Friends: The Reunion

Also, I can’t believe I’m up at six in the fucking morning watching this.

The part that got to me was Courtney letting Matt wipe her tear-streaked face. That felt so human and something I would’ve never thought someone as high maintenance as Courtney would let anyone do, especially on camera.

Finished watching it. Matthew came across only slightly better than the preview clips suggested.

The stuff with James Cordon was the worst, especially the cat walk with Justin Bieber. The stuff that was set on the studio sets was the best part. The actors slipped right back into character during their table reading.

Reacting to bloopers was a hoot too. Definitely felt like this could have been longer. It’s a shame it was obviously hampered by covid.

Lisa Kudrow looks amazing.

Why is Jen resembling Goldie Hawn?

I adored when Lisa was about to sing Smelly Cat, realised she should be Phoebe, nodded her head and said “ok” and suddenly a flip was switched and she was in character.

Six minutes of James Cordon is too high a price to pay, even if I had been interested in watching Justin Bieber talk about a show that ended when he was ten years old.

R7 Thankfully, he’s not on much.

A total pile of garbage. Friends was one of the worst shows ever made. I’m surprised a laugh track didn’t come out of their mouths when they open Jed them.

How is poor Matthew doing in the interviews?

R10 So far he’s not as bad as I thought he’d be. He’s obviously aged terribly. Damn, addiction is one helluva cunt.

I’m liking this a lot more than I thought I would.

Is the special them sitting around talking about the show, or is it a reboot with the playing their characters?

R12 It consists of the cast talking about the show in various settings interspersed with interviews of fans and the creators.

They also do table reads, which is cute.

Thanks R13

Just finished it. It was good. I’m happy for them.

Not finished yet. Corden worst possible host. Mindy Kaling and Reese Witherspoon should have co-hosted.

Hate the global superfans - maybe to counter racism?

Matthew Perry is a fucking trainwreck. It was uncomfortable and sad to watch.

The reviews are very mixed. And it does seem like HBO went over the top. Did anyone need Lady Gaga or fucking Bieber involved? And James Corden hosting? Just put the 6 of them on the couch and let them reminisce the way Entertainment Weekly does their reunions.

R18 Honestly, the reunion worked best when it focused on just the cast and creators. Thankfully, the host and guest stars were given very little time.

Cringe.

Celebrity guests include Reese Witherspoon and Lady Gaga singing “Smelly Cat” Announced guests included David Beckham (who talks about how much he loves the show), BTS (who discuss how it helped them learn English), Justin Bieber (who dressed up as Ross’ Halloween costume Sputnik, aka Doodie, for the fashion show), Cara Delevingne (also part of the fashion show), Cindy Crawford (fashion show), Kit Harington (another fan testimonial), Mindy Kaling (also a fan testimonial), and Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafza, who also reminisced about her fandom of “Friends.”

Was it a scripted show or basically just an interview with the cast?

Why did Perry get emotional?

His methadone levels dipped r22

MY EYES. MY EYES.

I would rather die OP.

Anniston and Schwimmer talking about how they crushed on each other, but never did anything because one of them was always in a relationship?

Sure, Jen Anniston. So many people blamed Angelina, when in all reality, you were riding David’s peen.

I found Matt LeBlanc really adorable and at ease with himself.

LeBlanc is ENORMOUS. Huge belly.

Cox's plastic surgery is awful and she sounds like an old lisping crone because of it.

Perry is balding from the back and his fake choppers are terrifying.

The other three look fab.

Aniston fucked every man in Hollywood. I refuse to believe that she missed her co-stars.

I missed. Will the TV show have a rerun?

R28 Cox looks better than she did 5 years ago

Then maybe I should wait another five years.

The last thread was bonkers. Today nobody seems to care.

Matt LeBlanc was ridiculously attractive in his early days holy fuck.

I'm watching tonight. From the last thread I expect Matthew Perry to be virtually catatonic, but it seems like he wasn't as badly off as was stated.

LeBlanc came across as dumb and immature as he was 27 years ago. But much, much less attractive.

OP, do you work for Warner Bros.? How can you like this racist homophobic crap? There's something wrong with you if you are not offended by this.

Oh, that stupid Lang article again.

I watched approximately 15 minutes of the Friends Reunion train wreck. Lisa Kudrow saying that they "all stay in touch, maybe not every day, but we're family, we stay in touch," only to have Matthew Perry say, "I don't hear from anybody," was the most cringeworthy moment I've ever witnessed during any televised reunion. I promptly tuned elsewhere. So embarrassing for them all.

Matthew Perry looks like his face had reconstructive surgery and he's wearing dentures. The whiteness is blinding. But otherwise, he's not as feeble as I'd expected. I feel like Leblanc is kind of taking care of him during this, which is sweet, reminding him of stuff and making sure he's comfortable, is the vibe I'm getting. I think Leblanc is coming off really mellow and funny and is the most at ease. Whoever said Dad energy articulated it perfectly. The bass of Aniston's voice and her frozen face is freaking me out but seeing them do the script reads was fun. Cox seemed the most reticent at first but warmed up a bit.

The bloopers were hysterical.

I was never a die hard watcher of the show but I saw enough of it to remember key moments and I'd forgotten the show could be so funny. I thank Kit Harington for reminding me of the couch scene - I recall having to do something similar down my sister's staircase and screaming for the pivot and we almost peed our pants. A lot of the scenes they showcased for the special really highlighted the physical comedy, which I agree with Harington was where its best moments lay. Also, my god is Kit gorgeous. I cannot stop looking at his arms as he tells us how incredibly anal he is. I would bury my face so deep in that ass.

I don't know why, but I was strangely moved by the testimonials from the fans around the world. I know millenials would have us believe that no one can relate to these characters unless they are white and waspish, but that was obviously not the case. Sometimes a hit show is less about representation and more about its universal themes.

The James Corden-hosted stuff was as annoying as expected, but most of the special was quite sweet.

The Daily Mail has like 15 articles on the reunion show today, if you can't get enough of it.

R40 stop confusing millennials with Gen Z, thx

I think the women have genuine friendships (though obviously Aniston and Cox are closest) and the guys are friendly.

I’ve watched this five times already and am going in for more!

They look older than their Hollywood years, honestly look at Paul Rudd or many other celebs the same ages as these guys and tell me this cast should look as rough as they do at their age and it's because they all smoked, apart from Kudrow who has aged the best out of all the cast.

Hardly fair to compare anyone to Paul Rudd.

R46 Fair, but compare them to most rich people in their 50s and they look rough.

According to the Deadline review for this, they nearly 2.5 million each to show up for this. Insane.

R48, I find that kind of despicable. None of them needs the money. They could have had $15 million donated to worthy charities.

What a shock, rich people love money. I'm shocked it was that low, I'd have expected at least 5 million each, I mean they were on 1 million an episode each per episode during the last couple of seasons.

[quote] Matthew Perry looks like his face had reconstructive surgery and he's wearing dentures.

It is kinda funny that Chandler and Monica ended up together, because Courtney Cox and Matthew Perry clearly have had the most (questionable) plastic surgery. When Perry walked on the set at the beginning, his face looked so strange, like an embalmed person in a coffin at a funeral home.

Pretty sure Perry was kidding when he said he never hears from anyone since we've seen him with LeBlanc and Schwimmer.

"Oh, Matty, it's good to see you, man." That got me choked up a little bit.

It's really funny to see the Friends creators give interviews where they say the show is over, the characters got their happy endings, the story is DONE, there won't be a revival. And then you have Sarah Jessica Parker demanding that SATC continue FOREVER, long past the point where it was interesting.

I honestly wish they would have done something scripted/a movie/a reboot. They never will, but I wish it. I don't really care for "clip shows"

r20 Mindy Kaling (also a fat testimonial)

They should have cashed in on a thanksgiving special. Now, it is too difficult bc it has been too long. Rachel/Ross wedding would have been another thing that they could have done.

I do not understand all the drama about this. It was an interview.

China deletes sections by BTS, Gaga, and Bieber.

BTS, Gaga and Bieber are all artists who have run afoul of Beijing in the past.

Last October, Chinese nationalists slammed BTS for insulting China by not mentioning the sacrifices of Chinese soldiers in the Korean War in an acceptance speech for a prize celebrating the group’s contributions to U.S.-Korea relations, which had no direct relation to China.

Gaga has been a persona non grata in China since she met in 2016 with the Dalai Lama, with whom she discussed compassion. Beijing accuses the Nobel Peace Prize laureate of being a dangerous separatist.

Bieber first came under fire in China in 2014 for photographing himself visiting Tokyo’s controversial Yasukuni war shrine, a site that honors Japanese World War II war criminals alongside other casualties of war. In 2017, the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture formally banned him from performing in the country, citing “a series of bad behaviors” both on- and off-stage.

All three Chinese platforms cut the musicians out of the “Friends” special entirely.

[quote] Last October, Chinese nationalists slammed BTS for insulting China by not mentioning the sacrifices of Chinese soldiers in the Korean War in an acceptance speech for a prize celebrating the group’s contributions to U.S.-Korea relations, which had no direct relation to China.

Hmmm, BTS are from South Korea, China fought for North Korea during the Korean War so why would they be praising the sacrifice of Chinese soldiers in that war?

[quote] Friends was one of the worst shows ever made. I’m surprised a laugh track didn’t come out of their mouths when they open Jed them.

Who is Jed? Was he a black character?

This was much better than the Fresh Prince reunion. It was a fun celebration of the show. I enjoyed it.

Jed.

refreshing to see how likable Matt LeBlanc is. If he just lost maybe 50 pounds he'd look so fine - his face is still so attractive

[quote] Oh, that stupid Lang article again.

What do you mean, R38?

R9 Jed was Friends' 5% Token POC.

I demand that the Friends remake be 50% POC ! !

I have watched this show so many fuckin times, I even remembered the dialogues. But I only watched it for Phoebe Buffay. Every episode, I'd wait for Phoebe to appear and do/say some batshit weird stuffs that she was about. Hilarious! Always made me laugh. Never cared for the rest of the character as much.

My main takeaway while watching this was realizing how much I want Kudrow to do another season of The Comeback.

R63 just 50?

The bloopers are better than the show

I like that they included some of the minor recurring characters but I wish Gunther had been there in person.

The Justin Bieber & Co. fashion show was so Starfucker.

This was great, and so much better than a scripted reunion episode would have been. The appeal of a reunion is seeing the characters together again and interacting, but the actors look so different now there would be something sad about imagining the characters (especially some of them) like this. But getting to watch these actors interacting as themselves, and the genuine chemistry between them, the real emotions and how naturally funny they could be was all the positive aspects of a reunion episode and none of the downsides. Most of the Corden stuff was useless (other than Lisa's freakout over the bug--hilarious), but all the parts with just the actors together were perfect. (Schwimmer and Leblanc's one-liners, Kudrow and Schwimmer's bit with the column, etc.)

I enjoyed it. Although have the terrible thought that the next time we get this nostalgic about this group will be because one of them has passed away. :(

they should have done a ross and rachel wedding like 4 years ago, like a destination wedding. They could have made bank.

Now, they have to wait for a Golden Girls kind of thing. I guess if they need something to do, in the future.

R74 the producers have done several interviews this week and they all say the book is closed, the story is told. They're not pulling a Sarah Jessica Parker

"Among the many celebrities who joined the core six in one way or another for “Friends: The Reunion” were David Beckham, Justin Bieber, BTS, James Corden, Cindy Crawford, Cara Delevingne, Lady Gaga, Elliott Gould, Kit Harington, Larry Hankin, Mindy Kaling, Thomas Lennon, Christina Pickles, Tom Selleck, James Michael Tyler, Maggie Wheeler, Reese Witherspoon and Malala Yousafzai."

Yeah...they weren't necessary, minus the guest stars.

I think they should have done a thanksgiving special, or ross and rachel wedding. It's too late to do the wedding now. It's weird not to do anything. Why so much hype for an interview?

was it good? how long till on HBO?

It is not available for me to see. How was the Tom Selleck appearance?

Funny how the two traditionally good looking stars of the show aged the worst. I agree with what r72 said though they did this just right, it was great seeing the chemistry among them AS ACTORS.

"For anyone holding out hope that the experience these actors had coming together for only the second time since “Friends” wrapped in 2004 would spark interest in more, we’re sorry to burst your bubble, but that is not going to happen. “That’s all up to Marta and David,” Kudrow said. “I once heard them say, and I completely agree, that they ended the show very nicely, everyone’s lives are very nice, and they would have to unravel all of those good things in order for there to be stories. And I don’t want anyone’s lives to be unraveled.” Kudrow also added, “At my age, saying [lines] like, ‘Floopy’ — stop. You have to grow up.” Aniston took things farther and said they probably wouldn’t even do another reunion like this."

The problem was they were all paid too much money when doing the show to have any reason to do more. They are still getting around 20 million a year and you know the creators are getting a fortune.

It's more like nobody can afford them.

R82 why go back to the well and get terrible updates like the Sex and the City movies and the soon to be shitshow series?

There is nothing wrong with a reunion film or series, as long as it is done correctly. However, one feels about Roseanne that revival was near perfect.

They almost had a reunion

R85 and the writers clearly think they can't. So...

Not watching this shite. If it was the actual 5 friends bullshitting, sure I can see a fan being into it but having the insufferable James Corden “hosting” it, fuck no. Add to it the celebrities who had nothing to do with Friends during its ten years on air (GaGa, Cindy Crawford etc) This is an overblown The Late Late Show. Also Matthew Perry looks like he ate Matthew Perry and chased it down with a cocktail of Vodka and Vicodin’s.

I was available!

R28 Please link to photos of you in 2004 and today so that we can compare and contrast.

This was incredibly stupid.

It would have been more interesting to have a regular episode picking up where they left off.

R87 if the writers think they can’t they aren’t very good at their profession. Also, the Roseanne revival wasn’t written by the same writers and was still near perfect for a reunion series. It’s not that it can’t be done it is they are all too rich to try and it would be astronomically expensive. Just as I doubt Big Bang Theory will ever do one either for the same reasons.

Friends was a show about a very specific time in your life (20s-early 30s) where most people are figuring things out and your friends are your family. The characters would be 50+ now. What do you want to see, them taking their kids on vacation? Them occasionally texting each other?

They could do a summer vacation special. I do want one special.

Kudrow was a smoker.

R95 sorry toots

The show should've ended at Monica and Chandler's wedding. Everything after that was...meh. Let's not SATC every popular TV show,

Thanks Cosmo!

Matthew Perry apparently had emergency dental surgery the day before they taped and he was in a lot of pain. That’s why his face looks swollen and he seemed a little out of it...allegedly.

R100 that would maybe explain why he sounded unintelligible, but he aseemed puffy with marbles in his mouth in some of the non interview parts (like in central perk). Was it all shot one day?

R99 - I tend to agree with that. The addition of dull as dogs water Paul Rudd added only blandness. Kudrow had a much better match with Hank Azaria.

Was that soleil moon Frye the first person with a question and the microphone in the cordon section?

She did guest on the show.

My favorite parts were the most genuine parts, when Aniston was called out on her shit.

ANISTON: "All of us stay in touch."

PERRY: "No one calls me."

ANISTON: "David and I were really crushing on each other but because we were with other people nothing happened."

LEBLANC: "Bullshit."

They do call Perry, his brain is just so wrecked from the drugs that he can't remember.

R104 They were joking with each other.

I'm only 5 minutes in and Matt LeBlanc has already been targeted with 2 fat jokes. Courteney Cox and Matthew Perry should do a special episode called "The One Where Monica and Chandler Fuck Up Their Faces." Everyone else has aged gracefully...they look scary.

Anyone using the Roseanne revival as a comparison for why Friends could/should have done a scripted revival really doesn't get the two shows.

Roseanne was a "realistic" sitcom, about sad people with their sad lives in a sad, shitty town, which was its appeal. Having that cast come back, with Roseanne and Goodman looking ancient and Gilbert and Goranson looking depressingly middle-aged and mush-faced, completely fit with the original series, so a revival worked. (And that show is depressing as hell.)

Friends obviously wasn't realistic, which was its appeal (which is why all the people who complain about how they couldn't afford that apartment in real life don't get that...yeah, that's the fantasy. If you want to watch "realistic" small apartments and sad, struggling 20somethings, there's "Girls," and no, thank you). It was a happy, upbeat show, and seeing these characters coming back as the actors look now...would be sad. Monica's a mom in Westchester...who evidently had time to be a mom of twins, run a restaurant, and destroy her face with plastic surgery! Chandler must be completely miserable in his life, because...well, is that how a happy man looks?It would be awful.

This special was supposed to have aired last year but got derailed due to covid. But the fact that it got delayed actually gave them more time to do it right and they missed that opportunity. Would it have been so hard to get Paul Rudd, Hank Azaria, Cole Sprouse, Marlo Thomas, or any of the other semi-regulars/guest stars to film clips if they couldn't appear live? It's not like they were doing anything else last year.

As much as I love Cindy Crawford, it was useless seeing her model Ross' leather pants.

R108 Ok lets go back in time. The Andy Griffith Show, Leave It To Beaver, and Father Knows Best, were all happy upbeat shows that portrayed a fantasy version of life and all three had very good scripted reunions that maintained the tone and feeling of the originals.

R110 see R94.

Everyone involved feels that the story is TOLD and DONE. And Friends was running on fumes towards the end anyway (though not as badly as many other shows).

Why would anyone want them to do a Sex and the City and beat a dead horse until it's dust?

R111 Because once you release a show into the ether, you don't really "own" it anymore. The fans are stakeholders as well and if they want to know what happened to the characters I think they owe the fans something more than, we just don't want to revisit it.

R112 according to the royalty checks everyone involved still gets every year...I think they do. No one is forced to put out garbage rehashes to pander to fans

R112 Never fear, I've got you covered!

R113 See that is where we differ. As the fans are why they are wealthy in the first place, I think they owe it to the fans to give them what they want, within reason. Entertainers are for the most part not "artists." they are our servants. It is one reason, I respect Country, Rap, and Soap performers, they seem to understand this.

R115 you sound healthy

Wonder if they asked Elle to participate?

What was up with Gunther?

I have no plans on watching this as they have that fat tub of goo and British no-talent James Corden involved. Unfuckingbeliveable that this fat fuck was included. Who the fuck is he blowing?

[quote] Entertainers are for the most part not "artists." they are our servants

I can't even tell if this is satire anymore on this site.

they could do a summer vacation special, go on a trip together. Those are funny episodes.

I have no interest in watching this. It’s just a retrospective. I give this thread one more day before the diversity troll arrives.

Will the cast do a Hallmark Christmas movie together as different characters?

What makes this cast and creator reunion effective is precisely what would make a scripted reunion tank: the mercilessness of time and the fragility of human beings who have fallen from grace.

I was never a fan of the show, but I thoroughly enjoyed this special. For those of you avoiding it because of that fat clit Cordon, don’t; he isn’t shown for more than 10 minutes. I am almost positive the producers realized that was to the benefit of this show.

[quote]Ok lets go back in time. The Andy Griffith Show, Leave It To Beaver, and Father Knows Best, were all happy upbeat shows that portrayed a fantasy version of life and all three had very good scripted reunions that maintained the tone and feeling of the originals.

Well, in the case of a scripted reunion such as "The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's Island," the bar wasn't set terribly high to begin with.

[post redacted because linking to dailymail.co.uk clearly indicates that the poster is either a troll or an idiot (probably both, honestly.) Our advice is that you just ignore this poster but whatever you do, don't click on any link to this putrid rag.]

R126 Well, he’s barely on it, so maybe he realized the same.

r110, the casts of those shows all aged fairly well (and naturally), so seeing them in the same roles a few decades later wasn't sad in the way a Friends scripted reunion would be, seeing those characters as the actors are today.

A better comparison would be something like Three's Company, also a show about young "sexy" people in their 20s having hijinks. That show never could have done a scripted reunion a couple decades later, even if John Ritter had lived longer. The way he, Dewitt, and Somers and/or Barnes looked in the 2000s--seeing them acting the same way they did on the show would have been sad.

Could this thread be more repetitious?

Why did they act like no-one knew what Chandler's job was? His job was Statistical Analysis and Data Reconfiguration - before he quit and went into advertising. Monica says it at one point after they were married. I think it was season 9.

It was a joke that Chandler's job was so boring sounding that people forgot what he did.

I do think they could find a way to make a Friends movie work if they wanted to, but it’s obvious they don’t, so fuck every single one of them for depriving me of the joy that would bring to at least one night in my shitty life.

And they wouldn’t act the way they did in the show 20 years ago. Are you stupid? I’m 45 and my friends from college and my 20s are now my LIFELONG friends. We still see each other. We know each others’ families and children. This bullshit about Friends only.being about the time in your life when your friends are your family is a great soundbite but in reality people stay friends with those people even after they have families of their own. Why not explore that?

Mary and Rhoda was disappointing.

I never watched this show.

You missed nothing, R135, except hate speech, trite one-liners, and embarrassing facial mugging that makes me long for the comparative nuance and subtlety of Shelley Winters after she won her second Oscar:

[quote] Well, in the case of a scripted reunion such as "The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's Island," the bar wasn't set terribly high to begin with.

Except that even that had more Black people in it.

R119 the producer

R133, because spouses and children just aren’t funny. Also, half the cast became old and fat.

[quote]I do think they could find a way to make a Friends movie work if they wanted to, but it’s obvious they don’t, so fuck every single one of them for depriving me of the joy that would bring to at least one night in my shitty life.

I certainly hope this was meant to be funny.

No Christina Applegate? She won like two Emmys for her appearances.

"Could this thread be more repetitious?"

Do you have anything about the show to offer to supplant the current " repetitious" narrative? Of course not. Offer something or STFU.

Christina Applegate hated her time there and has spoken about it a few times.

I always thought it was Reese that hated her time on the show, the live audience threw her.

I thought they both complained, actually. So I was surprised to see Reese on the show being so effusive.

R34, most of us here were ridiculously attractive back then, too.

Lol.

I cannot watch this at this moment. I’m literally on the edge of either having a nervous breakdown or getting better and overcoming all of the BS I’m currently awash in.

Watching this would perhaps send me over the edge.

I was clueless AF when this show originally aired and life was AMAZING. While I have no desire to go back in time and be so freakin’ clueless about so much, it was so much easier than it is now.

My heart goes out to Perry. I wish I had a magic potion to just fix it when people are in that much pain. 😔

r145

it could she was spinning it so she would be on the reunion or people have different memories/thoughts after so many years

I thought Reese appeared more as a suckup to Jen, they seem to be besties these days as Jen is staring in one Reese's productions.

R145 there is also the fact that Reese currently co-stars with Jen Aniston on Apple TV’s Morning Show!

R148 you owe me a coke!

I remember Jen winning some award and one of these shows, maybe Access Hollywood, played a video from Reese congratulating Jenifer as a surprise. It was super awkward on Reese’s part. I sort of thought Jennifer was condescending after too, like said something like aww, what a dear. So I was surprised to find out years later they are friends.

They're probably Hollywood friends and not real ones, in the same way some of the popular girls at school were friends but only because they had to be.

1. The producers are so full of shit regarding how all the cast were on equal footing. If that's the case, why was Lisa Kudrow win her Emmy for Best Supporting Actress, while Jennifer won for Best Actress. Also, David was nominated as Best Supporting Actor, but Matthew and Matt were nominated as Best Actor. If they were all equals, they should've all be nominated as Supporting.

2. Courteney Cox co-starred in one of the biggest films of the year when Friends premiered (Ace Ventura). Pretending she was relatively unknown is disingenious. I remember the initial press made it seem like she was the star, but she was soon eclipsed by Jennifer Aniston in terms of popularity, and everyone else in terms of acting (she's the only one who has never been nominated for an Emmy).

3. Friends regularly drew A-list talent as guest stars. It was idiotic not to try and include people like Winona Ryder, Julia Roberts, Bruce Willis, Kathleen Turner, Denise Richards, Paul Rudd, Ralph Lauren, Marlo Thomas, Christina Applegate, Elle McPherson, etc.

I think the Fresh Prince reunion was handled with way more class. This show should've been more intimate and lean in to addressing controversy and tension. The actual show was pretty subversive...the cutesy reunion was lame.

R153, my impression was that all six actors submitted themselves in the supporting Emmy categories the first few years, and then they all submitted themselves in the leading categories after that.

I watched this last night and was really moved by it. Friends was never one of my favorite shows but it was something I totally connect with a different, younger time of my life. Watching this made me look at these actors so differently. None of them knew what was coming when they first started on the show. They all looked so amazing in their younger days and all of them became so popular because of the show. I loved seeing them older, reminiscing about the show. The men have aged pretty normally...the women looked amazing but there has always been more pressure on women actresses to look good. I loved Matt LeBlanc's stories and that he wrote, "I shit here" on the flat that was signed by the cast. Totally something a young, hot actor would think to write. I loved him talking about watching the show with his kids. It was just a really great thing all around. The fashion show was lame and I honestly didn't know that was Lady Gaga (I'm not a fan) when she came out and it kind of seemed like Kudrow didn't know who she was either. I'm glad they did this instead of a scripted show. I liked what Kudrow said at the end...that she liked everyone getting a happy ending on the show and to do another scripted show would mean having to unravel that. She's right. But the chemistry between these actors was amazing to see back then and now. Friends reminds me of a time when I was more hopeful about life and things seemed easier. I admit to crying during certain parts. I'm really glad I watch it as I almost didn't when I heard it was just going to be interviews.

Irish twitter has adopted Matt LeBlanc

R155, of course Lisa Kudrow knows who Lady Gaga is. You don’t think that segment wasn’t planned and rehearsed?

And Lady Gaga asked Matt Leblanc on the late show with Corden who he'd pick between Rachel and Monica and he answered Phoebe

[quote] 1. The producers are so full of shit regarding how all the cast were on equal footing. If that's the case, why was Lisa Kudrow win her Emmy for Best Supporting Actress, while Jennifer won for Best Actress. Also, David was nominated as Best Supporting Actor, but Matthew and Matt were nominated as Best Actor. If they were all equals, they should've all be nominated as Supporting.

You do understand that the years that they were nominated as supporting and the years they were nominated as leads were fairly far apart, yes? So that they were all being considered for supporting the first couple years.

[quote] 2. Courteney Cox co-starred in one of the biggest films of the year when Friends premiered (Ace Ventura). Pretending she was relatively unknown is disingenious. I remember the initial press made it seem like she was the star, but she was soon eclipsed by Jennifer Aniston in terms of popularity, and everyone else in terms of acting (she's the only one who has never been nominated for an Emmy).

The press never made her out to be the star of the show. They only said that, of the six actors, she was the best known with the most experience. No one tried to pass her off as a newcomer. And if you're holding up Ace Ventura, no one even remembered she was in that, that's how much oxygen Jim Carrey took up in the success of that film. You could have put a blow up doll in the role opposite him for all it mattered.

And it's really a shame that Cox never got an Emmy nomination for Friends. I thought she was their MVP. She really found a character for Monica, played it to the hilt, was incredibly funny, and really developed over the 10 years. I would say only LeBlanc matched her in terms of depth of character as the show went on. I think she was way better than Kudrow (who is wonderful elsewhere) who pretty much did the same thing for 10 years, or Schwimmer, who was the worst actor on the show.

[quote] 3. Friends regularly drew A-list talent as guest stars. It was idiotic not to try and include people like Winona Ryder, Julia Roberts, Bruce Willis, Kathleen Turner, Denise Richards, Paul Rudd, Ralph Lauren, Marlo Thomas, Christina Applegate, Elle McPherson, etc.

Maybe they did and those people said no. What a stupid thing to say.

I never thought of Friends as being homophobic. The characters on the show were around the same age I was when it aired. The Joey and Ross napping together was one of the funniest episodes because of their reactions when they woke up. And Chandler and his trans dad was hilarious. Ross' ex and her girlfriend were treated as a normal couple on the show and his being concerned about his relationship with Ben was something that I think felt real. At the time, to have a show where two women were portrayed as in a relationship with a kid was pretty groundbreaking.

I also caught the two fat jokes directed at LeBlanc by Aniston. The first was when she said, "Remember when we could all fit through that door?" and the second was later when she mentioned sized again directly to LeBlanc. Aniston has always struck me as a bitch so I'm not surprised that shit was coming from her mouth. But I also wonder too, if LeBlanc had a hang up about his weight and they were just trying to make light of it, but she came across as really petty for saying those things.

I didn't take the joke about fitting through the door as directed at LeBlanc. I took it as directed at all of them. All of them are a little thicker than they were back then. Some, like Perry and LeBlanc, are obese, but none of them are the size 0 they were in the 90s.

And I call bullshit on the homophobia of the series. It's just a bunch of Gen Zs who need something new to cancel. I've seen every episode of the show and I was never insulted.

I like how much of a villain they allowed Susan to be to Ross, they never played it schmaltzy.

The original idea for the show was for Monica, Ross and Rachel to be the leads while Chandler, Phoebe and Joey would be in the supporting roles. This stayed true for the first few seasons and then Chandler was bumped up in importance through his relationship with Monica, and then due to the longevity of the show Phoebe and Joey had more to do in the later seasons.

Emilia Clarke fangirls over Matt LeBlanc

The producer of the special said they had one day on which they could get the six of them together. (I find this kind of hard to believe given the pandemic and that most of them aren’t acting much, but ok.) As far as anyone else showing up to interact with them. if they couldn't make it to the set that day, they couldn’t be in it.

The show was on for ten years, obviously a lot of people were on it and there are a lot of stories to tell. They couldn’t cover everything or everybody.

The MVP of the reunion was Matt LeBlanc. He was charming, the best at telling stories, and had something nice to say about everyone.

If you haven't already, I highly recommend watching Episodes. He was nominated for an Emmy each year of its run...and he deserved to win.

I want to know what went down with the original Carol. The original actress had a warmth and gentleness to her but the replacement was cold and a bit of a bitch.

The show has had a profound effect on many foreigners. Here Namjoon relates how he learned to speak English.

I thought it thought it was going to be a movie or tv or something.

This is essentially a Real Housewives reunion show?

Am I wrong, or did Ross' son Ben just disappear from the show all of a sudden?

Yeah, once Emma was introduced they pretty much forgot about Ben.

r153

I thought they actually said on the reunion that CC was the most well known and they did NOT want Friends to be the CC show

Emma wasn’t even on all that much. I always thought of Joey and Phoebe as more support players. I hated that the had to couple 4 out of the 6 up together.

I was delighted that Janice appeared onstage for the reunion. She was such a funny character.

It was sweet...as Maggie Wheeler (Janice) left the stage, Matt LeBlanc said, “I love her!” The looks on Jennifer’s and Lisa’s faces indicated she was popular on set, even though most of Maggie’s scene were with Matthew (who also seemed to adore her).

I thought it was strange and sad the guy who played Gunther couldn’t take time out of his busy schedule doing nothing in order to attend. To make matters worse, the cast seemed to only politely acknowledge his existence even though he appeared in 150 episodes, and he seemed to be Zooming from a smallish apartment.

Maybe he didn't want to travel in from wherever he was. I wouldn't want to get on a plane yet with everything still going on just to walk on for five minutes and be treated like a glorified extra.

R166 watched it early in lockdown. So good. Leblanc, Cox and especially Kudrow shined in their later shows

I figured Gunther had a Covid exposure and had to join remotely.

The show should have ended much like the Bob Newhart Show.

Phoebe sitting in the friends' favorite haunt, Central Perk, staring out the window. , Phoebe was a meth head, creepily staring out the window at five people who are actually friends — Ross, Rachel, Joey, Chandler, and Monica — and daydreaming up the whole 10 seasons, mentally inserting herself into what she assumes their lives are like.

"All 10 seasons were merely her fevered imagination, projecting herself into the lives of the others. All she ever wanted was... Friends."

R179, I like it. Lol but could you imagine revolt? I can’t believe this show has endured more than Seinfeld. I’m watching that now and it was so much better. However, it hasn’t endured with the next generation like Friends has.

R179 Sounds more like St Elsewhere

Lisa is no doubt the most talented outside of the show but Phoebe (and Ross) were the most annoying characters. I liked her better as Ursula.

r179, The Bob Newhart Show ended with Bob and Emily moving to Oregon as he accepted a teaching job at a small college.

Oh, you mean Newhart?

/pedantic bitch

[quote] I liked her better as Ursula.

So did I but this was primetime NBC, not STARZ. Therefore we never really got to see much of Ursula's porn career starring in Buffay the Vampire Layer, Sex Toy Story 2, Lawrence of a Labia, and "Inspect Her Gadget.

Seinfeld was one of the worst shows ever. Not a single likeable character.

Friends was universal. There was something/someone on the show that most people could relate to. It was like candy corn. Not great, but if it's front of you, you'll eat some.

Damn. Matthew Perry looks rough. Like far worse than Momty Clift AFTER the accident. I take it he lost his teeth? Will read up thread.

[quote] I take it he lost his teeth?

Not at all. They are on the nightstand soaking in Efferdent right where he left them last night.

How did they all meet first at the table read? I can’t believe the network wouldn’t have done chemistry reads or seen all 6 of them before offering contracts.

In praise of Courtney Cox, in agreement with R159...what I loved about her portrayal of Monica is that even though she was gorgeous, CC led with the comedy and made her so transparent; we could see beyond her gorgeous exterior and always see Monica as insecure, neurotic, anal and even spiteful at times. She was sensible and could take care of herself but we always knew she was this gaping, needy well of neurosis who could be best friends with Rachel but still roll her eyes at her and was comfortably "one of the guys." They spoke of the response from the audience when they paired Monica and Chandler together and I think that was because avid viewers knew how perfect the characters were for each other, that she would always take care of him and that he considered himself incredibly lucky to be with her and would always be loyal. That was the happy ending the audience wanted for each of them.

Perry strikes me as the one of the group that the rest of look after - the one friend who has struggled and is fragile and needs looking after. From what they said, he seems in large part to have been the one to inspire them all onto greater things during the course of the show whether it was the comedy and energy he was contributing himself or his support of the others (how many times did cast members say, "That as Matthew's idea"? a lot).

LeBlanc seems a good sort - showbiz survivor. He seemed perfectly comfortable with who he is and how he has aged. It was funny when Marta Kaufmann said, "We wanted the characters to all be capable of having their own show and they were." And we all remembered the failed Joey sitcom, post-Friends. Ultimately, LeBlanc is the type who knows how he lucked into that show, his career and seems to have a good perspective on it. I mean, obviously. He played himself for four years or so on Episodes. He's in on the cosmic joke of it all.

Schwimmer looked HAWT. I liked Kudrow's parting phrase to Gaga, "...and you for carrying it forward." That's a really grounded, aware person and incredibly talented.

I don't buy the show as homophobic and always appreciated the way they handled Ross's ex-wife, her partner, etc. from the beginning and throughout the show. In 1994 or whenever it started, it was inclusive - the joke was on Ross, not his ex-wife, and it was always played that Monica and Rachel (and of course Phoebe) had no problem identifying with her - she was not portrayed as "the other" or the villain. The show empathised more with her in the situation than it did with Ross (whom it seemed should just get over it). And I always appreciated the episode with Carol and Susan's wedding, which was really moving, and when the spirit women left Phoebe's body by saying, "Now I've seen it all!"

Oh, and Maggie Wheeler. I always loved whenever Janice was on how the entire cast seemed to make way and just let her take centre stage. She was hilarious and you could tell a very well-respected member of the cast.

The way this cast stuck together during salary negotiations tells you everything you need to know about them (unlike TBBT cast). None of the sniping like the SATC cast. As far as professional acting experiences go, it probably doesn't get much better than being "The Cast of Friends."

I bet the Lady Gaga thing irritated Kudrow.

Kudrow never pretended to be a great singer, it was all about the comedy.

And then Lady Gaga comes swanning in all, "Let ME show you how the song should really be done!"

I bet Kudrow was, "Whatever bitch. Don't try to show me up on my own show because you don't get what that song was all about."

Watching it now, godDAMN Cox turned into Olmec Head, it's a shame because she was quite beautiful. Perry's drug of choice was obviously meth what with the denture action going on. I disagree with R39's remark regarding Matthew Perry saying "I don't hear from anybody" being cringeworthy, he was adlibbing. I think he was the funniest with off the cuff remarks, watch his outtakes.

[quote]Schwimmer looked HAWT.

You're fucking HIIIIIIGH, R189, he looks five seconds before he melts after looking at Indy's Ark.

Now I want a "Desperate Housewives" reunion with Felicity, Eva, Marcia, Vanessa, and Brenda on Wisteria Lane together.

Teri can "phone in" like Suzanne Somers in her last few sad episodes of "Three's Company," and Nicollette will be totally left out.

Jamie Denton and Ricardo Chavira will be required to remove their shirts, as will Lynette's twin boys all grown up.

The host will be Kathy Griffin, armed with questions like "Who likes Teri least?," "How many doubles and green screen did you have to use to make it seem like Teri was in the same room with you?," "Seriously, what's Teri's big bag of bullshit all about?," and "Did Marc Cherry ever get a piece from any of the regular cast?"

Premium cable, folks, premium cable.

I think that Schwimmer went from being the least attractive man in the cast to the most.

He didn't go to seed like the other two.

Leblanc was a hot stud then, he's a hot daddy now.

I busted many nuts to this scene

The fact that Schwimmer got an Emmy nom and Courteney didn't really bothers me.

I was watching an old rerun of Family Ties recently and realized how bad of an actress CC was. She came to embody Monica, but she wasn’t a great actress. Now during Friends reruns I find Schwimmer/Ross annoying as hell. If it were real life Rachel would never go for him. Whereas with Phoebe, I didn’t like her so much at the time, but she grew on me a bit in reruns. I do agree that she and Ross were the weakest links overall.

Courtney was to attractive to be taken seriously for a TV award.

[quote]tell me this cast should look as rough as they do at their age and it's because they all smoked, apart from Kudrow who has aged the best out of all the cast.

Kudrow also smoked, perhaps she still does.

Why wasn't this broadcast on NBC?

r199

I thought David was the only non smoker of the group

Because Warner Bros owns the show, R200

It was startling how old everyone is—of course we’re all older but it’s just so strange to see them, faces all surgerized like crazy in an effort to look young . I thought Aniston’s was the worst—at certain angles she looked like a lion.

Leblanc has become an absolute cow, and Perry looks like he’s coming off a drug and alcohol dependency ( he is).

I never thought anyone cared that much about the show—but it’s gotten popular with the younger crowd lately. Young people at work discuss it—I guess it’s on Netflix or one of those streaming channels.

I’m amazed that none of them went on to great acting careers. Most have had one more short term hit. Aniston has done a bunch of absolutely forgettable movies—her stardom is supported by tabloids rather than actual acting—just like Sharon Stone.

Oddly enough, Phoebe and Joey were my least favorite characters, but I like Lisa Kudrow and Matt LeBlanc more than the other cast members.

It’s kind of embarrassing to admit, but Chandler was my absolute favorite character. He’s also the only one I could see having as a friend in real life.

r200, the only reason this special existed was to promote the HBO Max service, the fact that Friends is streaming exclusively on it, and to get people to sign up. That's why they paid each of the actors 2.5 million, and it worked. When the trailer dropped, HBO Max saw a surge in signups, and the first thing those new subscribers were watching was Friends. Airing it on NBC might have drawn big numbers, but WB wasn't looking for advertising revenue for NBC; they were looking for subscribers for themselves.

Big success for HBO Max

Also

R194 Schwimmer looked surprisingly sexy with the salt and pepper streak in American Crime Story.

[quote] Aniston has done a bunch of absolutely forgettable movies

And some unforgettable ones

The reunion didn’t get as good ratings as Wonder Woman.

The reunion was a reminder that we all get old and ultimately die.

Good point, R211.

Actually, I'm surprised nobody from the cast...Matthew Perry...has died since Friends ended.

I'm not sure what I was expecting but it was basically a nostalgia trip. Too bad they got James Cordon to be host. Jimmy Kimmel would have done a much better hosting job.

[quote]I thought Aniston’s was the worst—at certain angles she looked like a lion.

I thought so too. Especially in the selfie, which lacked the lighting of all the other shots.

They should've had someone from the show host, maybe Maggie Wheeler/Janet.

[quote]I'm not sure what I was expecting but it was basically a nostalgia trip.

Generally the point of reunions.

I wasn’t going to watch it, but then I did. I wish I hadn’t. Now I’m depressed.

They should've used gorgeous male and female co-hosts in their early 20s. That would've REALLY reinforce the effects of aging.

They could've brought on the Brady kids.

When “Friends” debuted in 1994, I had just moved to LA. I later went to law school in another city, moved to DC for 10 years, then moved back to sounthern California. So much has happened in those 27 years. It’s very strange to think about.

[quote]The Daily Mail has like 15 articles on the reunion show today, if you can't get enough of it.

The Brits have always been obsessed with Friends.

I can't stand that fucking pig Corden. I am mystified as to how he became so successful in the business.

Seeing the cast all together seems to have really been a reality check for a lot of people. The passage of time and the realization that everybody's getting older has been unsettling.

"Emergency dental surgery"

Every druggie I’ve known has used the emergency dental surgery excuse.

Perry probably thought he could get away with it because of those brand new fake choppers he's wearing.

R214 she was looking great for a long time - I guess it’s time to change up whatever she’s doing. Thing is, she has thick features to begin with, and they haven’t really thinned out with age as so many peoples do, so the fillers just emphasize that. Shes the only one who still has a good body though - even Courteney has gotten thick.

And she sounds more and more like Goldie hawn every day.

I thought it was sad when Lisa Kudrow made a joke about them fitting through the door at the same time. She looked very trim...not even remotely overweight.

It was Aniston who made that comment, r228. And it was directed at LeBlanc.

Kudrow was the naturally thin one, Aniston and Cox seemed to be below their natural weight. Aniston especially would be thicker if she had let herself have a more natural body but it was the 90s and heroin chic was all over the place.

Cox was always thin and at some point during the series run she got painfully thin. Aniston has mentioned that she has to watch her 'Greek genes' and propensity for gaining weight in her backside. I believe she said that she ate the same salad for lunch every single day for the majority of the show's run.

Cox was severely thin around season 5? I remember she looked older than her years and when she put on a tiny bit of weight after that she looked better for it.

At one point Courteney and Jennifer, along with Calista Flockhart, were dubbed “The Lollipops” or something like that...because they were ultra thin yet they wore hairstyles that made their heads look bigger.

Courteney Cox is not remotely believable as a former fat girl. She’s not believable in anything, but especially not as that.

Yet she didn’t mind eating Nancy McKeon‘s leftovers. I don’t blame either her or Lisa Whelchel for not wanting to do this show. I would have turned it down, too, but not for the reasons they did.

Watching the show just made me embarrassed that I used to watch it religiously. Seeing the clips… made me realise just how bad the show really was. I didn’t make it through much as I can’t stand James Corden. Wow. Some things should be left alone. I don’t see the point in these silly reunions and there than to make a cash grab. It feels like they’re always around, we don’t even have a chance to miss these people they’re all on social media and reporters constantly in the tabloids.

Who cares, R235?

Anyone remember the “Cute Anorexic Chics” ad campaign for Friends?

R234 she IS believable however as a food obsessed woman, which as we know a lot of skinny women are. So for that I could forgive the cheap fat jokes - almost.

Lisa Kudrow always seemed to be “normal thin” and probably content with that - so since she probably never severely dieted, she didn’t gain much weight as she aged.

I’ve also noticed that older people (both men and women) are smart/clever to wear glasses. I don’t know if it hides their age (eyes do give so much away in terms of age), or that it just gives the aura of aging more gracefully, or both.

I thought it was going to actually be an episode about the characters having a reunion. Maybe going to the twins graduation or something and catching up with them.

Is their any place to download and/or watch this? I won't subscribe to HBO Plus.

there.

1.Matt LeBlanc really came off best. Easy going, comfortable in his own skin, not vain with no dye or plastic surgery.

2. Lisa Kudrow is quieter, but also seems well adjusted with no visible cosmetic surgery.

3. I was surprised at Matthew Perry who, although he looked a mess and the other cast members didn't seem as comfortable with him, appears to have retained his sarcastic wit and banter. He probably the only one that doesn't need a script to be funny.

4. Courtney Cox is a cautionary tale for bad plastic surgery

5. Jenniffer Anniston seems very self-aware, like she's always on and performing for an audience.

6. David Schwimmer came off the most unlikeable to me. Seems controlling and humorless with a huge stick up his ass.

R235: I could have told you that back in the 1990s. I've seen children's cartoons that were funnier and more adult than this show.

I wanted Gunther to get more speaking time.

It was ok but ultimately I thought it was pretty pointless. There were no real insights or revelations that we didn't know already, except perhaps that David and Jen had a real life crush, and the scene reading scenes were cute but that's about it. It was nice to see fans from around the world explain what the show had meant to them.

I loved the show when it was on but I haven't really revisited it - have heard it hasn't aged well in some aspects but I can overlook that as being 'of it's time' to an extent.

I was worried that James Corden hosting it would ruin it completely - it didn't, obviously he was by far the worst thing in it and seeing his guffawing piggy face was not at all pleasant and it should have been hosted by someone a) talented and b) who had some actual connection to the show. Just mystified why this talentless stain continues to get high profile gigs. I thought Kris Jenner worked hard but Corden's agent works harder, clearly.

UKGuy, did you like Cordon on Gavin & Stacy? I did when it finally made its way to the US, but I’m surprised by how much I loathe him nowadays.

I think the cast did it to show the fans that it would be depressing to watch Chandler slur his lines to a woman who calls herself Monica but looks nothing like her.

Loved it, watched it twice.

David Schwimmer is the one who always had plans for being a serious actor. He started an acting company in Chicago before Friends. And now he's forever stuck with that character.

He must be as frustrated as Robert Reed after playing Mike Brady in The Brady Bunch.

I'm sure the millions of dollars help though.

[quote] There were no real insights or revelations that we didn't know already.

The revelation for most is that they're just actors, not really the characters they play.

Schwimmer is also the only one that actually lives in NYC, I think he takes himself very seriously.

I don't agree with what Lisa Kudrow said about not wanting to do a new scripted show/film because they got happy endings and the writers would have to unravel all of that and make them miserable for a new show - why would that be necessary? They don't need to split them up or kill anyone off to write a continuation - just getting them all together for a specific event (like some have said, a holiday or some other sort of excuse to all meet up and hang out) and they can have silly fun like they always used to. It's not like the original run of Friends had hard-hitting storylines and tragedies every episode.

R252, I think that’s just some polite party line they came up with because they have no interest in revisiting the show but don’t want to shit on their fans.

From 7-8 years ago, about a minute in Matthew Perry says he wishes they'd never stopped the show, Lisa Kudrow does as well but in a more guarded way

I think Kudrow (and perhaps Perry) was aware and more importantly accepted that Friends was going to be the apex of all of their careers and wouldn't have minded riding that out a little longer. I think others probably thought that there were bigger heights to scale and Friends was holding them back.

Aniston planned on leaving after season 9 but the others convinced her to sign on to return, she agreed to a truncated final season hence only 18 episodes in season 10. Had the show kept going for another couple of seasons it would have been without Rachel.

[quote]Had the show kept going for another couple of seasons it would have been without Rachel.

I'm OK with that. I think Courtney Cox was the unsung hero of the show who never got the praise she should have.

Friends should've ended at Monica and Chandler's wedding. If you take out the baby news and give Ross and Rachel a reunion, it's a perfect stopping point. After that, the show was on fumes. (but not as bad as many other shows that beat a dead house forever).

Cast changes would've been THE WORST.

I can imagine the world was a pretty harsh place after they left their “Friends” cocoon. Also, addicts need structure.

Imagine being on top of the world in your 20s-30s and knowing it’s all downhill from there.

[quote] Aniston planned on leaving after season 9

Who could blame her. I don't see how anybody could play the same role for nine years.

I wonder if they have any interests to keep them busy.

All of them (except Aniston) have done less popular but more interesting projects after “Friends.” Anistons more recent work is pretty blah.

Aniston is the only one who managed to transfer over to films, giving some stellar performances, particularly in “Friends with Money” and “Cake,” for which she should have been nominated.

You must be her publicist. She has never given a good performance in her life and neither have any of the rest of these talentless hacks. The show never should’ve even made it to pilot stage.

How many starving nations could these greedy motherfuckers feed?

R263 Uh, no, I’m not - I’m not even much of a fan - but she was spectacular in “Cake.”

[quote]You must be her publicist. She has never given a good performance in her life and neither have any of the rest of these talentless hacks. The show never should’ve even made it to pilot stage. How many starving nations could these greedy motherfuckers feed?

Wow, don't you sound like a hefty bag full of damaged goods.

Friends should've ended with Rachel walking into a Planned Parenthood.

I thought this was funny...

She was solidly good (in Cake) spectacular is a bit of an exaggeration. I would have been happy for her if she had gotten a nom but the fact that she didn’t isn’t some kind of all time snub, either.

R268 She was snubbed.

She was totally snubbed for Cake, especially when you consider what won- Julianne Moore for a terrible performance in an even worse movie.

The only award she was snubbed for was the Golden Raspberry Awards.

These people are scum. They deserve to be bums on Skid Row.

[quote] China deletes sections by BTS, Gaga, and Bieber.

They should have deleted the whole damn thing. Then there would finally be a positive use for censorship.

r240, it's on HBO Max. Ask a friend for their log in.

Here's the Friends Reunion. Just make sure you have a strong ad blocker like ublock origin because there are a bunch of pop-ups.

I heard a rumor that LeBlanc has his cock pierced. Wonder if it’s true.

The Guardian sampled some viewer reviews and most reflect what we've already posted here.

R251 never an attractive trait in an actor.

A few from The Guardian's sample:

[italic][bold]‘A mess of self-indulgence and sycophants’[/bold]

A mess of self-indulgence and sycophants ruining the memory of a TV landmark. Lisa Kudrow was the only one who looked and acted natural. The insignificance given to Gunther was offensive. Same with Janice. James Corden managed to talk and say nothing. They should have let sleeping dogs lie. [bold]Richie Dryden, Leeds[/bold]

[bold]‘Matt LeBlanc was the big winner’[/bold]

A surprisingly moving, poignant experience. I watched with my wife and it reminded me that we actually found out about our mutual love of Friends very soon after our first meeting at a party, 21 years ago! Our marriage, just like the show itself, has made me very happy all this time. And by now, of course, we’ve watched or re-watched every episode together, and now this special.

Obviously the main takeaway was the ageing process, wasn’t it? For me, Matt LeBlanc was the big winner, and the most enjoyable part of the reunion. The only cast member not to dye his hair, unafraid to let his body gain a little extra weight, bearer of the best and funniest anecdotes, clearly happy and at ease with himself and with the passage of time. For six humans who earn $20m a year for something done 17 years ago, LeBlanc alone looks to have found that sweet spot of self-deprecation, generosity of spirit, and gratitude for a career that peaked a long time ago. [bold]Tim Palmer, 45, North Carolina, US[/bold]

[bold]‘A banal and superficial tinsel town repeat’[/bold] With the exception of the ever enjoyable Matt LeBlanc (the only one of the cast who appears to have aged normally, well done him), the programme was an inevitable letdown. A banal and superficial tinsel town repeat of a fantastic series that should stay pristine in our memories and not be reduced to has-beens trying to remain in the spotlight. It was so excruciating I switched off after about 10 minutes and don’t think I’ll go back to watch any more. [bold]Alison, 51, Gloucestershire[/bold]

[bold]Could they not find an American host?’[/bold]

The worst part of the show was James Corden. First of all, he is not that funny. Second of all, why is a British person interviewing American actors about an American TV show. Could they not find an American host? [bold]Doreen, 65, US[/bold][/italic]

Quite fair.

^The point about finding an American host is so correct. Why did it have to be Brit James Corden who other than not being funny, falls into the British habit of starfucking and using American platforms to promote British celebrities? Kit Harrington was such a random, unnecessary pick and his accent just felt out of place in that discussion. But fucking David Beckham? He's nobody in America and those who know who he is don't love him. Who cares what he thinks about Friends? At least Harrington is an actor.

James has a real hardon for Beckham and Becks has been desperate to break into America since, well, forever.

[quote] Becks has been desperate to break into America since, well, forever.

At least since 2007

Of the three guys, David Schwimmer looks the best

r279, so according to those people Lisa Kudrow has not aged normally or gracefully because she might dye her hair blonde and she hasn't blown up in weight? Puh-lease.

Matthew Perry Splits from Fiancée Molly Hurwitz: 'Sometimes Things Just Don't Work Out'

R246 I didn't mind him so much on Gavin & Stacey, his character is kind of annoying anyway so it doesn't matter so much, but I hate him in literally everything else.

R284 Hair dye is fine, and even expected, on women but just doesn't work for most men. Same with the fact that women tend not to be able to pull off extra weight as well as most men. Some men even look better with weight gain.

Even when Le Blanc was young, you could tell there was a chubby body just dying to assert itself. But he’s very cute, then and now.

[quote] Aniston is the only one who managed to transfer over to films, giving some stellar performances, particularly in “Friends with Money” and “Cake,” for which she should have been nominated.

Stellar?

LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL

Aniston is always Aniston in every movie role. That’s probably our problem and not hers, but she definitely can’t disappear into a role.

And she kinda always has this very self-conscious, “look at me! I’m acting!” vibe.

what the hell did Aniston do to her face? Restylane + Botox + Radiesse overdose? she looks like a liger

Wasn’t there a rumor that Aniston used to take some kind of hormones to keep herself trim and muscular (was is supposed to be low dose testosterone?) if so, that will fuck with your facial features eventually. The fillers don’t help. Could also just be good old fashioned menopause.

[quote]“Cake,” for which she should have been nominated.

I *love* that Jennifer got a suite at the Four Seasons for nomination day, all ready to do press about how it was an honor just to be nominated.

Americans don't give two fucks about David Beckham or his wife.

The reunion special was very weird.

Did Allen Carr produce?

So one of the producers is gay but didn't care to try for gay representation?

[quote]So one of the producers is gay but didn't care to try for gay representation?

Don't be silly.

Is there anywhere to watch this for free (or under $5)? It's not on Hulu w HBO Max (free trial of both).

^^see r275

Those Greek genes are really taking over with Aniston.

The thing is it seems like people are just seeing them again for the first time in 17 years. All you need is google because they’ve been a tabloid staple for years, especially Aniston.

Not surprised Perry’s engagement was called off. Don’t know what that girl was thinking.

r301 they seem to look older and fatter in this reunion, and Cox more scary-faced. It's different from the photos online.

Cox was underrated. Love her in scream 1-3.

But wtf did she do to change her looks so much? It’s depressing. She was beautiful. And would have aged just fine naturally.

[quote]Not surprised Perry’s engagement was called off. Don’t know what that girl was thinking

His bank account?

cast zoom

^ When?

[quote]Kit Harrington was such a random, unnecessary pick and his accent just felt out of place in that discussion.

It's not like his accent was an affectation. I think the point of including some Brits was to show that people in the UK and outside of the US were also huge fans of the show.

These eyes appreciated looking at someone thin and attractive amidst all the oldies for a few minutes.

When I moved to the UK five years ago, I was shocked by the amount of airplay Friends got, especially since Seinfeld doesn't exist there. Having watched both shows throughout the '90s and considered Seinfeld to be the superior show, I was surprised to find that it had no traction there, but Friends seemed to be bigger there than it was in the States (I mean in 2016, not during its initial run). This has been born out by LeBlanc and Schwimmer both doing British based series and Perry writing/directing a stage play that wend up in London about that time.

Aniston was a coke whore. The main reason she and Brad Pitt divorced was that he wanted kids so demanded she stop coke. Her career was just taking off so she needed to stay thin—and refused to stop coke

Do any of them have kids?

R310 everyone except Aniston and Perry are parents.

Damn, her kid is HOT.

R312 He was the bump when she was pregnant with her brother's triplets on the show. Feel old?

‘Friends’ in NYC: How plausible were the Greenwich Village apartments depicted in the hit ’90s series?

R319, They all have 1 kid a piece except Aniston and Perry who have none.

For R275:

Dangerous Webpage Blocked

You attempted to access:

[webpage]

This is a known dangerous webpage. It is highly recommended that you do NOT visit this page.

r316 I don't get that message. Try this one.

Got the same message R317.

R306 Schwimmer posted and captioned it was them planning the reunion first time I ever saw Leblanc wearing glasses

r318 it must just be your computer. I've been using these sites for years with no problems.

My antivirus program blocked loading those pages. Just how many viruses do you have swimming around on your computer now?

None r321. Ublock Origin and Nano are excellent. I've never had virus problems.

Of course I understand that many Dlers only use their laptops (that are many years old) for DL and nothing else. Well, maybe Redtube. And they know nothing about computers.

I've been working with computers for some 35 years now, R322 and my top of the line laptop's about a year old. Maybe you should invest in quality antivirus programs like Nortons but I get the sense you can only afford free programs.

r323 I have a top of the line laptop, Norton's slows shit down you shouldn't use it. It's too intrusive to your system. Whatever though, I've never had any virus issues, or spyware either. These streaming sites have been around for over a decade and no problems with anyone I know who uses them.