<Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Friends (season 1) List of Friends episodes </Td> </Tr> <P> The Pilot, also known as "The One Where Monica Gets a Roommate", was the first episode of the American situation comedy series Friends, premiered on NBC (National Broadcasting Company) on September 22, 1994 . It was written by series creators David Crane and Marta Kauffman, and directed by James Burrows . The pilot introduces six friends who live and work in New York City; Monica (Courteney Cox) sleeps with a wine seller after their first date but is horrified to discover he tricked her into bed; her brother Ross (David Schwimmer) is depressed after his lesbian ex-wife moves her things out of their apartment; Monica's old schoolfriend Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) moves in with Monica after running out of her wedding; and their friends, Joey, Chandler, and Phoebe (Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, and Lisa Kudrow), respectively offer them each support and advice . </P> <P> Crane and Kauffman pitched their original idea to network NBC in December 1993 . NBC liked it and commissioned a complete script, which was submitted in March 1994 . Before the script was finished, casting for the six main roles began; 75 actors were seen for each part . The pilot was taped on May 4, 1994 at Warner Bros .' studios in Burbank, California . After making final edits to the episode, executive producer Kevin Bright submitted it on May 11, two days before NBC was due to announce the schedule . Satisfied with the completed pilot, NBC ordered 12 more episodes for the first season . The episode was watched by approximately 22 million viewers, making it the fifteenth-most - watched television show of the week . Critics compared the show unfavorably to Seinfeld and Ellen, noting the similarities all three series had in depicting friends conversing about their lives . The cast, particularly Schwimmer, were complimented, though there was some concern that the character roles were undeveloped . </P> <P> Before a date with Paul the "wine guy", Monica is teased by her friends, Phoebe, Chandler and Joey, at The Central Perk coffee shop . Ross, Monica's older brother, arrives at the coffee shop, upset after discovering his ex-wife, a recently out lesbian, has moved out of his apartment to begin a new relationship with her partner . A young woman suddenly arrives wearing a wet wedding dress, whom Monica recognizes as her high school best friend, Rachel . Monica introduces her to the others as Rachel reveals she left her fiancé at the altar . After Rachel's father denies her financial assistance, Monica reluctantly takes Rachel in as a new roommate . </P>

When was the first episode of friends made