It’s time to go back on a sentimental journey down memory lane. If you ever feel that you have been waiting way too long for this reunion to happen, just know that there are generations older than you who started watching this show before you were even born. Ever since Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer, Matthew Perry and Matt LeBlanc walked off into the Central Perk sunset, billions of people have been waiting patiently for a hint of their return. By now most of us have lost count of the times we have rewatched their epic sitcom, Friends.
Well, the wait ends tonight as HBO Max finally premieres the Friends reunion that has been delayed for a year due to the pandemic. All six pals are set to reunite for an unscripted special for HBO Max. It was around November 2020 when Matthew Perry tweeted that the reunion was scheduled to film in early March. In late March, David Schwimmer verified on the Graham Norton Show that he was flying to L.A. to shoot for the reunion. Since then, several photos from the set have leaked. While the trailer is out, a lot of details are still under the wraps.
WHEN AND WHERE WILL THE REUNION AIR?
For US viewers, Friends: The Reunion will premiere on HBO Max on Thursday, May 27 at 12AM PT/3AM ET. If you really want to watch the special as soon as it drops on HBO Max, you might have to stay up until midnight (or into the early hours). The Reunion will only be available to the subscribers of HBO Max so you better hurry up if you aren’t one.
WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM THE SPECIAL?
All six original cast members Aniston, Cox, Kudrow, Schwimmer, Perry and LeBlanc are part of the special and are set to appear as themselves and not their characters as the reunion is not a Friends episode. The cast will be seen visiting the set, sharing behind-the-scene images and hosting a bunch of special guests as well. Series creators David Crane and Marta Kauffman will also be joining the actors.
The filming of the special was done at the show’s original soundstage, Stage 24, on the Warner Bros. Studio lot in Burbank, California. Part of it has also been shot at Monica and Rachel’s New York apartment as well.
The most we’re excited
WHO ALL ARE COMING AS GUESTS?
British host James Corden will be interviewing the cast in front of the giant fountain on the sprawling Warner Bros Ranch used in the show’s opening credits.
The trailer has confirmed us the presence of other supporting actors on the special like Tom Selleck, Reese Witherspoon, and OH-MY-GOD, Maggie Wheeler.
While it’s uncertain how exactly these guest stars will factor into the special, but The Hollywood Reporter confirms celebrities joining the episode include: David Beckham, Justin Bieber, James Corden, Lady Gaga, Elliott Gould, Kit Harington, Cindy Crawford, Cara Delevingne, Larry Hankin, Mindy Kaling, Thomas Lennon, Christina Pickles, Tom Selleck, James Michael Tyler, Maggie Wheeler, Reese Witherspoon and Malala Yousafzai.
WHAT DO THE FRIENDS HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THE REUNION?
Speaking to Good Morning America, David Schwimmer said, “We’re equally excited to be finally doing it and hopefully, to give something back and you know, put a little laughter and a little love out there to everyone,”
“I don’t think they – the – any of us had any idea how emotional we would be when we walked onto the set,” Cox said. “To see it exactly the way it was, the – literally besides the cookie jar that Lisa took home and the neon coffee thing that Jen took. Besides that, it was exactly the same. And it was so emotional that we just started crying.”
“Reuniting this cast again – I knew it was gonna be a really seriously emotional experience. And it has been,” added Perry.
Just like Seinfeld and Fraiser, Friends is one of the four or five American sitcoms from the last real golden age of broadcast with a truly expansive appeal, in contrast to today’s “fractured” TV marketplace.
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