Friends coming back ...

**wung** · 01-25-2006, 09:59 AM

http://www.hollywood.com/news/detail/id/3477372

‘Friends’ Returns to TV

By WENN|Sunday, January 22, 2006

HOLLYWOOD - Seminal sitcom Friends is returning to television after each of its six stars agreed multi-million dollar deals to star in four one-hour specials.
In a secret meeting before Christmas, Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, David Schwimmer and Matthew Perry reportedly agreed a $5 million apiece deal with NBC bosses in Los Angeles.

Scriptwriters have already started penning lines for the four double episodes, which are due to air next year.

Aniston, who has filmed a string of movies since the final Friends episode, was the last to agree to the new deal.

An NBC insider says, "She's the one who had been holding out. But she's now agreed to reprise Rachel (Green).

"Bringing them back is a dream come true. Ratings will go through the roof."

Network bosses have also hinted at a second spin-off of the hit comedy, following the disappointing performance of Matt LeBlanc's show Joey. The new program will see the three male stars--Perry, Schwimmer and LeBlanc--pilot a series called It's A Guy Thing.

An NBC spokesperson confirms, "Negotiations on future projects are going on all the time."

**zero2dash** · 01-25-2006, 10:10 AM

*yawn*
I gave up on Friends about a year or two before they went off the air.

Now they're bringing it back?

They're going to drive their careers in the ground with moves like this (and more spinoffs). The show's been over for years now...do they really think they'll reach a hardcore audience and maintain it again like they did in the show's hayday when "Must See Thursday" included Seinfeld and ER when it was good?

NBC is hurtin' bad...then again I guess so when My Name Is Earl is the only NBC show worth watching (IMO).

**eSDee** · 01-25-2006, 10:16 AM

Originally Posted by zero2dash

NBC is hurtin' bad...then again I guess so when My Name Is Earl is the only NBC show worth watching (IMO).

What about Scrubs?

**zero2dash** · 01-25-2006, 10:32 AM

Oh yeah...forgot about Scrubs. I always miss the episodes though...(note to self: add to DVR list.)

A lot of people swear by The Office but the few times I've watched it, I didn't really think it was that good. Ah well...to each his own.

**Grimm** · 01-25-2006, 10:56 AM

NBC needs to buy a clue.

A lot of people will watch the Friends reunion, but not enough to justify the expense. Remember this is the Network who canceled Star Trek. They just don't understand what people want to watch.

**Lolita** · 01-25-2006, 11:27 AM

What I noticed is that the more they were getting paid per episode, the lazier their acting got. I'd be interested to see how bad they are with $5 million apiece.