Jennifer Aniston reveals why she won’t do another sitcom after ‘Friends’ as iconic show turns 30

'Friends' has remained popular for decades, thanks to its ageless characters and approachable humor
PUBLISHED SEP 23, 2024
Jennifer Aniston said her 'Friends' cast members have become family for her (Getty Images, NBC)
Jennifer Aniston said her 'Friends' cast members have become family for her (Getty Images, NBC)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Jennifer Aniston recently revealed that she will never work on another sitcom following the 30th anniversary of her critically acclaimed television series 'Friends'.

Despite calling her beloved comedy series the "biggest gift" of her life, Aniston has rejected the possibility that she will return to television to appear in another sitcom.

Aniston enthralled the fans with her great representation and extraordinary acting skills during her 10-season run as the beloved character Rachel Green on 'Friends'.

385848 27: Cast members of NBC's comedy series
Jennifer Aniston played Rachel Green in NBC's iconic comedy series 'Friends' (Getty Images)

Jennifer Aniston calls 'Friends' 'biggest gift' of her life

Speaking at the 'SmartLess' podcast, Jennifer Aniston revealed her reasons for not wanting to appear in another sitcom after 'Friends.'

Since starring as Rachel Green in the popular sitcom from the 1990s, the actress, 55, has acted in several Hollywood productions.

Calling the sitcom the "biggest gift" of her life, Aniston expressed skepticism about ever being as content as she was back then.

When asked which of her glamorous roles she had enjoyed the most, the 'Murder Mystery' star replied, "Obviously 'Friends' — that’s a no-brainer. I would have to say that is number one."

Aniston went on to say that acting in 'Friends' was the biggest work of her career and that she still misses the filming schedule "every single day".

"Every single day I miss the schedule of filming ... it’s the best schedule ever on the planet."

385848 06: Actress Jennifer Aniston star as Rachel Green of NBC's comedy series
Jennifer Aniston cherishes her 'Friends' experience and doubts any other series can match up to it (Getty Images)

She further added that she would be hesitant to work on another TV sitcom since it would never be able to compete with 'Friends' which won the Emmys, Golden Globes, and Baftas, per The Sun.

"If I knew it would be the same experience as I had with those guys, yes, but I doubt that will ever happen," Aniston said during the podcast.

Since the show's 2004 finale, the cast has stayed as close as a family, with Lisa Kudrow, Courteney Cox, David Schwimmer, and Matt LeBlanc appearing to share similar sentiments regarding the show's significance in their lives.

Reflecting on the show's primetime, Aniston told Variety: "It’s so strange to even think that it’s 30 years old, because I remember the day that it was going to premiere on television, on NBC."

"Me and Matthew Perry were having lunch somewhere and we knew Lisa was getting her hair coloured. So we ran into the hair salon and I snuck up and she was in the sink, the hair bowl," she added.

UNDATED PHOTO:  Actors Courteney Cox Arquette (L), Jennifer Aniston (C) and Matthew Perry are shown
Courteney Cox Arquette, Jennifer Aniston and Matthew Perry in a scene from 'Friends' (NBC)

Aniston went on to narrate, "And I took the nozzle and started washing her hair from the guy that was supposed to be doing it, and it definitely flew out of control and that was unfortunate, but the excitement we had — it feels like yesterday."

She said, "The fact that it had this long, wonderful life, and it still means a lot to people, is one of the greatest gifts I think all five of us, all six of us . . . we never could have imagined."

"We still see each other. I talked on FaceTime with Court last night for, like, an hour, and Lisa and the boys . . . it’s a family forever," Aniston added.

'Friends' remains popular among fans even after 30 years

The cherished television sitcom 'Friends' turned 30 on September 22 after its debut on NBC network in 1994.

This beloved sitcom has remained popular for decades, thanks to its ageless characters, approachable humor, and the enduring bond between its six main characters.

'Friends' is still one of the most popular TV series ever, which ran from 1994 to 2004 and followed a close-knit group of six friends in New York City.

The razor-sharp storyline, flawless ensemble, and spot-on humor made the show a comfort blanket for a whole generation and also others that followed.


 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by Friends (@friends)


 

The highest-rated television episode of the 2000s was the 'Friends' series finale, 'The Last One,' which drew in an astounding 52 million viewers in the United States, per The Sun. It also brought enormous wealth to each of the actors along the way.

Even though they each only made $22,500 per episode when the sitcom initially aired, they made worldwide headlines toward the end when they managed to negotiate $1 million for each installment.

After 30 years, the show continues to dominate hearts and memes. Fans still bond over their favorite episodes, quote the program nonstop, and binge-watch it on lazy holidays.

'Friends' has a lasting impact on popular culture, whether it's through Joey's "How you doin’?" or Chandler's snark, or the ageless Ross vs Rachel "we were on a break" argument.

However, the period following the 'Friends' conclusion was marked by tragedy regardless of making each of them multimillionaires and solidifying their acting careers.

Perry, 54, was found dead at his Los Angeles residence on October 28, 2023, after years of battling addiction, leaving his co-stars horrified.


 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by Friends (@friends)


 

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