Friends is undeniably one of the greatest sitcoms—and TV shows—of all time. One of the six main cast members even recalled the episode when he first realized just how successful the show was, calling it one of his favorites. Led by the legendary ensemble of Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, and David Schwimmer, Friends captured audiences for 10 seasons with nothing more than stories about the ups and downs of friends in their 20s and 30s.
What made this simple premise so effective was the combination of sharp writing and a cast with unmatched comedic chemistry. Matthew Perry, who sadly passed away in 2023, shone in this regard, delivering Chandler’s sarcastic lines in ways that instantly became iconic. Near the end of Friends, Perry reflected on the moment he realized the show was truly connecting with viewers—and why it worked so well.
“The One with the Blackout” Is When Matthew Perry First Saw His Castmates Shine
In 2004, Perry told Entertainment Weekly (via People) that season 1, episode 7, “The One with the Blackout,” was a special experience and a moment that showed him what the show could become. In the episode, a citywide blackout leaves five of the six leads in their usual apartment building. Rachel encounters her awful boyfriend Paolo (Cosimo Fusco), preventing Ross from making a move, while Chandler ends up trapped in an ATM vestibule with Victoria’s Secret model Jill Goodacre.
Because of the episode’s setup, Perry was largely working separately—he recorded his internal dialogue ahead of time and had limited on-set interaction. This gave him the rare chance to watch his co-stars in action and see their chemistry firsthand. From that perspective, he realized just how strong the ensemble was. Perry said:
“What was great about that night was that I was also able to watch the other three quarters of the show, which was these five great actors doing ensemble work that was amazing. This was the first time I realized, ‘Gee, this is really clicking.'”
“The One with the Blackout” Was One of Matthew Perry’s Favorite Friends Episodes
And it’s easy to see why it’s now considered a classic.
There’s plenty to love about “The One with the Blackout,” which may have been Perry’s favorite Friends episode. The story remains hilarious, even outside the context of it being a legendary TV moment. Ross’ attempts to finally ask Rachel out go comically wrong—first, he’s attacked by a cat, which turns out to belong to Paolo, Rachel’s new crush.
Perry also shines in a different way as Chandler, playing the character almost speechless out of awe at Goodacre’s presence. Despite Chandler being mostly absent, the episode highlights the incredible chemistry of the main cast, showing just how effortlessly the ensemble worked together.
