How I Met Your Mother vs Friends - Page 3

Skywalker · December 8 2012, 10:47 PM

Vanyel wrote:

I also think there is a bit of the age of the cast that I can relate too. I'm approximately the same age as the characters and went through life a bit like they did. Finding my way and love with my friends.

That makes sense. I'm 29 now and was in my early/mid-teens when Friends was at its peak, so that could be one reason I relate to HIMYM more.

RoJoHen · December 8 2012, 11:01 PM

Hanukkah Solo wrote:

Vanyel wrote:

I also think there is a bit of the age of the cast that I can relate too. I'm approximately the same age as the characters and went through life a bit like they did. Finding my way and love with my friends.

That makes sense. I'm 29 now and was in my early/mid-teens when Friends was at its peak, so that could be one reason I relate to HIMYM more.

I think that's my situation, too. I was a teenager when Friends was on the air. It's series finale aired my freshman year of college. The characters in HIMYM are right around my age and are dealing with issues that I can relate to a lot better.

EmoBorg · December 9 2012, 01:35 AM

FPAlpha wrote:

I wouldn't read too much into that. The Friends salary thing is pretty much unique and shouldn't be a benchmark on how close a cast is.

A much better gauge for me would be to watch the gag/blooper reels for each show.. when people mess up or goof around you can really see how comfortable they are with each other and having seen them all for each show (yeah.. i love bloopers reels

) i can say that each cast seems pretty much comfortable and close with each other (and HYMIM is far more racy at times

).

As a contrast watch the gag reels for Community.. especially the ones from the later seasons and see how they react to Chevy Chase. You can feel that the others are not really including him in their antics that much and try to keep a distance.. anyone who's familiar with the background workings of the show knows why that may be the case.

It does matter. For the Friends 6 main cast members to collectively bargain for equal pay does show how close they were. You don't see that from the cast of HIMYM even after 8 seasons and especially after Jason Segel intending to leave after this season.

The gag reels of Friends do show how close they were, and they even closer than the cast of HIMYM. They were close as a family.

FPAlpha · December 9 2012, 10:43 AM

I didn't say it doesn't matter just that it is a unique situation that was never repeated on any other show (that i know of).

It speaks for the Friends cast and their integrity to have pulled this off (especially from those who were about to earn more than their co-stars). However just because they did that doesn't mean that the cast of Mother is not as close.. just using the Friends salary thing to say other shows don't get along as well is a bit disingenious.

Segel is leaving because it's been 8 years, his character won't evolve much anymore and he's getting bored apparently.. i can understand that reasoning and certainly don't believe it's due to a bad atmosphere at the set.

Guy Gardener · December 9 2012, 11:03 AM

I watched the new movie Written by, directed by, and starring Josh Radnor "Liberal Arts" and I am not completely sure what genre I had just watched. It was totally Zach Braff, just whining on about how nonplussing the universe is for no reason... The Olsen Twins YOUNGER sister was trying to seduce him and he was poorly trying to talk himself out of going along for the ride.

She was legal, it just a question of not being pervy, and not being that guy.

Unlike her sisters, this one seems to know how to eat.

Mazel tov!

Mr Light · December 9 2012, 05:34 PM

How to eat? In which way are we supposed to interpret that?

the G-man · December 9 2012, 06:18 PM

not anorexic

Holdfast · December 9 2012, 09:53 PM

The sheer warmth and, well, friendliness radiating from the Friends cast when they were on top of their form was quite something to behold. Off the top of my head, episodes like TOW All The Poker, TOW the Football, TOW the Videotape, and TOW Everyone Finds Out remain brilliant entertainment. There are many, many more. The show worked beautifully when it gave something for each Friend to do, while pulling them all round a central activity. So I think when working as an ensemble the Friends cast is better. Individually, the Mother cast are probably better actors, I suppose, but that's not the same thing. I also don't really find any of the Mother characters interesting, apart from Barney.

Writing-wise, they're just very different beasts so it's difficult to compare. Friends is more zippy one-liner oriented, Mother has those too but feels generally a bit more situational (Barney's role excepted). I prefer the Friends style of comedy, though could understand why someone might prefer the Mother style.

But yeah, overall, I never really got into HIMYM whereas still occasionally watch my Friends DVDs. In fact, I might just do that later tonight.

Spot's Meow · December 10 2012, 08:59 PM

RoJoHen wrote:

Hanukkah Solo wrote:

Vanyel wrote:

I also think there is a bit of the age of the cast that I can relate too. I'm approximately the same age as the characters and went through life a bit like they did. Finding my way and love with my friends.

That makes sense. I'm 29 now and was in my early/mid-teens when Friends was at its peak, so that could be one reason I relate to HIMYM more.

I think that's my situation, too. I was a teenager when Friends was on the air. It's series finale aired my freshman year of college. The characters in HIMYM are right around my age and are dealing with issues that I can relate to a lot better.

I guess I'm kind of an anomaly. I'm the same age as you RojoHen, I was starting my freshman year of college when Friends ended, but even though my current experiences match better with HIMYM, I don't find it as relateable for some reason. I guess, I just have a hard time seeing the characters as real people, it doesn't feel authentic. With the Friends cast I never for a minute got taken out of the story of their lives, it seemed like it really could have been happening.

RoJoHen · December 11 2012, 12:32 AM

Spot's Meow wrote:

RoJoHen wrote:

Hanukkah Solo wrote:

That makes sense. I'm 29 now and was in my early/mid-teens when Friends was at its peak, so that could be one reason I relate to HIMYM more.

I think that's my situation, too. I was a teenager when Friends was on the air. It's series finale aired my freshman year of college. The characters in HIMYM are right around my age and are dealing with issues that I can relate to a lot better.

I guess I'm kind of an anomaly. I'm the same age as you RojoHen, I was starting my freshman year of college when Friends ended, but even though my current experiences match better with HIMYM, I don't find it as relateable for some reason. I guess, I just have a hard time seeing the characters as real people, it doesn't feel authentic. With the Friends cast I never for a minute got taken out of the story of their lives, it seemed like it really could have been happening.

Well, part of HIMYM is that we're being told these stories by Old Ted. Things are bound to feel "off" or "unrealistic" from time to time. Every character is a bit over-the-top in one way or another, but I find many aspects of them far more similar to me and my friends than anybody ever was on Friends.

JarodRussell · December 11 2012, 11:03 PM

HIMYM characters are supposed to be caricatures with some believable elements to them, Friends characters are supposed to be believable people with some exaggerated features. But that's a trend in comedy, characters become more and more cartoonish, when they were more believable in the past.

Sheep · December 11 2012, 11:22 PM

BBC's Coupling over both of them.

Among Friends and HIMYM, both casts are good but HIMYM takes the overall writing award by a large margin IMO.

CorporalClegg · December 12 2012, 02:19 AM

Sheep wrote:

but HIMYM takes the overall writing award by a large margin IMO.

Before this season I probably would have agreed with you, but the show is just so effing awful now.

Sheep · December 12 2012, 02:46 AM

CorporalClegg wrote:

Sheep wrote:

but HIMYM takes the overall writing award by a large margin IMO.

Before this season I probably would have agreed with you, but the show is just so effing awful now.

I have to admit to being the better part of two seasons behind on HIMYM but I loved the first 6 seasons and I'm bummed to hear it's gone that far downhill. I guess it shouldn't be surprising since it's practically impossible to maintain any semblance of quality over that long a span for any show.

Skywalker · December 12 2012, 04:49 AM

I don't think HIMYM is awful now, but it's clearly running on fumes at this point. Better to end it this season before it becomes truly terrible.

View Poll Results: How I Met Your Mother vs Friends
How I Met Your Mother has a better cast	21	48.84%
Friends had a better cast	14	32.56%
Both cast were equally as good	9	20.93%
How I Met Your Mother has better comedic writing	28	65.12%
Friends has better comedic writing	14	32.56%
Both's comedic writing were equally as good	2	4.65%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 43. You may not vote on this poll

December 9 2012, 10:43 AM	#34
FPAlpha Rear Admiral Location: Mannheim, Germany	Re: How I Met Your Mother vs Friends I didn't say it doesn't matter just that it is a unique situation that was never repeated on any other show (that i know of). It speaks for the Friends cast and their integrity to have pulled this off (especially from those who were about to earn more than their co-stars). However just because they did that doesn't mean that the cast of Mother is not as close.. just using the Friends salary thing to say other shows don't get along as well is a bit disingenious. Segel is leaving because it's been 8 years, his character won't evolve much anymore and he's getting bored apparently.. i can understand that reasoning and certainly don't believe it's due to a bad atmosphere at the set. __________________ "A control freak like you with something you can't control? No no.. that's gonna be more fun than shark week!" Det. Javier Esposito

December 9 2012, 11:03 AM	#35
Guy Gardener Admiral Location: In the lap of squalor I assure you.	Re: How I Met Your Mother vs Friends I watched the new movie Written by, directed by, and starring Josh Radnor "Liberal Arts" and I am not completely sure what genre I had just watched. It was totally Zach Braff, just whining on about how nonplussing the universe is for no reason... The Olsen Twins YOUNGER sister was trying to seduce him and he was poorly trying to talk himself out of going along for the ride. She was legal, it just a question of not being pervy, and not being that guy. Unlike her sisters, this one seems to know how to eat. Mazel tov! __________________ "Glitter is the herpes of arts and craft." Troy Yingst. My Life as Liz

December 9 2012, 05:34 PM	#36
Mr Light Admiral Location: Pennsylvania	Re: How I Met Your Mother vs Friends How to eat? In which way are we supposed to interpret that? __________________

December 9 2012, 06:18 PM	#37
the G-man Commodore Location: to your immediate right	Re: How I Met Your Mother vs Friends not anorexic

STAR TREK

CSI

ABOUT US

December 9 2012, 09:53 PM	#38
Holdfast Procul, O procul este profani! Location: 17 Cherry Tree Lane	Re: How I Met Your Mother vs Friends The sheer warmth and, well, friendliness radiating from the Friends cast when they were on top of their form was quite something to behold. Off the top of my head, episodes like TOW All The Poker, TOW the Football, TOW the Videotape, and TOW Everyone Finds Out remain brilliant entertainment. There are many, many more. The show worked beautifully when it gave something for each Friend to do, while pulling them all round a central activity. So I think when working as an ensemble the Friends cast is better. Individually, the Mother cast are probably better actors, I suppose, but that's not the same thing. I also don't really find any of the Mother characters interesting, apart from Barney. Writing-wise, they're just very different beasts so it's difficult to compare. Friends is more zippy one-liner oriented, Mother has those too but feels generally a bit more situational (Barney's role excepted). I prefer the Friends style of comedy, though could understand why someone might prefer the Mother style. But yeah, overall, I never really got into HIMYM whereas still occasionally watch my Friends DVDs. In fact, I might just do that later tonight. __________________ Get into Medicine UK - free advice & information about medicine & medical school

December 11 2012, 11:03 PM	#41
JarodRussell Vice Admiral	Re: How I Met Your Mother vs Friends HIMYM characters are supposed to be caricatures with some believable elements to them, Friends characters are supposed to be believable people with some exaggerated features. But that's a trend in comedy, characters become more and more cartoonish, when they were more believable in the past. __________________ lol l /\

December 11 2012, 11:22 PM	#42
Sheep Vice Admiral Location: Chicago	Re: How I Met Your Mother vs Friends BBC's Coupling over both of them. Among Friends and HIMYM, both casts are good but HIMYM takes the overall writing award by a large margin IMO. __________________ Hating the anti-intellectual movement since before it was actually a movement.

December 12 2012, 04:49 AM	#45
Skywalker Admiral	Re: How I Met Your Mother vs Friends I don't think HIMYM is awful now, but it's clearly running on fumes at this point. Better to end it this season before it becomes truly terrible.