Keeping in Touch With ‘Friends’

Remind me again: Is “Friends” a sitcom or a soap opera?

It’s become nearly impossible to tell this season, as the show plays out the story of the heretofore philandering Joey falling hopelessly in love with the pregnant Rachel.

Every week of late has explored a new chapter of Joey’s trauma. First came his grappling with the feelings: Was it love or wasn’t it? It was. Should he tell anyone? Well, of course--what are friends for? But what about telling his good buddy Ross, Rachel’s former paramour and the father of the baby she’s carrying? And then, dare he bare his soul to Rachel?

Last week, he did. She thought he was kidding. Then she realized he wasn’t. She let him know the feeling wasn’t mutual. He was crestfallen. They hugged.

Tonight (8 p.m. NBC): Can they go back to just being pals?

The sappiness-to-laughter ratio seems increasingly out of balance to this longtime viewer, but that’s obviously a minority opinion. “Friends” is the top-rated series on television this season, averaging 24.9 million viewers a week--up a remarkable 20% from last year’s figure. Fans are writing letters to The Times saying Matt LeBlanc and Jennifer Aniston deserve Emmys for their tenderhearted performances. No wonder NBC just agreed to pay more than $150 million for a ninth season.

One must conclude that the show’s title describes not only the relationship of the characters but also the audience’s feeling for them. After years of watching their comedic struggles with jobs, family and the opposite sex, viewers are now pulling for Joey and Rachel--and Ross and Phoebe, too--to find the same happiness that Chandler and Monica have.

But any soap opera fan could have told you that.