19 things you saw on the “Friends” set that you can buy for yourself

Some people watch reruns of “Friends” from time to time when they need to forget about climate change and capitalism. Some have seen it so much that they can quote large portions of many episodes. And then there are those people who love “Friends” so much that they dream of singing with Phoebe, shopping with Rachel, and sitting by the field at the Knicks game with Chandler and Joey. This one’s for you.

While you can’t actually sip cappuccinos with the band, you can make coffee at home in a Central Perk mug, wearing the same t-shirt as Monica. According to Tracy R. Gleason, a developmental psychologist who studies children’s relationships with imaginary companions, you might do better.

As Gleason puts it, feeling close to Ross or Joey can be categorized as a “parasocial relationship” or an imaginary one-sided relationship with a media figure or fictional character. It’s like an adult version of an imaginary friend, who can help you overcome your emotions and problems.

“Parasocial relationships can provide all kinds of social arrangements,” Gleason told Huffpost, “like affiliation, companionship, affection, and validation – you can imagine them endorsing you and whatever you do.”

If you were aware of any of the speech by John Mulaney on Twitter last fall, you probably heard the term “parasocial relationship” more than once. Like most things that go viral, the term is widely used alarmistically, often by people who are unsure of what it means.

It is therefore not surprising that Thomas Baudinette, a cultural anthropologist specializing in the study of fandom, says parasocial relationships are much more nuanced than one might think.

“The concept of ‘parasocial relationship’ is often misunderstood, especially on social media,” Baudinette said. “Put simply, it’s a fairly neutral term that is used by researchers to explain and make sense of the sense of intimacy that devoted media / celebrity fans feel towards the object of their fannish affection.”

Baudinette added that connecting to a fictional character or a group of characters, like friends from “Friends,” can make you feel soothed and emotionally supported.

“Fans often speak of ‘comfort characters’ who provide them with specific emotional support and towards whom the fan feels a specific sense of intimacy,” he said.

While this “comfort” can function as a low-stake distraction (eg, turning on “Friends” before a first date when you’re nervous), Baudinette said it can also help you understand your own life better. . As you watch Rachel and Monica argue over candle holders when they are really sad for each other to move, you can think about the best way to communicate with your best friend during a big life transition.

“The feeling of intimacy that develops represents a lens through which the fan makes sense of their relationships,” Baudinette said. “It is not a form of ‘illusion’ as some would say, but rather it is a critical reflective relationship where fans’ emotional interactions with [the fictional character they like] provide frameworks for interpreting the different problems they face in everyday life.

If “Friends” is your comfort show, wearing Joey’s Knicks jersey or putting your own yellow picture frame inside your police door can make you feel even closer to the gang. Instead of wearing specific fan gear, like a cropped top with the “Friends” logo with the little dots between the letters, you can hang up the “Girls” sweatshirt that Monica wears in her apartment or the “T-shirt” That Girl “that Phoebe plays soccer with. From kitchen gadgets to clothes, we’ve rounded up a ton of fun options of things worn or used on Friends that you can take for yourself.

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