"fr "friends" sitcom. it happens when we sit at a moment which divorce rates were rising. >> we seem to be going downhill in life's most important venture, marriage. >> do you compare everybody to your ex-wife? >> sure i do and compare blanch, everyone looks good. >> they began to explore the breakup of the family on television. >> two divorced men share an apartment without driving each other crazy. >> the perfect opening to a sitcom was, of course, the odd couple opening, which told all the back story and set it up in this beautiful way. >> felix was asked to remove himself from this place of residence. that request came from his life. >> "the odd couple" was a neal simon play on broadway and became a movie ex came to television in 1970, thanks to garry marshall. >> would you do me a favor? >> what?