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Neosporin Ophthalmic Ointment Side Effects
Generic Name: bacitracin / neomycin / polymyxin b ophthalmic
Note: This page contains side effects data for the generic drug bacitracin / neomycin / polymyxin b ophthalmic. It is possible that some of the dosage forms included below may not apply to the brand name Neosporin Ophthalmic Ointment.
For the Consumer
Applies to bacitracin / neomycin / polymyxin b ophthalmic: ophthalmic ointment
As well as its needed effects, bacitracin / neomycin / polymyxin b ophthalmic may cause unwanted side effects that require medical attention.
Major Side Effects
If any of the following side effects occur while taking bacitracin / neomycin / polymyxin b ophthalmic, check with your doctor immediately:More common:
- Itching, rash, redness, swelling, or other sign of irritation not present before use of this medicine
After application, eye ointments usually cause your vision to blur for a few minutes.
For Healthcare Professionals
Applies to bacitracin / neomycin / polymyxin b ophthalmic: ophthalmic ointment
Hypersensitivity reactions including itching, swelling and conjunctival erythema have been reported. Anaphylaxis and other more serious hypersensitivity reactions have been reported rarely.[Ref]
Local side effects have included irritation upon administration.[Ref]
1. "Product Information. Neosporin Ophthalmic Ointment Sterile (bacitracin/neomycin/polymyxin B ophthalmic)." Monarch Pharmaceuticals Inc, Bristol, TN.
It is possible that some side effects of Neosporin Ophthalmic Ointment may not have been reported. These can be reported to the FDA here. Always consult a healthcare professional for medical advice.
More about Neosporin Ophthalmic Ointment (bacitracin / neomycin / polymyxin b ophthalmic)
- Side Effects
- During Pregnancy
- Dosage Information
- 0 Reviews – Add your own review/rating
- Drug class: ophthalmic anti-infectives
Consumer resources
Other brands: Neo-Polycin, Ocu-Spore-B
Professional resources
Other Formulations
Related treatment guides
Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided is accurate, up-to-date and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. In addition, the drug information contained herein may be time sensitive and should not be utilized as a reference resource beyond the date hereof. This material does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients, or recommend therapy. This information is a reference resource designed as supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill , knowledge, and judgement of healthcare practitioners in patient care. The absence of a warning for a given drug or combination thereof in no way should be construed to indicate safety, effectiveness, or appropriateness for any given patient. Drugs.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of materials provided. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the substances you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist.


text: City Council OKs settlement with woman in SWAT raid altercation By Travis Crum November 5, 2012 Story Share CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Charleston City Council members approved a settlement Monday night for a woman who claimed in a lawsuit that a Charleston Police SWAT officer kicked her repeatedly and fractured several of her ribs during a 2010 raid.The settlement sets aside $48,000 for Ludie Perdue in her lawsuit against the city. Members approved the settlement during council's regular meeting.Perdue's lawsuit alleges that in October 2010 a SWAT officer, who is identified in court documents only by the last name "Kapeluck," was part of a 10-man search warrant raid at the Charleston home of Perdue and her sons, Joshua and Joseph, on 1031 Aspen Road.Search warrants had been issued for Joshua and Joseph Perdue on charges of entering without breaking and also on receiving and transferring stolen goods. Ludie Perdue also had a warrant for receiving or transferring stolen goods, but according to a SWAT deployment report, the team's primary targets were Joshua and Joseph Perdue.At about 10:30 a.m., the team broke into the home by using a tool to disable the door's lock cylinder, and then set off a flash-bang grenade near the point where the team entered the home.When the officers swept the second floor, Kapeluck saw a woman dive behind some furniture, the report states.The report says that "the female did not resist but would not comply with commands to place her hands behind her back," and that "her hands had to be physically moved to a position suitable for handcuffing by ... Kapeluck." According to the lawsuit, while the woman, identified as Ludie Perdue, was on the floor, the officers kicked her repeatedly and fractured several of her ribs. She was not arrested or charged during the raid.The lawsuit alleges that the officers did not announce their presence before breaking down Perdue's door.The settlement authorizes Mayor Danny Jones to "execute any documents necessary to consummate the full settlement and dismissal of the pending civil actions in exchange for a full release by the Plaintiff of all claims" stemming from the October 2010 incident.Also during the meeting, council member Jack Harrison introduced a bill to transfer the pending sale of Suddenlink Communications to the buyer, Nespresso Acquisition Corp.Charleston City Council unanimously approved a five-year cable television franchise deal with Suddenlink on Nov. 21, 2011. The company was purchased in July for $6.6 billion.The bill was moved to the council committee on cable television for approval.Reach Travis Crum at email@example.com or 304-348-5163. Story Share Story Share Trending Now 1 Philanthropist Betty Schoenbaum of Shoney's fortune turns 100 2 Derek Redd: Marshall thinks outside the cable box for broadcasts 3 Former State Police captain now chief in Winfield 4 New leaders begin to emerge for Marshall football 5 Rod Run and Doo Wop brings classic cars, music to Boulevard for 12th year Dunbar honors police officer who died of cancer Previous Story Winfield Middle students could move into new wing after Christmas, Putnam superintendent says Next Story

subset: commoncrawl


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LEBANON JUNCTION - Darrell Coleman has been in the classroom.
He spent 18 years teaching students at Riverview High School before retiring.
He has the perspective of what teachers are experiencing in the classroom.
And it is from that viewpoint that Coleman hopes to bring to the Bullitt County Public School Board.
Coleman is running for the District 5 seat. He challenges incumbent Sammy Allen for the four-year term.
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Somebody pretending to be former New York Yankee outfielder Shane Spencer duped an Albany, N.Y. radio station with tales of steroid use on the great Bronx Bombers teams of the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Among other things, the fake Spencer told ESPN Radio 104.5 he had dabbled with performance-enhancing drugs and that "it would be extremely naive" to believe Yankee legends Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera had never used PEDs.
When Jeter heard a podcast of the interview Tuesday, he asked team officials to contact Spencer, now hitting coach for the independent Somerset Patriots.
The real Spencer, who played on the Yankees from 1998 to 2004, was stunned by what he heard.
"I listened to (the interview) for about a minute and I about threw up,'' Spencer told ESPNNewYork.com. "I just want it out there that it wasn't me.
"It's embarrassing,'' he added. "It's almost like I want to drive to Yankee Stadium and apologize.''
The radio station had a podcast of the interview with host Mike Lindsley up on its website until about 6 p.m. Tuesday, when officials became aware of the hoax.
"Unfortunately, after the interview was aired, we learned that the interview was with an imposter," the station said in a statement "During the interview, the Spencer imposter said that he used performance enhancing drugs and accused other players of doing the same while pretending to be Spencer...We, along with Shane, share the opinion that such criminal actions are not funny, have no sense of purpose, are bad for the individuals involved, and are bad for baseball as well as radio in general."
Spencer had exchanged emails with Lindsley about an interview but nothing had been finalized. But someone identifying himself as Spencer called the station at 1:30 p.m. ET Monday.
The station says it is trying to get to the bottom of what happened.


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2017 Reference Guide: Page 329


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Jabari Parker is listed as the No. 2 player in the 2013 recruiting class, and that might be true. It's hard to say. No one has seen him play a basketball game in full health for nearly a year.
What is certain is that whether he's No. 1, 2, 3 or even 10 — he's way better than 10, but just trying to work in a margin for error — the Duke Blue Devils are getting an extraordinary prospect.
The 6-8 small forward picked Duke over Michigan State, BYU, Florida and Stanford on Thursday afternoon.
Although Duke has turned out national players of year such as Jason Williams, Shane Battier, Elton Brand and Christian Laettner, it would appear Parker, a senior at Simeon Career Academy in Chicago, is the most esteemed prospect coach Mike Krzyzewski has landed in more than 30 years on the Duke bench.
As Parker waited to make his announcement, it was obvious he was a bit uncomfortable with the attention and nervous about making his decision public but he handled himself impressively.
"It has been kind of a tough decision," Parker said during an ESPNU broadcast. "All of the schools that I was interested in, you can't go wrong at any of them."
He thanked the people at Simeon, particularly his coaches. He pulled out blue T-shirt that rather gave away his decision, even though it took him a moment longer than imagined to unfold it and lift it before the camera.
"What brought me to the decision is, of course, the history," Parker told reporters. "Duke was always going to be a team in the tournament. You can't go wrong at the program. And most important, the long-term investment -- I feel if I go there I can get a good degree.
"I can also stay close to home, where it's easily accessible for my parents, for my family. It's not too far away. And it's just Coach K — that's one of the best coaches ever, and I wanted to be able to experience the things that he has."
Parker said tips from Krzyzewski during the recruiting process helped in his development as a basketball player.
In choosing Duke over Michigan State, Parker went with the school that will provide a slightly less developed lineup around him.
The Blue Devils lose both their starting frontcourt players, Mason Plumlee and Ryan Kelly, after this season as well as shooting guard Seth Curry. Of course, Parker figures to replace Curry in the lineup with impressive freshman Rasheed Sulaimon sliding over to Curry's position and Parker giving the Blue Devils a legitimate small forward. Transfer Rodney Hood from Mississippi State will enable the Blue Devils to have a versatile forward combination similar to when Grant Hill and Tony Lang shared the frontcourt in the 1994 Final Four season.
"It was real difficult," Parker said. "(MSU coach Tom Izzo) has been recruiting me ever since I was a freshman in high school, and he's been to most of my games. But a lot of things went into it like, 'How will I be used on the floor?' (Spartans forward) Branden Dawson and I play the same position, and it would be kind of a controversy if me and him were on the same floor and we run into each other. I just wanted to go a school that was fitting for me."
Look at Duke's history, however. When the Blue Devils have been able to put a gifted true small forward on the floor — such players are rare — they've often been in the championship neighborhood. Hill won championships at that position in 1991 and 1992. Mike Dunleavy won in 2001. Kyle Singler did it in 2010. Like Luol Deng in 2003-04 and Singler for parts of his career, Parker also could slide over to power forward if necessary.
At one point, Parker was listed as the No. 1 prospect in 2013 and was acclaimed by Sports Illustrated as the best high school player since LeBron James. But that was before Canada's Andrew Wiggins chose to graduate a year earlier than expected and also before Parker missed months of summer basketball and offseason training with a foot injury.
Parker played through the injury for USA Basketball in the Under-17 World Championships. He had to miss three games because of his broken foot but did return in the championship game against Australia, turning a tight game into a blowout with an impressive 12-point effort in only 14 minutes on the court.
Although Parker was obviously injured, there was some public pressure for him to appear at the Peach Jam tournament in South Carolina in mid-July and challenge Wiggins for the honor of being considered the top prep player, but Parker wisely passed. Even as the high school season started at Simeon, he was not yet in playing shape. In a televised game two weeks ago, he appeared a tad overweight and was not dynamic and it's unlikely he'll play again until late December.
His career at Simeon has been one of the most impressive in recent high school history. He became the first freshman to start in the high school's history. He was named first-team all-state as a sophomore. His teams have won three consecutive state championships and are favored to make it four in a row.
"And not only does Parker have elite talent, he has championship intangibles," ESPN recruiting analyst Dave Telep told the Detroit Free Press. "That's the key."


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Fashion Resume: Emma Stone
I'm one of those women who loves any excuse to get dressed up. Is it any wonder this is my favorite time of the year? No LBDs for me, thank you very much. I'm taking my cues from the runways, which dazzled with all manner of embellishments this season: brocade, beads, sequins, crystals, you name it. If you're worried that dramatic ornamentation will add bulk to your frame, opt for metallic accents, which always look luxe and fabulously festive. Or amp up your cocktail party basics with bejeweled pumps and accessories. When in doubt, remember: All that glitters is gold! Be sure to follow me on Twitter (@MCBigGirl) for more amazing holiday picks!
DRESS (up to size 28), $195, Clements Ribeiro Swan for Evans; evansusa.com.
Cold-Weather Dressing Tips from Some Stylish Celebrities


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Forgot to mention dude, deadline is next Wednesday please.
Happy birthday!!
Happy birthday.
Happy Birthday
Happy birthday man! have a good one!
Happy birthday from the future man!
Hey I'm sending this message out to everyone who I gave promo assignments to, as it came to my attention that some the PMs might not have gotten to people. Not sure if it is because of the change in the server, or what, but I'm just double checking you got the promo assignment that is due for Wed. Please let me know either way
Hey just checking on if you are going to have that interview done by today bro!
Hey man, if you could forward me your part (I know you've done it), can you do it ASAP please?
Thanks for the promo spanky
Black Ninja!
Senior Member
© 2011 eWrestlingNews, All Rights Reserved.


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The Arts
Our 21st year- CUI ringers and their guests!
Concordia's handbell ensembles- The Concert Handbells, Spirit Bells, Chapel Bells, and Carillon Ringers- perform fine, richly-varied repetoire with some of the best ensembles from Southern California's universities, churches, and high schools. Each ensemble rings its own music and the concert culminates in a mass ring of all the ensembles.
Guests include: Concordia Alumni Hanbell Ensemble, Glendale High School, Point Loma Nazarene University, Santa Margarita Catholic High School
$10 General Admission / $5 Children and Seniors


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Clopidogrel for High Atherothrombotic Risk and Ischemic Stabilization, Management and Avoidance (CHARISMA)
This study has been completed.
Information provided by:
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
First received: December 20, 2002
Last updated: April 20, 2012
Last verified: April 2012
- Full Text View
- Tabular View
- No Study Results Posted
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
Detailed Description:
- Atherothrombosis is a progressive and generalized vascular disease resulting in events leading to myocardial infarction (heart attack), stroke, and vascular death.
- In patients at risk for this disease, it is characterized by an unpredictable, sudden disruption of atherosclerotic plaques, which may lead to total occlusion of artery due to formation of a clot. The use of aspirin (blood thinner agent) for reducing those major ischemic events is either indicated, or recommended by international guidelines. However, aspirin fails to prevent a high percentage of such life-threatening events. Therefore, more effective blood thinning therapy may provide additional clinical benefit to such patients.
- The results of the CURE trial in patients with unstable angina demonstrate the additional benefit of long-term treatment (up to one year) with clopidogrel, (a blood thinner agent), when administered in combination with standard therapy including aspirin. The purpose of CHARISMA is to investigate whether a similar clinical benefit of clopidogrel may apply to a broad population of high-risk patients receiving low-dose aspirin therapy. Such population includes patients with previous cardiovascular, neurovascular or peripheral arterial manifestations of atherothrombosis and patients with combinations of recognized risk factors for atherosclerosis.
- To assess the efficacy of clopidogrel 75 mg once-daily by comparison with a placebo, in preventing cardiovascular morbidity/mortality. The study will compare the efficacy of the two regimens in preventing the occurrence of major cardiovascular complications (stroke, heart attack, cardiovascular death) in high-risk patients who are otherwise receiving low-dose aspirin therapy (75-162 mg daily).
- To evaluate the safety of clopidogrel in this population, and more specifically the incidence of fatal or severe bleeding (as per GUSTO definition), in order to estimate the global benefit of clopidogrel in this patient population.
|Drug: clopidogrel (SR25990)
|Phase 3
|Study Type:
|Study Design:
|Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Double (Participant, Investigator)
Primary Purpose: Treatment
|Official Title:
|A Phase III, Multicenter, Multinational, Randomized, Parallel Group, Double-blind Trial of Clopidogrel Versus Placebo in High-risk Patients Aged 45 Years and Older, at Risk of Atherothrombotic Events, and Who Are Receiving Background Therapy Including Low-dose ASA.
Resource links provided by NLM:
Drug Information available for: Clopidogrel bisulfateU.S. FDA Resources
Further study details as provided by Sanofi:
Primary Outcome Measures:
- Occurrence of myocardial infarction,stroke or cardiovascular death.
Secondary Outcome Measures:
- severe bleeding
|Study Start Date:
|October 2002
|Study Completion Date:
|August 2005
- Clopidogrel (Plavix® and/or Iscover®) is an agent inhibiting platelet aggregation involved in clot formation. Each tablet contains 75mg of clopidogrel. A matching placebo of clopidogrel is an inactive substance that looks similar to the active clopidogrel tablet.
- There will be two treatment groups; one will receive clopidogrel 75 mg (1 tablet qd), the second matching placebo of clopidogrel (1 tablet qd). These study drugs will be administered on top of low-dose aspirin (75-162 mg qd) systematically prescribed to such patients. In addition, patients enrolled in CHARISMA will be managed as appropriate for their risk factors for atherosclerosis: eg. high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes…etc.
- Combined endpoint of cardiovascular mortality, stroke, acute myocardial infarction.
- Some 7,600 patients per group will be recruited within two years. Patients will be observed over a maximum of 3.5 years.
- Approximately 900 sites throughout North/South America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and South Africa.
|Ages Eligible for Study:
|45 Years and older (Adult, Senior)
|Sexes Eligible for Study:
|Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
Be at least 45 years old and comply with at least one of the four categories of inclusion criteria:
- Combination of atherothrombotic risk factors (2 major or 3 minor or 1 major + 2 minor risk factors among those listed below)
Major atherothrombotic risk factors
- Type I or II diabetes (under drug therapy)
- Diabetic nephropathy
- Ankle brachial index (ABI) < 0.9
- Asymptomatic carotid stenosis >= 70%
- At least one carotid plaque as evidenced by intima-media thickness (IMT)
Minor atherothrombotic risk factors
- Systolic blood pressure (SBP) >= 150 mmHg, despite appropriate therapy for at least 3 months
- Primary hypercholesterolemia
- Current smoking > 15 cigarettes per day
- Male >= 65 years
- Female >= 70 years
- Documented cerebrovascular disease (TIA or IS within 5 years) and/or
- Documented coronary artery disease (stable angina with documented multivessel coronary disease, previous documented MI, multivessel PCI or CABG within 1 year, multivessel CABG older than 1 year associated with current angina) and/or
- Documented symptomatic PAD
- Absolute indication for the use of clopidogrel, high-dose aspirin (>162 mg), NSAIDs, or oral anti-thrombotic drugs
- Absolute contraindication to the use of clopidogrel or aspirin
- Clinical conditions likely to interfere with follow-up leading to inability to complete the trial
Contacts and Locations
Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study. To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below. For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00050817
Show 32 Study Locations
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00050817
Show 32 Study Locations
Sponsors and Collaborators
|Study Director:
More Information
Publications automatically indexed to this study by ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier (NCT Number):
Keywords provided by Sanofi:
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on September 21, 2017
Bhatt DL, Fox KA, Hacke W, Berger PB, Black HR, Boden WE, Cacoub P, Cohen EA, Creager MA, Easton JD, Flather MD, Haffner SM, Hamm CW, Hankey GJ, Johnston SC, Mak KH, Mas JL, Montalescot G, Pearson TA, Steg PG, Steinhubl SR, Weber MA, Brennan DM, Fabry-Ribaudo L, Booth J, Topol EJ; CHARISMA Investigators. Clopidogrel and aspirin versus aspirin alone for the prevention of atherothrombotic events. N Engl J Med. 2006 Apr 20;354(16):1706-17. Epub 2006 Mar 12.
Bhatt DL, Paré G, Eikelboom JW, Simonsen KL, Emison ES, Fox KA, Steg PG, Montalescot G, Bhakta N, Hacke W, Flather MD, Mak KH, Cacoub P, Creager MA, Berger PB, Steinhubl SR, Murugesan G, Mehta SR, Kottke-Marchant K, Lincoff AM, Topol EJ; CHARISMA Investigators. The relationship between CYP2C19 polymorphisms and ischaemic and bleeding outcomes in stable outpatients: the CHARISMA genetics study. Eur Heart J. 2012 Sep;33(17):2143-50. Epub 2012 Mar 26.
Publications automatically indexed to this study by ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier (NCT Number):
Bangalore S, Bhatt DL, Steg PG, Weber MA, Boden WE, Hamm CW, Montalescot G, Hsu A, Fox KA, Lincoff AM. β-blockers and cardiovascular events in patients with and without myocardial infarction: post hoc analysis from the CHARISMA trial. Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes. 2014 Nov;7(6):872-81. doi: 10.1161/CIRCOUTCOMES.114.001073. Epub 2014 Sep 30.
Berger PB, Bhatt DL, Fuster V, Steg PG, Fox KA, Shao M, Brennan DM, Hacke W, Montalescot G, Steinhubl SR, Topol EJ; CHARISMA Investigators. Bleeding complications with dual antiplatelet therapy among patients with stable vascular disease or risk factors for vascular disease: results from the Clopidogrel for High Atherothrombotic Risk and Ischemic Stabilization, Management, and Avoidance (CHARISMA) trial. Circulation. 2010 Jun 15;121(23):2575-83. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.109.895342. Epub 2010 Jun 1.
Steinhubl SR, Bhatt DL, Brennan DM, Montalescot G, Hankey GJ, Eikelboom JW, Berger PB, Topol EJ; CHARISMA Investigators. Aspirin to prevent cardiovascular disease: the association of aspirin dose and clopidogrel with thrombosis and bleeding. Ann Intern Med. 2009 Mar 17;150(6):379-86.
Mak KH, Bhatt DL, Shao M, Haffner SM, Hamm CW, Hankey GJ, Johnston SC, Montalescot G, Steg PG, Steinhubl SR, Fox KA, Topol EJ. The influence of body mass index on mortality and bleeding among patients with or at high-risk of atherothrombotic disease. Eur Heart J. 2009 Apr;30(7):857-65. doi: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehp037. Epub 2009 Feb 20.
Eikelboom JW, Hankey GJ, Thom J, Bhatt DL, Steg PG, Montalescot G, Johnston SC, Steinhubl SR, Mak KH, Easton JD, Hamm C, Hu T, Fox KA, Topol EJ; Clopidogrel for High Atherothrombotic Risk and Ischemic Stabilization, Management and Avoidance (CHARISMA) Investigators. Incomplete inhibition of thromboxane biosynthesis by acetylsalicylic acid: determinants and effect on cardiovascular risk. Circulation. 2008 Oct 21;118(17):1705-12. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.108.768283. Epub 2008 Oct 6.
Bhatt DL, Flather MD, Hacke W, Berger PB, Black HR, Boden WE, Cacoub P, Cohen EA, Creager MA, Easton JD, Hamm CW, Hankey GJ, Johnston SC, Mak KH, Mas JL, Montalescot G, Pearson TA, Steg PG, Steinhubl SR, Weber MA, Fabry-Ribaudo L, Hu T, Topol EJ, Fox KA; CHARISMA Investigators. Patients with prior myocardial infarction, stroke, or symptomatic peripheral arterial disease in the CHARISMA trial. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2007 May 15;49(19):1982-8. Epub 2007 Apr 11.
|Responsible Party:
|ICD Study Director, sanofi-aventis
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
|NCT00050817 History of Changes
|Other Study ID Numbers:
|Study First Received:
|December 20, 2002
|Last Updated:
|April 20, 2012
Keywords provided by Sanofi:
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Arterial Occlusive Diseases
Vascular Diseases
Cardiovascular Diseases
Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors
Purinergic P2Y Receptor Antagonists
Purinergic P2 Receptor Antagonists
Purinergic Antagonists
Purinergic Agents
Neurotransmitter Agents
Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action
Physiological Effects of Drugs
Fibrinolytic Agents
Fibrin Modulating Agents
Cytochrome P-450 CYP2C19 Inhibitors
Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme Inhibitors
Enzyme Inhibitors
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on September 21, 2017


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In Paul George's press conference he mentioned that Rodney Stuckey was working on his 3 point shot. Stuckey has a career 3 point shooting percentage of 28.6 with a single season high of 31.7.
Here are my questions. How much can one player improve in one off season? Since he is 28 years old, has he all ready pretty much reached his potential?


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Serra boys basketball coach Chuck Rapp was frustrated to learn that the Sacramento school that ended the Padres' season last year received heavy penalties this week for recruiting violations.
Sheldon beat Serra in the opening round of the Northern California Open Division playoffs.
"It was frustrating to end our season playing an all-star team from Sacramento," Rapp said. "Prep basketball has changed with the whole AAU thing, guys moving around, changing schools.
"It was a sad way to end our season and looking at all these violations it becomes a little more depressing and hard to take."
The Sheldon basketball program was hit by sanctions Monday after being found to have committed multiple California Interscholastic Federation bylaw violations for "several instances of undue influence in trying to persuade current high school players to transfer to Sheldon as well as incoming middle school basketball players to enroll at Sheldon."
Five current Sheldon players were declared ineligible, the program is prohibited from taking part in the 2014 postseason and the team's schedule was reduced from 27 to 24 games the next two seasons.
The team also will be allowed to take part in no more than one tournament in each of the next two seasons.
Sheldon lost to Archbishop Mitty in last year's Open Division final.
It was as if practice had broken out. Except it was not practice. There was still a second half to play.
Turns out, coach Patrick Galos had made a deal with his players. If they allowed one more offensive rebound, they would have to run at the break. "They did not box out and gave up an offensive rebound," Galos said.
Wilcox won 76-54.


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A late December report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture has added another perspective on the current drama surrounding the Salt Lake City-based United Potato Growers of America.
On Dec. 30, the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service released its Agricultural Prices report, which reported that the December price of potatoes, while up from November, was more than a dollar lower per cwt. than a year ago at the same time.
It wasn't the Christmas present or New Year's greeting spud grower-shippers were expecting, and it's just the latest in a series of headaches they're seeking a cure for.
The organization's whole reason for being is to rein in acreage to buoy markets, but on Nov. 30, a USDA report revealed that U.S. fall production rose 5% from 2010.
Not surprisingly, a mid-December USDA report found that about 250 million cwt. of potatoes had yet to be shipped from the top 13 producing states on Dec. 1, 4% more than the year before.
Minus a big, unexpected surge in demand, it was therefore no surprise to learn that spuds averaged $8.86 per cwt. in December, down from $9.94 in December 2010.
All potential causes for concern, even if connecting the dots between acreage, supply and price is easier said than done.
Also in December, those USDA numbers quickly were swallowed up by the two larger dramas facing United Potato: the sudden departure of its leader and a judge's ruling that could threaten the very foundation of the organization.
In the first week of December, Jerry Wright, United Potato's first chief executive officer, returned to the top job, succeeding Lee Frankel.
The circumstances of Frankel's departure remain murky. Dave Warsh, United Potato's board chairman, praised Frankel but said "I don't know to characterize" the terms of his departure.
A nondisclosure agreement prevents Frankel from commenting.
Meanwhile, on the very day Wright took the reins from Frankel, a judge in Idaho dealt a potentially serious blow to United Potato's very existence.
In a midtrial ruling in a case involving United Potato and several of its member companies, U.S. District Court judge Lynn Winmill ruled that the Capper-Volstead Act does not protect United Potato Growers of America from charges it illegally reduced the supply of potatoes in order to raise prices.
United Potato has argued that its practice of limiting U.S. potato acreage in order to strengthen markets is protected under the Capper-Volstead Act, which provides agricultural cooperatives limited exemption from federal antitrust laws.
Wright and Randon Wilson, a Salt Lake City-based attorney who has helped found several agricultural co-ops, including United Potato, and who provides outside counsel to the co-op, were quick to point out that Winmill's opinion did not settle the case, but only came in response to United Potato's motion to dismiss.
They were confident the judge's mind would be changed on the issue before trial's end.
That remains to be seen. What isn't in doubt is that United Potato, which got off to such a great start after its creation in 2005, faces a much less certain future.
What's your take? Leave a comment and tell us your opinion.


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Smoking in the Boardroom
Many corporate executives still enjoy a great cigar.
(continued from page 3)
"I started smoking cigars in Vietnam in 1968. I found that I could get very good Philippine cigars in the PX. They helped make the long treks in the underbrush bearable," he says. "They kept the bugs away." As a first lieutenant in the Army's 1st Infantry Division, Linen was a forward observer for an artillery batallion, calling in coordinates to the big guns in the rear. Enjoying good cigars helped ease a bad experience. "They tasted good to me out in the middle of nowhere," he says.
Linen dropped the cigars when he returned home but resumed smoking when he joined the American Express Co. in 1970. As Linen recalls, cigar smokers were far more numerous and welcome in corporate America at that time. "In the old days, you could smoke anywhere, at any meeting and anytime," he says. It was common to see people walking through the halls with an unlit cigar in their mouth, getting ready to smoke in an office or a conference room. Both cigar and cigarette smokers were abundant. "There was no distinction," he says. "The previous chairman, Howard L. Clark Sr., set the example."
Cigars and CEOs go together like wine and cheese, hardware and software or aces and kings. The image of the executive cigar smoker is a classic one. When cartoonists want to depict a character as the boss they give him a cigar. Film directors do the same: No movie about a big-shot executive would be complete without a cigar propped in the man's mouth. Te-Amo even makes an 8 1/2-inch-long cigar called the CEO.
In the 1987 movie Wall Street, Charlie Sheen plays an ambitious young stockbroker who uses a birthday box of Cuban cigars to gain an audience with corporate raider Gordon Gekko, played by Michael Douglas. The cigars impress the man who says "greed is good," and he introduces the youngster to the big time.
Although cigars are not as common in the executive suite today as they were 30 years ago, there are many corner offices where the fragrant aroma of a burning corona still can be detected. Today, cigar smokers sit in the upper offices of many of the world's largest and most well-known companies.
IBM chairman and CEO Louis V. Gerstner Jr. is a cigar smoker. So are NBC President and CEO Bob Wright, New York Daily News Chairman and Co-Publisher Mort Zuckerman, Bernd Pischetsrieder, chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG (who prefers Davidoff Dom Perignons and Romeo y Julieta Belicosos), and Chairman Richard B. (Dick) Fisher of Morgan Stanley & Co., Inc. Even President Clinton, America's CEO, has been known to light up on occasion.
In the early 1980s, a friend sent Phil Guarascio a box of Nat Sherman cigars packaged in a fine humidor. "It's been a love affair [ever] since then," says the General Motors vice president and general manager of marketing and advertising for North America. He calls himself "an eclectic cigar smoker;" he smokes Cuban cigars, Davidoffs and Avos, preferring thicker cigars. Guarascio has a special cigar for celebrations: Cuban-made Davidoff Dom Perignons, which he bought for about $60 apiece. He has one left.
While Guarascio will keep that one for himself, he is very generous with his other cigars. Walking through New York's La Guardia Airport one day, he saw a very frustrated cigar smoker haggling with a clerk at a shop. The store had no cigars, and the man was distraught. Guarascio overheard the man complain about how he had been traveling eight hours, had been subjected to two canceled flights and was now on his way to a business meeting with no cigars. Guarascio handed him two, including a Cohiba robusto. Although he enjoys giving them away, he likes smoking them even more. "My son once said to me, 'Dad, I've never seen anybody enjoy anything more than you enjoying a cigar on the golf course or in your study.' "
And enjoying cigars, of course, is what smoking is all about. Citicorp Vice-Chairman Christopher J. Steffen says cigars are cerebral enhancers. "There's nothing quite like playing golf and having a cigar, or having a cigar and playing bridge or just sitting on the beach and watching a sunset," he says, reflecting in his spacious Park Avenue office early one morning. "This is an accent on life."
He smoked cigarettes as a teenager, and began buying cheap cigars as cigarette supplements. He eventually dropped the cigarettes and took up cigars seriously when he became vice president and controller of Chrysler Corp. He smoked cigars with Robert A. Lutz, Chrysler's president and COO. "Bob gave me my first Cohiba," he recalls.
Steffen now smokes cigars regularly. Rather than stick to a favorite brand, Steffen delights in experimenting with new cigars. Every morning he selects a handful of smokes from his personal humidor or from his wine cellar, and brings his daily selections to work in a leather carrying case. He typically begins his smoking day with a mild choice, such as a Davidoff 4000 or 5000, and works upward. "As the day goes on, I like the cigar to get stronger," he says.
Gene Pressman, Co-chairman and Co-COO of Barneys New York, began smoking cigars 15 years ago. "Like anything else, you find your niche in what you like and you go with it. Unfortunately, the kind of cigar I ended up liking was a Cuban Davidoff 1000," he says. "It was strong, but it was small." Pressman smoked those cigars for about 10 years, buying them in Hong Kong and London, until they became scarce. Three years ago, he flew to Geneva and visited Davidoff's main store to search for more of his beloved smokes.
"I found they had about 15 boxes left of the 1000s. I took 'em all," he says. He paid $5 per cigar, a bargain considering the price that those irreplaceable boxes would bring today. "I have one left that I'll never smoke; [I keep it] as a memento at the bottom of one of my humidors," Pressman says. That prized cigar sits in the bottom tray of his three-tiered home humidor, joined by a handful of pre-Castro Cuban cigars, including a few Partagas rolled in 1957, along with some old Montecristos.
Pressman likes corona-sized cigars, but on rare occasions he'll try a larger cigar, such as a double corona. And he likes to smoke on a full stomach. He is confounded when friends light up a big cigar at 6:30 a.m. on the first tee. While Pressman occasionally smokes at work, he keeps his office humidor empty to reduce the temptation of smoking more than his limit of one or two a day. He's a runner and marathoner (he completed last fall's New York City marathon) and an enthusiastic collector of Bordeaux.
Pressman sees cigar smoking as a natural evolution of his wine collecting. "If you have a good meal and you have a great wine, you need a cigar," he says. "There are a lot of times when the wine is better than the meal, and there are times when the cigar is better than everything."
With his beloved Cuban Davidoffs no longer being made, he now smokes Cohibas. "I started smoking Cohibas a few years ago, and I didn't really like them that much," he says, "but now I really think they're one of the best cigars in the world." His wife, Bonnie, also enjoys Cohibas, although the ones she smokes are very thin, the size of cigarettes.
The only non-Cuban cigar that Pressman enjoys is La Gloria Cubana, which he says is superbly made: "There are only two things about a cigar: taste and how it draws. They really know how to roll a cigar."
Well, maybe three things. Fashion, of course, is Pressman's business. So the way a cigar looks in his mouth undeniably influences his choice in cigars. "The robusto is a nice cigar, but I think it's an ugly cigar," he says. "It really doesn't do it for me."
Alan "Ace" Greenberg is chairman of the board and executive committee of the investment banking firm of Bear Stearns & Co. Inc., but that's not evident upon first glance. His cluttered PC station looks nearly identical to the rows of stations that fill the floor at company headquarters. His phone receiver sits on his desk, off the hook, ready for action. His eyes are constantly moving, scanning the floor and the computer screen in front of him, and he uses words quickly and sparingly.
A cluttered ashtray is at his left side, a few half-smoked cigars propped up in various positions. He began smoking cigars when he joined Bear Stearns as a clerk in 1949; back then, Montecristos were passed out in the dining room. Bear Stearns still passes out cigars, but when the Cuban embargo began it switched to Dominican, Honduran or Jamaican brands.
Greenberg rose through the ranks, becoming a general partner in 1958, CEO in 1978 and chairman in 1985. In 1993 he dropped the CEO title. Over the years, he has cut deals for luminaries such as Donald Trump and Ron Perelman. Working with the billionaire owner of Consolidated Cigar was good for Greenberg's cigar supply.
"Ron kept me in cigars for quite a while," he says. He hasn't had to buy a cigar in years. He smokes about three a day, and when he's not running the frantic show at Bear Stearns he plays bridge, hunts or does magic. But he never calls them tricks. "I do miracles," he quips. "Dogs do tricks." Despite his success, Greenberg still refers to himself as "a simple salesman from Oklahoma."
But cigar-smoking executives aren't all big shots. Andrew L. Tepper is only 28, but he runs IronSoft, Ltd., a tiny Pittsburgh software company. Tepper smokes one or two cigars a week, a practice he picked up at Deerfield Academy in Massachusetts.
"When I was in prep school, smoking was strictly prohibited, except once a year when we had something called casino night. It might have been a cruel joke, but they told all these kids, 'Well, you can smoke cigars that one night, but you have to do it downstairs.' And it had about seven-foot ceilings. So, it was packed shoulder to shoulder with high school kids all smoking bad cigars," he says with a laugh. "The air was practically liquid."
Traveling to the pharmacy to pick out cheap cigars was a ritual for Tepper back then, but today he relishes sampling a variety of Honduran, Dominican and Cuban cigars. Romeo y Julieta Churchills are his favorite. When he smokes he does it outside, either while walking or reading. "I like the larger cigars, so I spend a couple of hours, and I just enjoy that," he says. "I just drop everything and have a cigar."
Many cigar smokers trace their roots back to cheap smokes bought in drugstores. Not Stephen L. Ruzow, president and COO of stylish clothing manufacturer The Donna Karan Co. His first puff was first-class: His grandfather gave him a Cuban cigar at his bar mitzvah when he was 13 years old. Today, Cuban cigars are his regular smoke. Ruzow smoked Cuban-made Davidoffs until the company shifted production to the Dominican Republic, and now he smokes Cohibas.
He can't smoke at the office, so Ruzow takes his cigars on vacation, where he found that they can help strike up a friendship. While visiting Anguilla, he met Cigar Aficionado editor and publisher Marvin R. Shanken. "I was the only one smoking a cigar on the beach at 8:30 a.m.," Ruzow explains.
When Ruzow tried to duplicate his grandfather's generous gift at his son's bar mitzvah, his son declined. But recently, his son, now 23, asked for a cigar to smoke while playing poker with his friends. And Ruzow's 30-year-old son-in-law likes to share a cigar with him.
For John A. Balch, cigars and success go well together. Eight years ago, he was struggling to find space on store shelves for his new product, a handheld vacuum cleaner called the Dirt Devil. His company, Royal Appliance Manufacturing Co., had sales of $28 million, and it was searching for the break that would open up the U.S. market and introduce Royal to the big time. Then he got the phone call. K-Mart was going to carry his product. "That was the day we popped a bottle of Champagne here in the office and lit up," recalls Balch. "Sales really took off."
Today, Cleveland-based Royal has sales of $280 million, and Dirt Devil vacuums are everywhere. Chairman and CEO of the company, Balch is even semifamous, known for his TV spots with his Golden Retriever named Sam (and, more recently, a pack of puppies), his gleaming red vacuums and his ever-present cigar, usually a Dominican H. Upmann.
Smokers are well received at Royal. The company not only has a separate section in the cafeteria for smokers, Balch also has an open-humidor policy. Cigar lovers can come into his office (equipped with a special ventilation system) and help themselves to the treasures in his 200-cigar Davidoff humidor. "It's a great big sucker," he says. "I think my wife paid almost as much for my humidor as my mother paid for her house in 1941."
The boss's smoking has influenced some of his younger lieutenants. On a company trip a few years ago to the Virgin Islands, some 30 Royal employees gathered around Balch with cigars in their mouths, mugging for the camera. The photo hangs in company headquarters. Two of his sales executives, men in their late 20s, are regular cigar smokers who help themselves to Balch's cigars. "They come in the office and say, 'A cigar sure would taste good'," says Balch. "I say, 'Help yourself.' "
Perhaps few people are as married to a cigar as Gene McGovern, chairman of the construction firm GMO International, Inc. in New York City. As he explodes from an elevator with its bright red NO SMOKING sign, a lit Churchill is pointing the way. The stogie sticks out from beneath his black cowboy hat that trails a feather, his cowboy boots beating a quick, steady rhythm on the carpet as he chugs into his sanctum.
His trademark cigar and shaved head have traveled the world. He has managed the construction of London's Canary Wharf, the Ampang Tower Project in Malaysia and the high-profile--and high-stress--renovation of the Statue of Liberty.
"If I haven't got a cigar, there's something wrong," he says. "If you're not doing it, it's a distraction. I mean, it's like you're sitting and you don't have your pants on." Every day, he smokes six or seven Churchill cigars that he buys from a Cuban shop in New York City. The cigar makers there roll them in front of customers, using Dominican tobacco. He also smokes a few dried cigars from Europe.
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text: Published with a digital code that may no longer be redeemable from the publisher. Do not purchase with the expectation that the code is still valid. Cover by Kris Anka (W) Sam Humphries (A) Adrian Alphona, Dexter Soy Guest-penciler ADRIAN ALPHONA (co-creator of RUNAWAYS) joins UXF! Psylocke digs deep into Bishop's head and what she finds will shock you! One of the biggest X-Villains of the past 20 years threatens the Uncanny X-Force! Cover price $3.99.


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Blake Albert Finke - August 31, 2011
To Adam and Deanna Finke of Gothenburg on Thursday, Aug. 11, 2011, at Kearney, a son, Blake Albert, weighing eight pounds, nine ounces. He was welcomed home by a brother, Burke.
Paternal grandparents are Craig and Mary Finke of Gothenburg. Maternal grandparents are Dennis and Barb Mottl of Fullerton.
Great-grandparents include Albert and Dora Connelly, Elaine and the late Harvey Finke, all of Gothenburg.


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This review is for one of my all time favourite tv programs. Friends is an American sitcom which originally aired for ten seasons throughout 1994-2004. It revolves around the lives of 6 characters, a group of friends living in New York City.
Rachel Green- Played by Jennifer Aniston. The audience are first made aware of Rachel when she runs into central perk (the friends local hangout) soaking wet, wearing a wedding dress. After making a dash out of the bathroom window, running out on her wedding to previous fiancé Barry, who she realises she is not in love with. Rachel runs to Monica her childhood best friend. Throughout the series Rachel has many partners, Italian Paulo, Tag and fellow friend Joey to name a few. However Rachel is involved in one of the biggest 'will they wont they', 'on/off' storylines with Monicas brother Ross. They later have a baby together in season 8, which they name Emma. At the end of season 10 both Ross and Rachel declare there love for one another.
Phoebe Buffay- Played by Lisa Kudrow. Phoebe is a masseuse and keen musician, even if shes not that good at it. She plays the guitar and sings her own written songs such as the well know 'smelly cat'. Phoebe moved the New York when her mother committed suicide, and she took to the streets. She has a twin Ursula, who is very dissimilar to Phoebe in many ways. Throughout the series Phoebe has 3 main love interests, David a scientist who moves to Minsk, Gary the cop and Mike. Whom she later marries in season 10.
Monica Geller- Played by Courtney Cox. A chef known for her need for cleanliness. Throughout the series Monica works in many restaurants, and starts up her own self catering business at one point where she meets first love Richard (Tom Selleck) a friend of her dad Jack. 21 years her senior. This doesn't last forever though as the couple decide to split after Richard admitting he didn't want to have kids. Monica later hooks up with fellow friend Chandler after a drunken night in London for Ross's wedding. The pair later marry in season seven, and after some devastating news that the pair cannot have children, finish the series by adopting twins.
Chandler Bing- Played by Mathew Perry. Chandler is most known for his witty sense of humour and his friendship with Joey. The pair share an apartment opposite Monica for the majority of the series until they start their relationship, resulting in them sharing the flat. Chandlers parents are brought up many times, his dad being a Las Vegas cross dressing show girl, and his mum and erotic novelist. His strange childhood is to answer for his awkward persona. Before Monica, Chandler has a recurring relationship with a girl named Janice. Who's known for her squeaky voice and the famous phrase 'Oh My God'
Ross Geller- Played by David Schwimmer. A Palaeontologist, who works in the Museum of natural history and later works as a professor in a university. Throughout the series Ross gets married and divorced 3 times, first to Carol, a lesbian who he also has a son Ben with, Emily and Rachel. Ross's marital ways become a point of humour within the show. Ross is a funny, a kind natured character. Brother to younger sister Monica. He later has a daughter with fellow friend Rachel.
Joey Tribbiani- Played by Matt Le Blanc. Joey is commonly known for his catchphrase 'How You Doin?' he uses this in order to pick up girls. Which he does very frequently throughout the show. However he later gets feelings for Rachel and they date briefly, sadly this doesn't work out. Hes an actor, who becomes famous for his character Dr Drake Ramoray on show Days Of Our Lives. In the show his known for his big love of food, and his amazing appetite becomes a big comedy factor. He had his own series named 'Joey' after the season finale in 2004. This lasted for 2 series, after ratings fell.
Must Watch Episodes
Although in my opinion every episode is as good as the next, these are just personally my top ten, to give everyone who hasn't seen the program before a couple to watch to see if its something you will like, and be able to get into.
1. The One After Ross Says Rachel
2. The One After Vegas
3. The One Where Ross Got High
4. The One Where Ross Finds Out
5. The One With The Video Tape
6. The One Where The Stripper Cries
7. The One With The Prom Video
8. The One In Vegas
9. The One With Ross's Tan
10. The One Where Ross Is Fine
There are 236 episodes of the show, each one 22 minutes apart from the finale which run for an hour. Each episode was filmed in front of a live audience. Apart from the London episode which was filmed on location. The show is loved by millions around the world, this is shown through its ratings. The series was nominated for and won many many awards. The show is still shown daily on sky channel Comedy Central. During the run of the show many well loved actors/actresses make a guest appearance. To name a few you have, Brad Pitt, Bruce Willis, George Clooney, Sean Penn, Julia Roberts, Reese Witherspoon, Ben Stiller and Dakota Fanning.
My View
As you can probably tell from my knowledge of the show im a huge fan, I have the complete boxset and I cannot count the times iv watched the episodes. Friends is a show where you can watch the same episode 50 times and still find it as funny as the first. The great writing makes you feel as if you are part of the group, makes you get to know every character individually. Each have different characteristics and you can related to one of them. I can not praise this show enough. If you haven't seen it you are truly missing out. Watch it and make 6 new friends. You will not be disappointed!!
Friends is the one show that cheers anyone up, no matter what. I have a friend who says that Friends helped him survive his divorce, he watched the show from start to finish on DVD, apparently he was so happy afterwards he forgot about his divorce!!
The show is set in Manhattan and follows six main characters:
Rachel Green - Rachel joins the group in the first episode, she has run away from her arranged wedding and decides to stay in the city with her new friends and become independant . Rachel starts out as the spoiled rich girl who depends on her parents for money and, through the seasons, we see her develop into an independant woman.
Ross Gellar - Ross is a paleantologist, a dinosaur specialist. In the first few series, he is quite depressive and can be very annoying, however, he soon becomes very funny and is now my favourite character! Throughout all 10 series, we see Ross and Rachel's love hate relationship and all hope that they will end up together again!
Monica Gellar - Monica is Ross's younger sister. She is a chef and dreams of owning her own restaurant. Monica has soom kind of obsessive disorder, everything must be clean and organised or it drives her crazy.
Chandler Bing - The clown of the group, Chandler resorts to jokes when he feels awkward. No one seems to know what he does for a living, something with numbers, and he is always helping Joey out with money. He is very sweet and, eventually, we see him marry Monica.
Joey Tribiani - Joey is the womaniser of the group, in 98% of the episodes he sleeps with a different woman. He has a huge appetite and seems to be able to eat without getting full. He is quite stupid and doesn't seem to catch on very easily but he is so loveable!
Pheobe Buffet - Pheobe is the strange one, from the age of 14 she didn't have any family and lived on the streets, trying to make a life for herself. In the first couple of series she lives with her grandmother, until she passes away. Pheobe is a massage therapist but dreams of making it big in music, despite the fact that she cannot sing or play the guitar.
Through the ten series, we see the characters fall in and out of love. We follow them through birth and death, make ups and break ups. We learn so much about the characters and fall in love with them.
The show is hilarious, if you're feeling down at all stick it on and you'll feel great!
Ah, friends. Who doesn't love this show?
It is set in Manhattan, New York. The show is centered around six main characters: Chandler- played by Matthew Perry, Joey- played by Matt Le Blanc, Ross- played by David Schwimmer, Monica- played by Courtney Cox, Phoebe- played by Lisa Kudrow and Rachel- played by Jennifer Aniston.
Chandler is a funny, sarcastic office worker, who makes jokes when uncomfortable. Joey is a fairly unsuccessful actor who has two loves in his life; food, and girls. Ross is a paleontologist (studies dinosaurs for a living) he is very pedantic and intellectual, but is a warm, funny character. Monica is a chef who's live revolves largely around obsessive cleaning. Phoebe is a really wacky, quirky character who works as a masseuse and regularly turns heads with her strange ideas and theories. Rachel is a spoilt daddy's girl with a love for fashion and all things expensive.
Season 1 begins with Rachel running into Central Perk Coffee House (the gangs main hang out throughout the show) in her wedding dress having just left her fiance at the alter. She explains that she felt trapped and she couldn't marry him, so Monica, her best friend from High School lets her move in with her while Rachel searches for a job, and begins her new life as an non dependent woman. She then meets Phoebe, Joey, Chandler, and Ross, Monica's brother, whom she has an on off relationship with throughout the series until finally deciding she wants to be with him in the 10th season finale.
The series follows the life of the six friends as they live and learn in the Big Apple. The show is full of surprises, witty dialogue, fantastic characters and appearances from fellow famous actors/actresses. It's a must see for any age group!
The show is repeated every day on the E4 Channel. Definitely give this a watch, it's the best sitcom you'll ever see!
Whenever I'm feeling low, or have had a hard day with studies or work, there's no better medicine than a spoonful of 'Friends'. Do excuse the metaphor (and while i'm at it, excuse the cheesy headline too!), but it has always worked for me. 'Friends' is a US sitcom set in New York, telling of the lives of 6 friends: Rachel (Jennifer Aniston), Monica (Courtney Cox Arquette), Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow), Joey (Matt Le Blanc), Chandler (Matthew Perry) and Monica's brother, Ross (David Schwimmer).
The show was created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, and first aired on September 22nd 1994, running for almost ten years (the show spanning for 10 series, consisting of a massive 236 episodes). Each episode is around 22 minutes in length. 'Friends' is regarded as one of the most successful TV shows ever to be produced. Although not technically the best programme in the world, the magic and charm of the show rewarded it with millions of viewers and a plethora of awards. This programme is timeless, and is still being watched over and over and over again...
== The Plot ==
The pilot episode opens with the introduction of the main characters, who are seated in a coffee house called Central Perk, which becomes one of the main settings of the show. As five of the six main characters are seated in the coffee house (Monica, Phoebe, Joey, Chandler and Ross), Rachel enters in disarray, dressed in wedding dress, having left her bloke at the altar. Monica, Rachel's old school friend, welcomes her, and introduces her to her friends, and also to her older brother Ross, who, like Monica, hasn't seen Rachel in years. Monica brings Rachel back to her apartment, and whilst Rachel is on the phone to her father, she suggests to him that she will stay at Monica's for a while, without consulting her beforehand. Rachel stays longer than planned, as her friendship with Monica is renewed, and bonds are created with the four others too. Soon, her stay becomes permanent, whilst the others help Rachel find her way in New York City and get a job, as she currently lives off her 'Daddy's' wealth.
Ross, who was deeply in love with Rachel back in High School, remembers why, and begins to fall for her again. Whilst Rachel is finding her way, Ross is trying to bring himself to ask her out. The storylines provide a foundation for the series, as there are storylines for each episode too, often completely irrelevant to these underlying ones. As the first series moves onto the next, new storylines evolve, right until the final episode.
The aim of the show is to make you lot laugh at and love 'Friends'. The way in which they do it comes from a variety of humour - banter (see Chandler), double entendres, satire, slapstick, parody...you name it, 'Friends' probably has it.
== The Characters ==
I feel it is important to briefly introduce the main characters' characters...
Rachel (played by Jennifer Aniston)
One of the most developed characters over the show. She begins as a spoilt, rich character that lives of her Father's wealth, before being guided to change. Although she changes a lot, a part of her original character always remains, but as she climbs the ladder in the fashion business (discovering her dream a few series in), her moral values adapt too, rendering her a much more mature character by the end final episode.
As an actress, Aniston has become by far the most successful of the cast, starring in many films since Friends began, such as 'Picture Perfect' and 'The Break-Up'.
Monica (played by Courtney Cox Arquette)
Monica is characterised by her obsessive-compulsive nature - she loves to clean, and needs everything exactly how she wants it. She is confident, highly competitive, and holds some minor masculine qualities too. She is often teased about her childhood obesity, and rather coincidentally becomes a successful chef in the series.
Courtney Cox Arquette was the most famous of the six when the series began, having starred in films such as 'Ace Ventura: Pet Detective' and 'Family Ties'. In between series five and six of 'Friends', Courtney married David Arquette after meeting him during the filming of 'Scream', giving her the added surname 'Arquette'.
Phoebe (played by Lisa Kudrow)
There is no better word for Phoebe than eccentric. She has a colourful history, having moved onto the streets after her mother killed herself. Now, however, despite being rather peculiar, she is a masseuse and a musician (she plays acoustic guitar in Central Perk - not very well).
Lisa Kudrow previously worked as an office manager before being casted as Phoebe, and has appeared occasionally in films since Friends ended, such as 'P.S. I Love You'.
Joey (Matt Le Blanc)
Joey is a struggling actor in the series, although he plays Dr Drake Ramoray in 'Days of Our Lives' for a while and also stars in some films. He is a 'womaniser', sleeping with women and never calling them again, and he also loves food (sandwiches being his preferred choice). Chandler often uses Joey, who can act quite dim-witted at times, as subject for his banter, despite Joey being the 'cooler' of the two. He is regarded as the least developed of all characters on the show, thus, he starred in the not-so-successful spin-off, 'Joey'.
Matt Le Blanc starred in minor roles before being cast as Joey in friends, and has starred in a few movies since, such as 'Charlie's Angels'.
Chandler (Matthew Perry)
Chandler is everyone's favourite (not literally), being the cynic of the group and by far the wittiest (reflecting the character of Matthew Perry himself). He was Ross' best friend in college and they have stayed friends since then. He is nervous and shy around women.
Matthew Perry only starred in a few unsuccessful shows before Friends, and since, has only starred in a few films such as 'Three to Tango' and single-episode roles, such as an in 'Scrubs'.
Ross (David Schwimmer)
Ross is the intellect of the group; he has a Ph.D., and is a palaeontologist. He is Monica's older brother and Chandler's best friend, and is introduced to show as recently divorced from a pregnant lesbian.
David Schwimmer is one of the more successful of the cast, like Jennifer Aniston, starring in films such as 'Madagascar', shows such as the renowned 'Band of Brothers', and he also directs (having directed 'Run Fat Boy Run').
== Opinion of the show ==
I love friends. It's hilarious, easy to watch, and charming. I have watched the episodes too many times to remember and I won't stop there. The show has fantastic replay value, as there are too many episodes for you to get bored (236 in total). The humour appeals to many, even to Brits, who have a somewhat different sense of humour to the Americans. The show has been popular worldwide, in fact. Like I mentioned in the introduction, it has a charming quality that is endearing. It cheers you up when you're down, and if you're already up, well it'll just life you further.
I've given you the impression that this show is perfect so far I feel. Well, I hate to admit it, but it isn't. I feel that the show's magic began to wane in the fifth series, and although it picked up in places, it was gradually diminishing as the series progressed. Not only did storylines begin to become more farfetched (some were rather farfetched in the first place, but bearably so...), but the comic value began to decrease too. First few times of watching, I still laughed at the later episodes, but the comedy was nowhere near as effective, particularly from the seventh series onwards.
What also became more noticeable was the direction and acting quality. It was as if the producers, writers and directors became lazy. Writers and directors were different for each episode, and it was noticeable. Episodes were becoming quite hit and miss. Consequently, as the direction quality diminished, those of the actors that couldn't act so well were beginning to be highlighted; namely, Lisa Kudrow, Matt Le Blanc, and to some extent, Matthew Perry. There are moments as well as significant periods in the timeline of Friends where poor acting shone through, and most of these moments came towards the latter stages of the timeline. Episodes were becoming less polished and 'Friends' just wasn't the same. Also, if you're not one for canned laughter, the later episodes really aren't for you!
However, some form of charm was still present. Over 50 million tuned in for the final episode, and it delivered in style. The programme never became awful, and for over 50% of the time, it was fantastic. Glitches did present themselves at times, such as inconsistencies between shots (in one episode, Aniston wore a necklace, but on the next shot in the same scene, the necklace miraculously disappeared) and camera faults (a microphone appears coming from the ceiling in one scene), but they were occasional, and only through watching the episodes so much have I become so pedantic about it (although some were very noticeable first time around).
'Friends' is always very on the surface. It is far from an artistic programme, but it doesn't matter. It is a remedy, a pick-me-up. You're meant to stick it on and enjoy it, and I am sure that many of you would (or do so already). In the long run, who cares if it's imperfect in terms of production, acting, directing etc.? Just have a few ruddy laughs at it and leave it at that.
== Everything else ==
'Friends' is shown on both Channel 4 and E4 (and +1) in the UK over four times a day, usually with two consecutive episodes being shown at a time. It is also available on DVD, either in series, or as a complete box set. There have been many versions of the box set released, and a new 15-year anniversary one was released last year. On these you will find extras and what not.
Also worth mentioning is the theme music. 'The Remembrandts' perform 'I'll Be There For You', written by Michael Skloff. In Blender magazine, it was branded as the 15th 'worst song ever'. Personally, I don't know what they're talking about. I presume they're basing that on the lyrics (which are very cheesy), as the music itself is quite good! The vocal harmonies get me singing along quite often, and I'm sure many of you will have clapped along with the fill after the first phrase!
Rumours of a reunion episode and a film (after the success after the first Sex and the City movie) were thrown out there, but they have all been denied. The female actresses in the cast have all mentioned that they'd love to do a reunion episode, but for the moment, this is all you're getting. But hey, what are you complaining about? You've got 236 uplifting, hilarious episodes that you'll want to watch more times than your bedroom ceiling.
== The Verdict ==
Let's drop the technicalities and look at this show as what it is. It was immensely popular when first released, and it is still loved by the millions to this very day. I really recommend that you give this show a try if you haven't already - 86%.
Friends, in my opinion is one of the most funny, uplifting series of the 1990´s and still has a fond place in many people´s television viewing lifes. Everybody i know loves Friends, and those that haven´t watched it wish they had!
Friends follows the lives of 6 friends in the city of New York. It follows the tribulations, draa, dating, arguments that Ross, Joey, Chandler, Rachel, Monica and Phoebe have. Friends lasted 10 series with its humour never growing old but throughout we saw characters maturing and lives moving on but friends still.
I could watch friends episodes again and again and still those funny moments would make me smile. The actors in this series have great comic timing and i could not imagine anyone else playiung of these roles. My particular favourite is Matthew Perry who plays Chandler who i feel delivers his part with such conviction with not only what he says but his mannerisms being funny. The script is entertaining and the jokes never tire neither do the new relationships. A classic programme, that has lasted well over a decade and will continue to be loved into the future!
Must Watch!
Oh My God.. Is this possibly the best programme still going?
F.R.I.E.N.D.S. is an American comedy sitcom which began in 1994 and finished in 2004. Although the programme is still aired today on Channel 4, E4, E4+1 and T4 on Sunday this programme is a sucessful sitcom. Produced by Kevin Bright, David Crane and Marta Kauffman.
The programme revolves around a group of friends in Manhattan,New York City, but was actually filmed at Warner Bros, California. The settings are mostly in their apartments & in the famous coffee shop- Central Perk.
The main characters are:
Rachel Green, played by Jennifer Aniston. Monica's best friend, Ross's on & off boyfriend & started off as a Waitress at the Coffee House until she followed her dream to work in fashion.
Monica Gellar, played by Courtney Cox Arquette. Ross's sister, Chandler's girlfriend and the mother figure of the group. She is good in the kitchen and goes on to work as a kitchen chef.
Phoebe Buffay, played by Lisa Cudrow. The quieter/innocent one of the group. She is known for her tone death voice to the songs she has written and the guitar she plays.
Joey Tribbiani, played by Matt LeBlanc, is best friends with Ross & Chandler. A struggling yet proud actor and a food and football critic. Has many varieties of girlfriends, some wold say a womaniser.
Chandler Bing, played by Matthew Perry. Boyfriend to Monica, best friends with Ross & Joey. Known for his sarcastic sense of humour, ends up marrying Monica and are both sex mad.
Ross Gellar, played by David Schwimmer, is a sister to Monica, On & Off boyfriend to Rachel and best friends with Joey. A Professor, that has had 3 failed marriages who he has a son to one of them.
When 'Friends' finished in 2004, after being set in New York, Las Vegas and London, there was a spin off show called "Joey", which was written by him himself, Matt LeBlanc.
Aswel as being watched on TV, you can rent the DVD's from Blockbuster in the BOXSETS or you can buy them virtually anywhere HMV, ASDA, TESCO for around £8 per box set- approx 12 episodes...
Seriously, who doesn't LOVE friends. I started watching Friends in the 1990's when the series started and I can remember the anticipation every week waiting for the new episode to follow the lives of the 6 twenty-somethings New Yorkers.
Friends evoked conversation among (erm...) my friends. Would Ross and Rachel end up together? Would Joey and Phoebe ever realise that they'd be perfect together? Would Gunthers love of Rachel always be unrequited? Were Ross and Rachel actually "on a break"!? Would Richard and Monica have a baby? Who was our favorite?
The series is one of those few programs that you can watch over and over again and never get bored. I have seen each episode probably ten times and I still laugh, smile and cry in all of the same places - and find myself waiting for the punchline and still finding it funny!
I think what makes Friends so popular is that we can all identify with certain characteristics of each character and the relationships between them. Who doesn't have a kooky, dizzy friend like Phoebe or an anally retentive friend like Monica? Who doesn't know a Joey who won't share his food? Or a Ross and Rachel who are just so "right" together?
Friends is a classic....and it will stand the test of time. I'm not ashamed to say that I love Friends and it is certainly in a league of its own as far as American sit-coms go.
Everyone seriously has to love friends! I think it is such a great light hearted comedy serious that is just good to watch.
Based around six main characters, Rachel, Monica, Phoebe, Ross, Joey and Chandler, there is someone who everyone can relate too. The characters are built up on strong characteristics which are clearly shown throughout each show.
My favourite character has to be Joey. This is because he is always funny and up for a laugh. I think people instantly fall in love with him and that is what you need in shows like this!
We travel through ten years of their lives, where we watch how they deal with love, marriage, career changes and children. But the main factor throughout the show is friendship and the bond between the six friends is always clearly shown and never broken. Each of these factors are shown clearly but also with an element of humour which makes the show so good to watch!
I absolutely love this show and would recommend it to anyone! Such a great watch!
I have never met a person who has watched an episode of Friends and not wanted to watch the next one! I remember turning it on one Friday evening by accident, it was the first episode of series 2, and I was hooked.
For anyone who hasn't watched it before, here's a brief guide without giving any storylines away.
There are six friends who are all in their 20's. Ross and Monica are brother and sister, she's a chef and he's a paeleontologist. Then there's Monica's friend from school, Rachel, who has just left the comfort of a rich family home to make it on her own. Joey and Chandler are room-mates, Joey's an actor and Chandler's a........ahh, you've got me!! Anyway, he works in an office! Then there's Phoebe, she's a singer in the local coffee house, a free spirt and a bit wacky.
Put together these six characters and countless supporting roles, including some very famous faces, eg, George Clooney and Noah Wyle as 2 ER doctors, Bruce Willis, Julia Roberts, Brooke Shields and many more, make a truly wonderful series that ran for 10 seasons, each with 24 episodes. That's 10 years of these characters' lives and every single episode will make you laugh. On the last disc of some versions of series 10 you can find a gag-reel, nearly an hour of out-takes from the show. I must admit, these scenes brought tears to my eyes they are so funny, I was doubled with laughter!
You can buy the whole box-set now that the series is complete, but be warned, the one in the black box has been cut to fit the DVDs and many people have been disappointed. There is another box-set which is white, it's the 15th Anniversary edition. I do not know if the episodes have been cut on this one, but for some reason it's cheaper!! Personally I went for the single series box-sets, they look just as nice on the shelf!
So, if you haven't watched it yet, just watch one episode, it's always on telly, and you'll soon be just as hooked as millions of others!
When I first watched this show back in the mid 90s, I was amazed at how quickly I got to know the characters and how funny every single episode was. Fifteen years later and I'm still watching the re-runs and even though I can recite some of the episodes line for line, they are still making me laugh out loud.
Friends is the series that catapulted Jennifer Aniston, Courtney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Mathew Perry, Matt Le Blanc and David Schwimmer to fame.
They originally played a group of single twenty somethings who all hung out together and from time to time shared apartments with each other in New York.
The writing is inspired and the characters bounced off each other brilliantly. There's Rachel, the shopaholic Daddy's girl who has to learn to stand on her own two feet and ends up sharing an apartment with her old schoolfriend Monica - the once fat girl who is now skinny and gorgeous, but can never seem to find the right man and is obsessive about things being clean and tidy. Living opposite them are Joey - an actor who's a lovely guy, but a bit daft and brings a different girl home every night and Chandler - a city number cruncher who struggles with women and has issues as his father ran off to be a Vegas drag queen (played brilliantly by Kathleen Turner).
Phoebe is the wierdly eccentric but lovable masseuse and Ross is Monica's brother, a geeky paeleantologist who has been in love with Rachel since high school.
Each episode is titled The one with the...., because when it was first aired that's how people started to refer to them, e.g. The one with the Monkey, The one where Rachel finds out etc
My all time favourite has to be the xmas episode where Joey is dressed as Superman, Chandler as Father Christmas and Ross as the Holiday Armadillo - it just doesn't get funnier than that!
Some of the early episodes are starting to look a little dated now - very 90s hair and outfits, but the jokes are just as funny and the characters still endearing.
Over the 10 years that Friends was running they had lots of famous faces doing cameo roles, such as Charlie Sheen, Jean Claude Van Damme, Brad Pitt and Winona Ryder.
If you've never watched Friends, try and catch one of the many re-runs that are constantly being aired - or treat yourself to the box set. I think I'll still be watching these in 20 years time and laughing out loud.
I know most of you will of at least heard of this programme although I will give you a brief description of what the programme is all about.
** Programme Information **
Friends is an American Sitcom which ran since 1994 - 2004, within that time they produced 236 episodes. The show centres on a group of friends, most episodes are set in the Coffee place, Monica or Chandler and Joeys apartment etc. Its pretty self explanatory.
** Characters/Cast **
Jennifer Aniston plays Rachel Green - Rachel is an old friend of Monica's (from school) Rachel was once very caught up on appearances and was materialistic, characteristics which are still present within her character yet her new friends have helped to create a better Rachel. Rachel has had many male admirers and has a baby, Emma, with on/off boyfriend (and husband at one stage) Ross.
Courtney Cox plays Monica Geller - When Monica was younger she was overweight and unpopular yet she managed to befriend the most popular girl in school, Rachel. Since high school Monica changed dramatically and is now a gorgeous, successful chef. Monica has a real issue with cleanliness and mothers her friends. Monica has had a few relationships however she is now married to her friend Chandler Bing.
Lisa Kudrow plays Phoebe Buffay - Phoebe had a rough childhood and was basically dragged up, shes lived on the streets and is known as a tough cookie, although she is clearly missing a few brain cells, Phoebe plays the guitar and is definitely tone def. Phoebe is funny because she is extremely random, she has had a few relationships although her most long term relationship was with Mike Hannigan, she also gave birth to her brothers babies (via IVF).
Matt LeBlanc plays Joey Tribbiani - Joey is extreamly slow and dumb, he has spent the past few year perusing his acting career, with the help form his friends And landed a dream role playing Dr Drake Ramoray on hit show Days Of Our Lives. Joey is a total womaniser and has numerous girlfriends/one night stands etc.
Matthew Perry plays Chandler Bing - Chandler is a sarcastic but reliable friend, Chandler had a hilarious relationship with Janice however he is now happily married with friend Monica.
David Schwimmer plays Ross Geller - Ross is a Palaeontologist, which is something he likes to remind everyone. Ross is Monicas brother and ever since high school he had a huge crush on Rachel, they now have baby Emma together however they are no longer a couple. Ross is well known for his failed marriages and successful divorces. He was once married to Susan and they had Ben together although Susan turned out to be a lesbian.
** Special Guest Appearances **
Numerous celebrities have appeared on the show including...
Tom Selleck who played Monicas love interest Dr. Richard Burke.
Bruce Willis played Rachels boyfriend and Elizabeth's dad, Paul Stevens.
David Arquette plays Ursula's stalker.
George Clooney as Dr. Mitchelle.
Jennifer Gray as Mindy (Rachel's former best friend)
Elle McPhearson as Janine (whom Joey had a crush on)
Julia Roberts as Susie, former classmate of Chandlers.
Charlie Sheen as Ryan, a navy sailor.
Brooke Shield as Erica.
Jean Claude Van Damme as himself.
Reese Weatherspoon as Jill, Rachel little sister.
There are loads more but I will be going on forever.
** When is it on **
Its now on E4 around 9pm, however it is sometimes on Channel 4 too. You can buy all the series on places such as Amazon and Ebay etc.
** My Opinion **
I remember watching this show when I was younger and finding it funny and I still love it now, I don't think I will ever get bored of it. Its so easy to watch if theres nothing on your bound to be entertained by this show.
I have lost count how many times I have seen every single episode but I still enjoy watching them as much as I did the first time. All the characters are believable and to be honest nothing really goes on in the episodes its just about the friends daily lifes, which makes it easy to relate to the characters and their emotions etc.
Friends is a great cure for when your feeling down, just crack open a bottle of wine and a tub of ice cream and your away.
All the characters are funny and charismatic, I find them all really quirky... im not sure I have a favourite as I like them all for different reasons.
Monica because she's obsessive which adds to her comedy
Rachel because shes ditzy
Pheobe because she is random and quite frankly not all there and finally
Joey because lets face it hes dumb but loveable.
Overall this is a brilliant show, I don't think it will ever loose it appeal nor do I think there will be a sitcom as great and as well known as Friends.
Friends is one of those shows that I still love to watch when there's an old episode on television. The show ended a few years ago, but the episodes are luckily still being played almost every day. With its 10 series its one of the most popular television programs of all time. I think almost every episode has made me laughed!
Friends is definitely my favourite show of all times and now and then I watch an episode at night and still I find it funny to watch. For the people who never heard about the show, it's about of group friends: Rachel, Monica, Phoebe, Joey, Chandler and Ross. From the beginning they already know each other, except for Rachel who makes her entry in the first episode. She was the best friend of Monica when they were younger. Rachel decides to look up Monica after she left her fiancée at the altar. She wants to be independent of her wealthy family and is looking for help at Monica's. Soon she discovers it's not that easy and has to get a job as a waitress. Also the other friends have their problems but also their happy moments that they share together. You really just follow them in their lives.
Rachel Green played by Jennifer Aniston
Rachel Green was born at 5th of May 1970. She's from a wealthy family and never worked in her live. She was expected to marry a wealthy man and live her live as a housewife. She ran's away from the altar, because she wants more in her life. In the beginning she's this typical spoiled brat, but later on she loses the attitude.
Ross Geller played by David Swimmer
Ross is the brother of Monica Geller and was born at 18 October 1967. He's a palaeontologist and loves his job, not his friends not so much and don't really like to listen to his stories. He's the little geek of the group and his ex wife left him to be with another woman. He does has his charm, but is overall just funny to watch at.
Monica Geller played by Courteny Cox Arquette
Monica is the younger sister of Ross and was born in 1970. She loves to cook and is a little bit the mother of the group. Everybody comes to her apartment to eat and watch television and she loves to take care of everybody. She's very neurotic and hates mess. I loved Courtney in this part and you should definitely check out her new show Cougar Town, which is very funny!
Chandler Bing played by Matthew Perry
Born in 1968 Chander is maybe the most geek of the group with his job as a data analyst, which he totally hates. He knows Ross from university and stayed friends from there on. He lives together with Joey and are good friends.
Joey Tribbiani played by Matt LeBlanc
Joey is the Casanova from the group and is very successful with women. In his profession as a actor he's less successful but did had a part in a Soap. He's also the stupid one of the group and he loves to eat. Matt tried to continue on his own after Friends stopped, but that show was cancelled after two seasons.
Phoebe Buffay played by Lisa Kudrow
The crazy one from the group but also the toughest one! Phoebe had a really hard childhood and had to live on the streets, but now she's more calmed down and works as a masseuse but also sings and writes her own songs. Phoebe is always the one with the weird little things and is very funny to watch at.
Few interesting facts
The most viewed episode of Friends in America was Season 2: The one after the superbowl with 52.9 million viewers!
Courteney Cox was first asked for the par of Rachel, but convinced the producers that she was more a Monica.
The hairstyle of Rachel has been copied over the whole world and became famous as 'The Rachel'.
My opinion
Friends is one of those shows like Will & Grace and Seinfeld with a group of friends that just really connects together. If you look at the characters they are so different that they really work together. The chance is that you at least will like one character. The most popular character has to be Rachel, but also Joey was very successful. If you look at the career the actors had after this show these days only Jennifer Aniston and Courteney Cox are successful, but mostly Jennifer. Friends is a show with lots of innocent daily humour in the daily life of a group of six people that work, eat, date, get pregnant and fight. Because it's daily life it just feels very easy to get into and you just don't really have to think a lot which is perfect on a night after a hard day of work.
I think if you asked 100 people at random what their top five comedy series of all time would be I think the majority would include Friends in their selection. Friends has to be one of the most famous and heard of comedy sitcoms of all time since it's release in the mid 1990's and made it's stars household names almost overnight. When it first started they were really six unknown actors and since them in particular the careers of Courtney Cox and Jennifer Anniston have taken off and have appeared in numerous movies between them.
It was such a simple idea for a comedy and also a masterstroke bringing together unknown as no-one had high expectations for the series. But what they did when the brought them together was form a bond and chemistry they probably never believed possible.
The sitcom over the years was in the most part set around two apartments and the Central Perk Coffee House and focused on six friends, Phoebe, Chandler, Ross, Rachel, Monica and Joey as they live out their lives and we follow them as they deal with problems in their lives, alot of times with hilarious results. So in essence it's a little bit like Sex and the City with a group of friends.
The six main characters really evolved over the years. Joey is the fun one who is not particularly smart, while Chandler is the one who tries to be funny but is constantly finding another crisis in his life no matter how small. Later on over the years he ends up getting together with Monica. Monica and Ross are brother and sister. She loves things being clean to the point of obssession. Ross is slightly paranoid and looks like he's on edge most of the time. Rachel is the attractive but not overly intelligent one of the group who used to have everthing on a plate for her growing up and last but not least Phoebe who is slightly insane and crazy.
One of the continuing themes throughout the ten series has been the love story between Rachel and Ross and would they one day get together. It is a story that takes us on a wild journey with many ups and downs and keeps you riveted each series. It is important to have a consistent theme in series like this so that you hold the audience and their enthusiasm and give them a reason to keep watching.
Friends ran for 10 series over 10 years and was loved by millions across the world including myself. I found it to be very funny, not least because of the interaction between the main characters and the predicaments they get themselves into. I think having six characters means there is always something going on and it never gets dull. And the chemistry between them all made it very believable and got everyone talking.
Of course all good things must come to and end and this series eventually ran it's course which was a shame but it had a good run and if you've never seen this series then it's well worth it as it's very funny and just deals with real life which we can all relate to in some way or another.
Friends, was and still is an all time classic TV show, one that shall never be forgotten (however if Channel 4 have anything to do with it, it could be...boooo). Starting way back in 1994, Friends is set in New York City, and tells the story of 6 20-30 year olds over the space of ten years.
Ever since it started on channel all that time ago, I feel in love with it, nothing could repeat the success that this show had. The comedy and drama were the pivotal points of the show, and without either, I dont think that it could have worked.
We have our 6 main characters- Joey, Chandler, Ross, Rachel, Monica and Pheobe, and together they form the premise for Friends. Each character has there own story and high points. The show follows them over the course of 10 years, and shows the high and lows of their life.
Joey provides the main comedy for the show, and character which Friends wouldnt survive without. He could be described as stupid yet loveable. An aspiring actor, he is forgetful, funny and a ladies man. He has a brief relationship with Rachel, which doesnt really work out.
How can I describe this character. A professional who doesnt know how to handle women. Throughout the show, there were really only two recurring women in his life, the hilarious yet annoying Janice, and the love of his life, Monica, who he eventually ends up marrying.
He is Monicas older brother, who often bores the group with tales from working at the museum and his interets in science. He starts the series being married to a lesbian, although he doesnt know, and has a son, Ben. Throughout all ten series, there was a recurring theme of a relationship between him and Rachel, with them finally getting together in the last episode.
She is the defo leader of the group. A chef, and a prominent hostess (in one episode she remarks that she is always the hostess). Like Chandler, she struggles with relationships, so you could say that they are a match made in heavon.
The way to describe Rachel is to say that she is a girly girl. Loves fashion and works at Ralph Lauren. She has a romanic interest in Ross for the the majority of the series. She has a daughter, Emma, although not planned, with Ross.
A favourite characer for many. She is both funny and adorable. An crappy musician, she is always coming up with songs, my favourite of course, Smelly Cat.
This show is amazing, and is show on E4 throughout the year, this is however due to end. I love this show so much, and it can be bought on DVD for around £100, a bargain in my opinion. As a viewer, you share the high and lows in the characters lives, having watched them for 10 years, you sort of feel part of their lives. A true classic of American TV.
10 years on and its still essential viewing.
When friends finished around 10 years ago many thought it would have fell into the tv archives after a few years never to be seen again. However 10 years on and it is still watched by many on e4 around 5pm.
The show is based around 6 twenty somethings as they work, love and live around new york city. The main characters include pheobe, monica, rachel, joey, chandler and ross, each having a unique connection with the other. At times the show has seem a tad contrived, renting a massive appartment in manhatten when sometimes unemployed doesnt really compute, or endlessly drinking coffee in the middle of the day when most people should be at work. However the jokes keep on rolling and 10 years on we are all still laughing. The story lines over the year have also kept us on the edge of our seat, will ross and rachel get together? etc.
This show is a much watch everynight in my house and it will continue that way until it is removed from e4.


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The Browns were aggressive trying to get the second pick in the draft from St. Louis. In the end, the Redskins' offer was more attractive, according to a report by ESPN.
Washington agreed to trade the sixth overall pick this year plus its No. 1 picks in 2013 and 2014 and a second-round pick for the second overall pick it plans on using on quarterback Robert Griffin III from Baylor.
The Browns also offered three first-round picks and a second, according to the report, but the Rams chose to accept Washington's offer instead.
The Rams pick sixth, 33rd and 39th in the first two rounds. The trade cannot be finalized until after 4 p.m. Tuesday, when the league year begins with the start of free agency.
The trade was agreed upon Thursday afternoon, according to the report, just a few hours after Browns general manager Tom Heckert met with media covering the Browns.
"We're not allowed to have handshake agreements," Heckert said Thursday when asked about working out a deal with the Rams early. "What are you talking about? We can ... the trades can happen starting Tuesday."
So now the Browns have to look in another direction if they are serious about getting competition for Colt McCoy.
Heckert said Thursday it is doubtful the Browns will go after a big-name quarterback in free agency, which would mean they won't chase Matt Flynn, the quarterback who played behind Aaron Rodgers for four years in Green Bay.
Heckert could decide to go after Kevin Kolb, a quarterback entering his sixth season and trying to establish himself in the NFL. Kolb is on the Cardinals' roster and his future is uncertain.
Heckert drafted Kolb with the Eagles in 2007. Kolb is due a $7 million bonus on March 17. The Cardinals won't keep him if they sign Peyton Manning. Heckert could trade for Kolb after 4 p.m. Tuesday and before Kolb is due the bonus. Such a trade might cost the Browns their second-round choice -- pick 37 overall. The Browns would have to absorb the $7 million bonus.
"I still think Kevin is going to be a good player," Heckert said Thursday. "Time will tell on that. He hasn't really played a whole lot. Even last year he was hurt."
Kolb played behind Donovan McNabb and Michael Vick in Philadelphia. He suffered a turf-toe injury and a concussion last year with Arizona and played only seven games. John Skelton replaced Kolb, and the Cardinals won five of their last six games, leading to speculation the Cardinals might dump Kolb even if they don't sign Manning.
The Browns have the fourth and 22nd picks in the first round. They could use one of them to draft Ryan Tannehill from Texas A&M or Brandon Weeden from Oklahoma State.