A Friends co-creator has once again dismissed the idea of a revival. The record-breaking, much adored 1990s era sitcom came to the end of its run back in 2004. Since that time, fans have been holding out hope for more, as well as binge watching the complete series on Netflix. Having launched the cast’s careers and secured its place as one of the top American sitcoms of all time, the popularity of Friends continues to linger, even today.
As time has passed and fans have grown increasingly eager to see more of Rachel, Ross, Phoebe, Joey, Chandler and Monica, the subject of a revival has cropped up several times. To date, almost the entire Friends cast has publicly stated at one time or another over the years that there will never be a Friends reunion. Even NBC’s chairman Bob Greenblatt has laid the subject out loud and clear, reiterating the commonly heard line that a Friends reunion will never happen. Yet no matter how many times this same verdict is delivered, Friends fans simply can’t give up hope on the possibility of more.
Unfortunately for the ever-persistent Friends fans out there, yet another key player in the series has insisted that there will be no revival. Rolling Stone reports that during a recent interview, Friends co-creator Marta Kauffman shut down the ongoing suggestion of a reunion while providing a nod to the humorous style in which Friends episodes were traditionally titled. Citing a fear that a reunion would risk angering fans if it didn’t meet the high expectations that would undoubtedly be placed upon it, Kauffman said:
This latest rejection comes in light of Warner Media’s recent statement that they would be taking Friends as an exclusive title for its streaming service after 2020. The news meant that after much waiting and hoping, the much lauded Netflix acquisition of the complete Friends series wasn’t to last. While this may not have been a huge deal for casual viewers, it was the latest in a long line of difficulties toward providing complete access to fans. It seems that beyond wanting a reunion of their favorite sitcom, fans have also been desperate to have all ten seasons of Friends at their fingertips for an extended period of time, outside of owning physical media.
“There are several reasons. One, the show is about a time in your life when your friends are your family. It’s not that time anymore. All we’d be doing is putting those six actors back together, but the heart of the show would be gone. Two, I don’t know what good it does us. The show is doing just fine, people love it. [A reunion] could only disappoint. ‘The One Where Everyone’s Disappointed.’”
It’s understandable that many Friends fans would be holding out hope for even one more episode of their favorite series. However, everything that the cast and its creators have said regarding the implausibility of a reunion is worth considering. Friends existed in a time that’s long gone. For those who grew up during the series’ heyday, it’s easy to see why the dynamic that existed on Friends during those years can’t be replicated in 2019. It’s unfortunate that there won’t be any new episodes, but fans can always console themselves with the ten Friends seasons that will always exist, in one form or another.
More: 12 Best Friends Episodes Of All Time
Source: Rolling Stone
