By Jae-Ha Kim
Chicago Sun-Times
May 5, 2004
NEW YORK — Over the past decade, “Friends” has had its share of ups and downs. Some seasons — especially the last two — have been less than stellar, but the shows have been entertaining more often than not.
Here’s hoping Thursday’s finale will give us something truly worth remembering. In the meantime, here are one viewer’s 10 favorite “Friends” episodes:
1 “The One With the Prom Video” (Season 2, Feb. 1, 1996)
Yes, yes, we know Ross and Rachel shared a kiss at the beginning of the second season at Central Perk. But in this vignette, viewers got a sense of how long he has coveted her. In a home video of Monica and Rachel getting ready for their high school prom, a teenage Ross is seen secretly dressing up to escort Rachel when it appears her date has stood her up. When her date finally arrives, Rachel is ecstatic and Ross is heartbroken. After watching this tape, Rachel walks over to Ross, cradles his face and gives him a passionate kiss. Smiling, Phoebe looks at her friends and says, “He’s her lobster.” If the final episode captures even half the emotion of this one, it’ll be a winner.
2 “The One With the Proposal, Parts I and II” (Season 6, May 18, 2000)
After dancing around the subject of marriage, Monica and Chandler prove to be too sneaky for their own good. Chandler pretends he doesn’t want to get married so he can surprise her with a ring. She thinks he really doesn’t want to marry her and considers going back to her ex, Richard. Finally, she turns the tables on Chandler by getting down on her knees and proposing.
3″The One With the Football” (Season 3, Nov. 2, 1996)
The gang is gathered together for another one of Monica’s Thanksgiving dinners. While waiting for the turkey to cook, Monica suggests a game of touch football in the park. No one wants Rachel on their team. Phoebe learns she can distract the opponents by flashing her breasts. Joey and Chandler compete for the attentions of an attractive blond. And Monica and Ross compete for the glory of the Gellar Cup, a hideous childhood trophy they made for their athletic competitions. Trying to wrestle the ball away from
her brother, Monica tries to shame him by saying, “I’m a tiny little woman!” Yes, she is.
4″The One With the Routine” (Season 6, May 20, 1999)
The whole romance between Joey and his dancer roommate Janine didn’t really work. While this episode sets up the romance between the two, the funniest elements belong to Monica and Ross and their competitive nature. This time, they team up to get some good face time at a taping of Dick Clark’s annual New Year’s Eve special. The routine they’ve resurrected is an old one from their high school days that is funnier than Elaine’s gawky moves on “Seinfeld.” David Schwimmer, who plays Ross, is particularly good at dancing bad, which isn’t as easy to do as you’d think.
5 “The One That Could Have Been Parts I and II” (Season 6, Feb. 17, 2000)
Another Season 6 winner contemplates what could have been had the Friends taken different paths. What if Ross was still married to Carol, who didn’t know yet that she’s a lesbian? What if Monica hadn’t lost weight and was still a virgin? How would Phoebe have fared as a high-powered suit screaming “Go!” to everyone who called her? What if Joey’s acting career had taken off from the get-go and he was a TV star when the married Rachel first met him — would she have slept with him? When would Chandler’s writing career take off? You see them living in an alternate reality and realize this brief glimpse of the bizarro universe is funnier than the actual pilot for “Friends.”
6 “The One With All the Poker” (Season 1, March 2, 1995)
This is where we first saw Rachel striving for a career rather than just a job. Tired of her job as a waitress at Central Perk, the fashion-savvy Friend interviews for a position at Saks Fifth Avenue, which is kind of like the mothership calling her home. Meanwhile, the girls want in on the boys’ poker night. After being soundly beaten by the boys, Rachel, Phoebe and Monica rely on Monica’s card-shark Aunt Iris to give them some tips. During a rematch, Rachel gets the call that Saks wasn’t going to offer her a position. Ross’ competitive nature is thrown for a loop as he throws the game so she can win all the money.
7 “The One With Ross’ Wedding, Part II” (Season 4, May 7, 1998)
While in London for Ross’ wedding to Emily, Chandler and Monica sleep together and begin a secret relationship that will delight fans and confuse their Friends. Rachel, who had turned down the invitation to attend the wedding, has a change of heart and plans on telling Ross she still loves him. When she gets to London and sees how happy he is, she wishes him good luck. But when it’s time to say his wedding vows, he accidentally utters Rachel’s name instead of Emily’s. That is so no good for him, but great for
the audience.
8 “The One Where No One Is Ready” (Season 3, Sept. 26, 1996)
It’s all here in this near-perfect episode. A jealous Monica worries that her ex-boyfriend Richard is dating someone else. Ross is upset that none of his friends is dressed for a black-tie function at which he’s giving a speech. And the phrase “going commando” makes its way into pop-culture vernacular. Is it ridiculous when Joey puts on all of Chandler’s clothes to get back at him? Yes. But it’s also ridiculously funny as he does lunges wearing a pile of vests and button-down shirts.
9 “The One in Vegas, Part II” (Season 5, May 20, 1999)
While Chandler and Monica are debating the merits of getting married in Las Vegas, Ross and Rachel fight after he draws a mustache on her face with a magic marker. Mortified, she refuses to leave the hotel room, so Ross offers to stay in with her and pay for everything they eat — and drink — from the minibar. When Chandler and Monica get to the chapel to wed, they’re shocked
to find that a very drunk Ross and Rachel have gotten hitched themselves. For those keeping score, it’s his third and her first.
10 “The One With the Red Sweater” (Season 8, Oct. 4, 2001)
We know Rachel is pregnant but she hasn’t confided to anyone who the father of her baby is. Joey says he saw a guy leaving their apartment who left behind a red sweater. The Friends think the would-be father is Rachel’s ex Tag, who has the same sweater. But when Ross sees the sweater, he claims it and says he thought he had lost it a month ago. Were we really surprised Ross is the father? No, but the way the writers revealed the outcome was worth the wait.
Jae-Ha Kim, author of Best of Friends, will be among the panelists discussing their favorite “Friends” episodes
on NBC’s “Today” this morning on WMAQ-Channel 5.
