Amen. So many, so many different episodes are like, you know, Lisa playing guitar up there, Jen and I our first kiss, like, the pilot opening the umbrella. I mean, come on. Where is everyone? Come on, I want to see everyone. Hai hai hai. welcome to best of friends podcast i'm aaron mallory long and i'm jamie big in scotland Yeah, I hope everyone caught our appearance on BBC Radio Scotland last week. Yeah. Oh, Erin, I think you actually mean our first...
Our first of numerous appearances on Scottish radio. People in Scotland love us. Or the other people just heard us on BBC Radio Scotland and we're like, alright, sure. Scotland. Scotland cannot get enough of us right now, and we are loving it. But I mean, we're recording this on the day that the reunion dropped. So on May 27th.
late tonight early tomorrow morning in Scotland we're going to be on a go radio breakfast show with Crofty and Grado I don't know how to say that name I mean they're like the they're like the Kathy Lee and Michael Strahan. Exactly. Yep, those are the right. They never were. It's unconfirmed if they've ever met, but they're like the Johnny Carson and Carson Daly of Scottish Radio. It's the Regis and Ryan Seacross stuff.
Um... Yeah, so, you know, the good thing about the Friends reunion, besides every other good thing... is that people in Scotland want to listen to us. Yeah, it's been really great, you know, because we did, first we did BBC Radio Scotland, and then... There's really only one place to go after that, and it's Go Radio Scotland. That's true. That's the trajectory we're doing. Feel free to catch us on there if you...
Just get lucky. Or you can just go back and listen to our little segments on there. I'm sure this one will be just as fun as the other one. I know. I mean, it was really, it was truly, really, really fun. And I'm excited about it. And if anyone else wants us to be on any radio shows, please, please let us know. Or, you know, if...
If HBO Max or anybody wants to do a fucking segment called the Best of Friends Awards, you could also reach out to us next time, the people who own Best of Friends as a brand. and not do it with you know like it's really hard to not be offended by the title the best of friends awards I was like oh that's funny and then I was like no the preeminent Audio authorities on friends literally international friends
I know. We don't have enough fans for you guys. God. Oh my goodness. I guess they want more than millions of views and downloads. I don't want the Scottish audience. Yeah, weird. I guess that's fucking strange, huh? Man, okay. So the Friends reunion was an hour and 45 minutes. We both somehow watched it today. It was tough. Yeah. It's really long.
This just got interesting. I had to watch it in between work. Got up at seven and tried to watch as much as I could and then had to watch it in between work all day. But it was worth it, I think. Nice shot.
so it was a good time i i didn't dress up uh per se for the occasion but i did have my daughter in one of her many friends branded clothing so she was uh she was rocking you know just nice casual like friends onesie yeah um and she seemed to really dig it she just kind of sat there and watched it with us she started smiling and laughing when like the theme song played for the first time
So she's hooked. Yep. Archer was wearing his little friend's t-shirt that I got him for the occasion. I haven't made him take a picture with me yet with my friend's merch, so we'll have to do that. But, you know, it's Friends Day. I mean, what are you going to do? It was a surprise. that it was coming out at midnight last night, though. That was working news from wife of the pod, Chelsea. That's how I found that out.
And then my sister-in-law also told me, but I was like, I already know. Yeah, I don't know why. I mean, maybe she just wanted to let you know. I don't know why she brought it up with us because as soon as she said it, I was like, there's no way. like there's no way like i i pretty regularly still stay up later than everybody but like there's no way she's something like that's that's just not happening and it definitely didn't at midnight uh my entire family was asleep Yes, I can't.
stay awake that late yeah i was like well that's not going to happen so i will watch it in the morning um but we really just want to We just want to focus on this reunion for this episode. So I think first what I want to do is read an email that we got about someone who also watched the reunion already. Absolutely. And then we can get into our thoughts. There is a lot to discuss. This episode is very special.
staying on topic just like for the first time the thing that so many people have wanted us to do for what five or six years yeah over over 200 episodes if you're a hater of us you will like this podcast episode and no other. This one's truly for everyone, even those who don't like us. Even everyone who hates us. Okay. This email is from Claudia. shouts out Claudia, who actually sent this one. very recently because I posted on Instagram like an hour before we recorded.
And she responded being like, when are you recording? And I said, in one hour. And then we got this email. And that's why Claudia gets her email read on the podcast. It's that level of dedication. So the subject line is the crying face, a lobster, and then end with like the arrow pointing to the line. Okay, Claudia writes, it's almost midnight in Sweden where I live, and I've watched the reunion twice today, bawling my eyes out both.
So saying I'm exhausted is an understatement, which means I don't really have a question. But I wouldn't forgive myself if I didn't send an email before the recording of the reunion episode. Can you please say something about Jen and David almost being real life Ross and Rachel? And...
After the absolute joy of them being reunited on set, the emptiness of knowing that this is it. I mean, we've been hoping for some kind of reunion since it ended, but as Court said, now that they've done it, this is it. They won't be gathered talking about the show. I thought the reunion was perfect. Such a good mix of things and so happy it didn't end up being a movie or an episode.
Excited to hear what you guys have to say. Okay, sorry for the rambling. Feel like my, quote, real friends don't care enough about the reunion, so I needed to vent to you guys. Ha ha. Off to bed. Can't wait to listen to this episode. Claudia. Love it. Take that. It's a perfect email. That's why you got read on the podcast. Okay. It's perfect. Okay. The thing that I would like to say up top about this, this reunion. Okay.
is that i liked it is that before anyone kills me okay the thing i have to say is that we have to keep in mind that all six of them were executive producers on this on this project. Meaning they have presumably some level of power of what's going on, you know? So I, I thought everything with just them was great and I loved it and I thought it was great. That should have been the whole thing in my opinion. Yes, me too. And we can get more into that. But the parts where...
The parts that played... too forced for me. are those things where it's like james corden would never if it wasn't planted as a thing that everyone knew about and everyone agreed to talk about james corden would never ask the question were there any off-screen romance
Because those six would not allow that question to be asked. You know what I mean? Yeah. This is me just playing like, sorry, I'm a TV producer. Right. Right. So. while I loved like the outcome of that and I actually like I thought the stuff with Jen and David was very sweet because like it seems really genuine that they just were like, I don't know. We were just like really into each other, but nothing ever happened. Like, I think that's sweet and cute. And I really loved that, but I think.
that whole thing plays better. it's not being asked as a question and it was just when they were chatting about it because then when they're chatting about it just on the set it's so cute yeah i i mean i think for me i i assume we way that seems like a safe assumption where like where like it's because i feel like a lot of people's issue is like oh this just looks like kind of a like
obviously a reunion because it's like modern day and they're all coming back for the first time but like other than that it kind of looks like a behind the scenes like a documentary or like a featurette and I was like yeah that's all it should be That's the most like that was by far all the best parts of it and the most compelling parts, especially as like a fan and then even more so as someone who.
you know, works in TV or is just like interested in like how TV and production works and all of that. And, and I think that. The reason, my guess would be that the reason they did like the outdoor. like shutter james cordon part of it is that is that they felt that they i think they felt they needed to balance it with some sort of live show spectacle kind of thing yes yes and that's really unfortunate because
I know why they did it, obviously, for the reason I just named. But I feel like it would have been so much stronger had they even just done, like the thing that popped into my head, and sorry, I know you're about to. But the thing that popped into my head was all of the outdoor court and stuff should have just been like them.
at like a Hollywood Reporter roundtable kind of thing. And they literally could have just like... drawn all of those same questions from like a pile in the middle and just like sat around and like talked about all of it and shared stories because I also think that they're like when they're all on the set together they're so much looser and authentic. And I feel like those kinds of stories would have been best if they were just like, like literally just like.
film for a whole day of them just sitting around a fancy table or something. talking about all these things you can even have like you could have a moderator there you could have like you know someone related to the show sitting there doing the question asking and everything but it it just feels different than like Like it kind of just seemed like they all, you know, got back together for like a late.
Yes. And also, again, part of the thing of this is I think James Corden's production company produced it. I'm so confused how that works. So that's part of it. You know, that's part of it. And I get that. And that's fine. And like, whatever you, you want to have the spectacle, you want to have someone hosting. I think what's unfortunate is that.
I think you're right. And I think if it was still, I think because they were supposed to film this right when COVID started, right? Yeah. So it's been delayed for. Over a year. Right. Because it was supposed to be, this was supposed to be like an HBO Max. Correct. When it kicked off. Yeah. So it was delayed for so long. So I think the reaction to that was, well, we need to have something with a big crowd. And I think what's been nice about a lot of the COVID stuff is like the intimate feeling.
things and I think it just would have been would have been better just to have it feel a little more intimate even if even honestly if you still want to do like the fashion show i thought was cute like It's unfortunate that James Michael Tyler couldn't be there. I thought the stuff with the Gellers was cute with Elliot Gold and Christina Pickles.
You can still do that stuff, but it's like, yeah, it was like the interviewing portion. I just sort of felt like... A, this is stuff that we've already talked about and they were much looser and it's much more interesting for me as a fan to watch the stuff when they're just like looking at the set and looking around what's going on. Yeah, they're just kind of reminiscing and like catching up. And yeah, I mean, and that's why I feel like even if you...
Even if you are insistent on having... you know, like a late night host, you know, kind of. guide that section of it why not just do it and like you said in a more intimate setting and you can still have all of those people pop in like the same way they did during the you know the embryos game and everything and yes And you can have the fashion show. And then you can even have a thing where like, you know, Justin Bieber walks out in his little costume, if that's what.
If that's what you... convinced yourself you want to do and and then you but then you could also have him like stop for a second and be like hey i just wanted to say like this is why i wanted to do this like i you know i love the show i love the show this is what it means to me but instead he just like walks out in a potato costume and everyone and everyone claps and then he walks away and then they're just like that was Justin Bieber for some reason and you're just like what's his like
Why? I thought it was funny because the other people in the fashion show were Cara Delevingne and Cindy Crawford who are Models. Yeah. And for some reason, it was Cara Delvingne twice? Yeah. This is like... the biggest thing like why are yeah why don't you just have one person twice instead of four different people well maybe they just couldn't book it I mean you know um I thought Cara Delevingne was cute yeah it's like um
I just really, the big parts for me were, A, the fans talking about the show from all over the world. I really liked those bits. And just the cast. sitting on the set and talking about stuff. It was just so, it was just really nice. And even like the gimmicky stuff that they did there. was cute, you know? Yeah.
Well, yeah, I mean, that's the whole thing. Even if it is, I think that's the part that was weird, is that it was like the live audience portion was... outside at night which like I get they're like oh let's recreate the fountain thing but then why is that like And, and I feel like it was, you know, even if you want to do a live, like basically do the same thing, but why not just do it on a soundstage? And it's like, it kind of fits the, you know.
the the theme that fits what you know what it is we're doing here yeah um i want to i want to sort of try to start at the beginning
Yeah, let's just roll through it. You said you took notes. I did take some notes. I really like... really liked how it opened first of all I really liked the trailer I thought the trailer was incredible and then I really liked how it opened with just just them like reverse oceans 11 like coming in yeah um i just really liked that i really loved when um we already know from watching the finale and whatever that like jennifer aniston is a crier and like which i appreciate as a crier myself
So she comes in and cries. And then when Courtney comes in and is like, did you cry too? That really made me laugh. The first thing I said, so I was so glad that they said that, was that beam is supposed to be there. I know. That was great. I liked all of the little... the continuity call outs because they're, because they don't. Like they don't know.
when exactly the set is because it's all over the place because they did like they had the beam but then in the guy's apartment they had and the Barka loungers and then there was like the Emma E on the wall from when Rachel was there and so it was just like it was completely like out of time which was interesting I mean I feel like that probably gave them a lot more feelings about it just kind of
yeah everything at once but yeah I mean I agree I think everything like honestly everything until they cut away from the set for the first time was Perfect. Cause it was, that's what I, and I know we've said it before, but you know, that's what, that's what I showed up for. Yeah. And just, I like that the set was sort of a mishmash, because it's sort of like a weird...
I don't know, like brain teaser sort of thing. Yeah. Which I do appreciate. And I think that is kind of fun and kind of nice. It also looked, like aside from... Aside from maybe, like, Monica and Rachel's apartment, I was surprised, like, the sets all looked so shallow. Like, especially the guy's apartment, I felt like was... Just because you're, you know, you don't, I guess you never really realize how shallow some of those sets are because then they just like open up completely.
you know that's where the and everything. Right, right. It was interesting to see him like moving around it because I was like, oh my gosh, you guys are like, you know, if you took one more step, you'd be off the set. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Well, I also liked that from David Schwimmer. I mean, because, you know. He's so, like, you know, I've directed a couple episodes. Oh, yeah. He was, like, immediately in director mode. When he was talking about the, um...
the cameras and he was like, Oh, I bet only one person can operate these. But like when we were doing the show, like it was like three people, like our crew was so big and I was like, Oh, that's so fun. Like that stuff. Oh God. fucking behind the scenes footage was killing me. I was like, I would literally I'm not all the different takes that they had. I'm like, I would pay so much money to just watch these. And that, that was my thing. Like if it was like, if we had a 90 minute, two hour long.
Fang. just that like literally just them like talking and walking around the set intercut with like older footage and like bad takes and all that kind of stuff like just if i could just watch all the takes yeah i was like that's all i wanted but i don't know maybe we're uh maybe we're speaking too much as uh as you know uh, elder millennials who grew up watching like DV.
stuff well it's like yeah that's the thing we do i think we do i think we do have an obsession with dvd insurance because i'm always talking about them it's like i always i remember distinctly like watching like like all the behind the scenes stuff about like making independence day and Titanic. Like I just fucking loved all of that stuff. And I would watch all the special features on any DVD.
like you gave me and like now I'm like what like I would never look at that yeah um oh did you also notice I took a took a note of this they all I think it's I think Courtney and Jen, but it might've been, oh no, maybe it was Matt LeBlanc too. Like a few of them called Lisa Kudrow, Loosh and Loosh. Yeah. Yeah. I did notice, I couldn't make it out, but I noticed that she like immediately had a nickname with all of them.
I always have captions on. So the way the captions spelled it was L-O-O-S-H. But I was like, oh my God, we're getting a secret nickname. Yeah. Which is like such a silly reaction, but I was earnestly like, wow. Like, oh, that's so fun. And then Matt LeBlanc has the ball from the original foosball table. And then Matthew Perry is like, why didn't you take the foosball table? And he's like, we smashed it. I did love how it seems like... It seems like Joey. has...
Matt LeBlanc has a like photographic memory because I felt like throughout the entire thing anytime there was someone who like didn't remember something or like couldn't think of something he was just immediately like boom it was this it was that It was so funny. Yeah, and it was right from the beginning when he was like, remember Courtney used to write our lines on the table?
in the sink everywhere oh yeah there was always a script in the sink like what yeah and then she said she used to hide them on the apples yeah yeah it's so funny i just that stuff was That stuff is so good. Um, just them being together was so good. I really, I liked their table reads also. I'm gonna be honest. Oh yeah. I mean, those were great. I mean, we, you know, I think we've talked about before how we were just like.
just let them sit around and reach grips and just anything like real and authentic. And I think that's the difference is I feel like people who. absolutely loved every part of this and like obviously people who wanted like an actual episode or a movie or like they for whatever reason wanted to see reunion of the characters, whereas I think people more in line with our school. were more interested in like, no, we want to see these people.
who like captured lightning in a bottle right like we want to see them back together we want to see how they interact and how they tick and you know how all of this tv magic happens yeah yeah um I totally agree. I can't even imagine. Yeah, I don't even want to think about a TV show or a movie. I'm like, no. And I think it, like, I really, I know it kind of... ahead, but I really loved the answer that they gave. yeah like when cordon asked about that and they were just like
No, you know, like this wasn't it because it's a it's a sitcom. It was like it wasn't it's not a series that had like a cliffhanger or like a bunch of like questions still up in the air. It had like a really beautiful like.
heartfelt send off for all these characters leaving like one major phase of their life going into the next one and you know just by nature of like how drama works like you would have to like fuck things up and pull at threads in order to do more of it and because it's not you know unless they I feel like the only like
interesting way to do it in my mind would be like if you basically just did like a filler episode that took place like 20 years later or something yeah yeah yeah but like it but even that it doesn't it'd be really hard to do because you'd still need conflict and drama. you know, things that, you know, just kind of picket what I think is a really good place where they left things. Okay. But friends, baby.
It's just their kids in their 20s. And it's scary CGI like the Rugrats for some reason. I think that's fine. Oh, also the thing about the table reads, I thought it was funny that like... I'm sure it's like a not remembering the scene as as intimately as I do because you're Jennifer Aniston and you haven't watched this episode of yourself 800 times.
But it was funny because I felt like she was the only one who was giving new line readings. Yeah. Like everyone else sort of like, I think like could hear the meter of how they were supposed to say it in their head and was kind of like doing it.
And then Jennifer Aniston, I feel like, was like, I'm going to give you a whole... reading um but then obviously lisa kudrow won that whole thing i mean it's very clear why that one was the last one that they showed obviously because i was literally crying laughing Yeah, I mean, you can tell that that's a clip. seen a lot, if not re-watched lately, because she's been talking about it. Yeah, she was saying that she's been watching. Yeah, she has. But, yeah, I mean, the...
All the stuff on the set was great. Just them giving. tour to each other basically and catching up and yeah i mean also it's obviously mentioned like right at the top but i can't believe all six of them have only been together one time yeah I mean, I don't know. It's also like... I don't know. Why would they all make point to get together? You know what I mean? Yeah, no, I mean, it's just... You know the girls have seen each other, you know? Yeah, yeah.
It's just crazy, I guess. Do we know what the one time they were together was? I thought we knew, but I couldn't remember. No, because there was some... Jimmy Kimmel or something, where everyone was there except Chandler? Yeah, and that's how it's usually been, is it's like five of the six. It seemed like they always had a designated survivor situation. Yeah.
You know what's funny about Courtney saying like, and this is the last time we're going to be asked about the show is it's basically, it's her being like, we're not doing this. Like, it's not that someone wouldn't want to do another one in 20 years. You know what I mean?
Yeah. Like, it's not that, like, the general public wouldn't be like, no, let's actually check back in in 15 years. Like, it's like Courtney Cox being like, well, we're not going to do it, though. Yeah. Yeah, definitely. She's like, no thanks. I thought the bits that they did were really good. I thought, like, the trivia game bit was really good. Like, a really good way to, like, take that scene.
That's so memorable and so funny and like put it and like switch it just enough that it's not just doing the scene, but it's like something for them. I thought they did a really good job with that. Yeah, definitely. All these people that they got to just come and do like... one second. Like, even Tom Selleck, like, barely does anything in this. Yeah, he is. Like, he says less than Mr. Heckle.
Who I will just say, friend of the show, Larry Hankin, a.k.a. Mr. Heckles, the very first special guest on the show. He did such a good job. He was brilliant. And look, people, let's just say it pays to get in good with the beer. Yeah, it's definitely, that's why. Though Mitchell Liffield, not in appearance.
uh did you hear lisa kudrow when she was like i said larry hankin yeah they couldn't come up with the character's name but she could she knew the actor obviously and she was like i said larry and then i think uh i think Courtney said Mr. Rickles or someone said Mr. Rickles. And I was like, Oh my God. Also the Thomas Lennon thing. I was like, am I nuts or is it definitely number two? And then like they go and pick number two. And then I was like, Oh my God.
But I love that, too. And then he's just like, okay, well, bye. I won't talk to you anymore. Yeah, it was funny. I was like, oh, cool. No one's overstaying. They're welcome. But it was like, oh, they're just popping in. Yeah, everyone was just like an in and out. In and out little thing. Which I thought was really funny. Oh, I also loved seeing footage from that Matthew Perry LAX bag of handlers in the future show.
It's so bizarre to watch. Well, that and Aniston's like muddling through or whatever. Yes, that was insane. The Southern Diner thing. It was like two insane ends of the light. concept sitcom spectrum like where you're just like Can you imagine if either of these... truly horrific looking shows no cost them this because what like his is like he was literally just playing Chandler in like a futuristic airport and then hers is
It was just this, like, bizarre southern accent. It was so weird. Apparently, Ryan Stiles... Oh my god, that's really funny. I never even saw anything from it, but I did see that. That's funny. I've like heard of that show as far as like the lore of like... you know, the shows that they were on, but I've never seen a clip from it. And that was just like, maybe we should do their failed pilots next. Oh, that's a good idea. Friends failed pilots. Yeah. That's a good idea. Yes.
I also love... Oh, you know what I do... You know what I like about the David Schwimmer and Jennifer Aniston thing? Is that... it just makes so much sense. Like, of course you would get a crush on your co-star. You know what I mean? Like, Oh yeah. I mean, especially when you're like, they're like, famous you're you know like that's what i mean you're like growing famous actors in your 20s yeah you're on something new you're in your 20s like it's like
Of course you would. And I think that's so fun. And I think it like, I think Courtney was right. And like, thank goodness they didn't get together. Like, cause that could have gotten really bad. And I think it's just so sweet that they were just kind of like into each other.
The idea that they were like napping together and then Schwimmer's like, yeah, I mean, we used to just like cuddle up on the couch. I can't believe you guys didn't realize. And they were all like, we knew. What are you talking about? Yeah. I thought that was so great just the funniest just the funniest bit um oh my god um Shit, there was something else I was going to say and I can't remember. I had to consult my notes. Oh, you know what it is?
Like, Malablock is great. Malablock was the highlight. He was so good. He's like such a...
like, dad. He's just, like, such a normal, funny dude. He's, like, the show historian, and then he's also just, like, cracking jokes the whole time. Like, the amount of times he was, like... when jennifer hannison's like well it's not it can't be smaller we didn't get bigger and he's like speak for yourself yeah exactly and then when you cut you cut to old bitch and matt leblanc and you're like oh yeah wow you have beefed up yeah but like he looks great like it's like nothing bad
Well, and I think that was when the trailer for this came out. I know you and I, obviously, and Krista.
were all texting each other when the trailer first came out and we were all saying, we were like, we love how... like true to their age they all look like they're not i mean they're not old people they're like middle age at this point but like we were just like but i i think i said i was like i love how old they look because it's not like you can tell that they're all Just people who were on this.
This, you know, world famous show 20 years ago, but they don't look like they're like trying to like hide anything or, you know, trying too hard or they're like, you know, dressed to the nines or anything. It was like, they just look like six normal people. And I think that's also why. the stuff that's on the set it's just they're dressed more casually like everyone's a little more comfortable than the stuff out on the stage you know
Yeah. So that's obviously why I like it better. You know, that doesn't, you know, it's like, I'm sure there are some people who like think that that part was the better part, but. Yeah, definitely. People are wrong all the time. Yeah. Like they can be wrong. That's just, it's just, that's, I mean, that's all I wanted. So it's like, I feel like I got everything I wanted because like, that's all I wanted. I wanted them hanging out and just like.
that and like even like on the topic of matt when they're talking about how he like fucked up his shoulder and then we actually got to see him like fuck up his shoulder and then everyone be like oh i think we're actually done now because shoulder that was crazy that was crazy also i was like oh yeah he's was that david beckham i think i was like oh yeah well david beckham's like accurately uh identifying the best episode of friends i'm like yeah that's a great episode I... I like...
I liked the interviews with celebrities. Like, I really liked the BTS one. I thought they were so cute. Yeah, well, I really liked the, even before that, when they just went through all the international. I loved that part. Yeah, that was so much more compelling than some of the later. oh yeah i love no i loved that part i thought it was really moving and really sweet and like that was great i really liked that part um and i sort of wish we could have watched them watch the
Yeah. You know what I mean? Like how we were kind of when we would cut in and then we would be watching them watch the bloopers or whatever. I sort of wish we could have seen them watching. watching those clips from from fans just like talking about how friends save their lives and like whatever like i just was like that part was so great um I will say, though, that the... I like Mindy Kaling, okay? Mm-hmm. Her bit was so scripted. Like, it was like...
Man, I'm like, Mindy, you're an actor, though. I don't understand why this is coming across this way. Yeah. I mean, that was my thing. I liked some of them, but... I feel like I could have ultimately done without those because, like, the BTS one was fun.
the David Beckham one was fine but like I was but even with those I was like why are we like BTS kind of made sense because they were you know they talked about the thing we've talked about like it fit in with the international yes portion where it is like this show helped help me learn English and teach me about American culture. Yeah. But like with, especially with Beckham and Kit Harrington, Kit Harrington and Mindy Kaling, I'm just like, why?
Like, who greenlit this? It's an odd group of celebrities. Because I feel like you could even... Reese makes sense. Yeah, Reese obviously makes sense. Malala was very interesting. That was so sweet. It kind of fits in with the international cultural side of things. And it was with her best friend, which is so sweet. And even... Even if, you know, it was a little odd, Mindy kind of works because it's like her thing was kind of like the successor.
Yeah, that's true. You could kind of spin it that way. But Kit Harington and David Beckham, I was like, guys, what?
like did you are you like friends with the director and he was like hey you like friends right like what's I didn't understand it other than other than I assumed oh yeah there's that and I assume that uh that's funny i mean i it's like it's not that i don't want to hear from them and i thought they were fine it was just kind of like weird like where i was sort of like I just want to be watching more stuff of that. Yeah. I could watch any blooper.
like you know what i mean like you could have just been playing like non-relate unrelated like blooper footage and i would have been like great yeah that and like in the intro or like you know similarly to like reese and others Like there is such a deep bench of like, of like random friends, guest stars and stuff that they could have, like you could have done.
a dozen interviews just of people like Reese where it was like you know famous people who were in like one or two episodes and that kind of stuff and just talking about like what it meant to them and like what like what they think of the show and the legacy and everything but instead like i felt like kit harrington talked for like five
I know. It was on there for so long. I know. I wonder how much of it was booking problems, too. Yeah. I just don't feel like... if you get the chance especially for like they could have done the talking heads anywhere but like you get a chance to do it for like the friends reunion like
I don't know but I mean there were a lot of people missing so it's like you don't know why like you know I mean James Michael Tyler wasn't even for this which seems crazy you know you're just like man dude What's going on?
Or I thought it was even weird how like at the top of the... outdoor portion they were like oh james cordon was just like oh yeah the creators are right over there yeah and so all the cast was like wait what like they all got up to like go great Maybe that was a staged moment, but it seemed earnestly like them being like, well, wait, we should go say hi to that. A lot of interesting choices. But again...
If it's a stage moment, it worked on me and I liked it. You know? Sure. I mean, I assume they knew that they were there. I think it's like, to me, it read as like... them being like oh but if they're right there we should go say hi to them yeah not like oh my god i'm so surprised that they're here of course they're here but it's like yeah i don't know it's just kind of like a funny thing it's like sort of like why weren't they involved in the interview portion too
Yeah, or even more from them. Because I did, I mean, I think everyone who is... Everyone who is kind of involved and into Friends to the degree that we are and a lot of our listeners are, I think people kind of form their own opinions about Kaufman and Crane and stuff. some of their idiosyncrasies and whatnot. But I did like hearing from them up top just about, you know, they're very, I'm sure, very curated.
recollection of how the show came to be and everything. But I was surprised that that was kind of the extent of their thing. We kind of heard just as much from them as we did from, again, sorry, Kit. But that was just kind of an odd choice. But I did feel like I had to call bullshit when they were talking about their vision for a true... cast and stuff because i was like i was like no i was like we know that's not true
You literally tried to make the show about Courtney Cox. Like why? And then when they were like, and you know, but she wasn't big enough that it was going to be the Courtney Cox show. And I was like, you guys are very much trying to retcon this whole situation. do not do not gaslight the friend lines i'm like don't start with me like i know what you're doing yeah it's it's so weird though because it is like that And this is just me talking to you. Like, that is so... freaking executive mindset.
where it is like literally instead of being like oh like We set out to do this one thing, but then the ensemble emerged and it ended up being great. And it's like, there's nothing wrong with that story, but there's something about the executive where it's... You can only look forward and anything that's already happened, you can rewrite to your... And like you can, you always make it seem like, oh, this happened. Well, I secretly always wanted.
happen even even though we cast a bigger star as portney and the first half of the first season is all built around her yeah and where we actually see her workplace and no one else's yeah
I know. It's like, okay, do you think that we forgot this? Oh, Lady Gaga's Smelly Cat. Yeah, that was... it was odd i really i like lady gaga and i like smelly cat and i love lisa kudrow yeah um so all the elements i thought the singing was good and then i thought like i think it's just that thing It's like when they have the musical guest in a sketch on SNL. Where you're like... Oh, right. You're not one of the musicians who can like...
do both. Which is weird, because I've seen a full movie with Lady Gaga starring in it, and she was great. I've seen her win an Oscar for a full movie. Well, she didn't win an Oscar for actually.
But, you know, like, I think she's... she's great in the star is born so i was kind of like why is she unable to act right now i don't get what's going on but i think it's like i think it's probably like a situation where it's like figuring out how to toe the line of like you're actually just being yourself but we want you to read these lines kind of thing so i i feel for her because i assume that's what was going on but it's like i liked just them singing you know
i thought them just singing was good oh we got to see maggie wheeler yes loved it i mean that was great She was great. Sorry, I just remembered about the Gaga thing. What I was saying earlier was her little moment after the song. I feel like that would have been... a really nice thing to hear from all of these celebrities who were involved in some way, even if it was, you know, I know they were kind of getting them in and out with like Mr. Hankin and Tom Lennon and stuff. Yeah.
You can call him Mr. Hankin. That's why I didn't correct him. Even with them, it would have been nice if they just had a little thing afterwards where they were like... hey, you know, like, I really enjoyed being a part of this and we had a lot of fun. Or, you know, like, just something, something like, like, that was one thing I did like about Gaga's appearance is that afterwards she did just have... I want to thank you for being the weird character and kind of giving...
Yeah, that's true. And then Lisa Kudrow's like, and you for carrying it on. You know, that was really sweet. I really liked that part. Yeah, I just... I don't know, it's like there were certain things... I think I just don't care that much for James Corden. I'm not going to be up front. I thought we were more than upfront about it. I don't know how, I don't understand how that happened.
i don't i don't get it i think that is part of the problem though because i think that is like there are a lot of things that like he had to deliver and i think if you're a fan of james gordon then you're like this is great and for me name them i was just kind of like Yeah, I don't get it because my only guess is like, oh, it's really big in the UK. Maybe we should have a British person host too. my understanding is they don't really like him there either. Like, he is, to my knowledge, and...
I'll just say this to my knowledge, he's a man without a country because it's not like he, the only reason he didn't get Ellen is because Ellen still hadn't been. And it's not, like, he is, by all accounts, not wonderful. But he's also not, it's such a weird... It's such a weird choice. I just don't get it. Because even if you're looking at, even if you're like, okay, we want to have like a late night host do it. I guess that makes sense.
then I feel like your first choice just in terms of popularity would be like, I mean, Colbert would be great, but then why not? anyone else like any other I mean Kimmel has already done friend stuff yeah I saw that he he was the one who did like the five correct yeah and like they've done like the little sketches on his show and stuff like So that would have made more sense to me. Yeah, it just, in a weird way, it just sort of felt like an intruder in my space. Yeah, it was just really...
It was just an odd fit. It just didn't really work for me. And I did wonder, too, if like... in that line of thinking, if it was like, okay, we don't want somebody who's necessarily as big as these stars. So, you know, just, and then with, you know, obviously, Corden's show is kind of the... like one like he's in the later batch of the late shows so like i guess that could kind of make sense if they're like oh we don't you know maybe or shadow them or something. I don't really like Jimmy Fallon.
Look, I don't like it. Look. Look. The point is, they didn't ask us to do it. The point is, we aren't famous and we could have done it. Yeah, you know what I also... Like, so at the end of the series, remember they did that, like, Oprah, they were on Oprah, like, all together? That would have been a great host. I know. So I kept being like... I kept being like, oh man, I wish this was just Oprah because she did their last interview and I made a point to watch Oprah that day.
yeah she did that and i'm like oh i like what but then also i was kind of like man you know what i really want is like a real oprah interview With the cast. Because I do think that a big part of the show and a big elephant in the room is Matthew Perry.
drug problems yeah yeah because like he has said in other interviews that he doesn't watch episodes he can't watch episodes of the show from when he was like really addicted to drugs because it's upsetting to him so when they have a comment and they're and he's like no i haven't there's whole seasons i haven't watched and everyone's like why it's like I'm like, this is uncomfortable because I know why. He didn't watch him because he was going through a horrible time. He was straight up.
Yeah, and so I do think, and this isn't what I want out of the Friends reunion, but I do think it would be an interesting TV special to do to talk about that. to talk about. the over-sexualization of Jennifer Aniston. They used that promo pic that, like, since everyone has been like, wait, what the fuck was going on here? Where it's like Jennifer Aniston's the only one naked under a towel and everyone else is clothed around her. And I was like...
Yeah, this is a picture that like, I mean, it's iconic because it's on the cover of the soundtrack and I fucking stared at it for my whole life.
That's a picture that has made people recently be like, wait, what? Yeah, and I do think that's just a really good idea. And even if they want to stay true to the, like, you know, we're not all... do something like this like I think just let me interview all of them separately and then put it together into like a big a big piece that sounds that sounds wonderful but I do think that would have been That would have been...
she would have been a really great host because I do think that kind of gets it what bothered me about those portions is they literally just felt like they were all on a late night show yeah like the whole live thing like it I feel like it would have been better and more fun if it was just like Like we're sitting down with all of us.
in front of the fountain, here on the WB lot, we got a crowd full of what I can only assume are WB employees. And if it was just a little less performance... I feel like it would have been nice, but I'm sure that... you know, why we liked the less performative bits of it overall. Yeah, yeah, yeah, that's all. I just, you know, it's like... The stuff when they're just talking is perfect. Like, no notes. I mean, it ultimately just comes down to, like, if they wanted to just do a reunion on...
The Tonight Show or on Kelly Clarkson or whatever. They would have just done that, but they didn't. It should have been a little more...
Yeah, that's true. Because then it's like, it is like just doing the thing that you haven't been doing. And then you're just doing it for this, you know? Yeah, but I mean... was great i really enjoyed it i come down hardest on the things i love so just keep that in mind i don't want to get any angry emails like jamie hates friends now keep that in mind We had a floopy drop. Oh, my God. I know. Wait. Yes. Lisa Kudra said floopy, so. Yeah. She said floopy. And I was like, wow. I was like.
We're freaking trendsetters, y'all. I'm like, man, I mean, I can't believe that that has stayed on. I'd like to think we carried that torch for the last few years. I think we definitely did, because I don't know, and I don't see anyone else saying that. I was so surprised when she said that. 100%. Did you know the end of the barbershop quartet? Because I did. Yeah, I did.
But I did, when they came out, I was like, why did they get, like, what a weird choice. I was like, again, like, there's so many things you can do. They got the, they got the actual barbershop quartet. I thought that stuff was great. I was like, yeah, I know. I was like, I was like, yeah, I know. It's like. boyfriend it's nice to have a boyfriend um it's just such a funny line so it's always in my head i loved also when david schwimmer was like
do you think that sounds right? And he's like, you think that that sounds correct? They're like, no. Okay, who was... We're missing Paul Rudd. Yes. We're missing Hank Azaria. I'm trying to think of who else. I kind of miss Marlo Thomas, but, you know. Yeah, I was going to say all of the exes, aside from Richard and Janice, who I think were... Those were the main ones, yeah. Yeah, that was good.
But yeah, I think that was, because they had a decent... the big people overall i think like you said the biggest ones were like gunther who was there via zoom um but then yeah i think after that the biggest one would probably be paul rudd i assume he's he's busy
yeah did you see him in the footage from the finale like they shoot because he's in the finale but then he's not in like the final scene obviously because they needed it to be just those six yeah um but when they come out after their hug when they come out for their curtain call basically um The camera that's filming like shoots towards the cameras and the crew and Paul Rudd is like crouched under one of the cameras like clapping. And it was really cute. Nice. I just like really enjoyed it.
I can't remember if I brought it up before but I will just because it's like good press but I was I don't even remember what show, but one of the...
because I do like the cartoons. We were at like a recording session and the engineers and directors and stuff were talking about like the most pleasant... like voice actors they've worked with and everyone just got on this tear about how wonderful and delightful Paul Rudd is and it was just it was very nice to hear and they were just like he's just like they're like he's like the most normal
famous person like yeah he like he'll literally like one guy was like yeah i just sat there and like we found out like we both had kids around the same age and we just talked about our kids like it wasn't even like he was like it was literally like I was just talking to like another dad at the playground or something like he was like he was like he's so like so He seems really normal and nice. That's always nice. For sure. you know what I thought was funny is that, um,
I mean, I understand why, so not funny, but it's like there was no mention of Joey. Oh, yeah. Yeah, I thought it was, even when they asked what they thought their characters were doing. He did say Venice Beach, though. I know. Which I thought was funny. Yeah. I really just came away from this loving Matt LeBlanc even more.
And I know we talked about before recording that you said you wanted to choose a best friend for the special like we used to do in the early days of BOF, but I feel like we... I wanted to choose the best friend because I already had mine picked. That's why. Mine is absolutely the same. It's absolutely Malabonk. I just feel like... He's so funny, first of all. Also, both old headshots of his that they shot.
are like the cutest thing in the world that I've ever seen. Like he just, he's so great. And I feel like. I don't ever appreciate how much Joey is acting as much as I should. And I think that's the big takeaway with him and Lisa Kudrow, where you're just like, they are so goddamn funny. Yeah. They're so fucking funny. They're so good. Like those are both, obviously we, I know we've talked extensively about our like journey with like Phoebe being like the savior of everybody.
But really, like, I really came away from this, especially being like, man, I just love Lisa Kutcher and Matt LeBlanc so much. Well, I feel like we got a lot of great Schwimmer insight as well. Yeah. Because I feel like if I had to pick a third for that group in terms of the reunion, it would be him. Because I also liked that, you know, like when...
Matt LeBlanc is talking kind of at length about how like how I saw like acting and comedic chops were and stuff and just even when they played the pants bit and everything and it's just like he was like i knew like like every bit of that was calculated like he he knew how to like build these moments and get a laugh And do it in a way that wasn't, like, he wasn't just, like, improvising. He was very much, like, studying and planning and executing. Agreed. It was so good.
It was good. Erin, in the interest of bringing things back, how would you rate Friends colon the reunion? Did we used to do it out of... I believe so. But you can do whatever you want. No, I know. I just was trying to remember. I'm gonna give it... Four and a half out of five. Lisa Kudrow yelling, my eyes! I'm gonna get... 4.5. Hard to work with monkey actors. Out of five. That whole thing. David Shremmer.
the fire in his eyes that whole time where like they all kept trying to walk it back and he was like no fuck you like you didn't you didn't have to work with him I'm like, poor Katie the monkey, okay? Katie is a working actor. She is still working. How dare you? She is not getting work after this. How dare you? David Schwimmer drags her name through the mud.
What a good time. I think this will be something interesting to revisit after some time, after we have some time to gestate on it and, you know, reflect a little. But I think it definitely met. our expectations for it i think for sure i i think for sure i know that very delightful i hope we someday see all of the the footage they didn't use because i'm sure they filmed on the set for like most of
No, I really liked it. I will be watching it again at some point. So I think it's all good. I think it's all good stuff. There's nothing bad, even though that we complained for a little while. Yeah, I don't want people to get the wrong idea and think that we didn't enjoy it or that we... Do not. Our beautiful, beautiful friends. Yeah, it was great. So let us know what you guys think. If there's anything you liked or disliked that we somehow may have...
not mentioned, let us know. And if you want, let us know what you want us to do next. We could take a look at some failed friends pilots. We can see what other options there are. But, you know, want to hear from you. Let's keep it democratic. I guess that does it though. I think that's it, man. I do, I'm very excited to watch it again. I really want to, like, take a look again. Because we did this fast, you know. I mean, as fast as you can watch something, that's almost too hard.
Bye. Well, folks, as always, I hope you know that the podcast is available everywhere at BOF. We're on Facebook under best of friends podcast. And at all of those wonderful, exciting social media places, you can find links to our merch store. You can also. at patreon.com slash bofpodcast. I'm everywhere at Jay Woodham. Aaron's everywhere at Aaron Mallory Long, jamiewoodham.com, aaronmallorylong.com. Check us out. Give us some...
I don't know, high fives. Whatever the kids are doing these days. High fives. Frickin' elbow bumps in these times of global... But I think that about does it for this week, for this once in a lifetime. Jamie, the last king of Scotland. I've been Erin Mallory Long. Bye. Bye.