英国的《辣妹组合》重聚少了一位辣妹，经典美剧《老友记》的聚会也少了一位老友 Chandler 的脸面。

 

What is it about reunions that make some people reluctant to go to? Is it that they're afraid of being judged by people who they met in their heyday¹? Is it a fear of having betrayed high expectations? Or is it the risk of realising that the sparkle that held the group together is no longer there?

 

Fans have been keen on a Spice Girls reunion, but Posh Spice is saying 'no'. Fans have eagerly followed months of speculation² about the five British singers getting together again. For this generation – now mainly middle aged³ mothers – it's a chance to introduce the band to their own daughters. But, unfortunately, it's not gonna happen. They might see four of them.

 

The spoil sport seems to be Victoria Beckham. Maybe Posh Spice became too posh herself to shake her booty on a stage. She's said in the past that she's got no plans to join with Baby, Scary, Ginger⁴ and Sporty.

 

"Doing the Olympics was an incredible honour. That's great. Thank you to everybody, but no more," she said after the group performed at the closing ceremony of the Olympic Games in London in 2012.

 

And then there's Friends. Well, no more chats at the (fictitious) Central Perk⁵ cafe for Chandler Bing. Actor Matthew Perry has announced that he won't attend the reunion show of the hit American TV sitcom⁶ which captured the imagination of audiences in several countries. It ended in 2004 after ten series.

 

Perry's spokesperson said he "may tape something" as a tribute to the series' creator James Burrows⁷ but… he is otherwise engaged. As some Hollywood actors do, he will star in a play in London which runs until May. It's a story about being middle aged. Enough said. 

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