DAILY DIRT: Apparently, not everyone was a big fan of ‘Friends’

Personally, Rachel was my favorite character on “Friends” … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 370 of The Daily Dirt.

1. Over the weekend I was examining the results of several online ballots that were attempting to find the most overrated/underrated shows in TV history.

Surprisingly, at least to me, the legendary “Friends” was taking a beating in these ballots. “Friends” is one of those programs I just assumed 99.9 percent of the population adored.

Guess not.

“For some unknown reason, (‘Friends’) is treated like a masterpiece,” wrote one critic.

Well, not by everyone, my friends (no pun intended).

The most interesting sets of results I saw were a pair of tallies supplied by buzzfeed.com. The two sets of numbers were compiled at different times in recent years and both asked if particular shows were “overrated,” “underrated” or “appropriately appreciated.”

These were the results of the “Friends” portion of the ballot:

Result No. 1

• “Friends” was underrated: 8 percent.
• “Friends” was overrated: 54 percent
• “Friends” was appropriately appreciated: 38 percent

Result No. 2

• “Friends” was underrated: 4 percent.
• “Friends” was overrated: 49 percent.
• “Friends” was appropriately appreciated: 40 percent.
• Never saw the show, didn’t care, etc.: 7 percent

“Friends isn’t funny. Never has been, never will be. Most overrated show in TV history,” according to Piers Morgan, the recognized English broadcaster, journalist, writer and TV personality.

Probably a bit harsh, Piers, but judging by those aforementioned results you apparently aren’t alone.

“Friends” ran on NBC Thursday nights from 1994 through 2004, starring Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry and David Schwimmer.

Whether or not you think the show was overrated or not, don’t feel too bad for any of the former cast members. Each of the six stars receives $20 million a year, which is 2 percent of the annual income brought by the syndication of the program.

2. It’s been a great week for the Great Plate Debate.

We have a new member of the medal stand and a new order of medalists — plus the week’s additional top five spottings across West-Central Illinois and Northeast Missouri:

— BING: As in Crosby?

— SUNDE 2: These two plates were on vehicles …

— 2 SUNDE: … parked side by side.

— ROOFING: Pretty sure this was a business owner. Pretty sure it is genius marketing.

— 11 BEER: I think the owner forgot the “S” on BEER.

Top 3 for the year to date: For the fourth time in the last six weeks, we have a new plate on the medal stand. And we also have a new order of recognition.

Gold medal: LUV YADI. (Now No. 1 for the last 6 months.)

Silver medal: BUSS BUS. Bravo! Bravo! Bravo!

Bronze medal: GOL D LOX. Is the end (of its time here) near?

3. Don Mattingly was highly respected when he played for the New York Yankees.

The same held true when he turned to managing, first with the Los Angeles Dodgers and currently with the Miami Marlins.

His son Jordon? Not so much under that “highly respected” heading.

Jordon Mattingly was busted for drunk driving in Indiana earlier this summer, but that’s only part of the story. The 30-year-old crashed his car and then tried to sell it shortly afterward to a local dealership in Evansville, Ind., according to police and media reports.

The police report indicated Mattingly crashed his car into a median while inebriated before driving to a local dealership and trying to sell it. Mattingly, after crashing his silver Honda, was more than 3.5 times over the legal limit and blew a .291 when officers conducted a breathalyzer test, according to an arrest affidavit.

A witness reported seeing Mattingly’s Honda slam into a median at 70 mph before returning to the road. Minutes later, the driver was inside the Honda dealership appearing “super drunk,” while his car was missing a tire, according to the affidavit.

Mattingly — who reportedly had swelling and scratches to his shin and forehead — told cops he was at the dealership to sell his ride and pick up a new one. He also said, according to the affidavit, he had only “one drink.”

Steve Thought O’ The Day — For me, the cast member of “Friends” we could have done without was Matt LeBlanc (“Joey’).

Steve Eighinger writes daily for Muddy River News. He’ll be there for you.