"Friends" vs. Friends The Nielsen ratings for the friends finale were far lower than had been anticipated. Many have speculated that the excessive buildup to the actual episode turned everybody off. My own theory is that people realize that they will see their "Friends" in syndicated reruns for the next thirty years. It's hard to miss something you'll be seeing for the rest of your life. In all likelihood, our relationships with Ross, Monica, Joey, Rachel, and Phoebe will last longer than our relationships with any five friends in real life. Perhaps it's time to ask ourselves if we have five friendships that will outlast "Friends" syndication.