10 Most Groundbreaking TV Shows Of The '90s

Friends needs almost no explanation, but for those odd few of you who might not be familiar, Friends follows a group of protagonists in their mid-twenties who end up sharing an apartment in Manhattan. It was one of the first situational comedies that really stood out, and very few that have aired since have been able to live up to the bar set by the classic series.

Understandably, Friends' success spawned a lot of similar sitcoms. In fact, it could be argued that the show's success is what influenced the use of apartments in sitcoms as a whole. Previous sitcoms from the '60s or the '70s were set in big houses - usually occupied by people who were well off - whereas after Friends, almost every show of this nature takes place in an apartment. And this is still very much the typical setting for sitcoms today with New Girl and The Big Bang Theory being prime examples.

While Frasier technically did it first, the eponymous protagonist of the show was known for his lavish lifestyle and expensive purchases, which made the character less relatable to a general audience, whereas the Friends characters - and their realistic financial income - were incredibly relatable, and the whole set up was something that could easily be replicated in future sitcoms.

For many, Friends is the benchmark by which all sitcoms are measured, and it's easy to see why. Many of us grew up with these characters, and it was rewarding watching them mature (sort of) over the years. Even today, in a world full of award-winning storytelling and gritty crime dramas, Friends is as easily accessible now as it was back then.