--- description: They'll be there for you, like they've been there before title: A 'Friends' Reunion Is Finally Happening image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt0a165e94eba86afa/698878f8ab6d771ba76a7f55/gettyimages-138425601.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Entertainment](/section/entertainment/) ## Entertainment Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # A _Friends_ Reunion Is Finally Happening  by [Eliana Dockterman](/author/eliana-dockterman/)  ## Eliana Dockterman Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Correspondent Updated: Dec 13, 2023 8:33 PM CUTPublished: Jan 13, 2016 6:06 PM CUT  (l-r) Matthew Perry as Chandler Bing, Jennifer Aniston as Rachel Green, David Schwimmer as Ross Geller, Courteney Cox as Monica Geller, Matt Le Blanc as Joey Tribbiani, Lisa Kudrow as Phoebe Buffay (l-r) Matthew Perry as Chandler Bing, Jennifer Aniston as Rachel Green, David Schwimmer as Ross Geller, Courteney Cox as Monica Geller, Matt Le Blanc as Joey Tribbiani, Lisa Kudrow as Phoebe BuffayNBC—Getty Images  by [Eliana Dockterman](/author/eliana-dockterman/)  ## Eliana Dockterman Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Correspondent Updated: Dec 13, 2023 8:33 PM CUTPublished: Jan 13, 2016 6:06 PM CUT _Since this story’s publication, Matthew Perry has_ [_announced_](http://time.com/4181510/friends-reunion-matthew-perry/ "undefined") _he won’t be able to participate in person._ They’re not on a [break](http://friends.wikia.com/wiki/We%5FWere%5FOn%5FA%5FBreak "undefined") anymore. Twelve years after the [show’s finale](http://time.com/3101660/friends/ "undefined"), the _Friends_ cast will finally reunite on NBC this February. Jennifer Aniston, Courtney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry and [David Schwimmer](http://time.com/4057340/david-schwimmer-friends-new-tv-show/ "undefined") will all take part in a new special honoring director James Burrows on Sunday, Feb. 21, NBC head Bob Greeblatt confirmed at the Television Critics Association Press Tour on Wednesday [according to](http://www.eonline.com/news/730897/friends-cast-reunion-happening-on-nbc "undefined") E News. But there’s a catch: Although NBC hopes the stars will appear together, there’s a chance it won’t be possible to get everyone in the same room. “I’m not sure we can logistically pull that off,” said Greenblatt. Burrows has been directing sitcoms for 40 years, directed 15 episodes of _Friends_ (along with nearly 200 episodes of _Will & Grace_). Actors from others shows he’s directed, including _Cheers_ _,_ _Mike & Molly_ and _The Bob Newhart Show_ are also expected to appear in the special. Fans of the uber-popular 1990s sitcom have been lobbying for a reunion for years. The show surged again in popularity last year when it became available to stream on Netflix. \[[_E News_](http://www.eonline.com/news/730897/friends-cast-reunion-happening-on-nbc "undefined")\] ### 20 Years Later: Which _Friends_ Cast Members Came Out on Top?  1\. Jennifer Aniston (Rachel Green) Let’s put it this way: Jennifer Aniston is the only Friends star who would unquestionably be able to headline a movie or book a magazine cover today. She’s starred in recent high grossing films including Horrible Bosses and We’re the Millers, and nabbed Men’s Health’s 2013 Sexiest Woman of all Time. Getty Images (2)  2\. Courtney Cox (Monica Geller) Since Friends, Cox made a successful return to the small screen in the ABC’s (now TBS) show Cougar Town. She also starred in the cult favorite Scream series. Getty Images (2)  3\. Lisa Kudrow (Phoebe Buffay) Always a fan favorite, Kudrow has landed movie roles and various guest appearances on Scandal and Parks and Recreation. Her most notable work is her web-turned-Showtime series Web Therapy and HBO’s recently renewed The Comeback. Getty Images (2)  4\. Matt LeBlanc (Joey Tribbiani) The men of Friends have proven less successful. LeBlanc starred in a widely panned Friends spinoff called Joey. After a lull, he recently made a comeback and won a Golden Globe for his work on Showtime’s Episodes. Getty Images (2)  5\. Matthew Perry (Chandler Bing) Perry’s biggest role since Friends was on the short-lived series Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip and, later, Mr. Sunshine. Getty Images (2)  6\. David Schwimmer (Ross Geller) Poor Ross. Schwimmer slowly faded from the public eye since Friends ended. His biggest role was as the voice of Melman the giraffe in the Madagascar movies. Getty Images (2) ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4179320/friends-reunion-happening-nbc/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4179320/friends-reunion-happening-nbc/"},"headline":"A Friends Reunion Is Finally Happening","datePublished":"2016-01-13T18:06:25.000Z","dateModified":"2023-12-13T20:33:44.000Z","description":"They just might not all be in the same room","url":"https://time.com/4179320/friends-reunion-happening-nbc/","keywords":["Television"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt0a165e94eba86afa/698878f8ab6d771ba76a7f55/gettyimages-138425601.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Eliana Dockterman","jobTitle":"Correspondent","url":"https://time.com/author/eliana-dockterman/"}],"articleSection":"Entertainment","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt0a165e94eba86afa/698878f8ab6d771ba76a7f55/gettyimages-138425601.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"Friends","caption":"Friends","creditText":"NBC—Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/entertainment/","name":"Entertainment"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/4179320/friends-reunion-happening-nbc/","name":"A Friends Reunion Is Finally Happening"}}]}] ```