The Antipodean

Interesting... I was pretty sure this was going to be the last year, but it looks like it won't be:


It's not the last year after all: 'Friends' to stay together another season
DAVID BAUDER, AP Television Writer Saturday, December 21, 2002

NBC's six "Friends" aren't breaking up yet. The network announced a surprise agreement Saturday to keep the top-rated comedy on the air for another season.
No details of the agreement between the network, Warner Brothers Productions, Bright/Kauffman/Crane Productions and the six lead actors were released. But NBC spokeswoman Rebecca Marks confirmed the deal had been sealed early Saturday morning.
It was a welcome holiday present for NBC, which counts on "Friends" to kick off its powerful Thursday night lineup each week.
Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry and David Schwimmer are all being paid $1 million per episode this season.
When NBC announced in February that "Friends" would be back this fall, it was said then that this would be the final year.
But in the months to follow, NBC Entertainment President Jeff Zucker made certain the door remained open to a return. He consistently refused, in speaking publicly, to rule out the chance it would return.
Some of the actors had also seemed warm to the idea. Kudrow, interviewed on NBC's "Today" show in recent weeks, noted how the sitcom filming schedule, with its regular hours, was ideal for a young mother.
Although Aniston drew strong reviews last summer for her performance in "The Good Girl," none of the actors has established a solid career in the movies.
The last two seasons have been a revival for the series. It drew strong reviews last season and was the No. 1 series of the year in the Nielsen Media Research rankings. "Friends" also won its first Emmy as best comedy series and Aniston won for best comedy actress.
The series is generally the highest-rated comedy this year, although the CBS drama, "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," has supplanted it as television's most popular show.
This season Aniston's character, Rachel, is dealing with motherhood after giving birth last May. Cox and Perry's characters, a married couple, had to deal with a separation when his job transferred him to the Midwest.
Although the same thing was said when February's agreement was reached, Marks said Saturday that "I'm sure it will be the final year."
The series of six close-knit pals living in New York City spawned many imitators at its initial success -- including on NBC -- but no show could match its formula for success. The show is already being seen frequently in syndication.

Rypro 525

great news, this is imo these two years have been the best in years.

mikehunt

wish I got paid $1million per episode

atari2600

yeah this is great. this show has gotten waaaay better the last few years. the early years sucked IMO until maybe 4 years ago to present. i thin they got new writers too at that time.

conscience

I find it sooo hilarious that every single one of them said this was the final year.

Now they can eat their words and buy their luxuries.

Shawn

Great news!!

Deftones

I would never give up this gig. They do 20 something episdoes a year, and they get paid immensly for it. None of them can command $20 million for a film, so this is easy money.

TheMadMonk

I can't imagine caring less about this.

Jackskeleton

If I was being paid a million bucks per episode, You beat your arse I would op for another season and gladly eat my luxuries.

imagine the royalties in the long run.

jeffkjoe

I think this is great.


You know, FRIENDS should go out in its TENTH year, not NINTH. 10 is a good round number.


Yeah, 10!

But, you know, they gave Rachel Green a baby to deal with a little too early.

bigjim25

Now maybe Rachel's hot sisters will show up again.

huzefa

Can you say 'orgy'?

MrX

Next season scares me quality wise. It just seems they've been gearing up all season to end it and now they're going to somehow stretch it out some more.

adamblast

I can't tell you how excited I -- ZZzzzzzzzzzz

shanester

I don't watch this show and Jennifer Aniston gets on my nerves what's the deal with her mouth??..

Everytime she speak her jaw is so stiff it's like she just came back from the dentist or something

Let's face it non of these actors will have a career beyond that tv show..

bothanspy

lol

ProjectMayhem

Wow, there were people that actually believed this was the last season? All of their careers are screwed. None of them (with the exception of maybe Jennifer Aniston) will have an acting career ahead of them. I can see this show going on for at LEAST two more years...

Red Dog

Smart actors. They are learning from Kelsey Grammar - milk something for all it is worth.

HistoryProf

except unlike Kelsey Grammer, they're actually funny and their show doesn't suck.

jeffkjoe

I guess that spin-off show,

"Joey," where our favorite nit-wit actor moves away from his friends and moves to California permanently,

will have to wait for a season or two.

SuperJim88

Was anybody actually surprised by this annoucement?! They tried their best to make the 9th season sounds like the last season, but in all the while it was so obvious they'll come back for another ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.........................

Grinch

Although I'm pretty happy with the fact that the 10th season will appear, it's kinda strange that they are releasing a complete box with room for series 1 through 9 here.. :s

Betcha Warner Europe didnt see that one coming..

Red Dog

Don't know what show you are watching but Friends has pretty much sucked for the last 2-3 years.

Grinch

nah, mindless entertainment is great.. It's all good as long as there isnt any thinking involved

Rogue588

Agree with theMadMonk. Worst. News. Ever.