Television

By KIM MASTERS/LOS ANGELES

The FRIENDS--Monica, Joey, Ross, Rachel, Chandler and even the sweet-tempered Phoebe--have been feeling rather unfriendly these days. Having recently celebrated the 100th episode of their series, which has generated hundreds of millions of dollars for Warner, the Friends were hoping for some special acknowledgment from the studio. Such hopes were not unreasonable, given that Warner has been known for its generosity. Top E.R. cast members got million-dollar bonuses when NBC renewed the show; and DREW CAREY got a Porsche for turning his show into a hit, and his show won't earn Warner anywhere near what Friends does. So what did the Friends get on their special day? Paperweights. Oddly enough, NBC also gave the Friends paperweights, which led the Friends to think the whole thing was a joke. It wasn't. A Warner spokesman said the studio meant to acknowledge the Friends when the series went into reruns in September, but was a bit tardy. Late last week the studio gave them what the spokesman would characterize only as "a very, very generous gift." Still, next year's negotiations for a seventh season may make the NBA talks look like a church picnic.

--By Kim Masters/Los Angeles