Highlights
- Matthew Perry was always respectful and made guest stars feel at home on Friends, even when they didn't get the reaction they expected from the live audience.
- Perry went out of his way to ensure that John Stamos received a proper reaction from the audience, showing his generosity towards guest stars.
- Perry played a major role behind the scenes and helped other guest stars, such as Aisha Tyler and Paget Brewster, by giving them pep talks and advocating for their casting on the show.
Appearing on Friends as a guest star was a privilege, even for some of the most established names in Hollywood. The main cast had terrific chemistry, while the show was on top of the TV world for ten seasons.
Despite the closeness of the cast, they were all very easy to work with, particularly Matthew Perry. According to several guest stars, the actor was a class act and always made guest stars feel at home during their time on the show.
In the following, we'll reveal several examples of Perry treating guest stars with respect. In addition, we'll take a look at the classy way Matthew Perry helped out a guest star after he received no reaction from the live audience.
John Stamos Felt Awful About His Friends Reception, But Matthew Perry Made Sure He Got An Applause From The Audience
Friends had several memorable guest stars. John Stamos was yet another major name to appear on the show. However, his one episode appearance flew under the radar. Stamos shared some details as to what took place during his cameo. He shared a touching memory of Matthew Perry during his time on Friends.
According to Stamos, Perry was supporting him prior to his first scene. However, the reaction wasn't what either Perry or Stamos were anticipating.
Stamos revealed, “Matthew and I had been friendly long before Friends. So, when I guest stared as Zach, the prospective sperm donor for Chandler and Monica, I hung with him a lot,” Stamos shared. “Standing backstage, ready to make my entrance, Matt whispers, ‘The audience is going go crazy when they see you! Get ready for some loud screams.'”
He continues, “I walk through the door… silence. I was so embarrassed."
Stamos admits the reaction really bruised his ego. However, Matthew Perry made sure that Stamos didn't leave the set without getting a proper reaction.
"We finish the scene and as I start to slither back to my dressing room and quit showbiz, Matt walks over to the studio audience: ‘Ladies and gentlemen, give it up for John Stamos! You guys probably didn’t recognize him at first because he’s so much better looking in person!’ I never forgot that and the world will never forget you.”
Perry wanted to ensure that Stamos left the show on a positive note. In truth, that was common for Perry. The actor always wished the best for the guest stars on the show, and that included other major names.
Matthew Perry Helped Out Other Guest Stars Including Aisha Tyler
Matthew Perry played a major role behind the scenes with guest stars. Perhaps one of his biggest contributions was getting Bruce Willis on the show. However, he was also very generous to other guest stars, Perry once gave Aisha Tyler a pep talk during her first day on Friends.
Tyler recalled the moment, calling it very special. "The night of my very first live performance in front of a studio audience, as the cast came together at the end of the taping to take a bow in front of the crowd, Matthew Perry made a point of saying to me, "Get ready for your life to change," and it did!"
She continues, "He may have said that to every guest actor, I don't know, but it was a special moment for me, and a seminal memory of my time there."
Tyler had high praise for her experience in general as well, alongside the talented cast.
"The cast was incredibly welcoming when I first joined."
"This was in season 9 when they had already had several very high-profile guest actors on the show, including Brad Pitt, Reese Witherspoon, Tom Selleck, and Bruce Willis. I think they were very aware that it could be an intimidating set, and they made a special effort to be kind and open toward me when I arrived."
A career-changing role for Tyler and one she won't ever forget.
Paget Brewster Praised Matthew Perry For Launching Her Career On Friends
Paget Brewster played the role of Kathy on Friends. Looking back, Brewster claims Matthew Perry made her career because of their storyline on the show. Brewster would go on to reveal that Perry was the reason she got the role, given that he was in the audition room.
"I actually owe Matthew Perry my career," she beams. "He was in the casting room when I got that and I guess he went to bat for me and said, 'She's the funniest one; you have to cast her.'"
Brewster had a blast during her time on Friends, and in fact, she wasn't ready to leave the show despite the breakup with Chandler during the sitcom.
Nonetheless, she was appreciative of her time on the show and the help she was able to get from Matthew Perry along the way.
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