BEIJING: Upon learning about the death of “Friends” star Matthew Perry, Xiao Dong (pseudonym) decided to watch an episode of the sitcom, which he had already seen countless times before.
He chose the one when the affable and witty Chandler Bing, played by Perry, was proposed to by his friend Monica Geller, played by Courteney Cox.
“This is one of my favorite episodes, and I believe in another world, the man is living such a happy life,” said the 39-year-old editor.
Xiao is among the many Chinese fans of the American TV drama that have been saddened by the death of Emmy-nominated actor Perry, who was found dead in a tub at his home in the United States over the weekend.
Xiao began his studies as an English major at Beijing International Studies University in 2003. His teacher recommended that he watch the sitcom to improve his language skills. His interest in the characters started with a DVD he bought in a shop on campus.
The man was from a small city in north China’s Shanxi Province, which, even after the reform and opening up decades ago, saw few foreign people in the early 2000s. “The TV drama really opened a window for me to learn about the lifestyle and culture of the West,” he said.
He believes that its influence on Chinese audiences is still evident today, as T-shirts and souvenirs with images and logos of “Friends” can still be easily found in online stores. –Agencies
