RE: Friendship Three-ways: Handler/Aniston/Cox-By Julie

As Weekend Fat's resident Aniston promoter (I'm seriously happy with this self-appointed title), I am back to discuss Jennifer's gal-pal choices based on a previous post about friendship.

My own thoughts on friendship in my life goes like this: I am not one to have a million friends. I'm not a social butterfly. I find it hard to have surface relationships, friends of convenience, even just acquaintances. I hate insincerity. I hate snobbery. I hate any type of fake. Thus, I keep friends for a long time. If we become friends, we are going to be friends for the long haul. So, I can relate to the threesome Jennifer Aniston has going on. Let's dissect.

I'll be there for you!

Jennifer and Courteney Cox: This relationship makes everyone happy. They were on a show called Friends. I mean, you can't get better than that. This is your best friend from high school. You spent some very formidable years together. They have seen your awkward phase and love you anyway. You basically grew up together. You shared experiences that make you who you are today. These types of friends are super important. They may not be the friend you see the most these days. You are probably in different stages of life now. But, these friends are the ones that you can pick up right where you left off. No explaining needed. They just get it.

Then you hear that these two friends might not be as close as you thought (did Jenn and Courteney have a fight???). Maybe there was a tiff here or there. Well, that happens. Remember, these people know you. They have known you for a long time. If you start dating someone that isn't really great, they might tell you. And you might not like it. Then, you realize they were right to begin with and all is good again. That's how it works. BFF. To the end.

Chelsea's face says it all.

Jennifer and Chelsea Handler: This type of relationship is your later-in-life type. You both have experienced a lot of things (Jenn's divorce, Chelsea's.... ummm, whatever she has experienced) and you have lost that need to impress people. You are who you are. That doesn't mean that you make friends super fast. It means that when you find that type that cuts through the BS and is actually being real about life, you latch on to them. You laugh a lot. You probably hang out a lot. They are probably in a similar life stage. These types can be complete opposites and that is the beauty of it. They like you for you. And, I'll bet that in Jennifer and Chelsea's case, that is a true rarity in Hollywood.

To be sure, it takes a while to find the Chelsea's. I'm no celebrity, but even I am super guarded around new people. I can be nice and friendly. But, true friends? That takes time. I'm not fake at all. Just not likely to be emotionally slutty around new folks.

I can't say that I can really pick sides on this one. No Team Courteney or Team Chelsea here. Both friendships have their place. And, if Jennifer is anything like me (I like to think that we are alike), then I'm guessing that both of these friendships will be around for a while. I say, Mazel to them!


(Julie Bunkley is a wedding planner in Auburn, Ala. If you ever see her at a Starbucks with her computer, she probably isn't working. She's just looking up celebrity life photos, red carpet gown photos and celebrity wedding news. You can learn more about her here!)

When You're The Best Of Friends!

The squeal I let out when I heard that Amy Poehler and Tina Fey will host the Golden Globes together was something similar to the night my high school boyfriend kissed me in my front yard while my friends watched from inside. I ran back inside to celebrate with them and lots of squealing happened. Yes, I used to squeal about boys and kisses.

But this post is not about that. Because no matter how great that kiss was, the part I remember being the most fun was the celebration inside with my friends. We'd heard from someone (this was before anyone was googling to fact check) that being french kissed turned your tongue white. We all ran into the tiny bathroom in my house, and I stuck out my tongue to see if it was true. Funny thing, it wasn't even my first real kiss. But this one held a different level of excitement because my friends were there for it. Oh, and I'm pretty sure my tongue was pink.

I'm very aware that my brand of friendship might be quite different than yours. Maybe it comes from being single for so long, but I think it's fair to say, I've always had a deep love for friends. My mother has amazing friends who were "other mothers" to me, and I think she stressed the importance of friendship as much as she did independence and putting on deodorant. I remember hearing "boys will come and go, but friends will stay forever." I mean, in retrospect, that's a little idealistic. I've had lots of friends come and go too. But on the whole...my friends have really been there. And I have THEEEEE most amazing friends.

Friendship doesn't just hold up as legit for us real people, it also seems to be able to survive the fame and fortune of Hollywood. I think this is because if you are rich and important, recognized around every corner, and you actually find someone who you can trust and who will love you for who you are without make-up, you probably hang onto them.

So, in celebration of what is bound to be the BEST Golden Globes EVER, and in celebration of friendship...here are some notable Famous BFF's.

Bitches get stuff done.

Tina and Amy-The Funniest
The way Tina talks about Amy in her book Bossypants gives a real idea of the kind of support these two show each other. They have risen to stardom at the same time, and been active participants in their individual successes. Recently at a charity auction they put a night of being their BFF up on the auction block and two women wrote checks for $36,000 each. I want to go to there.

Sense and sensibility.

Kate and Reese-The Ones I Want To Know
When Kate Winslet moved in next to Reese Witherspoon, she came over to say hi one night. As they talked about possible playdates for their kids, Kate told Reese she hadn't had anything to drink and asked if she had wine. Of course Reese did, and their friendship was born over wine and conversation that night. You all know Kate is my favorite actress, and Reese is from the South...I love this pairing so much!

Oprah and Gayle-The Real Deal
You can't even mention BFF's in Hollywood without thinking of these two. When I think about the success Oprah has had, in all reality, Gayle is probably the only person in her life that she can truly trust. Watching them on their road trip was hilarious because they fight like sisters! And their camping trip at Yosemite. Best ever.

There is no me without you.

Busy and Michelle-The Soulmates
Seriously, this might seem like a strange combo, but these two have been friends for a long time. Through all the tragedy of Heath Ledger's death and the celebration of having babies. They are seen together all the time, and apparently some people question the proclaimed platonic nature of their friendship. They make no bones about calling each other soul mates and admit having "girl crushes" on each other. But those who know them or spend time around them just say that they are seriously the best of friends, in ways that you can only understand if you've had this kind of best friend.

Dakota and Kristen-The Opposites
Um. What? They're best friends? In my mind, Dakota is still sweetly knitting things on talk shows, while KStew is busy...well, stewing. This friendship alone is proof that opposites attract not only in romance, but in friendship.

Everyone just calm down.

Penelope and Salma-The Sexiest
This is too much sexy in a friendship. I mean, somebody has to be the Rhoda.

The Threesomes
There are some internet discrepancies over these next few people. It's bound to happen. There's always that poor woman who thinks that she is her BFF's, BFF, but has no idea that her BFF has another BFF. I think that's what's happening in some of these situations. Which of these pairings do you think is the real deal?

Drew Barrymore and Cameron Diaz or Drew Barrymore and Ellen Page
Their birthdays are 1 day and...er...a few years apart. Seriously, even with a 12 year age difference, I have to vote for Ellen and Drew on this one. Mainly because I cannot imagine anyone ever being best friends with Cameron Diaz. Except maybe Scarlett Johannsen.

Shenanigans.

Jennifer Aniston and Courtney Cox Arquette or Jennifer Aniston and Chelsea Handler
As much as we all want Rachel and Monica to be friends forever, there are rumors that they've suffered some rough spots in the last year or so. Meanwhile, Chelsea loves to mention Jennifer on her show and reference their nights out. I am sure that Courtney has the staying power in this, but I do think that Jenn needs a friend who will go to the mat for her. Chelsea doesn't take shit off of anyone, and for that reason, I like the thought of the two of them as best friends.

Even at my worst, I'm best with you.

Kate Hudson and Liv Tyler or Kate Hudson and Ginnifer Goodwin
FALSE. There is no right answer to this, because in spite of both Liv and Ginnifer seemingly being wonderful people, they are obviously HORRIBLE friends because they let Kate do this:

I have no real friends.

Talk to me about BFF's...

Who did I leave out that's worth mentioning? 

Who will never have one? 

Which celeb do you want to be BFF with?

It's The Final Countdown: How To Leave 'Em Wanting More

One summer a friend of mine and I were working at a camp together. We were given the task to entertain a group of children for an hour. We only had a parachute. She pulled the parachute out began to play with the children. They loved it! But about 30 minutes in, she packed up the parachute and had them play tag, followed by hide and go seek. I was confused. That parachute would have easily entertained them for the entire hour. When I asked her about it later she said something I'd heard a million times, but never really seen in action: "Always leave 'em wanting more!" By quitting at the height of their enjoyment, she could always return with the parachute, it would always entertain them, it would always be successful.

Most fun ever.

It should be that way with television. Each season, we cross our fingers and wait to see if our love for characters, humor, and drama have translated into enough ratings and money to secure a place in next year's line up. This year, the news I was the most anxious to hear revolved around 30 Rock, Parenthood, SMASH (don't judge me) American Horror Story, and Community. All were renewed, even if some of those renewals had conditions such as: Community without Dan Harmon, rumors of entirely new story lines/characters in American Horror Story, and a final season for 30 Rock. I can live with that...just bring them back, I'm not ready to lose them yet!


Listen, no one wants to see their favorite shows cancelled. My cousin and I were the only ones in the world watching Best Friends Forever, and we both understand why it's gone, but are we happy about it? No. Because it speaks to some part of us. We all have our attachment issues, and breaking up is hard to do. But there's one thing that's worse that missing your favorite show....and that's watching it be totally ruined.

I miss them!

There are 2 kinds of show endings. The first is that the creators of the show decide it's time to cut it off. The second is that the network isn't making enough money and decides to cut it off. The most common is the second kind, because the truth is that people don't know when to put the "parachute" away. One notable exception to this is my personal favorite TV show in the history of TV, Six Feet Under. I will fight you to the death about the perfection of Six Feet Under. And here's the amazing thing, it only went 5 seasons. Because creator, Alan Ball, came to the network and said that he felt that the show had run it's course. Yeah, you heard me. He fired himself. But he did it because what he was creating with Six Feet Under was about making good TV. Not about staying on the air as long as possible!


The problem with TV today (wow, I sound old, uptight, and like I know everything. I'm not old.) is that somehow the networks and creators haven't caught onto the fact that for the most part, the generation they are dealing with these days wants authenticity, cleverness, and a sense of purpose. We want it in our own lives, and we want it in the TV characters' lives. And so when a show like ER ends with an entirely different cast than where it started, it doesn't feel real! That's not how we live our lives! It feels desperate and grasping and like this is really all about a paycheck.

Who are these people?

Don't get me wrong, I KNOW it's all about a paycheck, but I don't want to be reminded that it's all about a paycheck. I want to see a story arc come to completion, run it's course. I want to see characters evolve as they face hardship (even if that hardship is a bit too dramatic at times) and come out on the other side. I want to relate to them. And if it's a comedy, I want the inside jokes and one liners that started the show to end with it. Friends was great at this. The characters were strong, they evolved, we literally watched them grow up on TV, and before it was too silly or over the top or they took too many trips out of the country or used too many green screens, it ended. And we still love it today.

Perfect Timing.

But some of our favorites are in danger of going too long. It's time for a few of those shows that we love to consider saying goodbye. Now, don't get upset with me as I name your favorite show for cancellation material, but remember the parachute story. Don't you want to be able to miss it and watch it again without thinking of how boring it got in the end? We are talking quality here, not quantity. I suggest the following shows should go 1 more season and end, securing their places on pedestals instead of falling into the category of "Yeah, I used to watch it before..."

Community-I know. It hasn't been on long enough. But it's been on the chopping block since its inception.  And now, without Dan Harmon, I have my doubts. My friend Amy suggested that the 3 part finale of this season could have served as a great series closer. I agree. But it didn't go quite like that. And so if for some reason, Community actually manages to survive next year, I don't think that it should survive another year after that. Plus, it's community college. They have to leave at some point. And don't even THINK about bringing in new characters.

The Office-Please go away. Not only is it depressing seeing Jim and Pam all married with kids and not nearly as adorable as they once were (a writing issue, not a life situation issue), but Michael Scott was the heart of the show. To try to continue it without him has left me trying to remember why that red headed lady from Florida is in Michael's office and why Andy is acting like a fool. I would be okay to never see James Spader again (the same way I felt about him after seeing The Secretary), and even Dwight's antics can't revive this show. Please, just let it die. Write an ending. Shut Dunder Mifflin Down. Let Dwight and Jim be co-managers. ANYTHING. Just...enough. It hurts to watch.

When it's all over, I vote for a cooking show with Dexter as the host. Specialty: Breakfast.

Dexter-It's finally happened. Deb has finally seen the real Dexter. So, next season it's Deb vs. Dexter. We've always known it had to be this way. But it really has to end this way, and it has to end this season. Deb could go down in history in the Miami Metro Police Department if she turns him in. Is Dexter cold-hearted enough to go after Deb? Can they talk through it? Can Dexter explain and justify his reasons for killing? Will Deb let Dexter go, or will she pull a Sound of Music whistle blow on him and send him running for the hills? If none of the above happen, then we are looking at either the death of Deb, or incest, neither of which we want to see. Kill it off before it's squirming, please.


30 Rock-You know my love for this show, and I've already read that next season is the last. I'm glad. The show has always been a little exaggerated, but within regards to the revolving door of characters, it's been tamed to the love interests of Jack or Liz. This season, bringing on a new page, Hazel, just about killed me. The actress herself drives me crazy, but she doesn't work in the cast. We love Kenneth. But we love him for the role he plays, which is not the protagonist. Liz is the protagonist (though Jack would argue that). The page storyline just gets us off focus from where we really want to be. Tracy, Jenna, Liz, and Jack. So, please. Let Jack call Nancy Donovan (Julianne Moore) and rekindle with her happily in Boston, let Kenneth rise to Jack's position as the new executive, and for the love of God give Liz her baby with her current adorable boyfriend, while she is still happily working on TGS. Let her finally, have it all. 

Grey's Anatomy-You know I love it, but it's time to go. I want to see the characters land. They are grown up doctors now, with grown up relationships. It's time to tie up the loose ends. If Arizona is gonna die, let Mark and Callie live happily ever after. Meredith and Derek have a child now, we want to see them be responsible enough to stay together and raise her after they fought so hard for her. Yang and Hunt are going to get back together and pour themselves into that hospital. Let Bailey have her man. And Alex. Sigh...Alex. Just don't bring in a new batch of residents and get some ER thing going. I don't want this show to be unrecognizable in 5 years. 

Speaking of always leave 'em wanting more...I cannot WAIT!

What shows do you want to see cancelled before they go bad?