The role of Dr. Richard Burke wasn’t written just for Tom Selleck. The writers had planned a storyline where Monica would date an older man, so they needed someone who looked charming enough for people to believe the romance. Tom Selleck was a perfect fit.
Even though Tom Selleck was a well-known actor, he still had to audition with Courteney Cox before getting the part. They clicked right away. Some people had told him not to do the show because it might seem like he was “desperate to get back on TV.” But he chose to do it anyway.
Tom Selleck was so loved by fans that every time he walked into a scene, the audience gave him a standing ovation. While this was flattering, it made things harder for the production team. The loud cheers messed up the timing, so they had to reshoot his first scenes after the audience left. He ended up in nine episodes and also did one voice-only part without credit.
