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Jewish World Review Feb. 14, 2002 / 3 Adar, 5762

Andy Borowitz

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Consumer Reports

'Friends' cast 900 times more talented than Sir Laurence Olivier, experts say



Sitcom Stars Join Jim Carrey, Adam Sandler On List of Greatest Actors Ever

http://www.NewsAndOpinion.com --
THE six cast members of the long-running hit sitcom "Friends" are at least 900 times more talented than noted British thespian Sir Laurence Olivier - and may be the most gifted actors ever.

Those are the widely-held opinions of experts in the field of acting talent, who say that the "Friends" cast's salary hike to $1 million per episode for the 2002-3 TV season puts the cast almost in a league of their own, talent-wise.

"When Jim Carrey made $20 million for 'The Cable Guy,' that made him the most talented actor in history," said Hal Grayson, an acting talent expert and author of "The Greatest Actors of All Time", a study of the work of Carrey and fellow thespian Adam Sandler.

"But at $1 million an episode, over 22 episodes, each of the 'Friends' cast members will make $22 million next year," Grayson said. "That means they are at least ten percent more talented than Jim Carrey."

As for Lord Olivier, Grayson says, there's no contest, with the 'Friends' cast thrashing the famed British actor in the talent department.

"According to records kept by the British film industry, Oliver only made $40,000 for his work in the classic film 'Hamlet,'" Grayson pointed out, adding, "Some 'classic'! That's chump change."

"I've never actually seen Olivier act, but let's face it, at that price, how good could he possibly be?" Grayson added. "He's nowhere near as good as Phoebe or Monica, for example."

With their meteoric rise into the all-time pantheon of the greatest actors ever, what challenges lie ahead for the six ultra-talented "Friends"?

"The 'Pokemon' movies have grossed well over one billion dollars worldwide," Grayson said. "As talented as the 'Friends' cast are, they have a long way to go before they can be considered as talented as a Pokemon."



JWR Contributor Andy Borowitz, a former president of the Harvard Lampoon, is a regular humor columnist for Newsweek.com, The New Yorker, The New York Times and TV Guide. Recognized by Esquire magazine as one of the most powerful producers in television, he was the creator and producer of the hit TV series The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and producer of the Oscar-nominated film Pleasantville. He is the author, most recently, of "Trillionaire Next Door: The Greedy Investor's Guide to Day Trading" and "Rationalizations to Live By". Comments by clicking here. Visit his website by clicking here.

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© 2002, Andy Borowitz