Reboots and reunions

“FRIENDS” cast reunites in two-hour TV special.

FANS of the hit ’90s TV sitcom, “Friends,” are agog over the “breaking news” report that, after years and years of fruitlessly hoping and trying, the popular show’s stellar cast will finally perform together again this season.

No, the comedy series won’t be brought back in its entirety, but its stars will topbill a two-hour TV special. —That may not be what its most loyal and perfervid fans have been wishing for, but it’s still something worth celebrating—and looking forward to.

“Friends” is especially favored by its diehard followers, because it made TV-film stars of all of its original leads—Jennifer Aniston, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry and David Schwimmer!

Even better, they’re still topbilling productions to this day—decades after they first clicked with viewers!

What’s their reunion special shaping up to be? It turns out that the stars were persuaded to work together again, because they wanted to pay tribute to veteran director James Burrows, who has megged 1,000 TV episodes!

Aside from “Friends,” he’s directed other hit series like “Taxi,” “Cheers,” “Frasier,” “Will and Grace”—as well as more recent shows like “The Big Bang Theory” and “Mike & Molly.”

Consequently, the special’s star value will be further enhanced by the participation, not just by the stars of “Friends,” but also by the lead players of Burrows’ other shows, some of whom have similarly made it big in the biz!

What is it about James Burrows that elicits such fervent gratitude from the talents he’s helped develop?

His directing style is best known for its astute comic timing, complex blocking of actors, increased camera coverage, sophisticated lighting and ability to involve viewers by creating believable and “relatable” characters.

—As a result, he’s won more than his share of awards from the Directors Guild of America and the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

But, Burrows most fervently cherishes the gratitude of the many actors he’s helped become durable stars.

Aside from the TV series already mentioned, the veteran director has worked on the TV shows of Mary Tyler Moore, Bob Newhart and Ted Knight, as well as on “3rd Rock from the Sun,” “Wings,” “Dharma & Greg,” “Two and a Half Men,” “2 Broke Girls,” “Sean Saves the World” and “Friends with Better Lives.”