Nick at Nite will air Matthew Perry: Thanks for Being a Friend” on Sunday, 29 October at 10pm ET.
The tribute special will feature never-before-seen interviews with Perry, behind-the-scenes footage from the set of “Friends” and highlights of Perry’s work on the hit NBC sitcom. Entertainment Tonight produced the special overnight in less than 24 hours.
Following the conclusion of the special at 10:30 p.m., Nick at Nite will air fan-favourite episodes of Friends featuring Perry, beginning at 10 p.m., all next week through Sunday, November 5.
Perry, who gained international acclaim for his role as Chandler Bing on Friends, died on Saturday at the age of 54. The actor was found dead in a hot tub at his home in Los Angeles, law enforcement sources told the Los Angeles Times.
“Friends” was created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, who executive produced the sitcom with Kevin Bright through Bright/Kauffman/Crane Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television.
Crane, Kauffman and Bright released a joint statement following the news of Perry’s death: “He was a brilliant talent. It’s a cliché to say that an actor makes a role his or her own, but in Matthew’s case, no words could be truer. From the day we first heard him embody the role of Chandler Bing, there was no one else for us,” the statement reads. “We will always cherish the joy, the light, the dazzling intelligence that he brought to every moment – not just in his work, but in his life. He was always the funniest person in the room. More than that, he was the sweetest, with a giving and selfless heart.
The Friends co-creators and EP concluded their statement by saying, “We send all our love to his family and friends. This is truly The One Where Our Hearts Are Broken”.
