Two interesting anniversaries coming up in the next four days:

-Tomorrow night will mark the 20-year anniversary of the debut of "ER"

-Monday marks the 20-year anniversary of the debut for "Friends"

How does everyone feel about these shows now? Have the years been kind?

Friends will stand the test of time moreso than ER I believe. ER is plagued by running a few seasons too long. But, both shows helped launch their own respective genres. While not the first, surely ER was the most noteworthy hospital drama ever. And where would any youth-driven sitcom be today without the influence of Friends (fun fact: its original title was "With Friends Like These" which it thankfully shortened).

What's more hard to believe: that these two shows are both celebrating 20 years in the span of three days, or that NBC could never recover from losing either show (although it was ER's heyday that NBC would miss most)?

Also, I like to think about fate when it comes to television, and I believe the success of both shows was contingent on both shows airing on the same night, despite two hours apart. I remember a lot of people that loved watching NBC on Thursdays in the 90s. Of course Seinfeld and Frasier were in the mix too.

How far removed we are from Must See Thursdays.

Early 90's was prime network TV. I think both hold up very well.

In the grand scheme of things, I think ER was a product of its time and is remembered more fondly nostalgically, while Friends can and is thoroughly enjoyed in reruns today. But that's certainly true of sitcoms versus dramas in general.

Fun fact: I have never seen an episode of ER.

Funnier fact: I have never seen an episode of ER and Friends.

Both hold up well also because each launched an actual A-list movie star that seems to not be fleeting like many TV stars. I'd consider Clooney and Aniston at a similar starpower level, with their breakthrough these two shows.

Here's a nice little read on wikipedia about TV in 1994.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1994_in_American_television

31 million people tuned into the finale of Star Trek: The Next Generation! #14 highest watched finale.

LOL @ NBC

What's funny is how bad the first season is. It's almost unwatchable for me. I mean you expect that with a lot of shows but yeah., mad about you and Seinfeld were literally huge breakouts at the time, and putting friends in between gave them a year to really work around the cast which obviously had great chemistry.

Damn! Friends has to be one of, if not the mos beloved TV Show. It's been eerywhere today

27 years ago today... Full House premiered.

Wow a lot of time has passed since everybody was waiting for the Olsen Twins to turn 18.

I watch an episode of Friends before I go to bed almost every night. Still. Nothing will ever replace it as my favorite show. I can quote episodes from memory basically.

I love Friends. One of my top 3 favourite sitcoms of all time.

We are just finishing up another re-watch at the moment and it doesn't get old.

Back when it first aired it was the hip new show you just had to see. The Seinfeld-Friends-ER combo was just unbeatable.

ER I loved back then though don't have the same desire to rewatch.

This past Saturday also marked the 30th anniversary of The Cosby Show's debut.

Friends is much better than ER.