Phoebe's Friends Story Line Almost Had A Completely Different Ending

The finale of Friends ended with everyone (except Joey) coupled off. While Phoebe's happily ever after with her husband Mike was a bit rushed (they get married in the show's final season), it still felt right. Phoebe (played by Lisa Kudrow) and Mike (played by Paul Rudd) are both a little kooky and they're both musicians, and Mike is practical enough to keep Phoebe grounded without crushing her unique spirit. 

According to Friends co-creator David Crane, though, things almost turned out very differently for the "Smelly Cat" singer. She almost ended up with a man from her past, David (played by Hank Azaria), a scientist who moved to Minsk for work in season 1 breaking Phoebe's heart in the process.

David showed up again in season 9, still in love with Phoebe, but Phoebe ended up choosing Mike. Things almost went the other way, though. "There was definitely a possibility of that," Crane recently told Radio Times. "I mean, we didn't definitively know [who she'd end up with]. They're both amazing actors. I mean, both Paul and Hank are fantastic, and fantastic with her. We sort of went back and forth."

Unfortunately, Crane wasn't able to explain why they eventually decided to have Phoebe end up with Mike since, you know, the show ended more than a decade ago. "I don't even remember all the pieces that led to where we landed, but yeah, it could have gone the other way," he said. "Phoebe would have been great with either one."

Whatever the reason was for having Phoebe end up with Mike, we think it was the right one. While Phoebe and David made a cute couple, we have a feeling that David's keen scientific mind would have eventually clashed with Phoebe's whimsical child-like wonder. Considering that Phoebe doesn't believe in evolution or gravity, and was once convinced that a cat was her reincarnated mother, she and David probably wouldn't have lasted very long if she had chosen him.