Friendsco-creator David Crane offers a definitive response to a frequently suggested reboot idea. The seminal sitcom about six friends growing up and falling in love is celebrating its 30th anniversary, having premiered on NBC in September 1994, and the milestone has offered the show’s creative team a chance to reflect on a ten-season run that helped define an era. Even though the milestone is more somber this time around, due to the death of actor Matthew Perry, Crane says thathe’ll often get asked about a reboot involving the children oftheFriendscharacters.
In a recent interview onTODAY, Crane was joined by fellow creator Marta Kauffman and executive producer Kevin Bright. For her part, Kauffman revealed that she’s often asked — by new fans who’ve recently discovered the series, and in emails — about revivingFriendsand focusing on the children of the six original characters. Crane definitively shoots down that possibility, saying: “Oh, no, no, no, no.” Their quotes are below:
Bright: “When you have pre-teens coming up to you, telling you how much they love your show and asking you, ‘Will there be more episodes?’”
Kauffman: “We get that a lot. I get emails about it all the time. And everybody has a great idea. And the great idea is their kids grown up doing a ‘Friends’ show.”
Crane: “Oh, no, no, no, no.”
Why A Friends Reboot Would Probably Never Work
Success Is Often Intangible
Inthe 2021 reunion of theFriendscast,which is available to stream on the Max streaming service, the show’s starsreaffirmed their reluctance to return for a revivalor reprise their roles in any capacity. They noted that the series finale was a perfect send-off, with Lisa Kudrow noting that it would be a risk to try and continue after that point.
Friends: Matthew Perry’s 10 Best Chandler Moments
Matthew Perry was a huge part of what made Friends so successful, and the late actor left behind an indelible legacy thanks to playing Chandler Bing.
Beyondthe reception to theFriendsfinale, a reboot would now obviously have to happen without Perry in the role of Chandler Bing, following the actor’s death in October 2023. Even with the presence of Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Matt LeBlanc, David Schwimmer, and Kudrow, in addition to a presumably grown-up Emma and Ben, the reboot would likely fail to reach anywhere near the heights of the original. It is very much a product of its time, andthe circumstances around its success would be difficult to replicate.
Our Take On A Friends Reboot
It’s Been Done Elsewhere, And It Doesn’t Work
There is nothing unique, in and of itself, about the premise ofFriends. What helped the series stand out was, firstly, the chemistry between the cast. Given the loss of Perry, and given the reboot would focus on different actors, that intangible is out the window. The second, and arguably even more important intangible, was that the sitcom cameout at the right time and connected with audiences.
It is best to leaveFriendsas it was, as one of the few cultural titans to resist the temptation of a revival.
These days, with more entertainment options than ever, and more shows and movies to watch than ever,aFriendsreboot would almost certainly fail to resonate in the same way. An example of this can be seen in theFrasierreboot, which is so far chugging along on Paramount+, with a mix of original characters and a new generation.
Friends: 20 Actors Who Were Almost Cast In The Show
Many rising stars who auditioned for Friends appeared in the series later on or gained fame by starring in other sitcoms or movies.
Still, theFrasierreboot is one example of many where it is not the same darling with critics and audiences that it once was. This is a lesson that is sometimes lost in the endless questions about rebooting once-popular titles. Bringing back something, many years later, in a different environment, often doesn’t lead to the desired impact. It is best to leaveFriendsas it was, as one of the few cultural titans to resist the temptation of a revival.
Friends
Cast
Friends is a television sitcom that debuted in 1994, revolving around six young New Yorkers navigating the complexities of adulthood. The series highlights their friendship as they support each other through personal and professional challenges, encapsulating the ups and downs of life in a comedic and relatable manner.
