FRIENDS WILL RETURN FOR ANOTHER SEASON: NBC's Thursday lineup will remain Must-See TV next season: Friends will return for a ninth — and final — season, the Peacock network confirmed late Monday. As part of the new deal, the six stars will each earn $1 million per episode — up from $750,000. "Since we all had the same objective, this was the easiest deal we have ever made," says Jeff Zucker, NBC's entertainment president. "Everyone wanted it to work out, because everyone wanted to be able to send the series out appropriately... and in style." What he really means is, "Phew!"
R.I.P. RACHEL?: News that Friends will be back in the fall further deflates a recent tabloid tale that the sitcom's writers were toying with the idea of killing off Rachel. Star magazine reported that Jennifer Aniston's pregnant character might die in the season finale while giving birth to her child with Ross. Insists a show rep: "It's not true." Aniston in Car Crash Jennifer Aniston, 32, was involved in a minor car accident while driving alone in Hollywood Tuesday. The Emmy nominee suffered minor injuries when a Volkswagen Jetta backed out of a driveway and into her Jaguar. She declined treatment at the scene, opting instead to see her own doctor. Jennifer Aniston's upcoming film "The Good Girl" is being featured at the 2002 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah is shown in a scene from the film. Aniston portrays a thirty year old woman working in a Texas discount store who becomes involved with a young clerk at the same store played by Gyllenhaal. Brad Pitt attended the premiere. The 28th People's Choice Awards were presented at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium on Jan. 13. Jennifer Aniston won for best Female television performer; and "Friends" won for favorite comedy series. Both Jennifer Aniston and Friends won last year too!!! Matthew Perry, David Schwimmer and Matt LeBlanc attended the ceremony and Matt LeBlanc accepted the award on behalf of the cast and crew.
THEY'RE TALKING: Bringing Friends back for a ninth season is "our No. 1 top priority," NBC Entertainment president Jeff Zucker told reporters at the Television Critics Association press tour in Pasadena, Calif., Wednesday morning. And despite past dustups over the sextet's soaring salaries, NBC West Coast prez Scott Sassa insisted "we're in discussions and there's noacrimony." (TV Guide)
Big Diamond, But Still Just 'Friends' With the money Matthew Perry makes from "Friends," he could certainly afford to plunk down $45,000 for his girlfriend's diamond ring. But don't jump to matrimonial conclusions just yet. The actor was snapped leaving Barneys with his girlfriend, makeup artist Andi O'Reilly, by his side and flashing a sizable solitaire on her engagement finger. But a rep for Perry, who has also dated Julia Roberts and Elizabeth Hurley, insisted that the two are not about to get married. Meanwhile, Perry and co-stars Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox Arquette and David Schwimmer are said to preparing for a new round of salary talks. Each of them makes around $750,000 per episode. They're said to want $250,000 more — to match the $1 million-plus paychecks that "Frasier" stars Kelsey Grammer and David Hyde Pierce are said to have squeezed out of NBC. The "Friends" team is in a good bargaining position. The show's ratings are up, and several of the stars have let it be known they're ready to move on. Schwimmer has said he thinks he has a "lot to offer" as a public schoolteacher. Aniston and Cox Arquette have hinted they're ready to start families. It may all be a negotiating dance. NBC Entertainment President Jeff Zucker told The News recently that the show's future is "in the hands of the actors." And one network exec said neither Warner Bros. Television, the show's producer, nor NBC could afford to pay the actors more than they'll make for the current season: roughly, $18 million each, including a slice of the rerun rights. An NBC rep tells us contract talks are just starting and that "the cast and crew will be back on the set next week." "Friends" of NY January 2, 2002 | The year's final taping of "Friends" had some special guests in the audience when NBC and Warner Bros. flew 150 survivors of the World Trade Center attacks to Los Angeles. Money originally earmarked for crew gifts was used to put everyone up at a hotel for three days. People magazine reports in the upcoming issue that the network and studio decided to foot the bill after hearing the idea from the show's producers and the crew were given presents after all.
Courteney, David and Matty and Jen... Singing Toilet Paper at the Arquette House Zany David Arquette strikes again . . . and wife Courteney Cox was the . . . er, butt of his latest wacky practical joke! Courteney, who'd just returned to their Malibu pad after a "Friends" shoot, hit the john for a pit stop. A moment later, David tiptoed up outside the door, giggling quietly, and . . . SHRI-E-E-EEK! Courteney freaked as the voice of Elvis suddenly warbled "Love Me Tender" . . . from the TOILET PAPER ROLL! David, in hysterics, told not-so-amused wifey he just couldn't resist buying the novelty item! Warning to Arquette friends . . . he's ordered MORE as Christmas gifts!
Schwimming in Tears Seems David Schwimmer still isn't over his split from galpal Mili Avital - even though he's been spending time with American Pie's Tara Reid. The Friends star was recently pouring his heart out to a buddy about how much he misses Mili during dinner at a Beverly Hills eatery when he broke down in tears. After composing himself, Schwimmer paid the tab and split.
Refrigerator Perry Here's some girth-shattering news. At the beginning of the season, execs at Friends bought a whole new wardrobe for Matt Perry to reflect his weight gain after rehab. Word now is that he's already outgrown all those 36-inch-waist clothes and continues to expand toward 38. Worried honchos have told Matt to put the breaks on his eating, pronto!
Brad caught JENNIFER ANISTON was gripped by jealousy at the Ocean's Eleven premiere party after learning that hubby Brad Pitt smooched a gorgeous gal just minutes before going on an overseas tour, says a source. The Friends cutie was already in a foul mood and news of the lip lock with the pretty woman sent Jennifer over the edge, the source says.
Brad Pitt is madly in love with his wife Jennifer Aniston - because being married to her is so normal. The Fight Club heart-throb and the Friends beauty wed last year, and Pitt says marriage has been all that he expected and more. He muses, "Really, what I've been most surprised about, I find it very soothing. The everyday of it, I really value it, having this base and this connection that you can then go out in the world and do whatever you want, but you know you got this thing. I would certainly say that I'm much more grounded, I guess."