(Cover) - EN Showbiz - Matthew Perry says its impossible for his new TV show to be as popular as hit sitcom Friends.

The actor found fame as Chandler Bing on the NBC programme Friends, for which he earned a Primetime Emmy Award nomination in 2002.

The 41-year-old came up with the idea for new sitcom Mr. Sunshine and acts as its co-writer and executive producer. He also appears in it, starring as Ben Donovan, the manager of a San Diego sports arena called the Sunshine Center. The show follows Ben as he suffers a midlife crisis around his 40th birthday.

I don't think it's possible for a new show to be as big a hit as that [Friends], which is fine, he told USA today. "I say all the time that I'm glad I got to experience that level of fame so that I don't have to spend my whole life chasing it."

Mr. Sunshine marks Matthews first return to television since his stint on Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, which was cancelled in 2007. After rocketing to fame back in the 90s as a member of the Friends posse, the actor is now looking forward to being the integral character of a TV show.

He describes Mr. Sunshine as an ensemble comedy but insists he is at the creative centre this time. Ive never done that before.

Matthew, who has been based in Los Angeles for more than two decades, came up with the idea for Mr. Sunshine in June 2009. (C) Cover Media