While reflecting on his time as Ross Geller, Schwimmer revealed that one particular line from the show has followed him throughout his life: "pivot."
In the iconic episode "The One with the Cop" from season 5, Ross, along with Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) and Chandler (Matthew Perry), attempts to maneuver a new couch up a narrow staircase in his New York apartment. The memorable line “pivot!” has become synonymous with the show, and Schwimmer still hears it shouted at him by fans on a daily basis.
“It’s startling at times, but it’s also a reminder that the series lives on,” Schwimmer joked. He described Friends as "the gift that keeps on giving," adding that the show's enduring popularity continues to bring him joy.
Schwimmer also expressed gratitude for the way Friends has affected viewers’ lives. "When people from other countries tell me they learned English by watching the show, or when a father tells me that watching Friends helped his child through a tough time in the hospital, you feel incredibly blessed to have been a part of something that brought people joy,” he said.
Friends, which aired for 10 seasons from 1994 to 2004, chronicled the lives of six friends living in New York City. When the show's creators, David Crane and Marta Kauffman, discussed the series' 25th anniversary with Entertainment Weekly in 2019, they recalled not expecting the couch-pivot scene to become such an iconic moment.
Crane recalled wondering if a story as simple as moving a couch up the stairs could work. “It was fantastically funny, even on stage,” he said. The actors' performance was so brilliant that it became a standout moment. "You never anticipate that kind of thing," Crane reflected. “You’re just trying to tell funny stories. There was never an intention to create an iconic moment.”
Despite the unexpected rise in popularity of the “pivot!” scene, it has undeniably become a lasting symbol of Friends, highlighting the show's continued influence on pop culture.
