The one where we get a 1st look at the 'Friends' reunion

The stars of the iconic sitcom reflect on the memories from the show.

May 19, 2021, 8:01 AM

The stars of "Friends" will reunite later this month for the long-awaited "Friends: The Reunion Special," and "GMA" got a first look at what to expect from the program, which will air on HBO Max.

In an exclusive interview with People Magazine from the reunion set on the Warner Bros. lot in Burbank, the six stars of the sitcom -- Matt LeBlanc, Jennifer Aniston, David Schwimmer, Lisa Kudrow, Matthew Perry and Courtney Cox -- reflected on the memories they made while filming the show and their friendships that lasted beyond the iconic film set.

"It's funny. When we do get together, it's like no time has passed," said LeBlanc, who played Joey Tribbiani. "We pick up right where we left off."

It's been 17 years since the show ended, but the group remains close as ever.

"It's like a family," said Aniston, who starred as Rachel Greene on the show. "I don't have sisters. It's what I would assume sisters are like."

Kudrow added, "And I know I can text or call, and I feel like we can pick up right where we left off and no time has passed. We're connected no matter what."

Among the many things that the cast reflected on was their time on set. They unanimously agreed that Schwimmer and Aniston were the biggest flirts during filming and they discussed the mementos they each took once the show wrapped.

Aniston said she took a dress Monica wore and still wears it to this day. Kudrow said she kept the rings that her character, Phoebe, wore, as well as her security badges. Schwimmer, who played Ross Geller, and Perry, who played Chandler Bing, each stole props from the set: Schwimmer said he took Ross' "Professor Geller" placard from his office at the museum and the couch from the set of "Central Perk," while Perry stole a cookie jar that had a clock on it that he ended up giving to Kudrow as a present.

"I stole the cookie jar that had the clock on it, and I gave it to Lisa (Kudrow)," said Perry. "Because she at one point looked at it and thought it was a real clock."

LeBlanc pulled a move that Joey could have easily pulled on the show: He stole a license plate.

"I stole a 'I Love Friends' license plate ... and put it on Schwimmer's car," said LeBlanc. "And it took him a week to realize."

While the show ended nearly two decades ago and many of its long-running story lines were answered at the end of its series finale, fans of the show have probably imagined what Ross, Rachel, Monica, Chandler and Joey would be doing today -- and so has the cast.

When asked about what their characters would be doing now, each actor had a clear vision of where they would be.

Aniston said she would like to have seen Rachel start her own clothing line. "It is sort of a small franchise. Like a Nili Lotan. And I live in New York City on the Upper East Side," she said.

Cox, whose Monica Geller is known for her competitiveness and obsessive-compulsive nature, said she thinks Monica would be trying to outdo all the moms.

"I always just feel like Monica would be doing something competitively with other mothers and trying to outdo them," she said. "Whether it's the bake sale at school or something. I mean, she'd be so annoying. She'd be the head of the PTA or something."

As for Joey, LeBlanc said, "Joey would be … He would have opened a chain of sandwich shops."

"And eaten all the sandwiches," Perry added.

"Friends: The Reunion Special" will air May 27 on HBO Max and you can get a copy of the latest issue of People Magazine on Friday, May 21.