**David Schwimmer Avoided Friends’ Iconic Theme for Years: ‘I’d Heard It Too Much’**

David Schwimmer had grown weary of the Friends opening tune.

The 58-year-old actor shared during a recent episode of Matt Lucas and David Walliams’ Making a Scene podcast that repeatedly hearing the sitcom’s signature melody during its decade-long run left an unexpected emotional impact.

“I never revisited the series after we wrapped production,” he revealed.  

Lucas, 51, teased, “Same here – I never tuned into your show either.” 

Schwimmer further explained, “When I complete a project, I prefer to leave it behind rather than look back.”

His perspective shifted when his preteen daughter Cleo – whom he co-parents with ex-spouse Zoë Buckman – began streaming reruns around age nine.

The Goosebumps star shares custody of 13-year-old Cleo with former partner Zoë Buckman.

“To be completely transparent, even just catching a snippet of that theme music would trigger…” he paused, struggling to articulate his response before exhaling deeply. 

“Does that make sense?” he continued. “I’d simply been exposed to it countless times over the years.” 

Offering humorous reassurance, Lucas quoted the show’s memorable lyric: “Well, no one told you life was going to be that way.”

“Precisely,” Schwimmer acknowledged. “Whenever I appeared on talk shows or did press interviews, they’d always play that track. It eventually became overwhelming.”

He emphasized that witnessing his child delight in the series transformed his perception. 

“While preparing meals, I’d suddenly hear her giggling at the screen,” he reminisced.

The actor confessed, “My feelings about both the music and the program completely evolved.”

First airing September 22, 1994, the iconic sitcom chronicled the lives of six interconnected Manhattan residents navigating careers and relationships.

Schwimmer’s co-stars included Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, and the late Matthew Perry.

The series commemorated three decades since its premiere last year.

“Everything felt electric. Every moment was thrilling,” Aniston, 56, shared with PEOPLE in April 2024 regarding her experience. “While that excitement remains, we’ve accumulated more life wisdom and memories since then.”

Following the May 2004 finale, the ensemble has preserved their bond through multiple reunions, including a 2021 special on HBO titled Friends: The Reunion.

Current streaming availability includes Amazon Prime Video and Max.