After a beloved TV show comes to an end, it's comforting for fans to think the cast might still get together and hang out now and then - but does this ever happen? You bet it does, as evidenced by this list of TV stars who remain friends despite their shows being off the air. And this only makes sense. After all, a long and successful television run is something of a rarity, so when a group of actors works together so intensely for an extended period, it's only natural for some deep and abiding friendships to develop. Even something as game-changing as a TV show getting canceled can't stop that.
From iconic series that changed the television landscape to tween-centric confections that influenced a generation, these shows have stuck in the minds and hearts of fans. They've stuck in the minds and hearts of their stars, too, and TV casts that still hang out are a tribute to the magic that can happen when the right creative team is assembled.
Cast members of the American version of The Office have hinted at a revival multiple times, and their very public hang sessions only add fuel to the fire. While Steve Carell has been vocal about a reboot not working, the other folks from Dundler Mifflin have expressed interest, and given how often they all hang out, it seems like it would be a very easy transition back to Scranton for most of them.
"Some of the old gang got together today... it was so great to see everyone! I turned to Ed [Helms] and said, 'I feel like we are at a family reunion.' He smiled and said, 'We are.' Thanks Greg [Daniels] for hosting! For those who couldn't make it... you were missed!" tweeted Angela Kinsey after a group brunch on December 2, 2018.
Monica and Chandler. Phoebe and Joey. Ross and Rachel. These names are forever a part of the American cultural lexicon, thanks to the stellar cast of Friends. And they remain close today. Though their full schedules prevent them from getting together as much as they once did, Matt LeBlanc, who played Joey, assured the world that, yes, the Friends are still friends.
When they can still hang out, it's like nothing has changed.
It's an indisputable fact that there's no love lost between Will Smith and Janet Hubert (who played Vivian #1). But what about the rest of the cast? Fortunately, they're all still friends. When Karyn Parsons (Hilary) launched a crowdfunding campaign in 2014 to make a short film, her former Fresh Prince costars stepped up to help.
Cast members offered undeniable perks to donors who gave larger amounts, like a personalized voicemail greeting from Geoffrey the Butler and the opportunity to watch reruns of the show with the cast.
The cast of One Tree Hill has remained tight over the years. In 2014, they reassembled for a fan convention in France, and it was just like old times. Sophia Bush, who played Brooke, shared all the excitement via cast reunion photos on her Instagram page.
"Basically the best," one photo caption read. Fans couldn't have agreed more.
Somewhere in Pawnee, IN, you just know Leslie Knope is still doing her thing: being the queen of the parks department, getting sh*t done, and loving every minute of it. In the real world, the Parks And Recreation cast remain as close as ever.
According to Chris Pratt, who played Andy, they still talk regularly. "I love everyone I worked with on that show," Pratt said.
It was a really happy set. It’s so rare, I think. You hear horror stories of, you know, separate base camps and, like, these feuds going on that never bleed into the storytelling but made the process of making the show a nightmare. And it was the exact opposite for [us]…It couldn’t have been more different for us.
The gang from Bayside High may have left their awkward teen years behind, but they're still friends in real life. Tiffani Thiessen, who portrayed Kelly Kapowski, said she keeps "in touch with a lot of them. It’s really neat."
She and Mark-Paul Gosselaar, who played Zack Morris, remain particularly close because their kids are around the same age.