The One Where An Actress Was Almost Replaced. According to "Friends" director James Burrows, actress Helen Baxendale, who portrayed Ross Geller's (David Schwimmer) whirlwind romance Emily in seasons four and five, was nearly removed from the show due to a lack of chemistry with her co-star.

In his memoir "Directed By James Burrows," Burrows stated, "Schwimmer had no one to bounce off. It was like clapping with one hand.

" He also mentioned that Baxendale was pleasant but not particularly funny compared to Jennifer Aniston's Rachel Green, who had a prominent on-screen relationship with Ross.

Burrows emphasized the importance of humor in sitcoms and romantic comedies, stating, "The funny is just as important as the chemistry. We discovered that any new girlfriend for Ross needed to be as funny as Rachel." Despite these creative concerns, Burrows did not remove Baxendale from the show due to tight shooting schedules, as revealed in the memoir.

Burrows, who worked on the sitcom during the '90s, explained, "Often, you can't recast because of tight shooting deadlines or other logistical considerations. You need someone who gets laughs. Sometimes you start an arc, and it ain't working out, so you have to get rid of that person.

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