DON'T LAUGH

By KIM MASTERS/LOS ANGELES

The friends in Friends, NBC's hit sitcom, are all for one and one for all when it comes to negotiating a new deal for themselves. According to sources close to the show, the stars are telling Warner Bros. that unless the studio accedes to their demands, they won't be back in August to start work on new episodes.

The six cast members--Courteney Cox, David Schwimmer, Jennifer Aniston, Matthew Perry, Lisa Kudrow and Matt LeBlanc--each want about $100,000 an episode plus a piece of the series' profits. All signed five-year contracts when the show was launched two seasons ago. Then unknowns, they settled for about $22,500 an episode--not bad, but pretty much entry-level pay for sitcom stars.

The stars have got raises since the show took off, but with Warner looking at staggering profits, the cast wants more. The studio has reportedly sold the show into syndication for an astronomical $4 million an episode; the deal hinges on the Friends staying for at least two more seasons to generate enough episodes for reruns. With Warner's big payoff on the line, the stars have a lot of leverage--although given the panoply of agents, lawyers and managers involved, the six will defy industry odds if they stick together.

The weakest link, according to those involved in the discussions, is Schwimmer. He is said to be balking at a longer-term contract, which Warner would surely demand in exchange for more generous remuneration. An aspiring movie star, Schwimmer may have something better to do, but it's probably not The Pallbearer II.

--By Kim Masters/Los Angeles