shih directed “List of a Lifetime” from an screenplay by Jessica Landry. Starring Kelly Hu, Patricia Velasquez, Sylvia Kwan, Jim Klock, Chad Lindberg, Jamie Kaler and Jane Sibbett, the film follows a terminally ill woman who sets out on...

Outfest today unveiled the lineup for its second annual Lgbtqia+ television festival, The OutFronts—a four-day hybrid event with internationally accessible virtual panel discussions and ticketed in-person events in Los Angeles, featuring the talent from some of the most exciting Lgbtqia+ programs available on television today. The festival will run from June 3-6, kicking off with the world premiere in-person screening of Peacock’s Queer As Folk at the Theatre at the Ace Hotel Downtown Los Angeles, which will be followed by a conversation with the reimagining’s creators and cast.

The festival’s in-person lineup to be held at Neuehouse will give an advanced look at the third and final season premiere of Hulu and Disney+’s Love, Victor, followed by a discussion with the cast and creators, including showrunner Brian Tanen and stars Michael Cimino, Anthony Turpel, Bebe Wood, George Sear, Isabella Ferreira, and Ava Capri moderated by Tommy Dorfman.

In the latest disappointing censorship news out of China, fans of the American sitcom "Friends," are outraged to discover that the re-release of the popular series has been greatly censored. In a not-so-shocking development, it turns out that any moment referencing Lgbtqia+ themes or sex has been modified or straight-up edited out.

The editing was noticed immediately, as the first episode of the series shows Ross (David Schwimmer) informing his parents that he and his wife Carol (Anita Barone for one episode and Jane Sibbett for the rest of the series) are splitting up because she's come out as a lesbian....

The post Friends Censored in China to Remove Any Mention of Carol Being a Lesbian appeared first on /Film.

The hit US sitcom ‘Friends’ has been edited on Chinese streaming platforms, including iQiyi and Youku, which have removed all references to Ross Gellers former-wife Carol being lesbian and in a relationship with another woman. Carol, who was played originally by Anita Barone, before she was replaced by Jane Sibbett, was edited out of her […]...

Exclusive: Lifetime has acquired the feature film List of a Lifetime (fka Breast Cancer Bucket List) as part of the network’s annual Stop Breast Cancer for Life public affairs initiative. The movie, from Ninth House Films and MarVista Entertainment, is headlined by Kelly Hu (Finding Ohana) whose own mother, grandmother and aunt had breast cancer, along with Sylvia Kwan (Grey’s Anatomy), Patricia Velasquez (Arrested Development), Jane Sibbett (Friends) and metastatic breast cancer thriver, Shannen Doherty. Jamie Kahler, Jim Klock, and Chad Lindberg also star. The film will premiere October 10 at 8 pm Et/Pt during Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Doherty also directs special content as part of Lifetime’s Stop Breast Cancer for Life Campaign, in support of the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. The special content features Doherty, Hu, Kwan and Velasquez and will air throughout October on Lifetime and Lmn and extended off channel through local distributor partnerships. The...

Exclusive: Jim Klock, Chad Lindberg, Jamie Kaler and Jane Sibbett have boarded The Ninth House’s independent feature Breast Cancer Bucket List.

The film, directed by Roxy Shih, follows Brenda Lee, played by Kelly Hu, who is diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer. Facing her own mortality, Brenda is determined to track down the daughter Talia Carroll (Sylvia Kwan) she gave up for adoption as an infant. Brenda’s best friend, Meg (Patricia Velásquez) is by Brenda’s side every step of the way on her search to find Talia. Talia, having been afforded a privileged life by her adoptive parents, is initially hesitant to connect with the stranger who appears on her doorstep identifying herself as her biological mother, a moment Talia has been longing for her whole life. Talia decides to let Brenda into her life, and the mother/daughter duo embark on a journey to accomplish each...

Soap opera veteran Jed Allan, best known for playing Don Craig on “Days of Our Lives,” C.C. Capwell on “Santa Barbara” and Rush Sanders on “Beverly Hills, 90210,” died Saturday. He was 84.

“So sorry to post the very sad news of my fathers [sic] passing tonight,” Allan’s son Rick posted on Facebook Saturday night. “He died peacefully and was surrounded by his family and loved so much by us and so many others. Thank you for all who are part of this wonderful tribute to my dad on Facebook.”

Allan’s connection to the daytime drama genre began in the ’60s on the long-gone soaps “Love of Life” and “Secret Storm.” But it wasn’t until he joined “Days of Our Lives” in 1971 as attorney Don Craig and was romantically teamed up with Deidre Hall’s Dr. Marlena Evans that he became a daytime superstar. He remained on the show for 14 years,...

1967: Love is a Many Splendored Thing's Iris crashed her car.

1975: As the World Turns expanded to an hour.

1975: The Edge of Night premieres on a new network, ABC.

1994: One Life to Live's Viki and Sloan were ready to marry."History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into different and unexpected images."

― Anselm Kiefer

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1967: On As the World Turns, after receiving a call from his ex-wife, Lisa (Eileen Fulton), who sounded very sick, Bob Hughes (Don Hastings) prepared to go to her apartment and check on her. He convinced his father, Chris,...

1979: Brian and Paige were married on The Edge of Night.

1983: Kim Zimmer debuted as Reva Shayne on Guiding Light.

1995: General Hospital's Sonny said goodbye to Stone.

1996: Gh's Edward had a Thanksgiving nightmare."History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into different and unexpected images."

― Anselm Kiefer

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1966: On Dark Shadows, Matthew (Thayer David) had just begun to strangle Victoria (Alexandra Moltke) when Liz (Joan Bennett) burst into the cottage.

1975: The final CBS episode of The Edge of Night aired. The network also aired the last half-hour episode of As the World Turns,...

1966: Dark Shadows' Barnabas was aged into an old man.

1982: Gh's Blackie jammed with Eddie (Sammy Davis Jr.).

1990: Another World's Vicky covered for Marley.

1992: As the World Turns' Holden didn't recognize Lily."The best prophet of the future is the past."

― Lord Byron

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1965: On Peyton Place, Leslie Harrington (Paul Langton) traveled to Boston to ask Martin Peyton (George Macready) for help in getting Rodney out of jail.

1967: On Dark Shadows, Dr. Julia Hoffman's (Grayson Hall) experiments with Barnabas Collins' (Jonathan Frid) blood went terribly awry and his youthful appearance reverted to that of a 175-year-old vampire.

This week’s list of horror-themed home entertainment releases is almost exhausting, as we have well over 30 titles coming our way on September 12th. For those who may have missed them in theaters earlier this year, you can now finally catch up with both The Mummy (2017) and It Comes At Night, as they’re both headed home on multiple formats.

Cult film fans should keep an eye out for an array of releases this Tuesday, including The Fox With A Velvet Tail, The Resurrected, the standard two-disc Blu-ray for Dario Argento’s Phenomena, The Creep Behind the Camera, Spider, and Don Coscarelli’s entire Phantasm series comes home in a five-disc DVD set from Well Go USA.

Other notable releases for September 12th include The Ghoul, Dead Again in Tombstone, The Hatred, Ruby, Tobor the Great, and Night Gallery: The Complete Series.

The Fox With A Velvet Tail (Mondo Macabro,...

Several years after unleashing clever zombies with an appetite for brains in The Return of the Living Dead, Dan O'Bannon turned his attention to H.P. Lovecraft with The Resurrected, coming to home media in high definition on September 12th, and we've been provided with three Blu-ray copies to give away to lucky Daily Dead readers.

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Prize Details: (3) Winners will receive (1) Blu-ray copy of The Resurrected.

How to Enter: We're giving Daily Dead readers multiple chances to enter and win:

1. Instagram: Following us on Instagram during the contest period will give you an automatic contest entry. Make sure to follow us at:

https://www.instagram.com/dailydead/

2. Email: For a chance to win via email, send an email to contest@dailydead.com with the subject “The Resurrected Contest”. Be sure to include your name and mailing address.

Entry Details: The contest will end at 12:01am Est on September 18th.

Coming next week to home video is Scream Factory’s release of The Resurrected, the 1991 horror film from Dan O’Bannon (Alien, Return of the Living Dead). To celebrate this release, we’ve got an exclusive clip from a behind-the-scenes interview with… Continue Reading →

The post Exclusive: Jane Sibbett Discusses Filming The Resurrected appeared first on Dread Central.

Several years after unleashing clever zombies in The Return of the Living Dead, Dan O'Bannon turned his attention to H.P. Lovecraft with The Resurrected, coming to Blu-ray on September 12th with a final list of bonus features that have just been revealed by Scream Factory:

Press Release: Loyal fans of visionary writer/director Dan O’Bannon (The Return of the Living Dead) know well the terrifying thriller from his 1991 cult classic The Resurrected, based on the story by H.P. Lovecraft. The film stars John Terry (Zodiac, Full Metal Jacket), Jane Sibbett (Arrival II), Chris Sarandon (Fright Night), Laurie Briscoe (Breaking Point) and Robert Romanus (Fast Times at Ridgemont High). On September 12, 2017,Scream Factory™ Home Entertainment is proud to presentTHE Resurrected on home entertainment shelves. Available for the first time on Blu-ray™, this definitive release features new 2K transfer, interviews and revealing extras. A must-have for movie collectors, horror enthusiasts and loyal fans,...

As special guests on the Shock Waves podcast, the fine folks at Scream Factory just gave horror fans four big reasons to look forward to September, as they announced Blu-ray releases for The Spell (September 5th), Dan O'Bannon's The Resurrected, aka Shatterbrain (September 12th), After Midnight (September 26th), and A Quiet Place in the Country (September 26th).

From Scream Factory: "We just announced four new upcoming titles on the Shockwaves podcast (which you can listen to and hear a lot more Scream Factory scoop @ http://www.blumhouse.com/podcast/ ). Here’s are the early details!

The Resurrected (also known as Shatterbrain) (1991) – Since the beginning of time, man has struggled with death. Now Charles Dexter Ward (Chris Sarandon, Fright Night), a wealthy scientist, may have found a way to beat it. Using an ancient diary and human remains, Ward begins a terrifying and bloody pursuit for immortality. By the...

Whatever happened to Lisanne Falk and Kim Walker, the other two Heathers, who weren't Shannon Doherty in Heathers?

What ever happened to Joanne Whalley, Val Kilmer's co-star (and ex-wife) in Willow?

What ever happened to Vanity, the woman who starred opposite Carl Weathers in Action Jackson?

What ever happened to Bonnie Bedalia, John McClane's wife in Die Hard?

Oh, wait. This is what happened to her! She's on "Parenthood." Weird.

Whatever happened to Nancy Travis, the wife in So I Married an Axe Murder and the mom in the Three Men and a Baby movies?

Whatever happened to Julie Warner, the love interest in Doc Hollywood?

Whatever happened to the awesomeness that was Lori Petty, from Point Break and Tank Girl?

Whatever happened to Heather Langenkamp from NIghtmare on Elm Street?

I wonder whatever happened to Bridgette Wilson, from I Know What You Did Last Summer and the love interest in Billy Madison?...