Fans know that “Friends” will always be there for them.
The beloved sitcom turns 30 this month, with its premiere episode set to air on Sept. 22, 1994. In honor of the monumental moment, “Friends” co-creators Kevin Bright, Martha Kauffman and executive producer David Crain revealed the possibility of a reboot.
“When tweens come up to you, they tell you how much they love your show and ask, ‘Are there going to be more episodes?’” Bright said. Today in an interview that aired on September 20.
“We get a lot of emails about it. And everyone has a great idea. And the great idea is that their kids are grown up and doing a Friends show,” Kauffman added.
As Crain said: “Oh, no, no, no, no.”
And how does it feel to see the long-running show, which also starred Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer, turn 30 this year?
“I imagine it's kind of like what it must feel like when your kid turns 30 and you're like, 'How did that happen?'” Crain mused.
One thing is certain: the cast had a connection from the beginning.
“When all six of them walked on stage together, I literally got a chill up my spine and thought, ‘This is special,’” Kauffman admitted.
Sharing some behind-the-scenes secrets, the creators told Today that “Friends” has flirted with the idea of going by a variety of other names.
“Insomnia Café,” “Six of One” and “Friends Like Us” were some of the top choices.
The trio also reflected on the loss of Matthew Perry, who died at age 54 in October 2023 from the effects of ketamine.
Bright noted: “He had been fighting for the good for so long, and it really seemed like, after the meeting, he had finally found some peace.”
“It's a huge loss and it makes the 30th a little tense,” Kauffman shared before Bright added of Perry's sense of humor: “He made us laugh every day.”
“Friends” ran for 10 seasons, aired 236 episodes and was viewed more than 100 billion times across various platforms.
And now the public can celebrate the anniversary by purchasing iconic accessories from the series that are being auctioned off.
“Friends: The One With the 30th Anniversary Auction” will give audiences the chance to score clothes worn by the main cast and notable guest stars, furniture that appeared in Ross’ (Schwimmer) apartment, items from Central Perk where the group of friends hung out, and more.
The auction will take place on Monday, September 23 at Julien's Studios and online at Julien's Auctions.
Meanwhile, as the first anniversary of Perry's death approaches on October 28, the case surrounding his death continues.
During an Aug. 30 hearing, a judge allowed Mark Chavez, one of five people charged in connection with the actor's death, to move forward with a plea deal, according to NBC News.
Chavez was indicted on one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine and will plead guilty at a later date, the outlet reported.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Jean Rosenbluth allowed the 54-year-old to be released on $50,000 unsecured bail and specific conditions, including stopping the practice of medicine and surrendering his passport.
Chavez, who faces up to 10 years in prison, the outlet reported, told the judge during his hearing: “I agree to abide by all the conditions.”
Chavez's attorney, Matthew Binninger, spoke to reporters outside the courtroom after the hearing and shared that his client was “incredibly remorseful.”
“He has already entered into a provisional suspension of his medical license,” he continued, according to NBC News, “so he is effectively unable to practice medicine at this time, and the reason for that is to establish a waiver of his medical license.”
Chavez also agreed to cooperate with prosecutors as they pursue others involved in Perry's death, including the doctor Chavez worked with to sell ketamine to the late star.
Also working with the U.S. Attorney's Office are Perry's assistant, who admitted helping him obtain and inject ketamine, and an acquaintance of Perry's, who admitted acting as a courier and middleman for the drug.
All three are assisting prosecutors in their pursuit of their primary targets: Dr. Salvador Plasencia, who is accused of illegally selling ketamine to Perry in the month before his death, and Jasveen Sangha, a woman authorities say is a dealer who sold the actor the lethal dose of ketamine.
Both have pleaded not guilty and are awaiting trial.
Perry had been using the drug through his regular doctor as part of a legal but unapproved treatment for depression that has become increasingly common.
Searching for more ketamine than his doctor would give him about a month before his death, Perry found Plasencia, who in turn asked Chavez to get him the drug.
“I wonder how much this idiot will pay,” Plasencia wrote to Chavez.
The two met that day in Costa Mesa, where they exchanged at least four vials of ketamine.
After selling the drugs to Perry for $4,500, Plasencia asked Chavez if he could continue supplying them to him so they could become Perry's preferred resource.
U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada said in announcing the charges on Aug. 15 that “doctors took advantage of Perry’s history of addiction in the final months of his life last year to provide him with ketamine in quantities they knew were dangerous.”
