It’s hoped that fans will get to see Rachel, Monica, Phoebe, Joey, Ross, and Chandler gather for the two-hour special. However, it isn’t a reunion show dedicated only to Friends, but rather a special to celebrate the career of James Burrows, who directed 15 major episodes of the show, which ran for a total of 10 seasons with 236 episodes. It has also been reported that Matthew Perry, who played Chandler on the show, may not be able to attend the show due to prior obligations.
Burrows has one of the most famous Friends episodes to his credit, The One Where Ross and Rachel Take a Break, it spawned the quote we’ve heard many a fan utter from David Schwimmer’s character Ross: “We were on a break!” That, of course, was only one of many quotable lines from the series, alongside Joey’s “How you doin’?” and so many others.
Friends is only one of a long list of iconic shows Burrows worked on: he was also involved with Cheers (credited not only as director but also co-creator), Taxi, Mary Tyler Moore, The Bob Newhart Show, Laverne & Shirley, Frasier, Will & Grace, and the pilot for The Big Bang Theory. In fact, the 75-year-old has directed more than 50 TV pilots. His 100th episode directed was for NBC’s new comedy Crowded.
As such, there will be cast members from many of the aforementioned shows appearing to pay tribute, not just the Friends six.
And be warned: while the special is hoped to feature all six actors, including Jennifer Aniston (Rachel), Courteney Cox (Monica), Lisa Kudrow (Phoebe), Matt Leblanc (Joey), David Schwimmer (Ross), and Matthew Perry (Chandler), there’s no guarantee they’ll all make it. NBC President Bob Greenblatt, who confirmed the reunion at the Televisions Critics Association winter press tour, said that while he’s hoping they’ll all be in the same room at the same time, he’s “not sure we can logistically pull it off.”
Aniston and Cox are well-known personal friends, and the two also reunited with Kudrow in various appearances over the years (most recently for a skit on Jimmy Kimmel Live!). Schwimmer recently made a guest appearance on the latest season of Leblanc’s successful Showtime series, Episodes, where he follows Leblanc in playing an exaggerated version of himself.
Burrows has won 10 Emmies in his illustrious career. The special to honor him will air on February 21 at 9 p.m. on NBC.
Updated 1/25/2016: Variety has reported that Matthew Perry, who played Chandler on the show, may not be able to make an appearance do to other obligations.
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