Rosario Monachino
One of Matthew Perry’s Friends co-stars has revealed that there was a storyline which the actor refused to let happen.
Perry played Chandler Bing in the hugely popular comedy TV sitcom, appearing in all 236 episodes across 10 seasons.
The actor was cast in the iconic role at 24 years old – making him the youngest cast member – and he made viewers laugh with his witty and sarcastic humour.
A running gag throughout the early seasons was Chandler’s hopeless love life, but this changed when he started dating – and eventually marrying – Monica (Courteney Cox), with fans adoring their relationship.
In the wake of Perry’s tragic death, viewers have been rewatching Friends and sharing their favourite moments of his from the sitcom.
But things could have been drastically different if this one reported storyline went ahead.
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In the two-part season five finale, the group heads out to Las Vegas to visit Joey – which is where Chandler and Monica have a heated argument after it’s revealed that she had lunch with her ex-boyfriend Richard.
While the pair make up and almost end up getting married, the original storyline would’ve seen Chandler cheat on his future wife.
Lisa Cash appeared in the episode as a flight attendant, but initially, her role was as a hotel worker who would have an affair with Perry’s character.
Speaking to TMZ, the actress reveals: “Initially in our script, Chandler goes up to the hotel room, orders room service and I bring it up [to him] as a hotel worker.
“We end up talking and laughing and connecting and Chandler ends up cheating on Monica with my character.”
Despite rehearsing the scene, Cash found out that Perry had gone to the writers and demanded that the plot thread should be removed.
The actress continues: “The day before we were shooting in front of a live audience, I was told that Perry went to the writers and said the audience would never forgive [Chandler] for cheating on Monica.
“He was probably right! That would’ve changed possibly the course of the show and his character.”
Despite her role getting drastically altered, Cash did share that Perry was ‘welcoming’ and made her feel comfortable with the scene.
This comes after John Stamos, who played Monica and Chandler’s potential sperm donor Zach in season nine, paid tribute to Perry by remembering the advice he offered him behind the scenes.
In an Instagram post, he said: “Standing backstage, ready to make my entrance, Matt whispers, ‘The audience is going go crazy when they see you! Get ready for some loud screams’. I walk through the door… silence. I was so embarrassed.
“We finish the scene and as I start to slither back to my dressing room and quit showbiz, Matt walks over to the studio audience: ‘Ladies and gentlemen, give it up for John Stamos! You guys probably didn’t recognise him at first because [he’s] so much better looking in person!’.
“I never forgot that and the world will never forget you.”
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Perry was laid to rest on November 3 at an intimate ceremony at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Los Angeles, near Warner Bros. Studios, as reported by Harper’s Bazaar.
Courteney Cox, David Schwimmer, Jennifer Aniston, Lisa Kudrow and Matt LeBlanc were all in attendance.
The cast released a joint statement in tribute to their co-star, which reads: “We are all so utterly devastated by the loss of Matthew. We were more than just cast mates. We are a family.
“There is so much to say, but right now we’re going to take a moment to grieve and process this unfathomable loss.”
In light of the actor’s passing, the Matthew Perry Foundation has been founded which will help those struggling with addiction – a personal battle which Perry was open about throughout his career.
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