7 votes

‘Friends’ cast to reunite for exclusive panel discussion on HBO Max

19 comments

  1. [14]
    mrbig
    (edited )
    Link
    It's unscripted: not a reunion of the characters, but merely a reunion of the cast. A long interview. A DVD extra. HUGE DIFFERENCE. It's not en episode, just them talking about the show. As a...

    It's unscripted: not a reunion of the characters, but merely a reunion of the cast. A long interview. A DVD extra.

    HUGE DIFFERENCE.

    It's not en episode, just them talking about the show. As a long-time fan, consider me underwhelmed.

    7 votes
    1. [13]
      Algernon_Asimov
      Link Parent
      Noone said or implied it was a new episode.

      Noone said or implied it was a new episode.

      2 votes
      1. [5]
        mrbig
        Link Parent
        I'm not saying the article was intentionally misleading, but in the past few years when fans claimed for a Friends reunion, it was not for a glorified panel show. Besides, I was not aware of this...

        I'm not saying the article was intentionally misleading, but in the past few years when fans claimed for a Friends reunion, it was not for a glorified panel show.

        Besides, I was not aware of this new proposal, the word "unscripted" was not very prominent, and even when I found it it was new word to me. For a moment I thought it could mean a live show, or maybe a fictionalized episode without a traditional script, like Curb Your Enthusiasm.

        It broke my heart, but, admittedly, this idea for a "reunion" was meant to break my heart anyway.

        It's kinda baffling HBO paid each actor 2.5 million US dollars for what is basically going to be a super-duper interview...

        8 votes
        1. [4]
          Algernon_Asimov
          Link Parent
          HBO doesn't have the rights to the 'Friends' show or its characters. That's owned by NBC. To make a 'Friends' episode would require NBC to agree to license the rights to HBO, and they would charge...

          It's kinda baffling HBO paid each actor 2.5 million US dollars for what is basically going to be a super-duper interview...

          HBO doesn't have the rights to the 'Friends' show or its characters. That's owned by NBC. To make a 'Friends' episode would require NBC to agree to license the rights to HBO, and they would charge HBO (or anyone) an exorbitant licensing fee for those rights.

          All HBO can do is hire the actors for an interview. Only NBC can make more 'Friends'.

          3 votes
          1. [2]
            mrbig
            Link Parent
            I just think it's a lot for some interviews, that's all.

            I just think it's a lot for some interviews, that's all.

            3 votes
            1. Algernon_Asimov
              Link Parent
              I think the 'Friends' cast were the highest paid sitcom actors. And they're still earning a fortune due to the syndication and streaming of the show. They commanded, and still command, high pay rates.

              I think the 'Friends' cast were the highest paid sitcom actors. And they're still earning a fortune due to the syndication and streaming of the show. They commanded, and still command, high pay rates.

              3 votes
          2. mrbig
            Link Parent
            And I wonder if it will bring many viewers/subscribers to the platform. All Friends' season? YES, definitely. But a pretty long interview with the cast is likely the kind of thing that will serve...

            And I wonder if it will bring many viewers/subscribers to the platform. All Friends' season? YES, definitely. But a pretty long interview with the cast is likely the kind of thing that will serve to generate some attention, brand awareness, whatever.

            Maybe that's all they want.

      2. [7]
        nothis
        Link Parent
        My girlfriend's instagram feed disagrees.

        My girlfriend's instagram feed disagrees.

        3 votes
        1. [6]
          Algernon_Asimov
          Link Parent
          Your girlfriend needs to follow people who are better informed.

          Your girlfriend needs to follow people who are better informed.

          1 vote
          1. [5]
            mrbig
            (edited )
            Link Parent
            It's just that "reunion" (a term that is being used in a lot of places) usually implies some kind of come back in some form reminiscent of the original presentation. Everyone would be bummed if...

            It's just that "reunion" (a term that is being used in a lot of places) usually implies some kind of come back in some form reminiscent of the original presentation. Everyone would be bummed if the Black Sabbath Reunion Tour was just Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler shooting the shit.

            An actual Friends reunion would be the reunion of Joey, Monica, Ross, Phoebe and Rachel, not the reunion of Matt LeBlanc, Courtney Cox, David Schwimmer, Jeniffer Aniston, and Lisa Kudrow.

            The use of the word "reunion" probably makes marketing (or sensationalistic) sense, but it's bound to generate some confusion. This is not merely an issue of people being misinformed.

            To make matters worse, I just saw a headline in Brazillian media literally saying that Friends was back for an actual new episode, no mention of interviews whatsoever!!

            10 votes
            1. [4]
              Algernon_Asimov
              Link Parent
              Not to me. When I went to my high school reunion, I didn't expect us all to be sitting at school desks in classrooms, getting lessons from teachers. It was just us people getting back together, in...

              It's just that "reunion" (a term that is being used in a lot of places) usually implies some kind of come back in some form reminiscent of the original presentation.

              Not to me. When I went to my high school reunion, I didn't expect us all to be sitting at school desks in classrooms, getting lessons from teachers. It was just us people getting back together, in a very different venue and context. The cast members of one of my all-time favourite TV shows got together for a reunion, but noone expected them to be putting on old costumes, walking on old sets, and reading lines.

              A reunion is just bringing people together again. If people have misinterpreted that as meaning the production of a new episode of 'Friends' in this case, that's on them.

              A "reunion tour" is different: the word "tour" implies... well... a tour.

              An actual Friends reunion would be

              The headline says "'Friends' cast to reunite..." It's clearly referring to the actors in the cast.

              To make matters worse, I just saw a headline in Brazillian media literally saying that Friends was back for an actual new episode, no mention of interviews whatsoever!!

              That's bad reporting. That's a problem.


              I'm not even sure why we're talking about something that isn't happening, except in some people's imaginations. Noone promised a new episode of 'Friends', so this discussion is moot.

              3 votes
              1. [3]
                mrbig
                Link Parent
                People's expectations - which are frequently fueled by imagination - tend to be very relevant when it comes to works of fiction.

                People's expectations - which are frequently fueled by imagination - tend to be very relevant when it comes to works of fiction.

                4 votes
                1. [2]
                  Algernon_Asimov
                  Link Parent
                  The production of a TV show is not fiction.

                  The production of a TV show is not fiction.

                  1 vote
                  1. mrbig
                    Link Parent
                    You expect too much of people. It all gets mixed up in emotions. But eventually, it'll get sorted.

                    You expect too much of people. It all gets mixed up in emotions. But eventually, it'll get sorted.

                    4 votes
  2. [5]
    cfabbro
    Link
    This headline is rather ambiguous in its meaning, and clearly causing a fair bit of offtopic arguing of semantics as result, so I have now edited it to be clearer. Please let me know what you...

    This headline is rather ambiguous in its meaning, and clearly causing a fair bit of offtopic arguing of semantics as result, so I have now edited it to be clearer. Please let me know what you think of the change, and if you think there is any way it can be further improved.

    @mrbig, @Algernon_Asimov, @nothis

    1 vote
    1. [2]
      Algernon_Asimov
      Link Parent
      I think you need to add "THIS IS NOT A NEW EPISODE" to remove all possible ambiguity. Even "unscripted special" leaves open the possibility that the actors will be performing as their characters...

      I think you need to add "THIS IS NOT A NEW EPISODE" to remove all possible ambiguity. Even "unscripted special" leaves open the possibility that the actors will be performing as their characters in a 30-minute improv exercise.

      3 votes
      1. Turtle
        Link Parent
        Based on the title I still thought it was a new episode before I opened it.

        Based on the title I still thought it was a new episode before I opened it.

        1 vote
    2. mrbig
      Link Parent
      I think that's better.

      I think that's better.

      1 vote