The National Enquirer’s Mike Walker claims that Matthew Perry turned down an offer from Jennifer Aniston to appear on the first episode of his upcoming ABC sitcom, “Mr. Sunshine.” Perry was apparently worried that it would look desperate for him to bring in Aniston so soon into his new gig. He’s always struck me as the most sensible Friends castmember, and I loved him in “Studio 60.” Anyway after Perry turned down Aniston she supposedly went crying to Courtney Cox. Here’s Walker’s report:
Jennifer Aniston’s jaw dropped when she generously offered to help longtime pal Matthew Perry kick start his new ABC sitcom “Mr. Sunshine” by making a guest appearance on Episode 1, but was told “Thanks, but no thanks!” Smarting at Matt’s rejection – triggered by his fear that casting a “Friends” co-star in his kickoff show would make him look insecure – Aniston ran boo-hoo-oing to “Friend” Courteney Cox, who shocked her with this straight-from-the-shoulder judgment: “Matt’s absolutely right!” Courteney dried Jen’s tears by explaining patiently that it’s fine if she pops up on Courteney’s “Cougar Town” because they whole world knows they’re BBFs – but a guest shot on Matt’s debut episode would definitely look like a desperate publicity ploy designed to suck in viewers.
[From The National Enquirer, print edition, January 3, 2011]
If I heard before that Perry had a new sitcom coming up, I’d completely forgotten about it. I googled it to check, and apparently the news came out almost a year ago that both Perry and Matt LeBlanc have new comedies coming out. According to OK! Magazine, Perry will be playing “a sports arena manager who has a midlife crisis as he enters his 40s and is dumped by his girlfriends.” ABC has a page up for the show with the announcement that it’s coming “later this season.” It also has Allison Janney in it!
LeBlanc is playing himself on a new Showtime series “about a hit British comedy that is imported by an American network, which dumbs down the show and casts Matt in the lead role. Matt has to audition to play himself.” That show, called Episodes, will be out this January.
Perry probably made the right decision to turn down Aniston’s offer. Now only would it have probably made him look desperate, a guest appearance by Aniston might not have done much to boost ratings. Aniston’s guest appearance on Cougar Town didn’t seem to help ratings at all, as the show finished third in its time slot.
i think jennifer anniston is a lil overrated i mean i have liked a couple of her movies (ie.the good girl and the break-up) but thats about it..lisa kudrow was my favotite “friend”
I don’t believe the National Enquirer one bit. That is all.
smelly cat, smely catttttt
National Enquirer….really???
Right, like she would volunteer to guest star in the Pilot episode of his new show (which was probably filmed months ago) because she’s so full of herself that she thinks he needs a boost from her. Such utter garbage.
And I don’t watch Cougar Town, but 3rd in it’s timeslot sounds about right, I doubt her guest appearance made any difference.
@bite me : you beat me to it ! that was my IMMEDIATE first thought !
Um…I’m guessing the first episode was filmed ages ago. Unless all this happened a year ago, this story doesn’t make much sense. I vote for BS.
Matthew was always my fave, and I too loved him on Studio 60 also – he’s someone I always enjoyed seeing on TV every week, so I hope his new show does well. He’s really funny too, I think he should be a writer as well.
Awww, Ross and Rachel. I remember when I actually cared about JA. Nostalgia…
Yeah, this doesn’t ring true to me, either.
Good move on his part. Friends has been over a long time now. Its time for them all to build up an identity other than Friends.
I love Matthew Perry… Thanks for the flashback pictures Celebitchy! Memories!
I will watch this because I love Matthew Perry and Allison Janney. Geez, Jen, go away.
“If I heard before that Perry had a new sitcom coming up, I’d completely forgotten about it.”
Must be. Because I, not being the biggest Perry fan, did know and this is the only celebrity news related site I read. And I also remember Perry not being sure if he would bring in old collegues from Friends. “Maybe later.” he said.
So, basically, this is a non-story.
Matt was the best in West Wing.
I just don’t understand all the disdain for Jen Anniston.
Well at least there is one site that isn’t Loonifer Headquarters….
Sounds utterly fake.
@ally
I don’t see how this is negative. But I don’t think it is true. That being said I think Matthew should refrain from having any of the Friends cast on the show. It is an example of how a successful show can be great, but sticks to you like glue. I loved Fraiser mainly because he never had the old Cheers cast on until the show was well established. When members of a previous show start popping up it just reminds the audience of the old show. NOT always good when you are trying to create a new character. Plus it becomes a “reunion” show.
Anyway I think he should save the reunions for dinner/lunch or a bar. NOT on his show.
@ally, It is really sick that every time a fan of a certain celeb posts they are called loonie because they are a fan, YET I’m sure you have never spoken up when nasty and hateful comments are posted against that person. What is the name you call those people. hmmm yeah I don’t think you say a word. Where is your balance and fair attitude then.
I miss Friends. <3
Yeah the story very possibly isn’t true, but it would be really smart of Perry not to court the association on his TV show. Side note why doesn’t she just go back to TV already??It’s where she belongs and its already made her tons of money and the girl loves to work, isn’t interested in changing up her look or roles etc, etc.
“It’s not your fault!”
not buying it
@ally I so agree with you. I love this site but it can be so nasty. one of the things is it trashes aniston & I don’t get it. Its like high school. another thing is when people trash someones looks – like rumer willis. They are brutal. just incredibly nasty. I think when people are anoynomous they act in ways they wouldn’t normally act. i hope.
Seeing these old cast photos reminded me how good Courtney used to look.
I’d very much like for JA to lie low for half a year or two in 2011.
hahaha … he is smart!
It makes me laugh that tabloids are now trusted news sources. Please, this story is crap. Matthew Perry hasn’t had much success after friends, like most of the cast. I doubt the offer was even made, much less rejected.
“I just don’t understand all the disdain for Jen Aniston”
I don’t get it either. The Brangeloonies are so delusional and hung up on Jen that its hysterical — except when they are flat out nucking futs, which is most of the time. Of course, I think the fans on both sides are as crazy as shithouse rats and waaaaaay too invested in people who don’t give a crap about them.
The stench of bullsh*t from this story is simply too strong to ignore,but I seriously doubt that JA’s appearance would help Perry’s(or LeBlanc’s) ratings anyway.
I hated friends when it was on TV, still hate it now. None of these people can act.
Wow, Jennifer Aniston’s skin before endless suntanning and cigarettes was incredible! She really was a fresh faced beauty. She’s still attractive but I can see why she was the Rom Com darling back then.
uh, another sitcom doomed to failure, so who cares who’s on it.
I believe it. She’s desperate to be on something that people say …you’re great…
She still banking on this crap …the Friends era. She sees timr has ran out for saying hey I was on friends. I believe the story…
I don’t know why it’s now the “loons” fault whenever there is a negative story about Jennifer Aniston in the press. I wonder how many of the people who “never believe tabs” make an exception whenever there is a negative story about Angelina Jolie and believe and spread those lies verbatim. I also wonder how many people who are so upset about a 42 year old woman getting her feelings hurt by a story most commenters think is false, have no problem with comiedians and other posters making vile and disgusting comments about the J-P children.
I don’t blame the loonies for the tab stories, only their pathetic comments. I feel the same about the Jen fans too, when they click on every Angie story to talk crap. BOTH sides are stupid. Team Get Over it and MOVE ON! I think all three of the so called triangle have moved on and it is only the tabs and fans that keep it going for whatever crazy reason.
Well another day another non-story about Jennifer Aniston’s “desperation”.
As others have said, the pilot had to have been filmed months ago if not a year ago. And Matthew Perry already said that he’d bring some old Friends people on “maybe later”.
CougarTown finishing third? That seems about right. No one cares about that show no matter who is on it.
mln76 – HOLY CRAP, a sensible person!!!! Co-sign your comments.
@malachais: I tuned into five minutes of Friends before I turned it off in disgust. That show was supposed to take place on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, which is one of the most ethnically diverse places in the entire country, and the entire cast was whiter than a damn Klan meeting.
I too completely agree with mln76’s comments.
The concept of the LeBlanc show sounds funny. Too bad he’s been cast. Would have had some potential with Perry, I think.
Aniston should just worry about her (non-existent) film career.
I’m really excited about this new show, read a great review for it and I miss Matt Perry lots!
Perry was NEVER the sensible member of Friends!!!!!!! He caused all sorts of delays, they never knew if he was going to show up high, or not at all, etc. Cox, Schwimmer, and Kudrow were the most reliable. Trailers for Matty’s new show have been floating around the net for months now. The first eps have already been in the can for a while now, so this story is total shiite.
The blizzard in NYC reminded me of Chandler and Monica’s wedding outside in the snow. Those were the days.
Maybe Courtney finally kicked her looser husband to the curve to be with Jen. He would probably drive any woman to despise men. It would explain alot with Jen’s inability to keep a man.
Perry was NEVER the sensible member of Friends!!!!!!!
I know, it laughable that the biggest druggie in the cast is considered to be the most sensible. Not so much.
Friends over acting….no racial diversity people living in an apartment they couldn’t afford in reality corny jokes….bleh
They had six characters they could get people to relate to. They pulled in the audience that wanted all whiteness all the time. They marketed it to death ….brainwashing people….so it’s like you watch Friends then you push others to too. It’s like a cult thing…..
Everybody was average looking so average lookers could relate which there are a lot of those in America. It pulled average looking white people that enjoy basic unintelligent humor . Hit show. Living in NYC which is cool to say, but you’re only comfortable in a white suburb. They kept everyone white cause it’s only cool to say you live in new york… but colored people are scary to be around. It’s like the people that go travel to some exotic location, but stay only on the resort. Natives scare them…they think they are better. The show was for middle class racially culturally ignorant people with average looks and basic sense of humor. You can pull in a large crowd with all that.
Jen can sit on my face any day of the week! She’s one sweet little piece!
It’s funny how her fans are always here complaining about how badly POOR little Aniston is treated, and then starting with the childish name-calling. Loons? Really? Are you 5 yrs old? NOT EVERYONE is a fan of Aniston or Angelina. I dislike them both for being overrated famehos who attract strange fans. I can’t imagine what can possess people to defend an overprivileged, untalented narcissistic actress who doesn’t even know you exist! Really? And, this woman who befriends the likes of extreme nasties like Chelsea Handler and Joe Francis, who loves to pose nude on magazine covers for mega-attention, gushes to the press about John Mayer, and uses words like “retard”? Are you guys that sad? Why would anyone look up to her? Same goes for Angelina. I don’t get the celeb love??? I think you might as well worship Heidi Montag or Kim Kardashian. They’re all famewhores, but some have better agents and more luck. That’s the only difference, I feel. What’s wrong with people? Don’t celebs get enough without the annonymous strangers rushing to defend them as well? And what are you doing on a web site called Celebitchy if you want people to adore the celeb you like? Talk about one-sidededness. I guess everyone has to love the one you love? People on the internet are REALLY strange. 😉
If you think she’s a sweet piece then you’re average looking and homely ….average in every way. Janet Jackson Linda Evangelista and Selma Hayek are sweet pieces. All over the age of 40.
All I can think of when I see these old pics is that Courtney really needs to rethink her choice of Cosmetic Surgeons and Jen must have the best face man in town! Jen has become more attractive and Courtney has…well you can see for yourself. These procedures seem to be hit or miss!
Kudrow is the most talented of them. I have been watching The Comeback episodes on Sundance Channel and looking at these old photos, it makes me wonder how much of Lisa’s “Valerie” character is based on Cox from the Friends days.
The blizzard in NYC reminded me of Chandler and Monica’s wedding outside in the snow. Those were the days.
Actually, it was Phoebe and Mike’s wedding.
Friends wasn’t the funniest show ever — kinda boring during the first four seasons, but I enjoyed some episodes during the fifth and sixth ones (then I got bored again and stopped watching it for good).
*Phoebe and Chandler were the funniest characters, in my opinion.
lolo: yep, thats the irony! The Loonifers (like Whatever, Someone) are on EVERY…SINGLE….Angelina article talking crap about her, OR her fans. But, they neeevvvvveeerrrrrrrr seem to do the same thing on Jen articles. They are such hypocrites and SO transparent. The Loonifers are much much worse than the Brangeloonies. DON’T check out FF/DListed etc and see how BAD and extremely sick these people are. The least extreme Loonifer makes the most extreme Brangeloonie look rational.
Never knew that Phoebe & Mike’s wedding was during the fifth or sixth season. Or shortly after.
Jen should pull a Lohan and get herself committed… then emulate Frances Farmer and pull some trains for the troops on leave. That should get her self-esteem back up there enough to pose nekkid again for a few mags. Maybe even for some web sites, such as cele beachy.
WILL LET’S SEE SHE HAS MADE HOW MANY MOVIES AND HE HOW MANY HAS HE. SHE WAS TRYING TO BE A FRIEND.
Ridiculous story! It isn’t true and was probably written by someone who wants to give folks an opportunity to bash JA. The “jaw dropped” remark says it all. The cast were all so adorable looking in Friends. Jen would never impose herself on anyone and she is NOT desperate.
I like Matthew and was a big fan of “Studio 60.” I was so bummed when they cancelled it.
As for Jennifer, she looked so much better before her nose surgeries and with wavy hair. Straight hanging hair like she wears it now does not flatter her face type and as she gets older is less nd less flattering. Try a new style Jen, you’re stuck in the 90s.
I agree. And the press surrounding Aniston of late has been pretty negative, after all the Chelsea nonsense (and people associating Chelsea’s AJ-hate speeches with being Jen’s real feelings).
He probably wants to start out on a good note.
it’s a good move turning her down. doesnt look desperate and he’s still getting some press bc of this. i didn’t even know he had a new show coming out until this happened.