15 TV Friend Groups You Wish You Were Part Of

Television offers viewers a chance to escape into worlds where friendship creates a chosen family that endures life’s greatest challenges. These fictional circles provide comfort and entertainment while showcasing the dynamics of loyalty and shared experiences. Audiences often find themselves longing to sit on a familiar couch or grab a drink at a local pub with these beloved characters. The following list highlights fifteen television friend groups that have left a lasting impression on pop culture history.

‘Friends’ (1994–2004)

Six friends navigate the complexities of life and love while living in Manhattan. Monica and Rachel share an apartment across the hall from Chandler and Joey while Ross and Phoebe complete the tight-knit circle. The group spends most of their free time discussing their problems at the Central Perk coffee house. Their bond survives career changes and romantic entanglements to prove that friends really become family.

‘How I Met Your Mother’ (2005–2014)

Ted Mosby recounts the lengthy story of how he met his wife to his children while highlighting the adventures of his four best friends. The group frequently gathers at MacLaren’s Pub to share drinks and support one another through the ups and downs of adulthood. Marshall and Lily serve as the stable couple while Barney and Robin provide chaotic energy to the dynamic. This New York crew created a lexicon of inside jokes and traditions that defined a generation of sitcoms.

‘Seinfeld’ (1989–1998)

Jerry Seinfeld and his three eccentric friends find themselves in awkward social situations on the Upper West Side of New York City. The comedian is joined by his neurotic best friend George Costanza and his former girlfriend Elaine Benes. Their neighbor Cosmo Kramer frequently slides through the door to complete the quartet. The group often obsesses over minutiae and social conventions while displaying a remarkable lack of personal growth.

‘New Girl’ (2011–2018)

A bubbly teacher named Jess moves into a Los Angeles loft with three single men after a bad breakup. She forms an unlikely but unbreakable bond with Nick, Schmidt, and Winston as they navigate their thirties together. The roommates create elaborate games like True American to pass the time in their shared space. Their friendship eventually expands to include Cece and creates a supportive environment for everyone to embrace their quirks.

‘The Big Bang Theory’ (2007–2019)

Physicists Leonard and Sheldon live across the hall from an aspiring actress named Penny who introduces them to social norms outside of their laboratory work. They are constantly joined by their fellow scientists Howard and Raj as they bond over comic books and video games. The group eventually grows to include microbiologist Bernadette and neurobiologist Amy. These friends bridge the gap between scientific genius and everyday life through their shared meals and geek culture interests.

‘Parks and Recreation’ (2009–2015)

Leslie Knope leads a diverse team of public servants in the Parks Department of Pawnee, Indiana. The optimistic bureaucrat turns her reluctance colleagues into a devoted support system that champions her ambitious political goals. Ron Swanson provides a stoic counterpoint to Leslie while April and Andy bring youthful unpredictability to the office. This workplace family proves that even the most mundane government jobs can foster deep emotional connections.

‘Brooklyn Nine-Nine’ (2013–2021)

Detectives at the 99th Precinct in Brooklyn solve crimes while engaging in elaborate office pranks and annual heists. Jake Peralta leads the squad with his immature antics while Captain Raymond Holt tries to maintain order with his stoic demeanor. The team relies on trust and humor to cope with the dangers inherent in police work. Their camaraderie extends beyond the precinct as they celebrate personal milestones and support each other through professional setbacks.

‘Community’ (2009–2015)

A suspended lawyer is forced to attend community college where he forms a study group with a mismatched collection of students. The Greendale Seven includes a former high school football star, an activist, a film student, and a moist towelette tycoon. They turn their library study room into a base of operations for campus-wide paintball wars and conceptual adventures. This group deconstructs classic tropes while finding genuine connection in their shared status as outcasts.

‘Stranger Things’ (2016–Present)

A group of young boys in Hawkins, Indiana encounters supernatural forces after their friend Will mysteriously vanishes. Mike, Dustin, and Lucas welcome a telekinetic girl named Eleven into their party to help fight monsters from the Upside Down. Their bond is forged through playing Dungeons & Dragons and facing legitimate life-or-death situations together. As they grow up, their friendship adapts to include new members while maintaining the loyalty that saved them originally.

‘The Golden Girls’ (1985–1992)

Four older women share a home in Miami while navigating the trials of aging and single life. Dorothy provides the voice of reason against the naivety of Rose and the vanity of Blanche. Sophia adds sharp wit and wisdom as the matriarch of the household. The women resolve their conflicts and comfort each other over late-night cheesecake sessions at the kitchen table.

‘Sex and the City’ (1998–2004)

Carrie Bradshaw writes a newspaper column about the dating lives of modern women in New York City. She relies on the advice and companionship of her three best friends Miranda, Charlotte, and Samantha. The quartet gathers regularly for brunch to dissect their romantic escapades and professional hurdles. Their friendship serves as the primary stabilizing force in a city that constantly changes around them.

‘Living Single’ (1993–1998)

Khadijah James lives in a Brooklyn brownstone with her cousin Synclaire and her childhood friend Régine. The women are constantly visited by their attorney neighbor Max and the two men living in the apartment upstairs. This professional group balances their career ambitions with a vibrant social life full of humor and heart. The show highlights the strength found in female friendships and the importance of community in an urban setting.

‘It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’ (2005–Present)

Five narcissistic friends own and operate an unsuccessful Irish bar called Paddy’s Pub in South Philadelphia. The Gang consists of twins Dennis and Dee along with their friends Mac and Charlie and the eccentric Frank Reynolds. They frequently engage in unethical schemes and loud arguments that usually result in disaster for everyone involved. Their codependent relationship keeps them bound together despite their constant betrayal of one another.

‘That ’70s Show’ (1998–2006)

A group of teenagers in Point Place, Wisconsin spends their days hanging out in Eric Forman’s basement. The circle includes the rebellious Hyde, the dim-witted Kelso, the foreign exchange student Fez, and the girl-next-door Donna. They pass the time discussing life and listening to rock music while trying to avoid the wrath of Eric’s father Red. The show captures the boredom and excitement of suburban adolescence during the late 1970s.

‘Happy Endings’ (2011–2013)

Six best friends in Chicago try to keep their group together after a wedding between two of them falls apart at the altar. Dave and Alex decide to remain friends which forces the rest of the gang to navigate the awkward new dynamic. Jane and Brad serve as the high-energy married couple while Max and Penny search for love in the city. The group is known for their rapid-fire banter and refusal to take anything too seriously.

Tell us which TV friend group you would most like to join in the comments.