1995: THE CAST OF FRIENDS

WHAT WE SAID THEN ''In 1995 the pop-culture landscape was overrun not by dinosaurs or by Quentin Tarantino's ultracool urban savages or even by Batman, but by Ross the cute paleontologist pining for Rachel the aimless waitress, Joey the physically blessed but IQ-challenged actor, Chandler the adorable data processor, Monica the job-seeking bombshell chef, and Phoebe the lovely rocket scientist, er, folksinger. People just like you, or the way you were or will be or might like to be for at least half an hour every week.'' —Jess Cagle