We talk with author Saul Austerlitz about his excellent new book Generation Friends: An Inside Look at the Show That Defined a Television Era. Discussions include: the recent spate of internet takedowns calling out Friends as problematic; why the show has endured long enough to be subject to such takedowns and enchant new generations of fans; and the writers' room debates that considered moving the sexy sextet to Minneapolis, came up with the surprisingly brilliant pairing of Monica and Chandler, and the less-inspired Joey-Rachel romance.

Pop Literacy cohost Jennifer Keishin Armstrong will be in conversation with Austerlitz at a September 17 event in New York City, at 7 p.m. at the IFC Center.