Coffee Table News
The Most Shocking Moments from Matthew Perry’s Interview With Diane Sawyer
Matthew Perry sat down for a very personal interview with Diane Sawyer on Friday, Oct. 28, ahead of the release of his memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing: A Memoir, which will be available for purchase on Nov. 1.
As the duo discussed excerpts from the book, Perry opened up about in heartbreaking detail about his battle with addiction, both in pill form and alcohol, which was the cause of near-brush with death.
Nothing was off limits as the man who made Chandler Bing a fan-favorite character reflected on his struggles, traumas, insecurities, the tough road to recovery, and being on the other side.
While he admitted that it isn’t easy to talk about the hold addiction has had on his life, nor is it something he likes to do, he knows it’s important because it could help others who are suffering.
In fact, he clarifies that the next part of his journey is being there for others because he’s been there; he knows how hard each day is and he has a lot of experience dealing with all of the ups and downs.
We’re breaking down some of the other shocking and critical moments from the interview:
Where It All Started
Perry pinpoints an accident while he was filming Fool’s Rush In alongside Salma Hayek in 1997 as the start of his pill addiction. It’s when he got his first Vicodin and liked how it felt. He hoped it could help curb the drinking while also taming the fear and self-doubt, but before he knew it, it took over with a “vengeance,” he explained. As his body built up a tolerance, he took more pills to stave off the “absolutely terrible” symptoms of withdrawal. Eventually, he ended up taking 55 Vicodin a day.
He Would Raid Medicine Cabinets at Open Houses
Obtaining 55 Vicodin pills a day is not an easy feat. When asked how he would go about getting them, Perry bluntly stated that he had no choice as he would wake up every day knowing that if he didn’t get them, he would be really sick. And trying to avoid withdrawal symptoms motivated him to do whatever was necessary to score, including visiting multiple doctors and faking back injuries and headaches. He copped to getting MRIs done knowing well that there was nothing wrong with him in that sense.
But the revelation that made jaws drop was that he would go to open houses to see what pills people had in their medicine cabinets and steal them. And he hid behind the fame noting that people would never assume “Chandler came in and stole from them.”
How It Affected His Co-Stars
The cast of Friends was aware of his struggles and they were very worried about him, but they didn’t exactly know how to help. They all wanted to “help their friend in a giant battle” and wondered if there was a “right” thing that they should’ve done. Jennifer Aniston, who played Rachel on the hit sitcom, even told Sawyer in a 2004 interview when his struggle became public that the cast was not “equipped to deal with it” as no one had ever experienced or dealt with it before.
Chandler Is Affected by Perry’s Battle
While it wasn’t overly evident to fans at the time, Perry’s character underwent a lot of changes throughout the sitcom’s 10-year-run, with the actor noting that fans could gauge his weight to track the trajectory of his addiction. When he was skinny, it was pills, when he was a little heavier, it was alcohol.
Perry agreed to watch a scene alongside Sawyer during which he was “painfully thin,” and he was visibly alarmed by it, simply stating that he “felt sorry for that guy” who was “out of control” and didn’t “know what was going on with him.”
He added that he’s “grateful not to be that anymore.”
He also acknowledged another scene, the one where Chandler and Monica get married, adding that he could watch it over and over again because he looked good and was sober. He also noted how strange it was to film that season with Chandler experiencing marriage and children while in real life, Perry was being brought to set from a rehab facility.
He’s Not Giving Up on Love
Perry dated a lot of wonderful and incredible women throughout his life, but even when the relationships were going well, he would self-sabotage because of his own insecurities. At 53, he still has hopes of finding love and starting a family. He also explained he’s much more secure with himself, fully knowing that while it’s great to make women laugh—it brings him light—he doesn’t have to do it or prove himself to anyone.
He Almost Died
Years of various drugs and copious amounts of alcohol led to a paralyzed digestive system in 2018. He was rushed to the hospital as his colon exploded. He was on life support, put on an ECMO machine, which he explained was a “hail mary,” and in a coma for 14 days. He recalls there being 5 people on ECMO at the same time in the hospital, and he was the only one that survived despite his chances being a mere 2%.
Perry explains he “escaped death narrowly,” which was also a wake-up call. As he was surrounded by his loved ones and family, he was determined to get better.
He also revealed his spirituality, crediting a “strange golden light” with saving his life and informing him that he’s “accepted, loved and that it will be ok.”
How Will We Know If He’s Not Okay?
Sawyer asked the important question, which stumped Perry for a moment before he explained that if he ever states, “I’m just gonna chill at home tonight,” it’s a red flag. If he ever says that he’s “cured,” it’s a cry for help.
“And spume,” he joked, which got Sawyer laughing.
She noted they could’ve had a “historic ending,” but Perry informed her “that’s not me.”
And he’s still the Chandler Bing we’ve all come to love… but now with a moving and empowering tale of hard-earned sobriety.
We’re all rooting for you, Perry! You always got us.
If you or someone you care about is struggling with substance use disorder, confidential, free help is available at FindTreatment.gov. Or call the SAMHSA National Helpline at 800-662-HELP (4357). Or for immediate help in a crisis situation call or text The National Crisis Lifeline at 988.
Fans of Upload—starring Robbie Amell, Andy Allo, and Allegra Edwards—have been waiting patiently for any information about a potential third season, particularly as season 2 left off on quite a bit of a hangover, with Amell’s Nathan Brown’s life hanging in the balance.
But now, we finally have a premiere date along with a brand new trailer that mostly qualms all of those worries.
Upload Season 3 will be here sooner rather than later with an arrival date of October 20, 2023—that is, for the first two episodes. The next few episodes—a total of 8 for the season—will arrive weekly in pairs, with episodes 3 and 4 landing on Oct 27, episodes 5 and 6 on Nov 3, and episodes 7 and 8 on Nov 10.
Episodes release on Prime Video at 12:00 a.m. GMT on the date, which means 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT.
The futuristic sci-fi comedy in which a man uploads to a digital life extension following his untimely death and forms a special bond with his angel (a customer service rep, in present-day terms) immediately built a dedicated fanbase for its comedic tone as it tackles serious issues.
In the trailer teasing the new season, fans see more of Brown’s time on Earth with Nora following his download. While the final moments of season 2 kept his fate uncertain as he suffered a nosebleed, meaning there was a possibility he wasn’t going to live for much longer, he’s very much alive and well 26 days after the download. While they’re still making good on their amazing connection, Nathan and Nora have also joined forces to shut down Freeyond, which has killed hundreds of innocent people in an attempt to rig the election.
But back at Horizon, Tinlsey, who noticed Nathan disappeared, rebooted him from a backup copy, meaning there’s another Nathan that exists in the afterlife. Ingrid is making the most of this “second chance” to do this right as “new Nathan” has no memory of what happened, nor does he remember breaking up with her.
“Two Nathans, one Nora, Never fantasized about this before,” Nora states as she pays a visit to Lakeview, where someone informs her that isn’t cheating, it’s just her boyfriend “6 months ago.”
Ingrid then informs Earth Nathan that “his girl is hanging with my fake dude.”
Will Nora get charmed by Lakeview Nathan? Has the real world taken a toll on their relationship? And is Ingrid really too into the afterlife while still having the opportunity to live a real life?
Check out the trailer and watch the new season starting Oct. 20.
Bachelor Nation—Thursday night is your night.
Following the premiere of The Golden Bachelor, Bachelor in Paradise returns for its 9th season.
The reality series finds former leads and contestants from The Bachelor and The Bachelorette—some fan-favorites, some controversial and least liked—coming together in the carefree setting of a tropical beach destination in Mexico’s Playa Escondida resort to give their journey of finding love another (and hopefully successful) shot.
The contestants then spend roughly three weeks dating around in hopes of finding their soulmate, all while dodging drama and feuds. Some leave the beach engaged, some in committed relationship, and some stay single.
Jesse Palmer will host this season as Wells Adams returns to the bar.
The series will premiere with a 2-hour episode on Thursday September 28 at 9 p.m. ET right after the pilot episode of The Golden Bachelor. Those who can’t catch it live will be able to stream it on Hulu the following day.
They will continue airing on Thursday nights weekly alongside The Golden Bachelor making Thursday’s the new Monday/Tuesday.
Here’s the upcoming cast:
- Greer Blitzer of “The Bachelor” season 27
- Brayden Bowers of “The Bachelorette” season 20
- Aaron Bryant of “The Bachelorette” season 20
- Peter Cappio of “The Bachelorette” season 20
- Jessica “Jess” Girod of “The Bachelor” season 27
- Eliza Isichei of “The Bachelor” season 26 and “Bachelor in Paradise” season 8
- Katherine “Kat” Izzo of “The Bachelor” season 27
- Samantha “Sam” Jeffries of “The Bachelor” season 26
- Olivia Lewis of “The Bachelor” season 27
- Sean McLaughlin of “The Bachelorette” season 20
- Blake Moynes of “The Bachelorette” seasons 16 and 17
- Mercedes Northup of “The Bachelor” season 27
- Rachel Recchia of “The Bachelor” season 26 and “The Bachelorette” season 19
- Kylee Russell of “The Bachelor” season 27
- Aaron Schwartzman of “The Bachelorette” season 20
- Will Urena of “The Bachelorette” season 18
- Brooklyn Willie of “The Bachelor” season 27
- Catherine “Cat” Wong of “The Bachelor” season 27
Anyone who is a fan of Bachelor in Paraside knows that additional contestants are introduced throughout the season, with talks of former Bachelorettes Katie Thurston, Charity Lawson, and Hannah Brown making appearances down the line.
ABC is expanding its Bachelor franchise into a new age bracket with The Golden Bachelor.
Gerry Turner, described as a “charming 72-year-old patriarch from Indiana,” will be the first to ever own the title as he sets out to find love amongst 22 hopeful bachelorettes.
The series synopsis notes, “One hopeless romantic is given a second chance at love in the search for a partner with whom to share the sunset years of life.”
There’s been a lot of interest across the board for the spinoff as it’s a refreshing take on the franchise that many found has become quite predictable in recent years as it focuses on the same age group every time.
The new concept doesn’t just pique the interest of longtime Bachelor fans, it’s also enticing older viewers who have never given reality TV a chance, while also sparking interest from younger fans who want to see what kind of drama the older demographic is going to stir up (though Turner did call them the “sweetest” group of women ever).
Many also think that with an older-skewing cast, the focus will be more on finding love versus chasing social media clout as the contestants have all been through their fair share of life experiences and heartache.
“I want to fall in love,” Turner previously explained of his interest in the franchise, noting, “I really want to find my person who can put me in my place when I need it and make me smile at it. The person who can lay down beside you at night, not have to say anything, and you feel it. That’s love. That’s what I want. And I know that person’s out there.”
He was married to his high school sweetheart for 43 years before she died in 2017, so it’s fair to say he’s putting himself out of his comfort zone by pursuing a new romantic connection.
The series will premiere on Thursday, Sept. 28 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. You can stream the episodes the following day on Hulu.
It will continue airing on Thursday nights at 8 p.m. ET, followed by Bachelor in Paradise—who doesn’t love back-to-back Bachelor shows?
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