Season 5 Of The Friends Sitcom
August 14, 2010 by Hank Evans
Filed under Humor
The One After Ross Says Rachel: Despite the fact that Ross said “Rachel” in his vows instead of “Emily,” they go through with the wedding; but then Emily sneaks out the window at the reception and apparently never wants to see Ross again. Rachel fixates on the fact that “he said my name!” Chandler and Monica agree that their new relationship can only continue while they are away from home… but then have a very difficult time arranging to be alone together. While waiting at the airport in hopes that Emily will still show up for the honeymoon to Athens, Ross bumps into Rachel. She encourages him to go to Athens anyway; he invites her to come along. While boarding, Ross goes back to get his jacket and discovers that Emily has arrived and has witnessed the two of them preparing to leave together. Ross misses the flight; Rachel doesn’t.
The One Where Phoebe Hates PBS: Rachel catches Monica waiting seductively in her bedroom for Chandler; to cover, Monica tells Rachel she’s seeing a guy from work. Monica tells Rachel that her new boyfriend is the best sex she’s ever had, and when Chandler hears this he gets a little too proud of himself. Ross finally gets Emily on the phone and they begin planning to work things out; Emily agrees to come to New York but only if Ross doesn’t see Rachel anymore. After much agonizing, Ross agrees. Joey gets involved with a PBS pledge drive, believing he’s the host; but he’s only a phone jockey and not even on camera. Phoebe reveals her hatred for PBS, which started because she never got an answer to a letter she wrote to Sesame Street after her mom died. Joey and Phoebe argue about whether any truly selfless good deeds exist, so Phoebe tries repeatedly to find one.
The One With All The Thanksgivings: After Thanksgiving dinner at Monica’s, the gang tells stories about their worst Thanksgivings ever. In a series of flashbacks, we see Chandler learning of his parent’s divorce (1978); Phoebe losing an arm (twice) in past lives (1862 and’15); Joey with his head in a turkey (1992); Chandler hurting Monica’s feelings (1987); and Monica getting a little more revenge than she planned, when Chandler loses a toe (1988).
The One With All The Resolutions: Joey makes it possible for Monica and Chandler to kiss at midnight on New Years, by arranging kisses between Ross and Phoebe, and Rachel and himself. Everyone makes resolutions: Ross will do one new thing everyday; Chandler will stop making fun of his friends… for at least a week; Rachel won’t gossip; Joey will learn the guitar; Monica will take more pictures of everyone together; and Phoebe will pilot a commercial jet. While on a date with a new girl (Elizabeth Hornswoggle) Ross’ new pair of leather pants is so hot and tight that he can’t get them back on after taking them off to cool down in the bathroom. He calls Joey for advice, which leads to attempts first with powder and then with lotion, which just make things worse. Joey’s guitar teacher is Phoebe, who doesn’t know any actual chord names. Rachel finds out about Monica and Chandler, and is dying to tell someone; she tries to tell Joey but he’s so tired of keeping secrets, he won’t listen. Chandler can’t stand holding in the wisecracks.
The One With The Girl Who Hits Joey: Ross confronts Chandler about his relationship with Monica; at first Ross is angry, but he quickly sees the good in it. Ross, Joey, Rachel, and Phoebe talk about what it will be like if Chandler and Monica have kids. Chandler gets a bit freaked out about the idea of a lasting commitment and ends up in an argument with Monica. In a misguided effort to apologize, Chandler proposes marriage–an offer which Monica does not accept. Meanwhile, Joey dates Katie, a cute little woman who likes to punch Joey’s arm–a lot. It gets to be too much for Joey, and he decides to break up with her–which he’s very nervous about. Luckily, Katie nearly gets in a fight with Rachel and threatens to walk out on Joey if he doesn’t take her side. He refuses and the relationship ends. Ross moves into his new apartment; the president of the tenant’s committee asks him to contribute 100 dollars toward’s the retiring handyman’s gift. Ross has never even met the man, to he declines. Everyone in the building decides Ross is cheap and not “their kind of people,” so he stubbornly tries to win their friendship. Things just get worse, however, despite (and a little because of) Phoebe’s efforts to help him.
The One Where Rachel Smokes: Ben auditions for a soup commercial and Joey comes along to try for a part as well. Things are going great until Joey gets paired with another child and it gets competitive. Joey has a little trouble with his line, however. Rachel starts her new job at Ralph Lauren; she soon feels left out because all the decisions get made on smoking breaks, and she doesn’t smoke. She tries to solve the problem by taking up the habit; it doesn’t work out too well, so she convinces her co-workers to quit… but that lasts about a day. Phoebe and Monica plan a surprise birthday party for Rachel. Monica, in her usual fashion, takes over completely, leaving Phoebe in charge of only cups and ice. Phoebe decides to make the most of it; she makes everything imaginable out of cups, and serves every kind of ice.
The One Where Ross Can’t Flirt: Monica and Chandler are going out for their ten-month anniversary; Chandler wants Monica to wear the earings he gave her. However, she lent them to Phoebe, who lent them to Rachel, who lost one. Ross sees Chandler flirting with the pizza girl (Caitlin) and decides he’s going to turn on the charm as well, with disasterous results. Joey has a part on Law and Order; his grandmother comes over to watch the show, but his part has been cut. Joey quickly improvises a scene on video tape and slips it into the VCR.
The One With Joey’s Big Break: Rachel has an eye infection but doesn’t want anyone touching her eye. Monica finally gets her to a doctor but then Rachel won’t use the eyedrops. Everyone has to hold her down and force her to use them. Phoebe is mad at Ross but can’t remember why. Joey gets the lead role in a independent film called Shutter Speed, being filmed in Las Vegas. He and Chandler start a road trip but Chandler lets slip that he doesn’t think this is Joey’s big break, and gets kicked out of the car. Joey makes it to Vegas but the movie is shutting down from lack of funds, leaving Joey trying to make ends meet as a gladiator at Caesar’s Palace.
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