Monica Geller would eventually become popular staples of the show. Several months before "Friends" premiered, NBC had conducted a research report, the results of which determined that Monica was the only character to have been remotely well received by test audiences. When "Friends" first aired, critics initially perceived Monica – who was immediately established as the show's "mother hen" – and Cox as the series' main character and star, respectively. Critics have been largely receptive towards both Cox and her character; the "Los Angeles Times" holds Cox's acting responsible for disproving the stigma that attractive women are incapable of delivering comedic performances.
Monica Geller Levy of "The Diamondback", Monica inspired "any ensemble cast in a sitcom with a female character who is bossy or neurotic," citing "Scrubs"’ Elliot Reid and "Happy Endings"’ Jane Kerkovich-Williams as examples of Monica's influence. Additionally, Levy identified Claire Dunphy from the sitcom "Modern Family" as Monica's modern-day equivalent, explaining that the character "acts like Monica plus children". In spring 2015, "TV Guide" published an article entitled "22 Spring Cleaning Tips From Monica Geller" in recognition of the character's cleanliness. In her article "5 Signs You’re A Real-Life Monica Geller", Ayn Bernos of "Thought Catalog" wrote that the character's personality