The FRIENDS Experience: The One Where We Got a Sneak Peek

For people who watched FRIENDS when it started airing in the '90s, the purple door, the orange sofa, and the word "Pivot" bring back 10 seasons of great television. Well, "great" may be an exaggeration, but the David Crane-Marta Kauffman creation paved the way to a long line of "hangout sitcoms" like How I Met Your Mother, The Big Bang Theory, New Girl, and Happy Endings. Of course, it's not hanging out if you don't have that apartment (or two) and/or a coffee shop where these adult friends just, well, hang out.

And with The FRIENDS Experience now in Manila, you yourself—a FRIENDS fan—can hang out with your own posse at the apartment behind the purple door. The self-guided walk-through experience brings visitors into the world of the FRIENDS TV show through replica sets, prop displays, and other interactive elements. A day ahead of its public opening on October 8, we got a sneak peek of the whole thing.

Time slots to 'The FRIENDS Experience: The One in Manila' are available at 15-minute intervals starting at 2 p.m.

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Here's what to see at The FRIENDS Experience: The One in Manila:

Before entering the purple door, visitors have to watch a short clip about The FRIENDS Experience: The One in Manila narrated by the very distinct voice of Janice Hosenstein (played by Maggie Wheeler). There's also a list of reminders, including the usual no-eating and no-drinking inside the venue, unless you want to hear Janice's high-pitched "Oh my God!"

The first room, obviously, has the iconic fountain, orange sofa, and a kitschy lamp, all seen in the opening credits of FRIENDS. You can line up and have your photo taken while sitting on the sofa or just playing around the set. Fun fact: The actual fountain used in the filming of the credit sequence is located in Burbank, California, in the back lot of Warner Bros. Studio.

In a 2019 article on Entertainment Weekly, FRIENDS set designer Greg Grande said that the sequence "wasn't a scripted thing. It was more impromptu. As [the actors] got later into the evening, they had more fun with the back and forth. They were just happy to hang out and have a few cocktails, probably. I don't want to say who started it, but one of them did, and they ended up inside the fountain. And that was some of the best footage. It was kind of an impromptu, wonderful moment."

However, in a 2021 interview on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Courteney Cox (who played Monica Geller) revealed that it wasn't exactly fun and games. When asked about whose it was to plunge into the fountain, the FRIENDS star said: "Well, it definitely wasn't mine. We were in that fountain for a long time. Somebody thought that would just be really fun, and let me tell you what happens—it's not fun to be dancing in a fountain for hours and hours." It was filmed at 4 a.m. after a long day of rehearsals.

Still, the opening title sequence, with The Remembrants' "I'll Be There For You," is one of the most iconic in American television.

After that are hallways with FRIENDS costumes, memorabilia, and other props displayed exhibition-style. There are life-sized mannequins representing the six characters (Rachel Green, Monica Geller, Phoebe Buffay, Joey Tribbiani, Chandler Bing, and Ross Geller), with their most memorable lines and distinguishable get-ups. There are manuscripts of previous episodes encased in glass boxes, behind-the-scenes artworks, sketches of the sets, all the hairstyles of Rachel (played by Jennifer Aniston) through the years (including the "Rachel"), and a whole spread of the 18-page letter that Rachel wrote for Ross (played by David Schwimmer).

The next interactive room is the staircase leading to Ross' apartment, where Schwimmer's character repeatedly shouted "Pivot!" The white couch is there, too, so you can take snapshots of yourselves trying to pivot. In a 2019 interview with Entertainment Weekly, FRIENDS co-creator David Crane did not expect that moment to be a catchphrase. They weren't even sure it would even work. Well, it did, and now there's a whole room dedicated to that scene.

Then, there's Chandler (played by Matthew Perry) and Joey's (Matt LeBlanc) apartment at 545 Grove Street, Greenwich Village, Manhattan. The replica set features the pair of reclining armchairs, reflecting the two men's very laid-back vibe; the yellow couch, where Rachel slapped Joey repeatedly; and the foosball table, with player figurines bearing names given by Chandler.

The reclining chairs actually work. Just pull a lever and lounge around like Chandler and Joey.

Play a game or two of foosball.

Stand behind this life-sized mannequin for a Joey-mocks-Chandler photo.

Across Chandler and Joey's apartment is Monica and Rachel's, cleverly separated as well by a hallway with doors bearing the unit numbers 19 and 20. It's also the location of the last-ever sequence of the whole show. At the women's apartment, the all-too-familiar kitchen is set up.

The FRIENDS Experience finishes at Central Park, a chef's kiss of an ending for the whole thing. It's probably the biggest set, complete with the keyboard and mic, a table for two on one side, the bar where Gunther makes drinks, other high tables and chairs, and the centerpiece: the couch where the whole group always hangs out with their big cups.

Ticket Information

Standard Tickets

• Adult - P1,000
• Child (4-10 years old) - P500
• Barkada (Admits five) - P5,000
• VIP Adult - P2,800
• Senior, PWD - P680

Peak Tickets

• Adult - P1,500
• Child (4-10 years old) - P500
• Barkada (Admits five) - P7,500
• VIP Adult - P3,500
• Senior, PWD - P816

Ultimate VIP Friends Bundle

• Standard - P4,000
• Peak - P4,500

VIP Tickets are inclusive of a general admission ticket, a tote bag, priority lane at arrival and three photo points, and a 10 percent discount on the second visit.

Ultimate VIP Friends Bundle includes open entry anytime, exclusive gift box (tote bag, lanyard, enamel pin bearing the words "The One with the VIP"), priority lane at arrival, three photo points, and a 10 percent discount on the second visit.

Ready your wallets for the FRIENDS merchandise at the end of the exhibit.

The FRIENDS Experience: The One in Manila runs from October 8 to November 30 at The Space at Solaire, Solaire Resort Entertainment City, in Paranaque. It is open from Wednesday to Thursday, from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m.; and from Friday to Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tickets are available through Ticketworld.