According to IMDB, the network TV Land will “go dark” during the Friends final episode, but will air special episodes on the day of the finale:
The cable network TV Land will pay tribute to NBC’s Friends on the day of the final episode by preempting its regular programming and airing six sitcom episodes featuring the cast “before they were Friends,” in the words of the cable net’s announcement. However, during the time that the season finale actually airs on NBC, TV Land plans to go dark. “I know it sounds crazy, but we don’t believe we are rolling over and letting them win,” TV Land boss Larry W. Jones told today’s (Tuesday) Philadelphia Inquirer. “The reality is, our viewers are their viewers.” The six “classic shows” – to air before and after the blackout – include: Cheers (with Lisa Kudrow), Family Ties (Courteney Cox), Ferris Bueller (the 1990 sitcom with Jennifer Aniston), The Wonder Years (David Schwimmer), Just the 10 of Us (Matt LeBlanc) and Who’s the Boss? (Matthew Perry).
I think that this is a great idea; I’ll definitely have to remember to TiVo these episodes…
I also came upon some interesting “Before they were Friends” factoids (Jon Cryer almost played Chandler?!) as well as an article entitled “The Legacy of Friends.”
