Matthew Perry says the Friends cast had a 'no hook-up rule'

Some of the cast of Friends remember having a ‘no hook up rule’ during the show’s ten seasons on air.

The ensemble explained how they prevented any on-set awkwardness while looking back on the show as they promoted their upcoming two-hour reunion special, which is set to air on HBO Max Thursday. 

Asked if things ever got romantic between any of the Friends, stars Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, and David Schwimmer dished about the show’s strict relationship policy.

More than Friends: The six Friends stars talked about whether they had any romantic dalliances with each other ahead of the much-anticipated reunion show on May 27

For the interview, the men and the women co-stars sat down separately with Access, and at times they would reveal a classic case of ‘he said, she said’. 

According to LeBlanc, Perry and Schwimmer, the Friends stars had ‘no hook up rule’ in place to avoid any potential romantic pitfalls.

‘There was a rule that we had, it was really important to the six of us, that we kept a friendship; that we were friends,’ Perry said before sharing how hooking up could have presented a’ strangeness’ that ‘might mess with things.’  

‘So we kept a friendship, and we did become really good friends. And we are really good friends to this day. And we kept that going, and I think that was very important.’

He attributed the ‘no hook up rule’ to famed television director Jim Burrows.   

He said: Matthew Perry, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer revealed they had a ‘no hook up rule’ in place during their run on the massively popular sitcom from 1994 to 2004

Avoiding ‘strangeness’: ‘There was a rule that we had, it was really important to the six of us, that we kept a friendship; that we were friends,’ said Perry, who played Chandler Bing 

‘We didn’t want to jeopardize any of the great relationships and friendships we were forming an had established. It was kind of an unspoken [rule],’ Schwimmer explained.  

LeBlanc would describe their relationships as ‘more like siblings.’ 

The guys joked about who would have had the most chemistry during their 10-year run from 1994 to 2004.

‘Me and Schwimmer, probably,’ LeBlanc quipped with a smile.

All three were also united about the cast living up to the show’s famous theme song, ‘I’ll Be There For You, both during the show and the 17-years since the series wrapped.

‘We’re all friends,’ LeBlanc said, while Perry added,’ We enjoy each other’s time.’ 

Being seasoned jokesters, Schwimmer couldn’t resist throwing in a comedic touch and said, ‘I blocked their calls, but other than that I think we are tight.’   

Playing it safe: ‘We didn’t want to jeopardize any of the great relationships and friendships we were forming an had established. It was kind of an unspoken [rule],’ Schwimmer explained

Family atmosphere: LeBlanc would describe their relationships as ‘more like siblings’

What if? The guys were fast to agree that Schwimmer and LeBlanc would have made the best pairing if any of them had in fact hooked-up during their 10-year run

In the separate Access interview with Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow and Jennifer Aniston, the gals admitted they didn’t remember having any kind of ‘hook up pact.’

‘I think it’s a smart idea but I don’t remember actually talking about it,’ Cox remarked. 

The ladies laughed about their male co-stars making up the rule to cover up for the fact none of them were ever interested in their castmates.

But they did agree with the guys about having their friendships living up to the sitcom’s famed theme song and being there for each other over the years. 

‘Always,’ said Cox, as Aniston and Kudrow quickly jumped in and added, ‘True,’ simultaneously. 

‘And forever and ever until the day we die,’ Aniston said with a honest tone of gratefulness to her voice.

She said: In the separate interview with Cox, Kudrow and Aniston, they all confessed they don’t remember having any kind of ‘hook up pact’

Not buying it: ‘I think it’s a smart idea but I don’t remember actually talking about it,’ Cox said

Real friends: Aniston and her female co-stars agreed with the men about the cast living up to the show’s theme song, I’ll Be There For You’, saying, ‘And forever and ever until the day we die’

Unity: Kudrow said it was ‘true’ that the cast has been there for each other over the years

The camaraderie between the main cast of six manifested itself with a pre-show ‘secret huddle’ that was initiated by Schwimmer, according to the guys. 

‘I think it’s something a lot of theater companies do, a lot of casts before a play, Schwimmer explained. 

‘And I just thought we were an ensemble; to just have one moment of all of us focusing right before we go out there, wishing each other a good, safe, fast show.’   

During the unscripted episode the main cast reunites on Sound-Stage 24 at Warner Studios Hollywood, in Burbank, where they shot the sitcom. They will revisit some of the sets such as the Friends apartments, the Central Perk coffee shop, and of course, the Friends water fountain.  

Some of the guests who appeared on the show, which includes a long list of celebrities, will be on hand to rehash their time on the Friends set.  

The main cast will also do table reads, re-enactments some older episodes, and share behind-the-scenes footage.

Walk down memory lane: During the unscripted reunion the main cast reunites on Sound-Stage 24 at Warner Studios Hollywood, in Burbank, where they shot the sitcom, including the Central Perk coffee shop and the Friends apartment

Friends again! Friends: The Reunion debuts on HBO Max on Thursday, May 27