Here is a little story about fate, Friends, and photo shoots in fountains. Jennifer Aniston revealed that her breakout role as the face underneath the Rachel coiffure nearly didn’t come to pass. At a dinner honoring Friends director James Burrows on October 7, Aniston noted that a TV show she had already filmed had to be canceled in order for her to star in Friends. Because this would be her fifth canceled pilot, it seemed like a fairly safe bet.
While shooting the Friends pilot, Aniston had to wait to hear if a CBS sitcom, Muddling Through, would be picked up. And lo! It was approved for three episodes.
So during the happy-fountain-times shoot, Aniston stepped out of a bunch of photos. She was a very sad Aniston indeed.
And think how sad we would have been without her! Who would Ross love? Phoebe? That’s nonsensical. Who would run about in a wedding dress in the pilot? Well, Chandler, obviously.
Remember though, says Aniston — the next time something doesn’t work out for you, your next gig will precipitate an iconic hairstyle of the nineties. That’s how fate works.