It’s been over 20 years since Mates aired its last episodes and, because it stays probably the most rewatchable exhibits in TV historical past continues, behind-the-scenes tales proceed to come back out. We’ve gotten humorous anecdotes — the epic prank pulled on Jennifer Aniston — in addition to scary moments — Matt LeBlanc’s “genuinely scary” harm. Now, Courteney Cox has revealed a candy reminiscence, as she recalled the pre-show ritual she and her co-stars had.
The six stars of Mates skyrocketed to fame in 1994, and going by way of that entire expertise collectively — together with famously negotiating their contracts as a bunch — shaped a bond between them that continues in the present day. It looks as if that assist for one another began fairly early, as Courteney Cox mentioned on the Inc. 5000 convention (by way of Individuals):
We’d get in a huddle and we’d say, ‘Alright everyone! Good luck!’ And we might give one another a hug and a excessive 5.
Someone cue the Mates theme music, as a result of wow! What a candy approach to heart themselves earlier than going out in entrance of the studio viewers and exhibiting their confidence in each other.
Along with Courteney Cox, the ensemble included Jennifer Aniston, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, David Schwimmer and Matthew Perry, who handed away in 2023 in an unintended drowning brought on by the “acute results of ketamine.”
There are many cases that show the Mates co-stars’ pre-show huddle wasn’t only for present. For instance, Matt LeBlanc helped Lisa Kudrow when she had issues enjoying Phoebe early on. Jennifer Aniston reached out to Matthew Perry about his dependancy a number of instances, because the actor defined earlier than his demise. The colleagues have been collectively for a reasonably vital decade of their lives, seeing one another by way of marriages, breakups, fertility points and extra.
It might have truly been director James Burrows who set the tone for the six actors to change into lifelong friends. In his memoir, he recalled the fabled journey to Las Vegas that he handled them to forward of Mates’ 1994 premiere, telling them this was their final shot at anonymity. He was proper.
They caught collectively after that, with Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox and Lisa Kudrow consuming lunch collectively daily (although they didn’t have the viral salad that many have attributed to Aniston). Aniston grew to become the godmother to Cox’s daughter, and the actresses nonetheless shout out one another’s birthdays and even get collectively each infrequently. Additionally, whereas there’s in all probability no pre-show huddle anymore, the actors have typically made cameo appearances on one another’s tasks.
Given how a lot the Mates actors make in residuals every year, they in all probability don’t even must maintain working; nevertheless, the actresses are all concerned in some extremely anticipated tasks. Courteney Cox will reprise the function of Gale Weathers in Scream 7, set for launch on the 2026 film calendar. Lisa Kudrow additionally has massive issues taking place subsequent 12 months, because it was lately introduced she’ll return for a 3rd and last season of The Comeback, and Jennifer Aniston will even return to the small display as government producer and star of The Morning Present Season 4.
Whereas we anticipate these to occur, we will at all times relive the times of yore (or yesteryear) by streaming all 10 seasons of Mates with an HBO Max subscription and imagining the candy pre-show huddle that got here earlier than.