‘Friends: The Reunion’: Ranking All of the Celebrity Guest Appearances
Spoiler Alert
[Warning: The below contains MAJOR spoilers for Friends: The Reunion.]
Friends: The Reunion was a nostalgic trip for die-hard fans as former cast members convened for a once-in-a-lifetime celebration. Despite the joy that the original show’s main cast — Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, and David Schwimmer — brings to viewers, there were more than a few notable guest appearances.
Whether they were former secondary characters or merely fans, it’s hard to keep a smile from your face when these individuals are on your screen. Below, we’re ranking all of the guest performances for the reunion from least to most exciting. Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below, as well.
Friends: The Reunion, Streaming now, HBO Max
15. BTS
While it was sweet to hear about the K-Pop boy band’s love for Friends and how it has helped them learn English, their presence felt a bit random and was so brief that it didn’t stand out among the bulky lineup.
14. David Beckham
The soccer star made a virtual appearance to reveal which episode he loves the most and while it’s fine to hear this fun fact, it’s not the most exciting moment of the reunion.
13. Barber Shop quartet
The barbershop quartet that Ross sent to Rachel in the original series also made an appearance, and despite their minimal presence in the series, the former guest stars rank above some of the virtual appearances for their in-person musical performance.
12. Cara Delevingne, Cindy Crawford & Justin Bieber
Arguably one of the reunion’s most involved appearances, Cara Delevingne, Cindy Crawford, and Justin Bieber brought the laughs with their Friends fashion show, donning iconic costumes from the show, ranging from Ross’s Holiday Armadillo to his “Spudnik” potato costume.
11. Kit Harington
Not dissimilar to the other virtual appearances, the Game of Thrones alum reminisced about his favorite Friends episode. Hearing “Jon Snow” talk about the infamous “pivot” scene is hilariously jarring.
10. Malala Yousafzai
The activist and Nobel Prize Laureate sat down virtually to share her favorite episode with best friend Vee. Their friendly banter adds some depth to the appearance as they recall Ross and Monica’s “routine” as one of the show’s best moments.
9. Mindy Kaling
This funny lady revealed herself as a Monica and Chandler fan as Kaling shared that their early relationship made for some of the funniest moments on Friends. Her particular favorite was the scenes in which they were hiding their relationship from the rest of the group.
8. Reese Witherspoon
Not only is Reese a fan of Friends, but her role as Rachel’s sister Jill in the show added some nostalgia to her too-brief and virtual appearance in the reunion.
7. Larry Hankin
The actor reprised his role as Mr. Heckles for a special round of trivia on the show’s set. Donning his bathrobe, Hankin really embodied the character, providing some big laughs in his brief appearance.
6. James Michael Tyler
Fans know him best as the Central Perk’s Gunther, and as one of the show’s longest recurring characters, it was slightly disappointing to see that James Michael Tyler wasn’t able to make it in person. The one upside is that his virtual appearance happened in live time, giving him a chance to interact with host James Corden and the rest of the cast.
5. Thomas Lennon
The actor returned for a segment in the trivia game, reprising his role as Randall, hand twin to Matt LeBlanc’s Joey. The only disappointment? He didn’t get more screentime or any dialogue.
4. Lady Gaga
The songstress stopped by the Central Perk stage to perform “Smelly Cat” with Lisa Kudrow in one of the reunion’s more lively segments. The sweetest part of her appearance though was thanking Kudrow for making people who are different feel accepted.
3. Elliott Gould and Christina Pickles
The stars who played Jack and Judy Gellar made an in-person appearance as audience members pretending to ask a question of the cast. Their parental love for the Friends cast was palpable in one of the reunion’s more heart-warming appearances.
2. Maggie Wheeler
The Janice laugh and voice had a major presence in the reunion when Maggie Wheeler hopped up on stage to join the cast and Corden. Along with demonstrating her character’s most defining traits, Wheeler also revealed the inspiration behind Janice’s recognizable giggle, blaming Matthew Perry for being too funny. It’s because of him that she made up a laugh for Janice in the first place, so she could use it whenever necessary.
1. Tom Selleck
The actor who played Dr. Richard Burke on the series stopped by for a little reunion with the cast on the soundstage. Making his big entrance during the trivia game, Selleck stuck around for a little chat, reminiscing about his experience with the show and its stars. And who doesn’t love on TV legend mingling with others?
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