'Friends' viewership soars as fans mourn Matthew Perry

In the wake of actor Matthew Perry's sudden death on October 28, 2023, Friends, the beloved sitcom in which he played the iconic character Chandler Bing, experienced an unexpected surge in viewership. According to a Deadline report, in just a few hours following Perry's passing, Friends tallied an impressive 583 million minutes viewed, propelling it to the seventh spot on the acquired titles list. This marks the highest weekly total for the show since the end of January, when it garnered just over 600 million minutes viewed.

The show, that originally aired from 1994 to 2004, has maintained a dedicated fan base over the years. It follows the lives and adventures of six friends living in New York City, played by Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, and David Schwimmer. Its humour, relatable characters, and timeless appeal have contributed to its enduring popularity, even among new generations of viewers who discover the show through streaming platforms.

Perry's portrayal of Chandler Bing, the sarcastic and lovable character with a penchant for humour, played a pivotal role in the success of Friends. His sudden demise has deeply affected fans around the world, prompting a collective outpouring of grief and nostalgia. As fans mourned the loss of a talented actor, many turned to Friends as a way to remember and celebrate the contributions of Perry to the world of entertainment.

The Nielsen streaming charts reveal a significant spike in Friends viewership during the week of October 23 to 29, as the show quickly climbed to the seventh spot on the acquired titles list. The 583 million minutes viewed in the short interval following Perry's death surpassed the show's weekly total since the end of January. This surge indicates not only the enduring popularity of Friends but also the profound impact that the passing of a beloved cast member can have on audience engagement.

While Friends claimed the seventh spot on the acquired titles list, other streaming titles like The Office and No Hard Feelings continued to dominate the charts with impressive viewership numbers. The latter, a Jennifer Lawrence romantic comedy, secured the top spot with 1.1 billion minutes viewed, showcasing its broad appeal across diverse demographics.

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