Fifty-one million people gathered to watch the program that NBC began 10 years earlier, about a group of twentysomethings sharing an impossibly spacious, well-apportioned New York apartment, seemingly without the need for actual jobs. They were too busy with other more personal aspects of their lives, and the show wrapped up two long-running plots: Ross (played by David Schwimmer) confessed his love for Rachel (Jennifer Aniston), and the two decide to get back together; while Chandler (Matthew Perry) and Monica (Courteney Cox) adopt and move out to the city suburbs.

On this day, May 6, in 2004, culminating the weeks of hype and building excitement, the two-hour final episode of Friends aired.

NBC charged $2 million for the top 30s spots during the finale, breaking a sitcom record, but the amount of hype around it could not be overstated. NBC held viewing parties in Los Angeles at the stage on Universal Citywalk, and in Manhattan in Central Park, where viewers saw the six friends eat at a nearby cafe. Following the show NBC’s Jay Leno Show aired from the set of the show in Burbank, California, and included the cast members as guests. In the days following, NBC’s Dateline aired two hour-long episodes devoted to the show.