Behind the Story
When I started this story, it had no connection to any of my previous books. It was a complete standalone I’d started, hit a wall with, and stopped. During Off List edits, it was mentioned to me that it would be fun to see Ben, the fuck boy frat bro character, fall in love. That wasn’t even on my radar, but when I came back to my holidate story that was still stagnant, it hit me this should be Ben’s story. So, I renamed the MMC to Ben and started reworking the story.
The character Chandler was always in this book, as he was my favorite character from Friends. However, the name is so iconic, I’d planned to change it eventually (though it was getting harder to come up with a new name for that character as he’d really become Chandler in my mind). Then, in the middle of edits, Matthew Perry passed away. And I knew there was no way I could change his name now.
Friends is my favorite TV show. It’s pretty much been on my TV every day since it premiered. It’s my comfort show. It’s my background noise. My family makes fun of me, I watch it so much. To say the show and the actors in it have a special place in my heart is a massive understatement. And when Matthew Perry died, I was devastated. He’s the only celebrity death I’ve cried over. Since I now had two characters with names from Friends (Chandler & Ben), I decided I’d have a little fun and make sure every character had a Friends connection as a tribute to Matthew and the special place the show has in my heart (and millions of others).
It was a little hard as some characters I couldn’t rename (or didn’t want to) so I had to get creative. Not only does every character have a name from Friends, but there are also some other Easter eggs within the story. Did you spot them all?
Here they are:
Ben Kelley - Ross's son, Ben (most famously played by Cole Sprouse)
Lainey Langford – Langford is Matthew Perry’s middle name.
Harper Langford Stevens - Paul Stevens, Ross’ college-aged girlfriend’s dad (Bruce Willis)
Chandler Stevens – Matthew Perry
Mike Kelley – Mike Hannigan (Paul Rudd)
Eli Burke - Richard's last name (Tom Selleck)
Josephine (Josie) Lecroix – Feminine version of Joey (referenced in The One with Ross’ Teeth), Lecroix, last name of Joey’s roommate, Janine (Elle Macpherson)
Kathleen Langford Kelley – A nod to Kathleen Turner as Chandler’s dad and Kathy, Joey & Chandler's girlfriend (Paget Brewster)
Cassie Stevens - Monica and Ross's cousin (Denise Richards)
Jan (Red Poppy bartender) – Janice, Oh. My. God. (Maggie Wheeler)
Bar Employees - Nora (Chandler’s Mom, played by Morgan Fairchild), Tyler (for actor James Michael Tyler who played Gunther), Bonnie (Ross' girlfriend played by Christine Taylor )
Mona (NYE, Miss Red Dress) - Ross’ girlfriend (Bonnie Somerville)
Duncan (Lainey’s Mardi Gras date) – Phoebe’s “gay” figure skater husband (Steve Zahn)
Dr. Elliott (ER doctor) – Elliott Gould (Jack Gellar, Ross and Monica’s dad)
Dr. Wheeler (April Fool’s Day doctor) - Charlie Wheeler, Ross’ girlfriend (Aisha Tyler)
Vince (Kathleen’s former BF) - When Phoebe dates two guys at same time (The One with Ross’ Thing)
Jason (Kathleen former BF) - When Phoebe dates two guys at same time (The One with Ross’ Thing)
Danny (Kathleen’s former BF) – Neighbor Rachel dates with inappropriate sister (George Newborn)
Isaac (Lainey’s frat ex) - copy shop guy (Maury Ginsberg)
Ryan (Lainey’s St. Pat’s date) - Phoebe’s submarine guy (Charlie Sheen)
Mrs. Abbott (Harper’s neighbor) - Last name of Phoebe’s bio mom (Teri Garr)
Tim (Lainey’s ex mentioned in Cinco de Mayo) - Monica’s bad sous chef that Phoebe dates (Kevin Rahm)
Phoebe (Cassie's playdate friend) - Lisa Kudrow
Uncle Red “Gary Redford” (Ben’s Uncle) – Phoebe’s cop boyfriend, Gary (Michael Rapaport)
Chloe (Firework warehouse employee) – Copy place girl and Ross’ ‘on a break’ hook up. (Angela Featherstone)
Rachel (Mardi Gras scene) – Jennifer Aniston
Monica (Ben's 4th of July date) – Courteney Cox
David (Lainey's first holidate, NYE) – David Schwimmer (Ross) or David, Phoebe’s scientist boyfriend (Hank Azaria)
Max Buffamonteezi (Eagle) - The other scientist in The One with the Monkey (Wayne Pere) and “British” Amanda’s last name (Jennifer Coolidge) in The One with Ross’s Ta n
Gavin (Lainey's 4th of July date) – Rachel’s maternity leave replacement (Dermot Mulroney)
Eric (Lainey's Labor Day date) - Ursula's fiancé (Sean Penn)
Parker (Lainey's Labor Day date) - Phoebe's overly positive date (Alec Baldwin)
Will (Ben’s frat friend) - Rachel’s high school enemy (Brad Pitt)
Pete (Lainey’s Thanksgiving date) – Monica’s billionaire Ultimate Fighter boyfriend (Jon Favreau)
Drake and Ethan (Harper's RH boys) - Drake Ramoray (Joey’s Days of our Lives character) and Ethan, Monica’s underage date (Stan Kirsch)
Poppy (Ben’s Mom) – roommate Joey slept with (Nikita Ager) The One with the Sharks – this was an original name I didn’t want to change but happy to see it was a Friend’s character name, even if it’s not spoken.
Jill (Cinco de Mayo waitress) – Rachel’s sister (Reese Whitherspoon)
Amy (pushy woman at bar) – Rachel’s sister (Christina Applegate)
Willick Hall (where Mike and Kathleen get married) - Carol Willick, Ross' ex-wife (Jane Sibbett)
Other Easter Eggs:
Going Commando in Easter scene– Joey in The One Where No One is Ready.
Vegas Wedding – When Ross and Rachel get drunk and married, The One in Vegas.
Not liking Oysters (Lainey’s failed Valentine date) – Phoebe’s date Parker wants her to try oysters at Jack and Judy’s anniversary party, The One in Massapequa.