How you doin! Post-Friends life has been good for actor Matt LeBlanc, who played Joey Tribbiani on the beloved NBC sitcom, but he still remains thankful for his sitcom roots. LeBlanc, who currently stars (as himself!) on Showtime’s Episodes, for which he’s won a Golden Globe and three Emmy nominations, describes his 10-season run on Friends as a “pretty awesome ride.” The 47-year-old talked extensively about his experience on the hit comedy when he visited HuffPost Live on Jan. 8, as well as the recent addition of Friends to Netflix, and squashed those consistent rumors about a cast reunion.
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“This Netflix thing is kinda huge, it’s introducing it to a whole new generation,” LeBlanc said.
The entire series, which originally aired from 1994 to 2004, was added to the popular video streaming service Netflix on Jan. 1. LeBlanc said he’s enjoyed watching new generations discover the show through reruns and syndication, and feels it’s held up against the test of time.
Courtney Cox as Monica Geller, Matthew Perry as Chandler Bing, Jennifer Aniston as Rachel Green, David Schwimmer as Ross Geller, Matt LeBlanc as Joey Tribbiani, Lisa Kudrow as Phoebe Buffay.
Credit: Jon Ragel/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images
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“We never dealt with anything current or political…” the dad of one told HuffPost Live. “The only thing that really dates the show is when someone makes a phone call, and they pull the antenna out to make a call.”
LeBlanc said sometimes even he can’t resist tuning in when reruns air on TV.
“For me, it’s like if I’m channel surfing at home, and it comes on, or I see that it’s on, I’ll like go to the information page on the guide and see which one it is,” he admitted. “And if it’s like one of my favorites from back in the day, I might watch a little bit of it.”
As for those favorites? LeBlanc said he is partial to “big event” episodes - like the holiday-centric ones.
Friends episodic from "The One Where Chandler Takes A Bath"
Credit: NBC/NBCU Photo Bank
“Like the Thanksgiving stuff with the turkey on my head, or like wearing maternity pants because when you eat a lot at Thanksgiving they kinda stretch a little,” he said.
The actor even divulged that he enjoyed all the episodes featuring Ross’ pet capuchin monkey Marcel in season one and two.
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As for a Friends reunion, however, LeBlanc said fans shouldn’t get their hopes up. “I don’t see it happening,” he said. “…My opinion is that it shouldn’t happen.” While the actor insists he’s “proud to have been a part of it,” he and “everyone involved” doesn’t want to reopen the story.
“The show was about this finite period of time in your life where it’s after college, but before your life really starts, where your friends, no pun intended, are your family, and you lean on one another, and help one another, and support one another, and care for one another, and do the things a family does for one another and that’s what it was about,” he said. “I mean, nobody wants to see, I certainly don’t wanna see, Joey and Chandler going for a prostate exam. Who wants to see that?”
LeBlanc said that he thinks imagining what the beloved New Yorkers are up to now is more exciting than seeing it on television. Nonetheless, he’s nostalgic about his time at Central Perk.
Matt LeBlanc poses at the Showtime celebration for the all-new seasons of Shameless, House Of Lies and Episodes on Jan 5.
Credit: JB Lacroix/WireImage
“We had a lot of fun, and a lot of laughs…” he said. “I mean we all just got along so well and it was really, really, really fun.”
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