Earlier this week, NBC confirmed that the cast of "Friends" will be reuniting this February as they take part in a two-hour special to honor sitcom director James Burrows on Sunday, Feb. 21. According to TVLine, the special is slated to tape later this month in Los Angeles.
Burrows recently helmed his 1000th episode of TV. He had directed 15 episodes of "Friends" as well as some episodes of "Cheers," "Will and Grace," "Frasier," "Taxi," and "Mike and Molly" among many others. The casts of those shows are expected to take part in the special as well.
However, NBC's Robert Greenblatt told reporters at the Television Critics Association 2016 Winter Press Tour (via E! Online) that not all of the cast of "Friends" may be present for the TV special.
"Hoping that all six of them will be in the same room at the same time, but I'm not sure we can logistically pull that off," said Greenblatt.
This appears to be true as on Thursday, Jan. 14, it was reported that one cast member won't be back for the special. E! News confirmed that Matthew Perry won't be appearing alongside co-stars Jennifer Aniston, Lisa Kudrow, Courteney Cox, Matt LeBlanc, and David Schwimmer. According to the website, Perry is in London rehearsing for his play, "The End of Longing," which previews on Tuesday, Feb. 2. It is expected that the actor may still be part of the special as sources told E! that he might appear via a taped message.
Fans of the series have been longing for a cast reunion ever since the show wrapped in May 2004. The series, which was created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, lasted for 10 seasons and was called the first true ensemble show as all six actors were equally prominent in the series.
Off-screen, the main cast became good friends and some of them would be seen together out and about or attending certain events. Last year, Kudrow and Cox were at Aniston's wedding to Justin Theroux, and while Schwimmer, LeBlanc, and Perry were not there, LeBlanc told People that he thinks Aniston and "The Leftovers" actor is "a great couple" and that all he wanted was for her to be happy.
LeBlanc said that he always thought of his co-stars as his family.
"Jen's like my little sister. Courteney and Lisa are like my big sisters, but Jen's like my little sister. Matthew's like my little brother, and David's my big brother," LeBlanc said. "That's how it broke down. And it's literally just chronological."
