Running for a decade on NBC beginning in 1994, Friends changed the way TV shows were made forever. Following a group of six friends in New York City, Friends didn't have a complicated premise. Many of the situations and hijinks the characters got up to were familiar and relatable, but this is what made the series so popular. The characters were fun, the cast had great chemistry, and the onscreen romances were exciting to speculate about. Unsurprisingly, many series have tried to follow Friends' example and use its winning formula, with mixed results.

Most of these shows have some type of twist that sets them apart, whether this is a frame narrative, characters sharing a specific interest or job, or being set in a unique time or place. However, at their core, they're about the dynamics of a mixed-gender friend group, examining how life and love are challenging to navigate, but are made easier with those you love. Joey was Friends' only spinoff, and while it's true that this series attempted to capitalize on Friends' momentum, all of these projects are clear spiritual successors to the iconic show.

7 Cougar Town (2009–2015)

Led By Friends Alum Courteney Cox, Cougar Town Is A Logical Follow-Up To Friends

Courteney Cox leads the cast of Cougar Town, one of her most successful projects post-Friends. Though her character, Jules, is unlike Monica, Cougar Town is a fun exploration of the phase of life that comes after Friends. Older but not much wiser, Jules and her friends tackle starting over and learning how to reenter the dating scene, which has changed a lot since their characters settled down before. It's not just Cox's performance that draws parallels between Cougar Town and Friends​​​​​​, as both navigate familiar waters.

Casting Cox was the first step in making Cougar Town a spiritual successor to Friends, but it was the structure and style of the story that cemented this. While small-town Florida is markedly different from New York City, Cougar Town effectively ups the drama and intensity of the interpersonal relationships of the characters, making the setting feel as impactful as possible. The zany cast of characters who fill Jules' life with excitement are just as likable as Cox's costars on Friends, and Cougar Town leans into this well-tread group dynamic.

6 Coupling (2000–2004)

This British Sitcom Is Considered The Response To Friends

Created by Steven Moffat, a TV writer and producer better known for being the showrunner of Doctor Who for several seasons during the modern era, Coupling is very different from the sci-fi series. It also follows six friends in early adulthood attempting to find love and talking frankly about sex, making the parallels between Friends and Coupling uncanny. While the jokes and tone of Coupling were more distinctly British, often sharper and more cynical than American humor, the essential structure was inextricable from Friends' legacy.

It was strange that U.S. filmmakers created an American version of Coupling in 2003, as Friends was so clearly the precursor for the show and had already existed for nearly ten years. Additionally, Coupling turned out to be quite a hit in its own right, establishing itself as a series that had a voice unlike other series. Over the years, Coupling has been compared to both Friends and Seinfeld, as it focuses on the mundane, like the latter. However, there are aspects of Coupling that are wholly original.

5 New Girl (2011–2018)

A Big, Beautiful Apartment Plays A Central Role In New Girl & Friends

A common element of most sitcoms is that the characters have unreasonably beautiful, aspirational homes and apartments that the characters probably couldn't afford in real life. New Girl and Friends follow this trend, with many scenes taking place inside the central apartments where the characters live together. Led by one of the most charismatic casts since Friends, it's just as easy to believe that these people are genuinely close, with both shows focusing on the found family trope.

Friends boasts one of the best will-they-won't-they romances in TV history, Ross and Rachel.

Friends boasts one of the best will-they-won't-they romances in TV history, Ross and Rachel, but Nick and Jess just might give them a run for their money in New Girl. While Friends didn't invent this trope, it didn't further establish it as part of the sitcom formula, and New Girl pays tribute to this. Additionally, the friends on New Girl pair off to have adventures and get into trouble, similarly to most episodes of Friends. New Girl might be set in LA, but the way the characters relate to the city is familiar.

4 Will & Grace (1998–2006)

Friends Played It Safe In Some Ways, While Will & Grace Took More Risks

Will & Grace premiered only a few years after Friends, and the demand and interest in series that followed young adults in New York City were at an all-time high. This meant that a series had to be similar enough to projects like Friends to appeal to a wide audience base while avoiding repetition. While there's no question that Will & Grace worked hard to convince fans of Friends to tune into this similar sitcom, there were still elements that allowed it to evolve naturally and become even more distinct.

One of the harsh realities of rewatching Friends is that the series has some dated moments that poke fun at diverse communities. While few series from the 1990s can claim any different, and Will & Grace was far from perfect, it was ground-breaking for such a mainstream show to center on so many openly LGBTQ+ characters. Will & Grace still makes mistakes, but its more raunchy and boundary-pushing sensibilities are what allowed it to distinguish itself from Friends​​​​​​.

3 That '70s Show (1998–2006)

This Sitcom Skewed Younger, But Still Learned A Lot From Friends

That '70s Show had the great idea not only to set itself in the recent past of the '70s, but also to look at generational and family dynamics in addition to friendships. This worked out well for the sitcom, which never struggled to be relevant and relatable even though it wasn't chronicling contemporary events. However, these unique elements allowed That '70s Show to use many of the most well-received tropes and character arcs popularized by Friends.

Watching That '70s Show today is just as nostalgic and compelling as revisiting Friends.

With inter-friend group dating and the perils of growing up on all the characters' minds, That '70s Show focuses on a younger generation, but their issues aren't that different from the characters in Friends. That '70s Show is a strong example of a series that saw the success of Friends and developed a specific conceit that could deliver the familiar jokes and plots in an exciting new way. Watching That '70s Show today is just as nostalgic and compelling as revisiting Friends.

2 The Big Bang Theory (2007–2019)

Friendship & Romance Take Center Stage In The Big Bang Theory

Ross might be the only science-inclined character on Friends, but The Big Bang Theory revolves around a group of friends who came together thanks to their mutual love of science, engineering, and math. All the characters, but one beautiful next-door neighbor, who helps bring them out of their shells. Like Friends, The Big Bang Theory sees its characters help each other learn and grow, becoming more equipped to handle the world. As the series progresses, the characters become more like family, and we see fan-favorite couples get together, like on Friends.

There are many Big Bang Theory Easter eggs in Young Sheldon, and now George and Mandy's First Marriage. Both spinoffs have become massively popular, crossing over and appealing to audiences who weren't familiar with The Big Bang Theory. Unlike Friends, The Big Bang Theory has been able to establish itself as a thriving franchise, expanding its story and characters all the time. However, the original show's popularity owes a lot to the path paved by Friends.

1 How I Met Your Mother (2005–2014)

This New York-Set Show Eventually Became As Unforgettable as Friends

Set in New York City and revolving around a friend group attempting to find love and success in their 20s and 30s, How I Met Your Mother instantly reminded audiences and critics of Friends. The iconic NBC sitcom had only ended a year before, and it seemed as if How I Met Your Mother could be the more contemporary and quirky younger sibling of the seasoned and enormously popular Friends. Initially, How I Met Your Mother stuck to similar tropes and formulas as Friends, but it eventually found a unique voice.

Of course, How I Met Your Mother knew that it could never beat a show like Friends at its own game, and this was the best thing the series could've done. Leaning into the strange and magical elements of the show that set it apart from typical sitcoms that were rooted in realism, How I Met Your Mother came to define TV during the nine seasons it was on the air. Though Friends beat out the series, running for ten seasons, there's no doubt that How I Met Your Mother will always be considered a heavy-hitter in its own right.