I'm sorry, $5 million per "Friend" per EPISODE is EFFING INSANE.

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

Friends Returns To Tv.

http://femalefirst.co.uk/entertainment/130692004.htm

Seminal sitcom FRIENDS is returning to television after each of its six stars agreed multi-million dollar deals to star in four one-hour specials.

In a secret meeting before Christmas (05), JENNIFER ANISTON, COURTENEY COX, LISA KUDROW, MATT LeBLANC, DAVID SCHWIMMER and MATTHEW PERRY reportedly agreed a $5 million (£2.7 million) apiece deal with NBC bosses in Los Angeles.

Scriptwriters have already started penning lines for the four double episodes, which are due to air next year (06). Aniston, who has filmed a string of movies since the final Friends episode, was the last to agree to the new deal.

An NBC insider says, "She's the one who had been holding out. But she's now agreed to reprise RACHEL (GREEN). "Bringing them back is a dream come true. Ratings will go through the roof."

[SmileyBoy]

1. You know the old saying:

Those who always watch Friends usually don't have any.

[ScreamingMeemie]

6. I liked that show....and I have friends.

:( It was a good show...albeit a bit unbelievable (to be "sort of" employed in those nice apts), but I agree with the OP that the price for bringing them back is a bit steep. :hi:

[mac56]

15. Me too, on both scores.

I liked it, and think it was one of the all time classic sitcoms.

Whaaaaat?! Sitcom life unbelievable?! When, oh when did that start?! :sarcasm:

[henslee]

18. You just think they're your friends, they're using you for your

smileees
x(
:-(
:(
;-)
;)
:o
:D
}(
;(
:P
:9
:*

[Rabrrrrrr]

2. Yet another reason to hate America

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

3. It's not insane for the 'actors' able to extort this out of the network.

Rather sweet, for them...

[tuvor]

4. I don't know if the ratings'll be so great.

People are fickle, and IMO Friends is 90s nostalgia.

When was the last time any reunion show did very well, anyway?

[Richardo]

25. I agree - flop city.

[terrya]

5. NBC just can't let this go.

$5 million EACH is beyond ridiculous. It's obscene.

"Friends" will air in reruns until the end of time. God, why does NBC want to flog this dead horse? And didn't they learn anything with "Joey"?

I'm filing this in my "who the fuck cares?" file.

[Fenris]

7. NOOOOOOOOOO!

I thought it was gone! :cry:

[northzax]

8. this is actually LESS money than they made in the last year of the show

in their last year, the five were paid a total of 7 million per half hour. now they are making $25 million for 4 hours, or less than half their last pay checks.

[Deja Q]

17. And that's worth whining about?!

[northzax]

20. hey, everyone is whining about something

isn't that the whole point of this thread?

[Gold Metal Flake]

9. 30 mil out of NBC pockets? FINE!

Now, how can we drain 30 Billion? What will it take to reduce GE stock value to OTC levels?

[jane_pippin]

10. What is this obsession with resurrection we have? Ratings will go through

the roof??!!

:rofl:

WHY? For the love of all that's good, WHY?? What bloated, goateed, self-important, talentless, Blackberry addicted HACK thought up this pointless exercise in inanity? Bring him to me so I may berate him properly.

Unbelievable. Oh I do hope this person has another brainstorm that will bring back the Brady Family Variety Hour. How about a My Mother the Car reunion? I'd like to know, is his mother still a car, or did he finally trade her in for good? Will she be able to come back as a Hybrid--oh hilarity could ensue with that double meaning!!

Here's a campy idea or five you can have for free, my be-suited, pasty, botoxed friend:

Small Wonder 2.0: Upgraded to Love!

Suddenly Susan: Suddenly Employed Again!

The Drew Carey Ice Skating Spectacular Power Hour!!

Ally McBeal: Celebrity Pie Eating Contest!

Third Rock From The Sun: Third Rock from the Son!

Just make sure to market these ideas with your tongue stuck firmly in your cheek, Mr. Bigshot. That way nobody will actually think you're serious about all this ridiculous bullshit and we can just pretend we're watching it ironically. :eyes:

I'm going to go puke up my very soul now.

Back in five.

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

12. "Tonight...on a very special 'Punky Brewster'..."

:evilgrin:

[jane_pippin]

14. Mad About You: An Amicable Divorce

and :spank: to you and your devil-thoughts

[leftstreet]

22. Moonlighting = An American Reality

[Initech]

11. Agreed, $5 mil for an episode is beyond insane.

I know for certain that I will be changing the channel. I'd rather watch The Daily Show!

[Oeditpus Rex]

13. The next time someone wails about how much ballplayers make

I'm gonna point this out to them.

[Deja Q]

16. Wow. NBC desperate for ratings?

[friesianrider]

19. Geez, the show isn't THAT fucking good.

Parts of the show are funny, but it isn't that good.

[regnaD kciN]

21. This sounds dubious...

...especially coming from an obscure British "web tabloid."

I remember, just after the show went off the air, all sorts of rumors that they were going to reunite for a Thanksgiving or Christmas "special." It turned out to be just some entertainment reporter's fantasy.

I'd be disinclined to believe this unless/until there was an official announcement from NBC.

[Synnical]

26. Correct - It's false - nothing but a rumour

Exec Quashes Rumor Of 'Friends' Reunion

http://www.accesshollywood.com/news/6371300/detail.html

However, "Access Hollywood" has learned that those reports are completely false.

"Not one ounce of truth," Jeff Zucker, CEO of NBC Universal Television Group, told "Access" of the rumors.

There were also rumblings of an all-male spin-off show starring David Schwimmer, Matthew Perry and Matt LeBlanc. But yet again, nothing more than false reports.

[Rowdyboy]

30. Thats funny! You proved it a hoax, and people are still upset.....

Sometimes it helps to read ALL the thread.\

Thanks for the debunking. :thumbsup:

[Shine]

23. I'm sure everyone is gonna get their money's worth.

:sarcasm:

[edbermac]

24. I'd rather watch Bill O'Reilly...

That's how much Friends bites it...:puke:

[Radical Activist]

27. This has bad news written all over it.

It was a pretty good show. This will probably dirty whatever half-decent legacy it has. Of course, people over 40 have always hated it. Maybe they don't get it. Excuse me for not wanting to watch another episode of Everybody Loves Raymond or one of the other endless number of family sitcoms that has absolutely no relevance to my life.

[philosophie_en_rose]

28. They're taking a steep pay cut.

$5 million for 4 hours, while they were previously paid $1 million per half-hour episode.

It's about half of their former salary. (1.25 million per hour, rather than 2 million per hour) Doesn't seem unreasonable, though it's probably a sign of desperation.

[Scout]

29. yay!

4 more opportunities to NOT watch...

ick, couldn't even stand to watch the previews for that show the first time around.

[fishwax]

31. it might as well go to them (labor) rather than management

nbc will bring in plenty of coin on this deal anyway ... but seriously, haven't we all seen enough of this show anyway?

[YellowRubberDuckie]

32. I love that show.

And I am doing a happy dance: