I don't imagine anyone would actually choose friends because it is SUCH a product of it's era in a really weird way and so is The Office but its newer and little more modern.
I think it's really important if you're working in any media but also specifically comics to soak up as much stuff as you can. Even the stuff you watch that you don't think you'll gain anything from are pop culture standards for a reason and I think its good practice to engage and learn. (this goes for any piece of media-- not just popular tv shows)
Friends is a really good study of strong, stock character archetypes working together under varying societal pressures while the Office shows has a whole different brand of interaction with more nuanced characters. I think its all valid and all important.