recasting “friends”
Heart of Greed, Recast 22 Comments »Friends was a TV cultural phenomenon in the US. It was a huge, huge hit. Everyone watched it and loved it. Everyone knew the character’s names. Thursdays were “Must Watch TV” on NBC as a result of Friends. It is a decade-long sitcom about six friends and their lives. The friends are very close and share everything. It’s a hilarious and sometimes heartwarming show. Friends is an all-around “feel good” show that is never boring and can be re-watched over and over again.
I personally agree with Asia’s recast of Friends. Her choices fit the roles better, but this is a special Heart of Greed edition of a Friends recast. TVB announced that they’re going to film a comedic version of Heart in 2008. A Friends-like show idea immediately popped into my head. Friends exhibits a very “close” feel because the six friends are basically a big family and the Heart cast also gives me this close feeling and I think they have a superb cast to do justice to Friends. Heart‘s six young leads really remind me of the Friends cast as well.

There’s no telling how the “comedic” Heart will turn out, but I am very excited about it. If TVB truly makes a version of Friends with the Heart cast, I’d hope it’d be like the following.
Moses Chan as Ross Geller
Ross is the smartest out of the six because he’s the most educated as well as a scientist. He is nerdy and rather geeky consequently and doesn’t know when to shut up and sometimes has a problem with rage, but he is a good guy. There’s an on-going gag about how he’s prone for divorce. His first wife left him for another woman. Ross is kind of like Moses’s “Dak Dak Dei” from Heart, so that is why I think Moses is best to play Ross. Moses is a great comedic actor with the comedic timing needed to pull off Ross’s humor. Ross has a long-time crush on Rachel and throughout the series they have an on-again, off-again relationship in a turbulent romance that involves an annulment and a baby before they finally end up together.
Tavia Yeung as Rachel Green
Rachel is self-absorbed, spoiled, conceited, and rather superficial. She is deemed very popular because of her good looks and status. She is also kind of ditzy and “stupid”. She comes from a rich family, so she is spoiled and doesn’t know how to work or do anything. As the show progresses, she becomes stronger and more independent. However, she is still quite superficial. I picked Tavia for Rachel because of her performance as “Tam Chu Mei” in Dicey Business. That role reminds me of Rachel because both are somewhat similar – superficial and “stupid” – and she did really well. I think Tavia would be very charming and cute as Rachel. With Tavia’s “upgrade” in terms of image and sexuality recently, I think she’s very hot and very Rachel. Ideally, Ross and Rachel are a “golden” couple. Moses and Tavia aren’t exactly a great match, but with the acting skills of both parties, I think they could make it work. I liked their relationship in Land of Wealth – but that was dramatic, so I’m not sure how they’d do as a “funny” and sweet couple.
Bosco Wong as Chandler Bing
Chandler is sarcastic, wise-cracking, and a bit “weird”. He’s the “funny man” of the show. He always plays around and cracks jokes. There’s an on-going gag in the show that suggests that he’s gay because of his childhood (his mom is an erotic novelist and his dad is a gay cross-dresser) and some of the things that he says. However, he is not gay. Chandler eventually started a relationship with Monica and the two become a great couple. I think Bosco is a good choice for Chandler. From news and interviews, he seems like a jokester. He can be funny (in series like To Love With No Regrets and Under the Canopy of Love) and there’s no denying that Bosco can be a little “weird” and “questionable” [with the clothes that he wears]. I think he really fits Chandler.
Linda Chung as Monica Geller
Monica is neurotic, controlling, bossy, and obsessive compulsive. She can be hard to deal with if she’s been pissed off. She values her “face” and pride. She loves cleanliness and is highly competitive. I think Linda could play the role of Monica well. I loved seeing her being bossy in Best Bet. She has a good “mean” look and does well with the strong roles (i.e. Virtues of Harmony II and Heart of Greed). She proves her ability for comedy in Heavenly In-Laws, Bet, and Virtues. It would be really funny to see Linda yelling at everyone and being all obsessive and neurotic. In the past, Monica was obese; it would be hilarious to see Linda wearing a “fat suit” and acting “ugly”. Monica is Ross’s sister. Linda and Moses have fantastic chemistry in Heart, so I think it would be entertaining and fun to see them act as competitive siblings. Bosco and Linda are being paired up in the 80-episode blockbuster The Gem of Life and since it hasn’t release yet, there’s no telling how they are as a couple. However, I think they look okay together.
Raymond Lam as Joey Tribbiani
Joey is a struggling actor and kind of “dumb”. He’s a sweet-talker and loves to charm the ladies. Joey is very laid-back and easy-going. He can be termed a “player”, but Joey has a huge heart and gives a lot for his friends. He loves to eat and comes from a family of 8 (where he is the only boy). Raymond has played “dumb” roles in the past in series like Eternal Happiness, so I think Joey should be a cinch for him to play. He’s got the charm and charisma to play Joey too. Although Raymond is more known for his dramatic acting, I think he can be funny and easy-going [like in La Femme Desperado]. Later in the series, Joey falls for Rachel. I’m sure all of the FungYi fans would be thrilled to see that.
Yoyo Mung as Phoebe Buffay
Phoebe is the “weird” one. She has many unique interests and a very peculiar way of thinking. She could perhaps be considered “crazy” because of things she says and do. Phoebe is also somewhat ditzy and innocent like a child because she did not have a “normal” childhood. She also has a twin sister who does porn. Phoebe is a hilarious character and hard to play because she is so “eccentric” and funny. Although not a perfect match, I think Yoyo could act out Phoebe. I’ve never seen Yoyo act in a role like Phoebe nor in a comedic role for that matter, but I believe in Yoyo’s acting. Ever since The Charm Beneath, I really like Yoyo. She’s charming, pretty, and her acting’s quite good.
























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