Jennifer Aniston, known for her role as Rachel Green on the hit sitcom Friends, made an unusual request to NBC during the show’s remarkable success in the 1990s and early 2000s. Instead of asking for a lavish gift, Aniston simply asked the network for a new washer and dryer, setting her apart from other actors who received more extravagant rewards.
On the October 20 episode of the Armchair Expert podcast, Aniston revealed that she noticed other actors from popular series receiving costly presents from their networks. Motivated by this, she approached NBC’s then-president Warren Littlefield with her modest request.
How the Washer and Dryer Came to Be
Recalling her conversation with Warren Littlefield, Aniston said,
“I said, ‘Will you please give me a washer and dryer, and he wrote that on a napkin,’
highlighting the casual but sincere nature of the request. Littlefield, who led NBC during a golden era that included shows like Friends, ER, and The West Wing, responded with surprise and willingness to grant her wish.
Aniston explained she had heard about actors receiving
“these gifts — these elaborate, very expensive gifts,”
and was curious why such treats were common. When asked by Littlefield what she wanted, Aniston admitted she hadn’t considered anything extravagant, ultimately settling on a washer and dryer.
She confirmed to the podcast host that the network indeed delivered the requested appliances, fulfilling her unusual yet practical request.
Friends Cast’s Equal Pay and Chemistry
Besides her washer and dryer story, Aniston spoke about the strong bond and professional equity among the Friends cast—Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer, Matt LeBlanc, and the late Matthew Perry. By the show’s final two seasons, each core actor earned around $1 million per episode.
Reflecting on the pay structure in a 2021 interview with Howard Stern, Aniston explained,
“we’re all doing the exact same amount of work,”
which justified equal salaries. She added,
“I wouldn’t have felt comfortable knowing I was making more,”
emphasizing fairness among cast members.
Cox echoed this sentiment, stating,
“We all felt that way. I thought it was the most important thing—as we all did—that we all were equal in every single way. That was the first time that people had all stuck together in a cast. I think it was scary, probably, for productions after that.”
Kudrow also commented on how equal pay “just got rid of bitterness” among the cast, calling their relationship
“such a great relationship that is really rare and really lucky.”
The Close-Knit Nature of the Friends Cast
The cast’s camaraderie extended beyond financial fairness. The six stars maintained a tight relationship during and after the show’s decade-long run. Kudrow credited Courteney Cox for fostering this unity, mentioning,
“I think Courteney had a lot to do with it, too, because she was the most well-known. When we got there, she was like, ‘Let’s help each other if you think something’s funny, let’s give each other notes.’”
Aniston described their connection as deeply nurturing, saying,
“It was healing. We actually kind of parented and healed and loved each other.”
Impact and Legacy of the Request and Friends’ Success
Jennifer Aniston’s request for a washer and dryer is a surprising, grounded anecdote amid the immense popularity and wealth generated by Friends. It reveals a humble perspective within an industry often marked by extravagance. The story also highlights how actors sometimes seek practical benefits rather than flashy rewards.
The show itself remains a defining moment in television history, not only for its unprecedented success but also for setting a precedent in cast solidarity and equal pay. This model shaped future productions and remains a significant reference point in discussions about fairness within the entertainment industry.
