Television
May 14, 2000
NBC's Number-One Comedy "Friends" Returns For Two More Seasons
(May 14, 2000 – Burbank, CA) - NBC and Warner Bros. Television welcome back some of their best "Friends" with a two-year renewal of America’s number-one comedy series, it was announced today by Warner Bros. Television President, Peter Roth and NBC Entertainment President, Garth Ancier.
“We are delighted that the exceptionally talented cast of ‘Friends’ will return for two more years,” said Roth. “We look forward with great enthusiasm to working with our creative partners Bright/Kauffman/Crane, and the amazing ‘Friends’ cast and crew, producing television’s number-one comedy for NBC.”
"We're more than pleased, and we anticipate upcoming strong seasons from a ‘Must See’ cast and producing team that's still at the top of their game in creating appointment television," commented Ancier.
“We’re so excited that the incredible cast of 'Friends' will return for another two seasons,” said executive producers, Kevin Bright, Marta Kauffman and David Crane. “We thank the cast for conducting themselves in only the most professional manner during these past few months.”
Through a spokesperson, the cast expressed their appreciation to all involved. “'Friends’ is one of the best written, produced and directed shows on television. We are thrilled and excited to continue.”
The cast of "Friends" (Thursdays, 8:00 - 8:30 p.m. ET/PT) has signed a deal to return to the top-rated sitcom for its seventh and eighth seasons, ensuring that everyone's favorite New Yorkers will hang out together through the 2001-2002 television season.
Entertainment Weekly listed "Friends" among the top-10 series of 1999, while the Los Angeles Daily News called it "one of the most popular and consistently amusing sitcoms of all time." The series' one-hour season finale--which marks a major turning point in the characters' relationships--will be broadcast on Thursday, May 18 (8:00 - 9:00 p.m. ET/PT).
Since its debut season in 1994-95, "Friends" has received 20 Emmy nominations, including three for Outstanding Comedy Series. Additionally, the cast won a SAG Award in 1996 for Outstanding Ensemble Performance in a Comedy Series, and the show has been nominated three times (1996, 1997 and 1998) for a Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series, Musical or Comedy and was honored with two People’s Choice Awards (1995 and 2000).
Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox Arquette, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry and David Schwimmer star in the hit comedy series about six close-knit young friends who frequently gather at each other's apartments and share sofa space at their local hangout, Greenwich Village's Central Perk coffeehouse. The series was created by the writing team of Marta Kauffman & David Crane. Emmy and CableACE Award-winning producer Kevin Bright and Greg Malins (“Dream On”) also serve as executive producers with Kauffman and Crane. "Friends" is a Bright/Kauffman/Crane Production in association with Warner Bros. Television. # # #