Video Lesson friends season 1 (part 1)

Before you watch

I. Answer the following questions:

1. When you were a child, did you have a best friend?

2. What do you think is the most important quality for a friend to have?

3. What do you like to do with your friends?

4. Do you "instant message" with your friends on the Internet or do you prefer to talk on the telephone?

5. Do you think men and women can be "just friends"?

6. Do you tell your friends everything?

7. Do you think that people who "meet" in Internet chartrooms can really become friends?

8. Do you have any Internet friends?

II. Read the information about the celebrities who acted in “Friends”:

	Matthew Perry's job has always been acting. And we also know he's a good tennis player. Why? Because he ranked number 17 nationally in the Canadian junior singles category and number three in doubles competition. Born in Williamstown, but raised in the city of Ottawa in Ontario, Canada. At age 15, he moved to Los Angeles to live with his father, actor John Bennett Perry. He started acting right out of high school, when he landed the leading role in the television series "Boys Will Be Boys." His other television credits include "Home Free," "Sydney" and a recurring role on "Growing Pains," as well as starring roles in such television movies as "Deadly Relations," "Call me Anna" and "Dance 'till Dawn."
	David Schwimmer made his debut as a TV series regular in the show "Monty". Schwimmer's real passion is the theater. Schwimmer, along with seven other Northwestern University graduates, founded Chicago's Lookingglass Theatre Company--an ensemble of actors, writers, directors and designers dedicated to creating vibrant new works for the American stage. His acting and directing credits for the stage are numerous. Fans also know David for his film work including the Ivan Reitman film 6 Days, 7 Nights, with Harrison Ford. Other feature film acting credits include Kissing a Fool; Twenty Bucks; Crossing the Bridge; and Since You've Been Gone, which he also directed. Schwimmer's never been married. When not working, Schwimmer enjoys playing softball, basketball, ping-pong and poker.
	Matt LeBlanc was born in Newton, Mass. Matt left Newton to be a stuggling actor in New York, where he quickly landed commercial work for Doritos and Levi's before moving on to guest spots on TV series and stage work. Matt appeared in three short-lived sitcoms before hitting it big with "Friends." Matt's film work includes Lost in Space, Charlie's Angels and the sequel to Charlie's Angels. He lives in the LA area and his birthday is July 25th.
	Born in Sherman Oaks, California, and raised in New York City, Jennifer Aniston is a versatile young actress who was exposed to acting at an early age by her father, John Aniston, who starred for several years on the daytime drama "Days of Our Lives". Aniston's earlier works include such films as "The Virgin Mary," "Rock Star with Mark Wahlberg," "Object of my Affection" directed by Nicholas Hynter, "Picture Perfect", "She's the One". Aniston has a number of other credits such as voice-overs for television hits like "South Park," "King of the Hill," and "Disney's Hercules." She can also be heard in the animated film, "The Iron Giant," as the voice of Anne.
	Courteney's first big break came when she was cast by director Brian DePalma to portray the young fan whom Bruce Springsteen pulls out of the crowd in the video "Dancing in the Dark." Since then she's been a little busy... Before "Friends," Cox has starred in several television movies, as well as feature films "The Shrink Is In" and "Scream 3," with her husband David Arquette. Cox recently finished filming "The Runner" and the sci-fi feature Alien Love Triangle. Her motion picture credits include Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, Commandments, Down Twisted, Masters of the Universe, Cocoon…Courteney lives in the LA area with her husband David Arquette and remodels homes as a hobby.
	First of all Lisa Kudrow graduated from Vassar with a degree in biology. But she is full of other surprises, too. First there's the similarity to Heather Locklear. No, not the haircolor, but the distinction of being on two hit shows at the same time (Heather was on "T.J. Hooker" and "Dynasty"). Kudrow was always passionate about acting but never thought of it as a career until after college, when her brother's good friend Jon Lovitz inspired her to pursue her dream. She began studying with improvisational instructors and acting teachers in 1989. Her dream became a reality when she was accepted as a member of the famed Los Angeles improv group The Groundlings. Now, well it's hard to find anyone who doesn't know Lisa, and she probably owes Lovitz a favor...