This month sees the 30th anniversary of the beloved sitcom “Friends,” and in true “Friends” fashion, the show simply wouldn’t be what it is today without the comic genius of the late, great Matthew Perry, who starred on the show as the one-liner icon known as Chandler Bing. Perry’s untimely death earlier this month at the age of 54 left a ripple effect of sadness and nostalgia that the world’s “Friends” fans are only just beginning to come to terms with. The celebration of the show’s 30 years of being on air seems almost unthinkable in light of Perry’s passing, and yet it also allows his fans and the cast to pay tribute to him and the legacy he left behind with his beloved character.
In an interview that is now a labor of love, the ‘Friends’ trio of co-creators David Crane and Marta Kauffman, along with executive producer Kevin Bright, sat down with the Today Show to celebrate the show’s upcoming 30th anniversary while also honoring a dear departed friend: Matthew Perry. The heart of ‘Friends’ was its friendship, and the friendship of its creators and producers is evident in this bittersweet moment that captures the magic of ‘Friends.’ — Den of Geek
The show’s creators explored its constant, continued impact, particularly with young people who are discovering “Friends” through streaming services. Even though it is a product of 1990s culture, its humor and heartfelt moments are timeless. Can fans even imagine “Insomnia Café,” “Six of One,” “Friends Like These,” or “Friends Like Us” as the name of their beloved ragtag group? At the time the show was first being envisioned, “Friends” was just one of several proposed titles. “We knew we had something magical the moment all six actors first appeared together on screen,” recalls co-creator Marta Kauffman. “It gave me chills.”
In a June interview for Variety’s “Actors on Actors” series, Jennifer Aniston, who famously portrayed Rachel Green, was swept up in nostalgia as she reflected on the pathway of “Friends” turning 30. Aniston shared a memory that was both humorous and deeply personal involving her co-stars Matthew Perry and Lisa Kudrow. “It’s so strange to think it’s 30 years old,” she said. “I remember the day it would premiere on NBC. Matthew and I were having lunch, and we knew Lisa was getting her hair colored. We snuck into the salon, I took the nozzle, and started pretending to wash Lisa’s hair. The excitement was overwhelming, and honestly, it felt like yesterday.”
Aniston’s voice shook as she held back tears in honor of the “Friends” legacy. “We could never have imagined it,” she said, with a few moments of dramatic pauses. I cynically wondered if these pauses were for effect, but who cares? With or without the tears and dramatic pauses, what “Friends” has accomplished in the television space is really something to celebrate.
While the show’s global fans mark 30 years of ‘Friends,’ they also mourn the recent death of Perry, who played the role of Chandler. Perry’s pathos-burdened humor always made big laughs as well as a tug at the heartstrings. And that, in the words of ‘Friends’ co-creator Marta Kauffman, is the reason for working still after all this time. “It’s still worth working on ‘Friends’ because … it really is a bittersweet story of what comedy and friendship can do in a world that’s so painful and hard.”
Keep watching for more never-before-seen updates from the unforgettable realm of “Friends.” Because, after all, they were there for us when the rain started to pour, and will forever be etched into our collective consciousness.
