Friends actor Matthew Perry pays subtle tribute to sitcom in The End of Longing

All while skewering NCIS

Picture: (NBC/Warner Bros)

Matthew Perry’s play The End of Longing has moved from London’s West Wend to the US, where the actor will perform off-broadway at The Lucille Lortel Theatre.

While promoting the upcoming stint, Perry talking with The Hollywood Reporter about the play along with why the accompanying programme features his lengthy résumé.

Notably, though, there’s one major exclusion: the sitcom Friends. “I just figured everybody knows that one already, since it’s the biggest thing I did, so I left it off,” Perry told the publication. “I love that I was a part of that show. That opened all the doors for me, and I’m very proud of that.”

There’s also a very subtle tribute to Friends in the play. At one point, Perry’s character Jack remarks: “Why is every single episode of NCIS the exact same thing?”

Another character, Jessica, replies: “You know what? You are right. There is some sort of crime. Mark Harmon comes in and solves it. It’s the exact same thing over and over again.” Jack responds: “And like 17 million people watch that shit every week.”

Explaining his decision to skewer NCIS, Perry told the publication: “That was bitterness because that was the one show that kept beating Friends.”

Meanwhile, fellow Friends actor Lisa Kudrow recently spoke about the chances of the cast getting back together for another season, saying: "I don't see it happening. It would be fun, but what would it be about?

"Think about it. The thing we liked best about the show was that they were 20-somethings and they were their own family. Now, they all have families, so what are we going to watch?"