‘Friends’ Returns to TV

Hollywood.com ^ | Sunday, January 22, 2006 | By WENN

[tlb]

HOLLYWOOD - Seminal sitcom Friends is returning to television after each of its six stars agreed multi-million dollar deals to star in four one-hour specials.

Scriptwriters have already started penning lines for the four double episodes, which are due to air next year.

Network bosses have also hinted at a second spin-off of the hit comedy, following the disappointing performance of Matt LeBlanc's show Joey. The new program will see the three male stars--Perry, Schwimmer and LeBlanc--pilot a series called It's A Guy Thing.

[tlb]

On the day NBC announces West Wing is cancelled, see what the future holds.

[dfwgator]

Never watched it before, won't watch it now.

[don-o]

Never watched it.

[Caesar Soze]

There's at least a dozen shows I'd like to see return in some limited fashion. Friends isn't one of them. But if it's successful, the model might be applied to those series I would like to see again.

[Indy Pendance]

Skeletons in fashion.

[bigsigh]

Some of the actors need the paycheck.

[Tzimisce]

Need something to replace "The West Wing" I guess. I heard Alan Alda played the Republican Presidential candidate in the show. That would be like getting Cindy Sheehan to play Condi Rice...

[Dashing Dasher]

My first thought....


How can we miss you if you won't go away.....

[Fintan]

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If Jennifer Anniston & Lisa Kudrow jello-wrestle nude, I might watch.

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[EveningStar]

I saw only bits of this show when I was channel surfing. From what little I saw, I'm amazed it didn't get cancelled after a few episodes. In fact, I'm amazed that the pilot sold!

[Mr. Blonde]

I'm taking a tv and radio programming class right now. It is interesting how the dominant network cycles. NBC was the dominant network for so long with Friends and Seinfeld dominating the ratings, but with all of their good shows ending and nothing good coming out they have fallen to fourth. At the same time people were wondering if ABC would survive and now they are at the top with Lost, Desperate Housewives and Grey's Anatomy among others they are the top network.

Something like this just goes to show how desperate NBC is. And the actors too I guess.

Probably the most interesting thing in the class is how much cable has affected what a good rating is. The Beverly Hillbillies used to get a 40 rating each week. Now the top show gets an 18. A successful show has around a 10.

[Txsleuth]

And some actresses need the distraction...

[F16Fighter]

A Gold Mine for a cast who desperately miss the adulation, work, and....a few bucks to pay some bills.

[Txsleuth]

It also shows how "sophisticated" NOT...people were when the Beverly Hillbillies will pick up a 40 share...jeez louise.

What did Gilligan's Island get...and 50??

[Sam the Sham]

And after "Joey", and "The Comeback" some of the actors could use an ego boost.

[Capriole]

I never watched it while it was being broadcast initially but several months ago my daughter (18, I can't stop her!) was watching it in reruns late at night and I saw it. I had two reactions: I was shocked and disgusted at the sexual license it portrayed, and some of the comedy was funny. I found myself laughing.

Same with Frasier and the Simpsons. 'Course, part of my reaction could be because I used to date a guy like Frasier and my son is the clone of Bart Simpson, and proud of it.

[Mr. Blonde]

People just didn't have many choices. People still won't turn the tv off if nothing is on. Why would anything different when there were only 3 channels to choose from instead of 100?

[Clemenza]

This show s-cked the first time.

[Young Werther]

So what happened to the Geena Davis Madame Presidentee!

[Txsleuth]

I suppose....I don't remember much about TV when I was young...back then we played outside until bedtime...and never watched TV...

except maybe the Mickey Mouse Club right after school, while we were eating a snack..

The only thing I really remember, other than news and sports was The Dick Van Dyke Show...my Dad laughed out loud at that one!