The idea for the series was conceived when Crane and Kauffman began thinking about the time when they had finished college and started living by themselves in New York; Kauffman believed they were looking at a time when the future was "more of a question mark."
Idea sarjaan sai alkunsa, kun Crane ja Kauffman pohtivat aikaa, jolloin he olivat lopettaneet koulun ja alkoivat elää yksin New Yorkissa; he tarkastelivat aikaa, jolloin tulevaisuus oli enemmänkin kysymysmerkki.