Part I: Can I interest you in a sarcastic comment?: the roots of a phenomenon. Insomnia café: a TV show is born ; Six of one: casting the show ; Grab a spoon: making the pilot ; How you doin'?: preparing for the premiere -- Part II: Must-see TV (seasons 1 through 3). Gum would be perfection: the first season debuts ; The biggest new show on TV: creating a sensation in season 1 ; Lobsters: the ballad of Ross and Rachel, part 1 ; Could I be wearing any more clothes?: Friends and style ; We were on a break: the ballad of Ross and Rachel, part 2 ; How many cameras are actually on you?: contract negotiations ; The fifth dentist: long days and longer nights inside the writers' room -- Part III: It is a big deal: the show hits its stride (seasons 4 through 7). Lightning round: a look at making an exemplary episode ; The one that didn't suck: producing the show ; It's not over until someone says I do: the ballad of Ross and Rachel, part 3 ; They don't know that we know they know we know: bringing Chandler and Monica together ; Pivot: the ballad of Ross and Rachel, part 4 ; Not actionable: Lyle v. Friends and the long tail of a lawsuit -- Part IV: Is that what a dinosaur would do?: seasons 8 through 10 (and beyond). You've been bamboozled!: raising the question of whether Friends could handle a third couple ; Never off the table: how Friends was belatedly invited to the Emmy party ; The door to the past: the ballad of Ross and Rachel, part 5 ; Billion-dollar sitcom: further contract negotiations, debating the issue of whether anyone could afford more seasons of Friends ; Lightning in a bottle: saying good-bye to the show ; Off the plane: the ballad of Ross and Rachel, part 6 ; I'll be there for you: life after Friends ; Tasting the trifle: Friends discovers a new audience.