The Best of Friends
Anyone who knows me knows that I am the ultimate F.R.I.E.N.D.S. geek. I love the show, and even now, 14 years after it's tear-jerker finale, I find myself watching it almost daily on Comedy Central. I can pretty much quote something from almost every episode (probably not something I should be bragging about!), but like most, I have my ultimate episodes that never fail to make me cry with laughter.
So, just for your amusement, and to feed my obsession for today, here are my TOP TEN F.R.I.E.N.D.S. episodes/moments.
1. THE ONE WHERE PAUL'S THE MAN 6.22
Every time, without fail, I howl with laughter at this one. You know what I'm talking about - that moment in the bedroom where Paul reveals he's a 'neat guy' and he's just a 'love machine.' Bruce Willis really pulled a cracking performance with his facial expressions and his little dance in front of the mirror. Guaranteed cry with laughter moment.
2. THE ONE WHERE EMMA CRIES 9.02
This is just pure gold. So it's finally out in the open that Joey didn't propose to Rachel, but Ross is still angry that his best friend accidentally got engaged to the mother of his child. In a desperate bid to make Ross feel better, Joey begs Ross to punch him (I'm laughing even as I type this), but ducks. Ross then breaks his hand from punching the post behind Joey and asks Joey what the hell he was doing. Joey's response is golden - "I ducked...that's what you do when a fist comes at your face. Look." And so, as only Joey could, he hurls a fist at a stunned, injured Ross to prove a point. But Ross doesn't duck. Let's not forget a gleeful Gunther in the background, grinning at Ross's injuries, and of course, the whole 'quotes' issue which Joey has no clue how to use.
If you have 2 minutes 35 seconds to watch the whole scene on the video below, I promise you'll not regret it.
3. THE ONE WITH UNAGI 6.17
Ah, another classic where Ross tries to teach Phoebe and Rachel about 'unagi' and always being prepared for an unexpected attack. After all, 'it's not something you are, it's something you have.' He frightens the two in an attempt to prove his point about 'danger' but seems to inexplicably forget that not only did Phoebe live on the streets, but these two together like to play games - just as they did with Chandler and Monica when they found out about their secret relationship. Unagi, Ross, you're always prepared remember. With the salmon skin roll, of course.
4. THE ONE WITH ROSS'S TAN 10.3
My God, I cried with laughter for weeks at even just the thought of this. Heck, I'm struggling not to splutter now. Especially when I hear Chandler's voice saying, 'You can do a duet of ebony and ivory all by yourself.' And the moment of when Ross lifts his shirt to reveal the perfect line between his front and his back...hahahahaha, I just can't control myself.
5. THE ONE WITH ROSS'S GRANT 10.6
All around, this entire episode is an absolute hoot. We have Ross going for a big grant at work for an exciting dig, but much to his horror, the guy chairing the decision is none other than his current girlfriend's (Charlie) ex boyfriend. We also find Rachel, Monica, and Joey freaking each other out over Phoebe's rather questionable painting's - the delightful Gladys and Glynnis. But the real corker of this episode is a mystery tape that Joey gives Chandler in respect of a role Joey wants to audition for. Chandler brings the tape back, tells Joey 'sorry but it's a no,' and tries to bow out gracefully. But Joey knows he's lying and that Chandler never watched the tape. When Joey finally plays the tape, we realise how he knew Chandler was lying. Just perfect F.R.I.E.N.D.S. material.
6. THE ONE WITH THE COP 5.16
PIVOT! PIVOT! PIVOT! I don't think a single word as simple as this has even become quite so iconic as what Ross made it in this episode. Moving into his new apartment, he convinces Chandler and Rachel to help him move his furniture. Except his sofa won't fit. They can see that, we can see that, but Ross seems to think all it needs is to PIVOT!
7. THE ONE WITH ALL THE RESOLUTIONS 5.11
An all around good episode. Rachel's resolution was to gossip less but she finds out about Chandler and Monica and can't keep it to herself, Joey wants to learn to play the guitar, and Phoebe wants to fly a jet. But the ultimate one is Ross - he has a date with Elizabeth Hornswaggle (which kills Chandler because his resolution is to make less fun of his friends) and wears some new leather pants, which after sweating on his date's couch all night, doesn't bode well for when he goes to the bathroom. Needless to say, he can't get his pants back on and decides to call Chandler, but unfortunately for him, ends up with Joey. The smack in the head he gives himself is just hilarious as Joey uses him as an experiment to see what happens when he mixes lotion and powder...hahahahaha.
8. THE ONE WITH THE EMBRYOS 4.12
Unofficially known as 'the one with the quiz,' this episode is the one where Monica's scream of 'NOOOOO' echoed through our ears for weeks because of Rachel's ridiculous answer of 'transponster' being Chandler's job. It's also the episode where we learn that Chandler's middle name is Muriel, ahahahaha. Let's not forget the ride into the apartment the boys take on the back of the dog, after their weird little screwy dance thing.
9. THE ONE WITH ROSS'S WEDDING PART TWO 4.24
The most infamous, along with 'we were on a break,' part of F.R.I.E.N.D.S. where right at the end, poor old Ross says 'Rachel' instead of 'Emily.' Everything that happens around these episodes is just hilarous - we have the Gellers vs the Walthams as they discuss finances, Monica and Chandler getting fruity, Rachel on a last minute trip to tell Ross she loves him, and a 9 month pregnant Phoebe calling Emily's mum every 5 minutes for various things. But, regardless of all these entertaining subplots, there is still only one moment where I laugh, partly from nerves for Ross and partly from hilarity. Still gets me every time.
10. THE ONE WHERE ROSS AND RACHEL TAKE A BREAK 3.16 ONWARDS
Ah, the ultimate argument for any F.R.I.E.N.D.S. fan. Personally, I'm with Rachel. It was an argument in which she suggested they take a break from their relationship, but Ross's answer of just walking out the door is not an acceptable way to clarify whether they are on a break or not. Ultimately then thinking Rachel is jumping straight into bed with Mark is ridiculous and definitely not the right motive to take slutty little Chloe to bed.
However, the gag has obviously run with deep roots throughout the remaining six seasons and a bit, and will draw a laugh from anyone that hears the term 'we were on a break.'
Actually, Ross. You weren't.
AND LET'S NOT FORGET THIS LITTLE GEM WHERE ROSS TOLD RACHEL THEY WERE DIVORCED BUT THEY WEREN'T...
And there we go, folks. A delightful Saturday afternoon giggle in the company of some good F.R.I.E.N.D.S.
I know one thing, I won't ever be tired enough of them to take break!
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