The glorious '90s. In addition to witnessing the perennial joys of Gameboys, dial-up internet and questionable fashion trends, the decade also brought the world Friends - one of the best loved sitcoms of all time.
It's impossible to imagine the show with anything other than its legendary cast, but, incredibly, comedy superstar Vince Vaughn was once considered for the role of Joey Tribbiani.
Nah, that would have been terrible.
As well as this, Vaughn's, best pal, John Favreau, was offered the role of Chandler Bing, but turned it down, opting instead to concentrate on starring in Swingers - the movie that launched his career.
He wouldn't miss out on staring in the show, either, he played Monica's fella Pete Becker.
The Wedding Crashers star was turned down, despite Friends casting director Ellie Kanner, and her former assistant, noting that Vaughn was 'tall and handsome' and a 'good actor'.
Vaughn didn't server links with the show totally, though, he would go on to date Jennifer Aniston, Rachel Green in the sit-com, between 2005-2006 after the pair had co-starred in The Break-up.
And, if the idea of Vaughn as Joey isn't weird enough, we almost had Eric McCormack - Will from Will & Grace - as Ross Geller. Can you imagine this fella shouting: "YOU ATE MY SANDWICH?".
Credit: PA
Saved By The Bell's Jessie Spano - real name Elizabeth Berkley - was very almost Rachel. But producers then decided that Courtney Cox should be Rachel and she had to convince them that she would be a better Monica.
Casting directors were apparently spoilt for choice when it came to Bings, because Jon Cryer, from Two and a Half Men, was also in the running. He didn't get the role, but he obviously didn't miss out too much, because Two and a Half Men ended up being one of the highest-paid sitcoms of all time.
Jon 'Definitely Not Chandler Bing' Cryer. Credit: PA
Proving that nothing is sacred, the catchy Friends theme tune wasn't even first choice for the song. In the original pilot, when the show was still called Friends Like Us, it was REM's Shiny Happy People that played during the opening credits.
Credit: YouTube/Friends Like Us
The opening credits didn't even have a water fountain. Too weird.
Words: Brad Marshall
Featured Image Credit: Friends/PATopics: Friends