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Jennifer Aniston Was Almost Written Off 'Friends' in the First Season

By Rachel Sandell

Updated Nov 2, 2023

'Friends' was almost a very different show without one-half of Ross and Rachel.

Image by Jefferson Chacon

Jennifer Aniston almost left Friends halfway through Season 1 due to her involvement in another sitcom, Muddling Through.
Thanks to a strategic move by the Friends showrunners, involving airing Danielle Steel adaptations to attract viewers, Muddling Through failed to gain traction, allowing Aniston to stay on Friends and become a part of TV history.
Muddling Through struggled from the start with a disadvantageous time slot and ultimately only lasted three months, while Friends went on for 10 seasons.