For all of you out there hankering for a Friends reunion special like a fresh cup of coffee from Central Perk don't worry, HBO Max is there for you.
In recent years, network television has revived several of their classic television shows from the 80s, 90s, and 2000s to much success. The X-Files enjoyed an additional two year run a decade after it ended. The Connors (a continuation of the show Roseanne) is set to have a third season. Hell even Veronica Mars starring Kristen Bell is coming back. When the well is this bountiful, networks will keep going back to it.
Among the vast sea of famous sitcoms over the last thirty years, NBC's Friends sits pretty high among the pantheon of great comedies. The show ran for ten seasons and two hundred plus episodes, won multiple Emmys, and launched the career of Jennifer Aniston. Not surprisingly the rumblings of a Friends revival in recent years have been more prevalent than a Chandler Bing sarcastic quip. Well it appears as though those rumblings are about to solidify, as numerous reports have a Friends reunion being imminent.
After some truly exhaustive negotiations, a deal has been reached in principle with Friends cast members David Schwimmer, Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, and Matthew Perry for a one hour reunion special on HBO Max. Each cast member is expected to earn $3 million to $4 million for the special which reportedly cost $20 million altogether. That's a Hell of a lot of cash for a reunion special. In addition, unlike the original program, this special will be unscripted. The program is expected to kickstart HBO Max when the streaming platform hits the airwaves this May. Besides the special the entirety of the Friends series will stream exclusively on HBO Max which paid a whopping $425 million for the rights.
So what do you guys think of this news? Did you like the show Friends back in the day? Interested in a reunion special? Disappointed it won't be a revival? Do you think Ross and Rachel will still be together? Sound off in the comments below!