18 Jan – "It was probably just a little too soon," said Jesse Collins, executive producer of the 2023 Emmy Awards, who was asked why the cast of "Friends" did not reunite to pay tribute to Matthew Perry during the recent In Memoriam part of the awards ceremony. Collins and fellow producer Jeannae Rouzan-Clay, who listed Matthew Perry among others who passed away last year, including Norman Lear, Bob Barker, Paul Reubens, and Treat Williams, stated that there had been discussion about bringing the five remaining "Friends" stars to pay tribute. "But I can imagine, from their side, they're mourning someone who was still very close to them. I can't speak for them, but we all have to respect that they were their own family. It was probably just a little too soon," he said.
It is noted that the "Friends" theme song, "I'll Be There For You" was played when Perry's image came to the screen during the said segment. Perry, most known for his snarky character Chandler Bing in the long-running sitcom, died unexpectedly on 28 October, after he was found unresponsive in a hot tub at his Los Angeles home. He was 54.