Nope. The gentrification of the Village predated "Friends" by at least a few years. But to the show's credit, they did mention that Monica's apartment was rent controlled and in her grandmother's name. Still a bit far-fetched, though.

They couldn't get away with the premise today. The neighborhood is just TOO expensive now. A studio apartment on Bedford Street will run you two grand a month today. Easily. And if you think I'm exaggerating in the slightest, give Craigslist or one of the NYC realty sites a gander (Corcoran, Halstead, Elliman, etc.).

And if you've never seen a Manhattan studio, Oli, some of them are less than 300 square feet. That's a horse stall in your neck of the woods .