Everybody loves TV reboots and reunions, right? I mean, except for all the people that bitch about them, of course. But we know that networks do, and it seems likely that NBC would hemorrhage a sextet of paydays if the Friends cast would be interested in returning to the network together. But in this case, it turns out Friends co-creator Marta Kauffman is the biggest obstacle, as she has absolutely no interest in bringing the hit show back for modern audiences.
When asked by TheWrap if Friends might join the recent lineup of 1990s series coming back for more, she was justifiably against the idea. Here’s how she explained it.
Nope, never gonna happen. That show was about a time in your life when your friends are your family. Once you begin to have a family of your own, that is no longer the case, and your priorities shift. So the show is over.
So many shows seemingly come back as a way for the cast and crew to make a mega-payday, so it’s nice that Kauffman is actually using the show’s concept and point-of-view as her reasoning behind it live on exclusively through its 10-season run rather than bringing it back for more. After all, it’s not like it would be able to fall into the same mold as the original, and we’ve spent eleven long years trying to view Matthew Perry as anything but Chandler Bing. Kauffman also uses that former point to bolster her lack of enthusiasm about it.
It’s much better that people want it, than that they get it and don’t like it. The fear is, well, it’ll never be what it was.
What I think would be a much better idea is to create a show with a ton of the characters from Friends that aren’t the central six. Let’s see what Janice is up to, or Chandler’s old roommate Eddie. How are the elder Gellers? How is Gunther? Show me how Frank and Alice are doing as parents!
It’s definitely no surprise that people would be wondering about whether or not the Friends crew would be reteaming for something, as last year was the 20th anniversary of the series premiere. But even without Kauffman, Courtney Cox recently halfway pointed out which of the cast members has been against reunions over the years. So maybe something else will happen in 5-10 years, but for now it looks like Central Perk is catering to a younger, unfamiliar clientele.
But if you still want to hang around with the gang – clap, clap, clap, clap – you can find all 10 seasons currently streaming on Netflix. Speaking of, Kauffman’s newest show Grace and Frankie will be premiering on the streaming service on May 8.
