Matt LeBlanc

"I am so glad I got the part; seeing someone else play Matt LeBlanc would have been devastating," he quipped. The plot of "Episodes" is not without real-life parallels; for example, NBC struggled to adapt the U.K. hit "Coupling" before scoring gold with its version of British favorite "The Office."

Read more: Matt LeBlanc joins Showtime's 'Episodes' | In this article: Showtime, David Crane, Jeffrey Klarik, CBS Corp., Friends, U.S., BBC Two, and Leslie Moonves

"The script would have to be absolutely great," Aniston told me during an interview for "The Break-Up" in 2006 -- a sentiment echoed by her "Friends" love interest David Schwimmer. "We'd all love getting together for something like that," Schwimmer told me last year, "but all the stars would have to align, and I'm not just talking about the actors." • Given the short life of his "Friends" spinoff "Joey," one would think Matt LeBlanc would be gung ho for a reunion film, but a longtime "Friends" staffer told me Thursday, "He seemed strangely cool to the idea." • The whole "Friends" movie idea gained added momentum following the huge success of the "Sex and the City"

Read more: Jen OK with old 'Friends' | In this article: Friends, Jennifer Aniston, Kiefer Sutherland, David Schwimmer, Terminator Salvation, Bears, Management, and Courteney Cox

"I am really excited to be working with Showtime and the BBC," LeBlanc said. "And I am so glad I got the part, seeing someone else play Matt LeBlanc would have been devastating."

Read more: Matt Le Blanc, best known as Joey on 'Friends,' gets new TV series | In this article: Friends, BBC Two, David Crane, Jeffrey Klarik, Mad About You, and BBC

"[Creators David Crane and Jeffrey Klarik] have a great idea - I love it," said LeBlanc.

Read more: Matt LeBlanc Joins 'Episodes' Showtime Sitcom | In this article: Hollywood, UK, and BBC

"Jeffrey and David have a great idea - I love it," the 42-year-old LeBlanc said. "And I am so glad I got the part, seeing someone else play Matt LeBlanc would have been devastating."

Read more: Matt LeBlanc to Star in Showtime and BBC's Episodes | In this article: David Crane, Jeffrey Klarik, BBC Two, Mad About You, Joey, BBC, Hollywood, and London

"Jeffrey and David have a great idea -- I love it. I'm really excited to be working with Showtime and the BBC," LeBlanc says. "And I am so glad I got the part. Seeing someone else play Matt LeBlanc would have been devastating."

Read more: Matt LeBlanc has 'Episodes' at Showtime | In this article: Episodes, David Crane, Jeffrey Klarik, Friends, BBC Two, Twitter, Ricky Gervais, and U.K.

"We jumped at the chance to get involved with this cock-eyed look at network television told through the eyes of unsuspecting British producers who don't know what hit them when they enter the lion's den of Hollywood. And Matt LeBlanc -- wryly sending up his own image -- is icing on the cake." LeBlanc added: "I am so glad I got the part, seeing someone else play Matt LeBlanc would have been devastating."

Read more: 'Friends' star Matt LeBlanc returns to TV | In this article: Friends, David Crane, Jeffrey Klarik, Hollywood, Los Angeles Times, Mad About You, and London