News | Entertainment
19 Nov 2025 1:52
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Gabrielle Union is hosting a 'Friends' table read featuring an all-Black cast

    The 'Bring It On' actress will be joined by Sterling K. Brown, Ryan Michelle Bathe, Uzo Aduba, Aisha Hinds, Kendrick Sampson and Jeremy Pope in the Zoom event on Tuesday (22.09.20), which is being staged to promote the non-profit organisation When We All Vote


    On/off couple Ross Geller and Rachel Green - who were played in the sitcom by David Schwimmer and Jennifer Aniston - will be portrayed by 'This Is Us' star Sterling and his real-life wife Ryan, while Uzo will take on Lisa Kudrow's role of Phoebe Buffay.

    Aisha will play Monica Geller, who was originally played by Courteney Cox, while Matt LeBlanc and Matthew Perry's roles of Joey Tribiani and Chandler Bing will be taken by Kendrick and Jeremy respectively.

    Salli Richardson-Whitfield will direct the event, which is part of Zoom's Zoom Where It Happens series.

    Zoom previously hosted an all-Black cast reading of 'The Golden Girls', which was hosted by Regina King and starred Alfre Woodard, Tracee Ellis Ross, Sanaa Lathan, and Regina King.

    The original 'Friends' cast had been set to reunite for an HBO Max special but it has been delayed numerous times due to the ongoing coronavirus crisis.

    The special was originally set to film in May but was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, and although they're now allowed to be back on set after taking covid-secure precautions, live audiences are not permitted, and show co-creator Marta Kauffman doesn't think the special should be filmed without one.

    She recently said: "We all want it to happen. We just have to wait until it is safe. This is a show that is not scripted, but this is the way the show works - we are going to need a live audience. Even if we socially distance that live audience, it really is a huge part of what Friends is ... We can not do it without them. Everyone is all in and we are just waiting for that time when it feels connected to bring in a live audience."

    © 2025 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     18 Nov: Richard E. Grant travels solo following the death of his wife Joan Washington
     18 Nov: Sofia Vergara is the new face of Skechers
     18 Nov: Erin Doherty is "mind blown" by Louis Vuitton wanting to work with her
     18 Nov: Kelsea Ballerini and Chase Stokes "never really stopped" talking during their brief split
     18 Nov: Noah Schnapp credits Stranger Things with helping him become more comfortable with himself
     18 Nov: Jessica Alba's children are her top priority
     18 Nov: Liam Gallagher says that the Oasis reunion tour has "saved (his) life"
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    The All Blacks are refusing to judge the year until it's in the history books - with one final match to come against Wales More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    The Kiwi dollar is the weakest compared to Australia in 12 years - trading at just 87 Aussie cents More...



     Today's News

    Accident and Emergency:
    Multiple fire engines are battling a building fire in Northland's Port Whangarei this evening 21:57

    Entertainment:
    Richard E. Grant travels solo following the death of his wife Joan Washington 21:55

    International:
    Most restrictive abortion bill in the US being considered 21:37

    Entertainment:
    Sofia Vergara is the new face of Skechers 21:25

    Living & Travel:
    A Christchurch man's one of New Zealand's newest millionaires - after a snap decision to get a Lotto ticket at Pak n Save Moorhouse - for the first time in 10 years 21:17

    Entertainment:
    Erin Doherty is "mind blown" by Louis Vuitton wanting to work with her 20:55

    International:
    COP30 decision by South Korea to shut down coal a reckoning for Australian exports 20:37

    Entertainment:
    Kelsea Ballerini and Chase Stokes "never really stopped" talking during their brief split 20:25

    Entertainment:
    Noah Schnapp credits Stranger Things with helping him become more comfortable with himself 19:55

    Entertainment:
    Jessica Alba's children are her top priority 19:25


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2025 New Zealand City Ltd