Matthew Perry Saved Chandler From An Awful Choice On Friends

One of the smartest moves he made during his time on Friends was to protest the course of an episode that ended in his character Chandler cheating on Monica (Courtney Cox). Matthew Perry reportedly told the writers of the show that they needed to change the episode, as fans of the show would “never forgive Chandler” if he cheated on Monica. 

Lisa Cash was the actress who was set to play Chandler’s sexual temptation in a season 5 episode of Friends. Though she was recast in the show as a flight attendant, Cash’s original role was to be that of a hotel worker.

Cash explained that the scene she and Matthew Perry were supposed to shoot centered around an argument Chandler and Monica had after Monica attended a private lunch between her and an ex-lover, Richard (Tom Selleck). 

The episode was entitled The One in Vegas: Part 1. After the couple argue about the meeting, Chandler goes up to his hotel room and orders room service. Lisa Cash was going to be the hotel worker who delivered the food to his room. 

Lisa Cash and Matthew Perry were then scripted to end up talking and laughing, and the connection they feel results in Chandler cheating on Monica. The scene went as far as to be rehearsed and properly staged for filming before Matthew Perry took his reservations to the writers. 

Luckily, the writers also felt like Chandler cheating on Monica might be an unforgivable crime in the eyes of fans, and they ultimately decided to rewrite the episode and Cash’s part in the show. Instead of being Chandler’s sordid secret, Lisa Cash plays a flight attendant who has an encounter with Ross (David Schwimmer) and Rachel (Jennifer Anniston) in season 5 of Friends. 

Cash talked of her time rehearsing with Matthew Perry with fondness. She said that he made her feel comfortable and at ease while on set. That working with Perry was both “fun” and “easy”. 

This story is one of many that have come to light in the wake of Matthew Perry’s death. The actor was officially found dead in his hot tub at his home in Los Angeles on October 28. He was 54 years old. 

The official cause of death has not yet been revealed by authorities, but local law enforcement did report that there were no signs of foul play or drugs at the scene of Perry’s passing. 

Matthew Perry’s longtime friend John Stamos also recently spoke of his experiences with filming alongside his pal. Stamos also made a brief appearance on Friends in season 9 as Zach, one of Chandler’s co-workers whom Monica and Chandler are vetting to see if he is a good match to be a sperm donor for the couple. 

John Stamos also talked about the various ways in which Matthew Perry made him feel more comfortable while they were on set in a recent Instagram post. Stamos ended his post by saying that “the world will never forget you (Matthew Perry).”