"Oh. My. God." That iconic catchphrase alone could send a studio audience into a frenzy — and it did, every single time Janice walked on screen. According to Maggie Wheeler, the actress behind Chandler Bing’s unforgettable ex, her appearances on Friends were such a crowd-pleaser that the production team had to hide her before filming scenes.
Wheeler recently opened up on Still Here Hollywood, Steve Kmetko’s podcast, sharing what it was like to play one of the most hilariously grating (and secretly beloved) characters in TV history. “I wasn’t allowed to go to craft services,” she joked. “They made me stay in my dressing room. No food for you!” The reason? Producers didn’t want the audience to spot her and ruin the surprise. Instead, Wheeler entered scenes behind a black curtain — ensuring her appearances delivered maximum shock and laughter.
“It felt a little like being a rock star,” Wheeler said. “The audience would gasp, laugh, and howl. You’d ride a wave of response.” One of the most dramatic reactions came during the season 5 episode, The One With Chandler’s Work Laugh, when Janice unexpectedly spent the night with Ross. “Nobody saw that coming,” she recalled. “The buildup was huge, and when I finally walked in, they went nuts.”
Despite only appearing in 19 episodes, Janice left an outsized impact on fans — thanks to her loud laugh, over-the-top wardrobe, and, of course, that unforgettable voice. Wheeler said she’s “lost count” of how many times people have asked her to say her famous line, and yes, it often came paired with a grand entrance for full Janice effect.
Behind the scenes, Wheeler has fond memories of the Friends set. “It was unlike any other set I had ever been on. The cast was super close,” she shared, recalling early days hanging out in a tiny green room with beat-up couches and lunch poker games. She also remembered her audition fondly — a single scene where Janice gives Chandler a pair of Bullwinkle socks. “It said ‘fast-talking New Yorker’ and I thought, yeah, I know exactly who that is.”
What started as a one-off character quickly turned into one of Friends’ most delightful surprises. As Wheeler put it, “That’s the moment they discovered Janice — and so did I.”
Source: Entertainment Weekly