Even True Friends Fans Can't Remember The First Season. Who Can?
- by Danielle Lasher
- – on
- in Movies and TV
Some of us may not have been born yet when Friends first graced the airwaves in September of 1994. NBC's hit comedy series lasted for ten glorious years, following the lives of Ross, Rachel, Phoebe, Monica, Chandler, and Joey. Hard to believe it was that long ago, right? One of the signs that it's an old show is that it was on broadcast television, rather than streaming online—yes, there was a time before Netflix, everybody. Back when it was fresh and new, some critics thought it would never be as funny as Seinfeld. True, it never really took Seinfeld's place, but it was a monster hit by the time it wrapped forever in 2004. The stars of the show made sure to keep it an ensemble, with no one character dominating the series, and they even negotiated their salaries collectively once the network picked the series up for a third season.
Let's cast our minds back to that first season, when Rachel first arrived in New York after fleeing her own wedding, Ross was brokenhearted because his wife had just left him, his sister Monica was attempting to date, Chandler and Phoebe were basically silly, and Joey was just becoming established as sort of a dumb actor guy (for purposes of the show! not the actor himself who was playing Joey!). The hair was different, the clothes were different, and some moments of television gold had yet to happen. Let the real experts step forward!
What was it that Rachel had to cut up all of in the pilot?
A lot of story lines were established in that original pilot episode—among other things, we learned that Rachel's parents were amazingly wealthy (we also learned that Ross had a crush on her since back in high school). Rachel learned about things like needing to get a job—and she got one! To cement her new independence, her friends encouraged her (well, let's be honest—it was more like an intervention) to cut something during that first episode. What was it?
What did Rachel buy to make up for the non wedding?
Retail therapy has been a thing since at least back when Friends aired. The credit card cutting was prompted by Rachel going shopping to cope with everything that was going wrong in her life. She brought her new purchase to the coffee shop and showed everyone what she'd gotten to make herself feel better about her non-wedding. When her friends asked her how the thing was getting paid for, she mumbled that her parents would pick up the tab. What did she buy?
What did Monica vent about to her friends about the wine guy later?
The first episode wasn't just about Rachel, of course—Monica had a date with a wine guy in that one. She thought it went well, too, and (uncomfortably) everyone was sitting in the kitchen when she and the guy emerged from her room the next morning. All seemed well. When Monica talked about the date later that day at work, though, she found out something from a co-worker that upset her. What did she vent to her friends about later?
What did Rachel return to Barry?
In the next episode, "The One with the Sonogram at the End," Rachel decides to return something. She has a hard time finding the thing, and she looks under the couch for it in a little bit of a panic. We also meet Monica and Ross' parents, who make Monica, feel bad that she hasn't even gotten that close to getting married. Rachel later meets up with Barry, the man she's decided not to marry, to return the thing. What is it?
What upsets Ross that he finds out from Susan?
Ross has an interaction with his ex-wife Carol, and we meet her partner Susan, too. Carol is pregnant. All three of them go to the gynecologist's office—this is where the "sonogram" in the episode title comes from. Ross tries to be funny with one of the tools in the office, pretending it's a duck (it's a speculum, and no one laughs, alas). While they're all there and he's talking with Susan, Ross learns something about the baby that upsets him—what?
What did Monica break to Ross softly in Episode Three?
Episode Three, "The One with the Thumb," opens with Phoebe coming back to the coffee shop from a date. There's some conversation about what people say to cushion the blow about things like a date not going well ("it's not you, it's me!"). Ross finds out for the first time that he'd bought one of those stories about something in his past, but it wasn't about a date. Monica breaks the truth to him as gently as she can. What was it about?
What was Chandler's reward after three years?
In this episode we see Joey getting ready for an important audition by rehearsing an acting scene with Chandler. Joey's character is supposed to do something in the scene that he's not used to, but Chandler is. When they're practicing, Chandler has a chance to do it—and does, even though Joey tries to stop him. Chandler claims he's just trying to help Joey get the part. Chandler mentions later that it's his reward after three years. What does Chandler do?
When Rachel gets the visit from her friends that makes her feel bad what ends up cheering her up?
Episode Four has a bunch of Rachel's old friends from Long Island coming into the coffee shop. One friend is pregnant, one is engaged, and one is a partner in her dad's law firm. Rachel has just received her first paycheck and is still smarting from how much gets taken out in taxes. Her old friends disapprove of her staying in the city permanently and wonder when she's coming home. Rachel gets a phone call that helps her feel better about her new independence. Who's it from?
What is the drink Phoebe is guzzling down at Monica's?
Phoebe has trouble sleeping because her grandmother makes it hard for her to sleep. Phoebe stays over at Monica's apartment. Monica and Phoebe are hanging out in the apartment when Rachel comes in. They all start to reveal unpleasant truths, which is interrupted by the arrival of a pizza. It's the wrong pizza—they get the pizza that's supposed to go to George Stephanopoulos. The girls then spy on George. Monica eats a bunch of cookie dough, and Phoebe guzzles down a tropical drink they've made. What's the drink?
In episode five with the laundry what gives Rachel confidence again?
There's laundry in episode five, and Rachel learns how to do hers herself. Ross helps her because he wants to spend time with her; he tells her the laundry in his building is rat-infested to disguise the fact that he just wants to see her. Laundry is unexpectedly dramatic—Rachel feels empowered by doing it, only to have her confidence shattered when her whites have turned pink because of a misplaced red sock. What brings her confidence back?
Who broke up with Janice for Chandler?
Chandler and Phoebe realize that they both need to break up with the people they're seeing, so they make plans to do it together that night. For Phoebe, it goes well—she and her ex, Tony, end on good terms, with a hug. For Chandler, however, it's much more difficult. His girlfriend, Janice has had a "supremely awful" day, so he gets more and more anxious about breaking up with her. He's so hesitant that he doesn't manage to do it. Who does it for him?
In the musical "Freud!", what actor is Joey doubling for?
In "The One With the Butt," Joey appears as the lead in a terrible musical called "Freud!" An agent sees him in the musical, however, and Joey lands a small role in a feature film as a butt double. He's excited because he's acting as the butt of a famous actor he idolizes. On set, however, the director doesn't appreciate Joey's acting, telling him he's clenching in his big scene when he shouldn't be. What famous actor is Joey doubling for?
What does Chandler challenge Monica not to put down with a glass on the table?
In this episode, Monica tries to relax and find a way to be zany and unpredictable. Her friends give her some examples of less responsible acts that she is okay with, but Chandler breaks her with a description of a cold drink left on a wooden table on a hot day. He describes the moisture beading up on the outside of the glass, dripping down, and it drives her crazy. What is Chandler challenging her to not put down with the glass?
What did Chandler refuse at first, then later says it would be "perfection" during the blackout?
There's a blackout in New York City, and the friends wait it out in different places. Chandler is trapped in an ATM vestibule with a famous model (Jill Goodacre, who plays herself in this episode), which he's excited about. She lends him her phone and offers him something else that he refuses at first. A voice-over of Chandler's thoughts tells us that he hates himself for refusing, and for the way he later accepts, saying the thing would be "perfection" rather some smoother way of putting it. What's the thing?
What does Joey tell everyone in order to give Ross some time with Rachel alone?
The rest of the friends are in the apartment during the blackout, swapping stories by candlelight. Ross manages to find a few minutes alone with Rachel, with Joey's help. Joey thinks Ross has waited too long to say anything to Rachel and believes that Ross is firmly in the "friend zone." Ross decides to tell Rachel how he feels about her. Joey tries to make sure Ross has enough time to speak. What does Joey tell the others to keep them from going onto the balcony?
At Nana's burial Ross falls into a grave, what happens as a result?
Ross and Monica's grandmother is gravely ill, so they go to the hospital to be at her side. Nana passes, then recovers, then passes again—an odd episode, but still funny. Family members are a little confused about what's happening; Ross and Monica's parents aren't very helpful and answer vaguely ("she may have...we're looking into it.") Finally, Nana does really pass away, and the friends all go to the funeral. During the burial, Ross falls into an empty grave. What happens to him as a result?
What feature did Phoebe think made Chandler appear to be gay?
In the course of meeting a bunch of Ross and Monica's relatives at the funeral, one of them suggests a date for Chandler. It turns out that the person who Sylvia thinks would be perfect for Chandler is male. Chandler is stunned and wonders why anyone would think he was gay; one after another, his friends reveal that they had all thought he was gay, too. He apparently has a "quality." What feature did Phoebe think made Chandler appear to be gay?
Why did dinner burn on thanksgiving?
Episode nine is set around Thanksgiving weekend. With Ross and Monica's family away, their friends all have different problematic situations going on with their families: Joey's family thinks he has a disease because of an ad he was in, Phoebe's grandmother celebrates in December, Chandler just hates the traditional food, and Rachel misses her flight to Vail. This makes Thanksgiving stressful for them. None of them originally intend to, but they all end up at Monica's apartment for Thanksgiving dinner. Why does dinner burn?
What is Chandler's traditional festive accompaniment for his sandwich and soup on Thanksgiving?
Though it's originally planned to be just her and Ross, Monica prepares favorite foods for all her friends for the meal they plan to share. In addition to turkey, there are three kinds of potatoes: lumpy mashed potatoes for her and Ross, mashed potatoes with peas and onions for Phoebe, and Joey's tater tots. Chandler plans to boycott but ends up sharing his meal with his friends when theirs burns. There are grilled cheese sandwiches, tomato soup, and something else to go with that—what is it?
Where does David's research grant send him?
In "The One With the Monkey," everyone agrees not to bring dates to the New Year's Eve party. However, Ross turns out to be the only one to stick to the deal—he doesn't bring a date, but a monkey named Marcel. Phoebe brings a scientist (David) whom she starts dating after she meets him in an incident in Central Park. David wins a grant to go do research far away and must choose between his career and Phoebe. Where would the grant send him?
Who does Chandler kiss on New Years?
Chandler agrees to go dateless at first. As the big night approaches, he has second thoughts about breaking up with Janice and asks her to be his date for New Year's. Before midnight, however, she annoys him so much during the party that he breaks up with her again. By the time midnight arrives, no one has anyone left to kiss, and Chandler complains about it so much that one of his friends kisses him just to shut him up. Who is it?
How did Ross end up kissing Chandler's mom?
Chandler's mom is romance novelist Nora Bing, and when she makes an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, he can't bring himself to watch. He finds out she's planning to visit him, though, and he meets her at a Mexican restaurant with his friends. Rachel and just-returned Paolo get to the restaurant late, which upsets Ross. Ross gets out of control and ends up kissing Chandler's mom, which makes Joey tell him he's "breaking the code." What has Ross done that led to this?
What does Monica make for the man hit by an ambulance while he's in the hospital?
Phoebe gets Monica to whistle at a cute guy on the street, and when he turns to look, an ambulance hits him, and he goes into a coma. Phoebe and Monica compete over who can take better care of him in the hospital. They spend all their time at his side and imagine what an awesome guy he might be. When he wakes up, though, he's not as grateful as they hoped. What does Monica knit for this guy while he's in the hospital?
Why did Rachel break up with Paolo?
Monica makes a dozen lasagnas in the twelfth episode, and she can't give them to the intended recipient because they aren't vegetarian. She sends one to Ross' pregnant ex-wife Carol. She also gives one to Paolo, after Rachel breaks up with him and throws all his clothes off the balcony. Rachel and Paolo were going to go to the Poconos together, but Paolo does something first that makes Rachel furious enough to dump him on the spot. What was it?
Where are Ross and Rachel when she accidentally slips the baby's gender?
Ross does not want to know the gender of Carol's baby before the baby's birth, but Carol and Susan already know. Carol tells Monica, and Monica tells Rachel and Chandler and Joey, so that eventually everyone except Ross knows. Rachel doesn't mean to tell him, but it slips out when he's comforting her and trying to tell her that not all men are like Paolo. She blurts that she hopes his baby doesn't grow up to be a terrible man. Where do they have this conversation?
Who is Joey's dad meeting up with to have been in Joey's shower?
Episode 13 starts with Chandler accidentally seeing Rachel sans her top after a shower. The friends then insist that the way to make it right is for Rachel to see Chandler's private parts—he refuses. Several people try to even the score, but they all catch the wrong person—Rachel sees Joey by mistake instead of Chandler, Joey while looking for Rachel sees Monica, and Monica sees Joey's dad while looking for Joey. Who is Joey's dad meeting up with?
What job does Roger have?
Phoebe is dating a new guy, Roger. Roger meets the friends, and though he is never asked to display any insight about her friends, he correctly guesses painful details about their personal lives and reveals them to everyone. He finds them all entertainingly quirky. They find him to be manipulative and very unpleasant and tell Phoebe how much they hate him. She sees their point and eventually agrees with them, and then dumps him. What does Roger do for a living?
What has Janice had made as a Valentine's token?
The friends try to have a good Valentine's Day. Joey is excited about his date with a beautiful woman, but she wants it to be a double date. Joey talks Chandler into going as the second man on the date. It turns out that the friend Joey's date brings along is none other than Chandler's ex, Janice. Janice and Chandler end up sleeping together, and then Chandler breaks up with Janice yet again. What has Janice had made as a Valentine's token?
Who does Ross end up kissing at his double date with Carol and Susan?
Ross finally goes on a date, too, also with a beautiful woman that he's excited to see. When they get to their Japanese restaurant, however, they discover that Ross' ex-wife Carol is also at the same restaurant, with her partner Susan. They're all seated at the same table. Ross awkwardly introduces his date to his ex-wife and forgets at first to mention to his date that Carol is pregnant with his child. Who does Ross end up kissing at this dinner?
What is Chandlers job?
Chandler is offered a promotion at his job, and because he's horrified that he's defined by this job that he believes he hates, he quits rather than accepting his new position. He then takes an aptitude test to see what other career he should pursue, only to discover that his last job really was a good fit for him. His former boss offers him more money, and he wishes he didn't worry about the Weekly Estimated Net Usage System, but he does. What he lacks is a dream. What is Chandler's field?
When Monica finds out there is a chef opening she makes a dinner for the owner of the restaurant, Phoebe is there for support but who else is there?
Phoebe mentions an opening for a chef, and Monica thinks she has a shot at the job. Monica invites the owner of the restaurant who might hire her to dinner at her apartment, and Phoebe offers to be there, too, to offer support about how amazing Monica's cooking is. Monica prepares an amazing meal, and when the restaurant owner Steve arrives, she's ready to wow him. He's really stoned, though, so he's mainly interested in eating junk food rather than the gourmet feast Monica made to impress him. Who else is there helping?
Who changed Chandlers T.V. into Spanish mode?
The friends get into an intense conversation about whether Chandler should go out with a woman he has to fire at work. He ends up going out with her. While the friends are talking, someone grabs the remote for the television and somehow gets the television stuck in Spanish mode. No one can figure out how to make Spanish mode go away and get the settings back to normal. Who was the one to engage Spanish mode by accident?
Who is the other friend who was at dinner with Joey and met Ursula?
Two of the friends go out to dinner and meet Phoebe's twin sister Ursula. Joey thinks Ursula is attractive, so he goes after her; he doesn't think it's particularly weird and doesn't think about how this might affect Phoebe. Her friends try to comfort Phoebe by musing that Ursula and Joey might not go to bed together. Phoebe is, however, hurt, especially when Ursula turns up half-clothed in Joey's apartment. Who is the other friend who was at dinner with Joey and met Ursula?
What real-life heartthrob played one of the doctors when Rachel hurt her ankle?
Rachel sprains her ankle and she and Monica go to the hospital to get the ankle treated. While they're there, Rachel convinces Monica to swap names so that Rachel can use Monica's health insurance. The two meet a couple of very attractive doctors and end up going out with them both on a double date. The date is a disaster, with the two friends arguing about the health insurance switch and both saying things they later regret. What real-life heartthrob played one of the doctors?
What did Marcel swallow that needed to be extracted?
Ross worries about the kind of father he will be after Carol gives birth. He talks about his fears with his own father, who reassures him by talking about when Ross was a baby. Later, Ross' monkey Marcel must go to the hospital because he's swallowed something. When the little monkey comes to after the problem items' removal, the monkey grabs Ross' hand. Ross realizes he'll be an okay father. What did Marcel swallow that needed to be extracted?
Who's aunt is the Professional poker player?
The episode "The One with All the Poker" introduces us to a relative of one of the friends who is a professional poker player. The guys teach their gal friends how to play poker. After the ladies’ demand that the guys shouldn't shut them out, all the friends play together, and the guys beat the gals. Someone's aunt helps the girls improve their poker skills a tiny bit when they turn to her for help. Whose aunt is it?
What's the job Rachel interviewed for but didn't get?
Rachel finally gets tired of working at the coffee shop. She starts applying for other jobs she might like better and lands an interview at Saks. She doesn't get the job, and it upsets her so much that she takes it out on Ross during a poker game. She gets a little too mean in the game, going over the betting limit and singing at Ross that he'll lose and that his fly is down. Rachel eventually wins with a full house. What's the job she interviewed for but didn't get?
Who does Officer Luisa from animal control hate?
When Rachel looks after Ross' monkey Marcel for the day, the monkey escapes. This is a disaster, and all the friends help in the search. Phoebe and Monica look in the basement, and they find Marcel there. An animal control officer shows up at the same time and fires a tranquilizer dart, which hits Phoebe instead of the monkey. This officer knows and hates one of the friends from back in their high school years. Who does the officer hate?
Who is the man that returned and confesses his love for Rachel?
Rachel finds out that her best friend Mindy is marrying someone that Rachel used to be involved with. The intended groom is a character that had been seen on the show. News of the wedding makes Rachel question her decision to end things with this man. At the end of the episode, the man shows up and tells Rachel that he wants to call off the wedding and that he can't marry Mindy because he's still in love with Rachel. Who is this man?
Who was Rachel talking to when she said it was a good thing she left Barry?
Rachel tries to resolve her feelings about Barry. She goes to see him in his dentist office and ends up getting intimate with him there. The wedding to her best friend Mindy is still going ahead, though. Mindy tells Rachel that she suspects Barry is unfaithful; this makes Rachel confess. Mindy in turn confesses that Barry cheated with Mindy while he was engaged to Rachel. Rachel later tells a friend that she made the right decision to not marry Barry. Which friend was Rachel talking to?
What machine does Chandler jokingly suggest to Joey might be the one that picked up when trying to play it cool?
Chandler keeps calling a woman he likes, and she never calls him back. He worries that he's failing at playing it cool and coming off as needy instead. He's only been out with her once. She comes to meet him at the coffee shop and tells him that the reason she didn't call him was that she lost his correct phone number. Chandler's guy friends think this is an acceptable reason. What machine does Chandler jokingly suggest to Joey might be the one that picked up?
What had the thief of Monica's credit card that allowed her to track the thief down?
Monica's credit card is stolen. Monica tracks the thief down, but instead of calling the police immediately, she starts hanging out with the thief. The thief keeps doing much more interesting things with Monica's money that Monica would, and Monica starts to feel like the thief is living Monica's life better than Monica herself is. Finally, when the thief is arrested, Monica tells the thief that she's the real Monica. What does the thief do that lets Monica find her?
Which zoo is it that accepts Ross' pet Marcel?
Marcel the monkey reaches maturity. Ross figures this out because the monkey starts humping everything and everyone. He knows he needs to send the monkey to a more appropriate place than an apartment in New York City, but has trouble finding a zoo anywhere that will take Marcel. Ross begins looking into more unscrupulous possibilities. Finally, a zoo accepts Marcel. Ross puts Marcel on a plane and says a sad farewell to his little friend. Which zoo is it that accepts Ross' pet?
Of the four actors listed, who was the oldest of them when this episode was aired?
Monica is dating a new guy, who's younger than she is. She has lied to him about her age, saying that she's 22. He is reluctant to hook up with her, but they do eventually. Afterwards, she comes clean and discovers that the guy lied about his age, too—and that he's 17. She's horrified. The guy says he'd be okay with continuing to see her, but she thinks it'd be "icky." Of the four actors listed, who was the oldest of them when this episode was aired?
What is the correct pager number for Ross?
Ross watches Rachel sleeping at one point and overhears her talking in her sleep while having an erotic dream about him. He's overjoyed. He always has a beeper on him to alert him of when Carol goes into labor. He keeps getting wrong number pages for someone named Andre who seems to be a gigolo (and who gets a lot of calls!). The pager goes off just as Ross lands on Rachel by accident. What's the correct pager number for the pager that Ross (not Andre) has?
What age did Chandler say that if Monica was still single too they could have a baby?
Everyone goes to the hospital when Carol goes into labor. They aren't very helpful, though—Ross and Susan bicker so much that Carol throws them both out of the labor and delivery room. Monica wonders if she'll ever have a baby, and Chandler tries to comfort her by offering to have a baby with her if they're both still single when they reach a age. Monica is insulted that Chandler assumes she'd still be single by that time. What age does Chandler suggest?
What happens to be the name of Carol and Susan's baby?
Phoebe lectures Susan and Ross after Carol throws them out. Somehow, all three of them end up in a janitor's closet, and they get locked in. Phoebe tells them that the baby is lucky to have so many parents arguing over who gets to take care of him. Phoebe is later wearing a janitor's uniform with a name on it, and Ross and Susan suggest that the baby (a boy) should be named this name in honor of what happened on the baby's birthday. What's the name?
What study did Joey participate in for money?
In the season finale, Joey is dating a woman and postponing being intimate with her. She is his date to a barbecue that the gang is having in honor of Rachel's birthday. She becomes so enamored with Joey because of his gentlemanly conduct in and out of the bedroom that she sends him loads and loads of fruit baskets, which fill his apartment. Joey is participating in a study for money. The study prevents him from engaging in his usual amorous behavior. What kind of study is it?
Where is Ross headed on Rachel's birthday cookout day?
Ross can't be at Rachel's birthday barbecue because he must travel to a dig, and so he drops off his gift for Rachel before he leaves for the airport. The gift turns out to be a very expensive pin that Ross knew Rachel liked. Rachel is floored. While trying to make the gift sound like less of a big deal, Chandler spills the beans about Ross being in love with Rachel. What is Ross' destination when he's at the airport?
What does Heckles dress Marcel in to hide him?
The gang has an oddball neighbor in their building, Mr. Heckles, who appears in a couple of episodes this season. He claims to have cats that are disturbed by the friends' noise in one episode; they point out that he has no cats. He also finds Ross' monkey when it escapes. He tries to keep the monkey, and so he disguises it while it is in his apartment. Heckles dresses the monkey up in a costume. What's the outfit on poor Marcel?