Friends: The Reunion
Overview
"Friends: The Reunion" is a special episode of the American television sitcom Friends, which aired on HBO Max on May 27, 2021. The reunion special is an unscripted celebration of the beloved sitcom, which originally aired from 1994 to 2004. The main cast members - Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, and David Schwimmer - returned to the original Friends soundstage, Stage 24, on the Warner Bros. Studio lot in Burbank for the special.
Production
The concept of a Friends reunion special was first proposed by Kevin Reilly, the then-chief content officer of HBO Max and president of TBS, TNT, and TruTV, in 2019. The special was officially announced in February 2020, with all six main cast members confirming their participation via their respective social media accounts. The special was directed by Ben Winston, who also served as an executive producer alongside the original Friends producers Kevin S. Bright, Marta Kauffman, and David Crane.
Format
Unlike the original sitcom format of Friends, the reunion special does not feature a new, scripted episode of the series. Instead, it is a retrospective episode that features a mix of behind-the-scenes footage, interviews with the cast and creators, table reads of past Friends episodes, and special guest appearances. The special also includes a segment where the cast members play a trivia game based on the series, similar to the one featured in the season 4 episode "The One with the Embryos".
Reception
"Friends: The Reunion" received generally positive reviews from critics and audiences alike. The special was praised for its nostalgic value and the chemistry among the main cast. However, some critics felt that the special did not offer any new insights into the series and was more of a celebration of the show's enduring popularity.
Impact
The reunion special had a significant impact on the popularity and viewership of Friends. According to data from Parrot Analytics, demand for Friends increased by 28.6% in the week following the release of the reunion special. The special also led to a surge in subscriptions for HBO Max, with the platform seeing a 3% increase in sign-ups in the week of the special's release.