2016 Friends Reunion
The cast of the celebrated sitcom "Friends" meet again for NBC's Tribute to Director James Burrows, a tribute which gathered stars of some of America's most memorable comedies.
Burrows directed 15 "Friends" episodes, among the most memorable in the history of the ten seasons. The reunion was missing one of the six, Matthew Perry, in London for his playwriting debut with "The End of Longing". A 12-min video with transcription.
- Language Notes and Explanations
- Sitcom= acronym for situation comedy, a genre of comedy centered on a fixed set of characters from episode to episode.
- 'you know', 'sort of', 'kind of', 'like' = common colloquial, meaningless "filler-phrases", similar to 'er', 'um' or 'ah', usually inserted when the speaker is still thinking about what to say; of course they should be avoided in more formal speech.
- to mess around= behave superficially (here referring to relationship).
- Cincinnati poker= a variety of poker. Five cards are dealt face down to each player and five cards face down to the table. The dealer turns the table cards face up one at a time. After each card is turned up, there is a round of betting.
- to hang out with= to spend time with someone, relaxing or enjoying oneself
- Seinfeld= an American sitcom that originally ran for nine seasons on NBC, from 1989 to 1998.
- To have a way with something = to be especially good at something
- To wind up +ing= to reach or come to a place, situation, or condition that was unexpected - synonym of "end up".
- Ranger game= a game of the New York Rangers hockey club.
- To be pissed off= It is not offensive, but it is certainly impolite, rather vulgar. It means annoyed, upset, mad.
- Pre-nose job= before rhinoplasty on a person's nose.
- Afro= a hair style originating with black people, in which the hair is allowed to grow naturally, with a bushy appearance.
- "Taxi", "Cheers", "Mary Tyler Moore" were all popular sitcoms.
- Danza= from Tony Danza, the "Danza" in a show is a character that comes to be identified with its actor, and people are going to call the actor with the name of the character for the rest of his life. The idiom takes origin from Tony Danza, who frequently impersonated characters named Tony.
- downbeat= in music, an accented beat, usually the first of the bar. The idiom means to give a signal to start from.
- Reverend Jim = a character in the "Taxi" sitcom.
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0:00
Here's Andy Cohen. For ten years America tuned in to watch six very attractive singles navigate relationships and life in New York City.
0:12
Rachel, Ross, Chandler, Monica, Phoebe, and Joey were not only friends with each other... we all wanted to be friends with them!
0:24
and if this next clip package were in an episode of the show, it would be called "the one where we watch our favorite moments from Friends"
0:32
I like to be single, okay, I just... I just I just want to be married again
And I just want a million dollars...
And I just want a million dollars...
0:42
[theme song] I'll be there for you ('Cause you're there for me too)
0:54
If I were omnipotent for a day I would want, um, world peace, no more hunger, and bigger boobs.
1:02
Hey Joey, what would you do if you were omnipotent?
I would kill myself
Joey, "omnipotent"
You are? Ross...
I would kill myself
Joey, "omnipotent"
You are? Ross...
1:15
Some girl ate Monica!
Shut up! The camera adds ten pounds!
Oh. So how many cameras are actually on you?
Shut up! The camera adds ten pounds!
Oh. So how many cameras are actually on you?
1:25
You give me back my sweater or it's handbag marinara
Stop! Stop the madness!
Stop! Stop the madness!
1:43
My best friend and my sister... I cannot believe this!
- Look, we're not just messing around, I love her.
- Sorry but it's true I love him too.
- My best friend and my sister!
- Look, we're not just messing around, I love her.
- Sorry but it's true I love him too.
- My best friend and my sister!
2:04
You know, I can't believe I even thought I'm getting back together with you! We are so over.
- Oh fine by me!
- Oh, hey, just so you know it's not that common. it doesn't happen to every guy and it is a big deal!
- I knew it!
- Oh fine by me!
- Oh, hey, just so you know it's not that common. it doesn't happen to every guy and it is a big deal!
- I knew it!
2:36
I'm telling you that girl totally winked at me.
Did not, she did not wink at you...
Did not, she did not wink at you...
2:55
Ladies and gentlemen, Matthew Perry!
Hello everyone I wish I could be there tonight celebrating the incredible career of Jimmy Burrows with you but I'm in London doing my play "The end of longing" and now please welcome to the stage my friends who just happen to be the cast of "Friends", Courteney Cox, David Schwimmer, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, and Jennifer Aniston.
Hello everyone I wish I could be there tonight celebrating the incredible career of Jimmy Burrows with you but I'm in London doing my play "The end of longing" and now please welcome to the stage my friends who just happen to be the cast of "Friends", Courteney Cox, David Schwimmer, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, and Jennifer Aniston.
3:44
Hi... smooth... wow!
3:52
I just want to speak on behalf of America and say we all love seeing you together and it's very cool to see you all together.
4:01
We would do anything for - Jim Burrows. He gave us the opportunity of a lifetime, and probably the best 10 years of our acting careers that we will forever remember. We experienced friendship, heartbreaks, babies, everything together.
4:19
And we also sort of had a wonderful experience with the world loving us, as well. They really connected with us.
4:30
Right in the very beginning he really encouraged us all to sort of get along and get to know one another, and be kind to one another, and support one another, and watch one another, and help one another,
4:46
and play poker
- and play poker.. you played poker
- Yes he gave us his dressing room 'cause it was big and it should have been that's... you know, fine... but
- And they wrote an episode about it, actually
- and play poker.. you played poker
- Yes he gave us his dressing room 'cause it was big and it should have been that's... you know, fine... but
- And they wrote an episode about it, actually
5:00
all right, Cincinnati, no blinds, everybody in.
- Yes... or no
- All right. Your money is mine, Green.
- Your fly is open, Geller!
- Yes... or no
- All right. Your money is mine, Green.
- Your fly is open, Geller!
5:20
We all were fans of the show, we love that you all are friends in real life... talk to me about the bond that you all have as a result of the show.
5:27
Well, I have to say it, at the beginning it was not a hard thing, we really just wanted to hang out with each other, it was not "we have to do this", we really just fell in love and adored each other instantly and would hang out at each other's houses and you know watch the show together and...
5:45
we did it at the beginning, we watched...
- You did it, you watched together
- At the beginning, yeah the first year
- You did it, you watched together
- At the beginning, yeah the first year
5:50
yeah we would all sort of like watch each other's -like- scenes that like- scenes you weren't in you would watch and kind of -like- sit and kind of go try to think of ideas for one another go what if it was real everybody was real supportive of one another...
6:02
you gave each other notes?
Yeah oh no, or suggestions not like
Hey but that was also awesome because Courtney started off saying I'm listen y'all I was on Seinfeld and they all help each other so just let's help each other
Yeah oh no, or suggestions not like
Hey but that was also awesome because Courtney started off saying I'm listen y'all I was on Seinfeld and they all help each other so just let's help each other
6:17
you talk about being encouraged to bond... I have to ask you about a rumor that went around. Did you all sign contracts saying that you wouldn't sleep with each other?
hold that thought... we'll be right back!
hold that thought... we'll be right back!
6:48
We are with the cast of "Friends"-- so guys is it true? Did you all sign contracts saying that you wouldn't sleep with each other?
6:53
well that was broken...
- I was not asked to sign anything...
- You were not asked to sign...
- I was not asked to sign anything...
- You were not asked to sign...
7:03
Who had the best chemistry of the group... I mean you all had such great chemistry...
7:09
Yes, they all had the best chemistry together except for the three girls, we had lunch together every single day.
7:14
The three guys ate together too...
- For ten years
- You did?
- And we ate the same food
- What?
- Jennifer Salad
- For ten years
- You did?
- And we ate the same food
- What?
- Jennifer Salad
7:22
Oh that's a joke... a second, what was it ...
7:25
I tossed anything in... no, no, but she has a way with... with it
7:27
Did you all audition for the roles that you wound up getting?
7:33
I was called... asked to play I just did Monica yes and her Rachel and I think we both just thought the other was better for the other part.
7:42
but I auditioned I had to come in and audition for Jimmy... and I just like... did you?
7:46
I remember meeting with Jimmy before
That's not auditioning, did you?
Me?
That's not auditioning, did you?
Me?
7:56
you had to audition for Jimmy?
- I auditioned but no audition, but I did
- Okay so, thank you
- I auditioned but no audition, but I did
- Okay so, thank you
8:02
Matt, do you have a favorite Joey moment from the show?
- I have... I remember the episode where the boys went to a Ranger game and Ross was hit in the face with the puck
- I have... I remember the episode where the boys went to a Ranger game and Ross was hit in the face with the puck
8:14
and we're sitting in the emergency room and Joey of course has the puck, because he somehow got it and he's got the bandage on his face and Jimmy goes "Hell... "and I look up and he goes and
8:31
and it was... it's just that little sort of seed that he gives you that's the thing about him he doesn't say a lot he just kind of knows, he gives you credit for being an artist and he, and I kind of went oh okay, so it became shh, shh, and then I look at David and he's pissed off.
8:49
and that was the downbeat for the scene and it was and it was great but it was it was his idea... thanks Jimmy!
- I forgot about that episode
- Yeah, it was great so let me tell you a little more about it
- I forgot about that episode
- Yeah, it was great so let me tell you a little more about it
9:01
Courtney, do you have a favorite episode?
- One of my favorites was the "Blackout" episode, I loved that, I loved the cat on the back
- One of my favorites was the "Blackout" episode, I loved that, I loved the cat on the back
9:23
he said, just keep going with the cat on my back, you just just keep doing it, keep doing it until I cut, I'm just never been just...
9:34
Jennifer, the episode where Rachel gets drunk and marries Ross
- Yes
- Amazing
- Yes
- One of your favorites?
- Yes
- Amazing
- Yes
- One of your favorites?
9:47
This is it!
- We're gonna get married
- Are you sure you wanna do this
- Well, hello, Mrs. Ross!
- Well, hello, Mr. Rachel!
- Ok
- We're gonna get married
- Are you sure you wanna do this
- Well, hello, Mrs. Ross!
- Well, hello, Mr. Rachel!
- Ok
10:10
No, that was really... that was actually a very fun episode but I always loved the flashbacks, I always loved when we would have things like flashback to...
10:19
Fat Monica and Rachel pre-nose job and Ross with his afro
- Oh turn it off
- It is off
- It is not! What is that red light?
- The off light
- Oh turn it off
- It is off
- It is not! What is that red light?
- The off light
10:38
is it ever explained how you afforded the apartment? I know this is something...
- He inherited it... that's your mother yeah oh well thank
- God, how did I miss that...
- Land control... control ...
- He inherited it... that's your mother yeah oh well thank
- God, how did I miss that...
- Land control... control ...
10:48
David, you went on to direct a few episodes of "Friends". Did you ask him for advice?
- Who, Jimmy?
- Who, Jimmy?
11:01
No, I mean, look, I mean, I asked him if I could watch him and follow him and he graciously took me under his wings and I tried to watch him
It's amazing to watch as you just learned so much
It's amazing to watch as you just learned so much
11:12
but he also, by the way, I mean, we all knew who James Burrows was and really, I felt like we were this brand new show and you know there had been "Taxi" and "Cheers" and he went around and told us like you were married for "Mary Tyler Moore", you're the hub, you're Reverend Jim, like, I'm, okay, great, wow oh my God.
11:37
She's right, she's right, I remember him saying to me "you're Danza" I was, like, okay
- He said you're Danza
- Yeah, that's great.
- He said you're Danza
- Yeah, that's great.
11:48
Tell me what Jim Burrows' legacy as a sitcom director is
- Look at the room
- Look at the room
- Look at the room
- Look at the room
11:55
Here's his legacy I mean there's there's nothing that I don't think anyone in this room wouldn't do for him, you know, and I think he taught us everything that we - we know about comedy, timing, to support, collaboration, you know
12:08
All right, we thank you
- He's our papa.
- Thank you all so much really for coming!
- He's our papa.
- Thank you all so much really for coming!