Monica's apartment

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Monica's apartment was one of the main focal points of the popular television series Friends.

Originally rented by Monica Geller's grandmother (who let Monica live in the rent-controlled apartment illegally), it was a large apartment with purple walls, two bedrooms, one bathroom and a large bay window at the back of the room, which looked out onto the New York streets, and, more importantly, Ugly Naked Guy's apartment (later to become Ross's apartment). There was also a permanently locked cupboard/boxroom (the door next to the bathroom) which Chandler at one time became obsessed with opening. Monica's apartment was located just across the hall from Chandler and Joey's apartment. There is a window next to this cupboard that leads onto a external balcony. It was here that the six friends spent most of their free time in the mornings and evenings, while Central Perk was closed. One episode, 'The One Where No One's Ready' was set entirely in the apartment. Monica hyperactively keeps the apartment neat and tidy, as opposed to Chandler and Joey's apartment, which was almost always a mess. Monica had a problem with other people bringing new furniture and items into her apartment as they tend to set off her nigh perfect organization.

Many critics of the show questioned how Monica could ever afford the apartment on a chef's salary, although it was explained very early on that Monica's grandmother let her live there.

The apartment was originally numbered 5 for the first few episodes of season 1.

Monica originally shared her apartment with Phoebe Buffay, who moved out (without telling Monica) before the series actually began, fearing their relationship would be strained when Monica's neatness became a burden. Monica was later joined by her best friend from high school, Rachel Green, in the series' pilot episode, when she fled her wedding and moved to the city. When Monica's relationship with Chandler became serious the two moved in together, and to give them privacy, Rachel moved out.

In season four, Joey and Chandler won the apartment from Monica and Rachel in a game devised by Ross. However, Monica and Rachel could not stand living in the boys' apartment and, in exchange for Monica and Rachel kissing each other for one minute, the two pairs swapped back.

In the final scene of the show, the six characters stand in the empty apartment as Monica and Chandler prepare to leave for their new home in Westchester. Phoebe muses that at one point or another, all six of them have lived in the apartment. (Ross claims he hasn't, but Monica points out that he spent a year living there with his Grandmother as he tried to start a career as a dancer. Ross sighs that they had almost gone ten years without mentioning that.) Joey, on the other hand, muses "Has it always been purple?". It also emerges that all six characters have a key to the apartment. They had no need for keys, however, as the door was never locked (except when the storyline called for it - e.g. in The One Where Underdog Got Away (season 1)[1] and in The One After Vegas (season 6)[2]).

The final scene of the series ends with a shot of the famous golden picture frame that surrounds the peephole, and which has become a symbol of the show. The picture frame was originally a mirror, but before the first episode was shot a person on the crew accidentally smashed the mirror. They decided they still liked how it looked and left it as a picture frame around the peephole. So iconic the frame became, it appears on the front of every DVD boxset of the 10 seasons, with the inside featuring a promotional photo of the cast taken for that year.

Friends

Cast: Jennifer Aniston • Courteney Cox • Lisa Kudrow • Matt LeBlanc • Matthew Perry • David Schwimmer Characters (respective to Cast): Rachel Green • Monica Geller • Phoebe Buffay • Joey Tribbiani • Chandler Bing • Ross Geller Other characters: Gunther • Janice • Ben • Guest stars • Recurring characters • Significant others Settings: Central Perk • Joey's apartment • Monica's apartment Music: "I'll Be There for You"  • "Smelly Cat"  • Friends soundtrack  • Friends Again  See also: DVD releases • Awards and nominations • Episode list • Running gags • Director list • Video game • Joey