A bit about Friends:
I probably sound like a broken record by now because I just realized that I have started every blog post with a different variation of “I’d be shocked if you’ve never heard of this show, but in case you haven’t, here’s what it’s about.” However, I don’t think I have ever meant it as much as I do now. If this post is the first time you are learning of the show Friends, I am completely mind-blown. Anyway, if for some odd reason that is you, let me tell you a little bit about it. Friends was an NBC sitcom about a group of friends (Monica, Rachel, Phoebe, Ross, Joey, and Chandler) in their 20s, living in New York City. The series aired from 1994 to 2004 for a total of 10 seasons that were obscenely popular. Friends broke a ton of records for the number of viewers it would get each week. Due to streaming services such as Netflix and HBO Max, Friends has maintained its popularity and is still gaining new fans 17 years later.
A bit about Friends: The Reunion:
If, like me, you are a fan of Friends, this past Thursday was a big day for you. On May 27, 2021, HBO Max released an almost two-hour Friends special called “Friends: The Reunion.”
For the special, the cast (Cortney Cox, Jennifer Aniston, Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer, Matt LeBlanc, and Matthew Perry) reunited to celebrate the show. Many fans were disappointed that the reunion was not a scripted episode about where the characters would be today. I, on the other hand, was relieved that the special episode wasn’t some sort of “reboot.” When popular shows come back for revivals, I find that they are never as good as the original and are almost always a complete let down—do not even get me started on the absolute disaster that was the 2016 Gilmore Girls reboot. Instead of something scripted, the cast gathered for a sit-down interview where they shared memories, visited the iconic set of the show, entertained special guests, and more. It was an hour and 43 minutes of complete bliss.
My Favorite Part:
It’s honestly way too hard for me to choose my favorite part of the reunion, but that’s okay because this is my blog and I make the rules. Instead of choosing one, I will give you my top three.
- When the cast gathered on the set of the show for the first time since the show ended. They all got very emotional, shared memories, fun-facts, and it was absolutely perfect.
- When the cast did table reads of some fan-favorite episodes. It was so cool to see them all effortlessly slide right back into their characters and their chemistry with one another.
- All of the surprise special guests! Some of my favorites:
- Tom Selleck: Played “Richard,” one of Monica’s (Courtney Cox) boyfriends.
- Maggie Wheeler: Played the infamous “Janice,” one of Chandler’s (Matthew Perry) girlfriends.
- Christine Pickles and Elliott Gould: Played “Judy and Jack Geller,” Monica (Courtney Cox) and Ross’ (David Schwimmer) parents.
Episode Fun Fact:
News first broke about the cast gathering for a reunion in February of 2020, but due to the pandemic, the show was postponed. It was actually delayed twice—the first time in March of 2020, and the second time in August of 2020—both due to COVID-19. The reunion was finally taped in April of this year, one month before it aired. To say that this reunion has been a long time coming for fans is an understatement.
Best Music Moment:
While the reunion did not feature a ton of music, it did feature the ICONIC Friends theme song. It’s safe to say that any and all times “I’ll Be There for You” by the Rembrandts played during Friends: The Reunion, it was the best music moment.
Everything Mentioned:
Friends: The Reunion – Available on HBO Max
My Favorite Part – Table Reads:
Alayna Elyse Media 