Friends reunion: Matt LeBlanc says ‘we got the band back together without the instruments’

Actor also recounted a startling anecdote about the extreme fame of the ‘Friends’ stars during the sitcom’s heyday

Matt LeBlanc appeared on The Kelly Clarkson Show to discuss the forthcoming Friends reunion special.

In the segment, the actor, who played Joey Tribbiani on the beloved sitcom, said about the special: “We got the band back together without the instruments.”

The Friends reunion was scheduled to premiere in the US on HBO Max, taking the form of an out-of-character panel discussion between the main cast. However, logistical problems caused by the ongoing pandemic have caused the special to be delayed.

The interview with LeBlanc was recorded before social distancing prohibited in-person interviews. In it, he said that the series "feels somehow just as relevant now as it was then".

Speaking to Clarkson, LeBlanc also reminisced about his time on the series, reflecting on one specific instance when the cast’s massive fame started to set in.

“I remember one time,” he said, “it was during the week. I had been flipping channels and watching the news and for some reason, they had a split-screen on the TV – six quadrants.”

“Each was a live shot of each one of our houses. Like a helicopter shot. I was watching it and there was no information or news, it was just showing houses.”