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We're All Invited To Friendsgiving... But Will Anyone Show Up?
No clapping while you're holding a glass of wine. (Courtesy Warner Bros.)
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Warner Bros. really, really wants people to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Friends (despite what a certain BuzzFeed takedown may say). So far they've announced the Friends couch going on tour, classic episodes screening in movie theaters, a new app, and a pop-up... in New York City.
Well, looks like we're getting our own Friends extravaganza on the West Coast, for the low, low price of $139. Hey, living your pop culture fantasies doesn't come cheap.
That experience is Friendsgiving, a fan event taking place on six dates this November on the Warner Bros. lot. It celebrates the show and the way it made its Thanksgiving episodes a thing over and over again.
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You can't go on Thanksgiving itself, but you can do the Friday or Saturday after. With your ticket you get three hours of Friends magic: a holiday meal, Friends-themed tour, backlot photo-ops, and more.
The Central Perk set is always part of the Warner Bros. Studio Tour, but for Friendsgiving they're debuting something new: the Friends fountain. No, it's not in New York; it's currently housed at the Warner Bros. Ranch, but it's being moved over to the studio proper so that you can go pretend to splash around in a city fountain like a '90s twentysomething. They'll even have colorful umbrellas on-hand to make your dreams of being Lisa Kudrow/Matthew Perry come true.
The special edition of the tour lasts 90 minutes, focused on Friends and highlighting parts of the studio's backlots where memorable moments from the show were shot. You get to see the outside of Stage 24, which was home base for the show, as well as faux Central Park where Phoebe and Rachel took up jogging and Phoebe revealed her... unique running style.
While taking the tour, you'll be tested on your Friends trivia knowledge. So catch up on your DVDs or, who are we kidding, watch it on Netflix before it leaves the service for new streaming service HBO Max.
During your stop at Central Perk you can sit on the couch, check out costumes worn by the cast -- and for Friendsgiving, you'll be able to join in on a "Smelly Cat" singalong. It's a working cafe, so score that Central Perk coffee with some bonus Friends-themed coffee drinks and pastries for the special event.
And if you still have money left you feel like parting with, you can spend it on exclusive Friends 25th anniversary merch in the studio gift shop.
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The Friendsgiving Tour ends with dinner in the Commissary Fine Dining room, which Warner Bros. notes was also where the cast often ate while the show was filming. The dinner includes turkey, ham, sides, and vegan/gluten-free options. You'll even get Friends-themed drinks. (They note that it's still being decided whether Ross's Moist Maker sandwich gets a place on the menu.)
Out of the way, couch -- let me in that fountain! I have wet dancing to do! (Courtesy Warner Bros.)
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For a slightly more affordable Friends celebration, the Central Perk sofa is on tour -- well, not the sofa, given that there are lots of dates it's in multiple cities. We're pretty sure they're not shipping it back and forth throughout the day.
BUT, it is a chance to get your Friends photo ops without the studio tour. It's at the Grand Canyon. It's at the Empire State Building. It's at Abbey Road, and Spain's Royal Palace, and more. Here in L.A., you'll find it at the top of the U.S. Bank Tower in OUE Skyspace L.A.
You'll also find the sofas at Friends screenings at local movie theaters.
The actual 25th anniversary of the show's debut is later this month -- mark your calendar for Sept. 22, and maybe go find a fountain to dance in that won't get you arrested.
Note: Mike Roe's wife has worked as a contractor for Warner Bros.
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