Before becoming a household name as Chandler Bing on Friends, Matthew Perry navigated a rocky road filled with failed sitcoms and bit parts. But did you know his first major role was in a show so bizarre, it couldn’t even survive its own reboot? Let’s dive into the forgotten story of Second Chance, a Fox sitcom that morphed into Boys Will Be Boys—and still flopped spectacularly.
The pre-Friends era was a grind for Perry and his future co-stars, each struggling to land roles that stuck. Perry’s journey began with small appearances in shows like 240-Robert, Charles in Charge, and Silver Spoons. He even snagged a recurring role in Sydney (1990), but not before enduring a string of duds. One such misstep was Home Free, a cringe-worthy single-season sitcom where Perry played a man living with his mother, only to have his sister move in and upend his life. It’s the kind of show that’s impossible to watch today—seriously, try finding a clip. And let’s not forget LAX 2194, a pilot so forgettable it almost cost him the Friends audition.
But Second Chance stands out as the oddest chapter in Perry’s early career. Why? Because it was essentially two shows in one, neither of which resonated with audiences. Created by the minds behind Punky Brewster, Second Chance debuted in 1987 as part of Fox’s fledgling weekend lineup. The premise? A man named Charles Russell (Kiel Martin) dies in a hovercraft accident in 2011, only to be sent back to 1987 to mentor his teenage self—played by a young Matthew Perry. Sound confusing? It was. Despite its high-concept twist, the show failed to connect with viewers.
Here’s where it gets even stranger: Fox didn’t cancel it outright. Instead, they gave it a second chance—literally. The show was retooled, stripped of its supernatural elements, and rebranded as Boys Will Be Boys. Gone were Kiel Martin and Joseph Maher (who played Saint Peter), leaving Perry’s character, Chazz, and his buddies Booch (William Gallo) and Eugene (Demian Slade) to carry the show. New characters, a revamped theme song, and multiple time slots were thrown into the mix. But did it work? Nope. By May 1988, after just 21 episodes, the plug was pulled.
And this is the part most people miss: Second Chance wasn’t just a failure—it was a symptom of Fox’s early identity crisis. In 1987, the network was still finding its footing, years away from hits like The Simpsons and Married... with Children. Perry’s show, with its wholesome, family-friendly vibe, felt out of place in a network desperate to carve out its niche. Was it ahead of its time, or just plain misguided? That’s up for debate.
Perry’s career, of course, took a dramatic turn when he landed Friends. But his post-Friends ventures, like the ill-fated Odd Couple reboot, proved that not all his projects were destined for greatness. Still, Second Chance remains a fascinating footnote—a reminder that even the biggest stars had to slog through some truly bizarre TV before hitting the big time.
What do you think? Was Second Chance a missed opportunity, or a show that deserved its fate? Let’s discuss in the comments!
