It’s been over 20 years since “Friends” said goodbye, yet Jennifer Aniston is still hearing one particular compliment that never fails to touch her heart. And here’s the twist — it’s not about fashion, fame, or even her iconic hairstyle.
Speaking with Harper’s Bazaar UK, Aniston revealed that countless fans have told her they re-watch episodes of Friends whenever life feels overwhelming. “People say they turn on the show to help their mental health — that when the news is too much, or the world feels heavy, they just sit down with Friends. To me, that’s the highest compliment,” she shared warmly. For many, Friends has become more than just a sitcom; it’s a safe space when reality feels too chaotic.
Aniston admits the show transformed her life just as much as it impacted its audience. She recalls the thrill of not knowing what would happen next, just like the fans at home. “It completely shaped who I became,” she explained. “Every single day brought pure joy. I couldn’t wait to get to work, to see everyone, to read the scripts. We’d film every Friday night, and right after we wrapped, the script for Monday was waiting in the dressing room. I was just as eager to read it as viewers were to watch it.”
In 2021, the Friends cast reunited for a highly anticipated HBO Max special, a nostalgic moment that delighted fans. But Aniston is firm that a reboot isn’t on the table. “It would be literally, physically impossible,” she said — a statement sure to spark debate among die-hard fans hoping for more.
Part of the reason? The close of that chapter was final. Tragically, in 2023, co-star Matthew Perry passed away from the acute effects of ketamine, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner. His death reminded fans how much the show — and its stars — remain deeply woven into cultural memory.
Interestingly, Aniston hasn’t always ruled out the idea of revisiting Friends. Back in 2019 on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, she admitted, “Listen, I would do it,” sparking fan hope. The year before, she even joked to James Corden that she, Courteney Cox, and Lisa Kudrow could star in a Golden Girls remake decades down the road.
Yet she later told Howard Stern that trying to recreate Friends would likely disappoint. “It wouldn’t come close to what it was. So why do it? It would ruin it,” she said — a controversial but honest take that some fans may disagree with.
Matt LeBlanc has echoed this sentiment, noting in a 2018 interview with Steve Harvey that the show captured a specific time in life — your 20s, when friends become family and you’re figuring yourself out. “When that period is over, it’s over,” he said. Is that a wise creative choice, or are creators letting nostalgia go to waste?
And that leads to the big question: Do you believe Friends should remain untouched as a perfect time capsule, or should the cast and creators give fans a fresh chapter, even if it risks changing the magic? Share your thoughts — would a reboot honor the show’s legacy, or break it?
