'Friends' to Stay On Another Season

By David Bauder
The Associated Press

NEW YORK - NBC's six "Friends" aren't breaking up yet. The network announced a surprise agreement Saturday to keep the top-rated comedy on the air for another season.

No details of the agreement between the network, Warner Brothers Productions, Bright/Kauffman/Crane Productions and the six lead actors were released. But NBC spokeswoman Rebecca Marks confirmed the deal had been sealed early Saturday morning.

It was a welcome holiday present for NBC, which counts on "Friends" to kick off its powerful Thursday night lineup each week.

Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry and David Schwimmer are all being paid $1 million per episode this season.

When NBC announced in February that "Friends" would be back this fall, it was said then that this would be the final year.

But in the months to follow, NBC Entertainment President Jeff Zucker made certain the door remained open to a return. He consistently refused, in speaking publicly, to rule out the chance it would return.

Some of the actors had also seemed warm to the idea. Kudrow, interviewed on NBC's "Today" show in recent weeks, noted how the sitcom filming schedule, with its regular hours, was ideal for a young mother.

Although Aniston drew strong reviews last summer for her performance in "The Good Girl," none of the actors has established a solid career in the movies.

The last two seasons have been a revival for the series. It drew strong reviews last season and was the No. 1 series of the year in the Nielsen Media Research rankings. "Friends" also won its first Emmy as best comedy series and Aniston won for best comedy actress.

The series is generally the highest-rated comedy this year, although the CBS drama, "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," has supplanted it as television's most popular show.

This season Aniston's character, Rachel, is dealing witha motherhood after giving birth last May. Cox and Perry's characters, a married couple, had to deal with a separation when his job transferred him to the Midwest.

Although the same thing was said when February's agreement was reached, Marks said Saturday that "I'm sure it will be the final year."

The series of six close-knit pals living in New York City spawned many imitators at its initial success — including on NBC — but no show could match its formula for success. The show is already being seen frequently in syndication.

i wonder what else could happen to these guys in the next season that hasnt already been done yet?

I WANT THIS SHOW GONE. IT IS GETTING SO BORING HOW THEY KEEP SAYING "THIS IS THE BEST" AND JUNK LIKE THAT. TAKE IT OFF, AND GIVE OTHER SHOWS A CHANCE. WHAT ELSE COULD THEY DO. :o :mad: :o :mad: :o :mad: :angryfire :angryfire

This is great news!!!

I'm glad it is staying on for one more season, but I agree that it's getting old. I know I would certainly be running outta storyline ideas after 8 seasons!

---

Phoebe: [imitating Chandler] OK, could that report BE any later?
Chandler: I don't sound like that.
Joey: Oh, yes you do.
Ross: The hills are alive with the sound...OF music!

I'm glad that there's going to be another season. Personally I don't think that I could ever get sick of Friends, it could turn into a full fledged drama but as long as those 6 friends are still together I would like it! :)

Friends has pretty much been going downhill since the beginning of the 6th season, but I can't get enough of it, no matter how bad it's gotten.

A bad Friends episode is still better than most of what the other sitcoms have to offer IMO. At least they'll be able to wrap things up without having to rush ending story lines like they've had to do on other shows.

Friends hasnt gone down since the 6th season.. thats kinda funny :lol: It's been doing great and I know the writers have enough skill to come up with more ideas.. A bing baby :) New ways for R&R and maybe a weird way for J&P to get together! :crazy:

Where did you get this info from?

thats awesome!! I think i will have a heart attack or something when friends goes off the air LOL.

Originally posted by FOLrocks1
Where did you get this info from?
Its everywhere, Zap2it.com, the futon critic.com...AOL.com...

If FRIENDS wouldn't of signed for a tenth season - the show that was going to take it's place is this show called 'Fourteen Stories' (well that's the name of it right now) The show is about..hmm..it's hard to describe. Let's see...it's kinda similar to 3rd rock from the sun - but not really. Anyways - FRIENDS is much more interesting than that.

Also - the friend's 3rd season should be coming out at the very end of januray - beginning of February.

NBC, in Surprise, Re-Signs 'Friends' Cast
Sun Dec 22,12:44 PM ET

By DAVID BAUDER, AP Television Writer

NEW YORK (AP) - NBC's six "Friends" aren't breaking up yet. The network announced a surprise agreement to keep the top-rated comedy on the air for another season.

No details of the agreement between the network, Warner Brothers Productions, Bright/Kauffman/Crane Productions and the six lead actors were released. But NBC spokeswoman Rebecca Marks confirmed the deal had been sealed early Saturday morning.

It was a welcome holiday present for NBC, which counts on "Friends" to kick off its powerful Thursday night lineup each week.

Jennifer Aniston (news), Courteney Cox (news), Lisa Kudrow (news), Matt LeBlanc (news), Matthew Perry (news) and David Schwimmer (news) are all being paid $1 million per episode this season.

When NBC announced in February that "Friends" would be back this fall, it was said then that this would be the final year.

But in the months to follow, NBC Entertainment President Jeff Zucker made certain the door remained open to a return. He consistently refused, in speaking publicly, to rule out the chance it would return.

Some of the actors had also seemed warm to the idea. Kudrow, interviewed on NBC's "Today" show in recent weeks, noted how the sitcom filming schedule, with its regular hours, was ideal for a young mother.

Although Aniston drew strong reviews last summer for her performance in "The Good Girl," none of the actors has established a solid career in the movies.

The last two seasons have been a revival for the series. It drew strong reviews last season and was the No. 1 series of the year in the Nielsen Media Research rankings. "Friends" also won its first Emmy as best comedy series and Aniston won for best comedy actress.

The series is generally the highest-rated comedy this year, although the CBS drama, "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (news - Y! TV)," has supplanted it as television's most popular show.

This season Aniston's character, Rachel, is dealing with motherhood after giving birth last May. Cox and Perry's characters, a married couple, had to deal with a separation when his job transferred him to the Midwest.

Although the same thing was said when February's agreement was reached, Marks said Saturday that "I'm sure it will be the final year."

The series of six close-knit pals living in New York City spawned many imitators at its initial success — including on NBC — but no show could match its formula for success. The show is already being seen frequently in syndication.

Originally posted by MagicDust1488
NBC, in Surprise, Re-Signs 'Friends' Cast
Sun Dec 22,12:44 PM ET

By DAVID BAUDER, AP Television Writer

NEW YORK (AP) - NBC's six "Friends" aren't breaking up yet. The network announced a surprise agreement to keep the top-rated comedy on the air for another season.

No details of the agreement between the network, Warner Brothers Productions, Bright/Kauffman/Crane Productions and the six lead actors were released. But NBC spokeswoman Rebecca Marks confirmed the deal had been sealed early Saturday morning.

It was a welcome holiday present for NBC, which counts on "Friends" to kick off its powerful Thursday night lineup each week.

Jennifer Aniston (news), Courteney Cox (news), Lisa Kudrow (news), Matt LeBlanc (news), Matthew Perry (news) and David Schwimmer (news) are all being paid $1 million per episode this season.

When NBC announced in February that "Friends" would be back this fall, it was said then that this would be the final year.

But in the months to follow, NBC Entertainment President Jeff Zucker made certain the door remained open to a return. He consistently refused, in speaking publicly, to rule out the chance it would return.

Some of the actors had also seemed warm to the idea. Kudrow, interviewed on NBC's "Today" show in recent weeks, noted how the sitcom filming schedule, with its regular hours, was ideal for a young mother.

Although Aniston drew strong reviews last summer for her performance in "The Good Girl," none of the actors has established a solid career in the movies.

The last two seasons have been a revival for the series. It drew strong reviews last season and was the No. 1 series of the year in the Nielsen Media Research rankings. "Friends" also won its first Emmy as best comedy series and Aniston won for best comedy actress.

The series is generally the highest-rated comedy this year, although the CBS drama, "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (news - Y! TV)," has supplanted it as television's most popular show.

This season Aniston's character, Rachel, is dealing with motherhood after giving birth last May. Cox and Perry's characters, a married couple, had to deal with a separation when his job transferred him to the Midwest.

Although the same thing was said when February's agreement was reached, Marks said Saturday that "I'm sure it will be the final year."

The series of six close-knit pals living in New York City spawned many imitators at its initial success — including on NBC — but no show could match its formula for success. The show is already being seen frequently in syndication.

Hmm... indeed.

It'll be cool to see it go an even 10 years. A whole decade in our living rooms.

After the abysmal beginning to the year, they've gotten pretty good, but haven't matched the early years. I think they could again for the final year if they revamped the writing crew and really blew things out.

I don't know how anyone can say that they're getting tired of FRIENDS. I think the writers have done an amazing job by keeping the stories new and above all, funny! I hope Jennifer Aniston doesn't leave, i know there's been talks that she may be, but i doubt the show would work without the six of them. I think FRIENDS just keeps getting better, we all know the characters pretty well know so the jokes become even funnier.:wave:

Friends is going on for a tenth season and that would be great. But next season is the final season (if they decide not to have another season and renew again). I hope there will be another season.