reporter: making jennifer aniston, courteney cox, matthew perry, david schwimmer, matt leblanc and lisa kudrow household names. with their off the charts chemistry, rachel, ross, monica, chandler, phoebe and joey dominated the airwaves, defining the '90s and coining some classic sayings. >> how you doing? >> we were on a break! >> reporter: -- and songs. smelly cat >> oh, my god. >> i know. >> i sound amazing. >> reporter: and while they starred in front of the cameras, it was the man behind them who helped make the show a groundbreaking hit. legendary tv director james burrows. >> everyone wanted a friends reunion for so long and it took you must -- >> not all together. >> reporter: tonight, the cast minus matthew perry, will be back together on the small screen, paying tribute to burrows. >> we would do anything for jim burrows because he really gave us the opportunity of a lifetime. >> reporter: "friends " fans everywhere thrilled the closest thing to a reunion since show the went off the air in 2004. >> i miss you so much. >> i miss you. >> how do you explain the "friend "friends" phenomen