Can the strength of 'Friends' survive?

In a move that was great for marketers but potential murder for television fans, those wonderful executives at CBS decided to broadcast the second incarnation of summer ratings powerhouse "Survivor" at 8 p.m. Thursdays. This time slot was purposely chosen to compete with NBC's "Must-See TV Thursday Night," more specifically the lead-off program "Friends." NBC responded to CBS' attempt to grab ratings glory by giving viewers four 40-minute editions of "Friends" during February.\n Thanks to the hoopla, executives from all companies involved are most likely rolling in newly acquired money. But what about humble television viewers now forced to choose between the pre-marriage exploits of Chandler and Monica and the petty feuds of all those "Survivor" people? Several factors weigh heavily in deciding how to spend one precious hour of Thursday night.\n The first of these factors, program quality, gives "Friends" the obvious advantage. "Survivor" like similar reality shows is blatantly exploitative of its unwitting contestants, combining the cheesiness of host Jeff Probst with the manufactured antagonistic interaction of Jeff, Kimmi and all the rest. Roving cameras and pounding tiki drum music is hardly a good substitute for quality writing and sophisticated humor, two things "Friends" possesses in spades. \n Although the sitcom's quality fell from early seasons a few years back, "Friends" rebounded a few seasons ago. From Courtney Cox-Arquette to David Schwimmer, the cast members prove themselves to be great comedic actors, particularly within the ensemble.\n Unfortunately for "Friends," the show does not come out on top of the next consideration, guilty pleasure entertainment value. Reality show craziness has proven the majority of Americans (or at least those connected with the Nielsen ratings) to be Peeping Toms at heart. There is something dowGnright enjoyable about seeing the backstabbing ensue among the survivors, particularly because the audience knows these are real people and all the rat-eating wackiness is actually taking place. Why tune into "Friends" and "spy" on Joey's ill-fated fictional stints on "Days of Our Lives" when you can tune into "Survivor" and really and truly spy on what's going on in the Australian Outback?\n In the end, the best solution of how to spend Thursdays between 8-9 p.m. for the next few weeks is to spend the first 40 minutes watching a high-quality, first-run episode of "Friends." When that's over, skip whatever filler NBC uses to take up space this week and flip to "Survivor," just in time to see the seediest, most irresistible part of the whole show: when all the contestants are forced to cold-bloodedly vote someone off the show. \n Then, you the viewer, can have the best of both worlds.