Friends Forever! ‘We'll Be Family For Life

It’s the reunion the world has been waiting for. The six stars reflect on their beloved show and why they’ll always be there for one another

David Schwimmer slowly enters Stage 24 on the Warner Bros lot in Burbank, California, and laughs to himself. More than 17 years has passed since he last set foot in Joey and Chandler’s bachelor pad.

Or walked across the hall into Monica’s spacious rent-controlled apartment. Or plopped down on the thrift-store-find orange couch that was always reserved for a close-knit group of friends at Central Perk coffee shop. The actor, 54, is taken aback by the sight of the meticulously re-created sets in front of him. “Wow. This is beautiful,” he says softly.

One by one his five former co-stars arrive at the sound stage and join Schwimmer, overcome by their emotions. Lisa Kudrow, 57, makes a beeline to hug Schwimmer before taking it all in. Moments behind them, Jennifer Aniston, 52, has already started crying. “It’s amazing … Holy crap,” she says. “All right, well, where’s the tissue box?” Matt LeBlanc, 53, helps Courteney Cox, 56, wipe away her tears as well. The last to come through the door, Matthew Perry, 51, wanders over. “Could you be any later?” Aniston teases. Any momentary awkwardness – more a non-verbal recognition of too much time gone by – quickly dissipates as the six actors fall back into familiar rhythms. “This is incredible,” says Schwimmer, looking around. “Yeah,” adds Cox. “It really is.”