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6 Friends episodes to binge watch this weekend

By Brad McDonald

BURBANK, CA - SEPTEMBER 12: (EXCLUSIVE, NO U.S. TABLOID SALES) Lisa Kudrow, who plays the ditzy Phoebe Buffay on the hit NBC series "Friends" performs during one of the series' last shows on the Warner Bros lot Sept. 12, 2003 in Burbank, CA. "Friends," which is in its ninth and final season, debuted in 1994, has won 44 Emmys, and is one of the biggest successes in television history. (Photo by David Hume Kennerly/Getty Images) This image is not included in any subscription deal. Use of this image will incur a charge.
BURBANK, CA - SEPTEMBER 12: (EXCLUSIVE, NO U.S. TABLOID SALES) Lisa Kudrow, who plays the ditzy Phoebe Buffay on the hit NBC series "Friends" performs during one of the series' last shows on the Warner Bros lot Sept. 12, 2003 in Burbank, CA. "Friends," which is in its ninth and final season, debuted in 1994, has won 44 Emmys, and is one of the biggest successes in television history. (Photo by David Hume Kennerly/Getty Images) This image is not included in any subscription deal. Use of this image will incur a charge. /
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It’s almost the weekend! Time to binge-watch an old favorite because, let’s be honest, it’s been way too long since you have crushed some Friends!

There was no science nor analysis involved in narrowing down this most prestigious of lists. Like all the great winners (think Shakespeare in Love beating Saving Private Ryan to the Best Picture Oscar) this list was collated by gut instinct. Not bribes. Never bribes. Not for Friends.

I will admit, there is a definite lean towards the earlier Friends seasons. I found that as a trend, the moment Chandler and Monica moved in, we saw a crack in the comedic chemistry of the group. Chiefly, we lost the two buds comedy of Chandler and Joey – one of TV’s great couples. Without further ado and in no particular order, these are six episode to watch this weekend…

1 The One Where No One’s Ready

"In the words of A.A. Milne, get out of my chair. Dillhole.- Chandler Bing"

Such a wonderful ‘bottle episode’ where everything takes place in Monica and Rachel’s apartment. Joey and Chandler fight over a chair that ends in Joey wearing all of Chandler’s clothes at once, Phoebe gets ‘the hummus’ that ruins her dress, Monica leaves a disastrous voice message on her ex’s machine and Rachel stereotypically taking forever to get ready. All the while Ross is trying so hard to get everyone ready for his big night. Until Ross cracks and the only way to fix it is to drink a glass of fat. All’s well that ends well though, they make it with time to spare and Rachel heads to Ross’ awards night going ‘commando’. Friends’ classic.

Friends
Photo: NBC/Friends /

2  The One With The Embryo’s

"He’s a transponster! – Rachel Green"

An episode of Friends that gave us so many hilarious revelations. While the crux of this one is placed firmly on Phoebe’s shoulders who is about the be inseminated with her brother’s babies, the rest of the friends are in the throws of a bet with huge stakes. Determined to prove who know’s who best, Chandler and Joey face off against Monica and Rachel. Here we find out Monica’s nickname was Big Fat Goalie, Joey’s imaginary friend was a Space Cowboy and Chandler is terrified of the Lord of the Dance. While the boy’s win on a technicality and win Monica and Rachel’s apartment, the real winner is Phoebe who becomes pregnant. Her body was always faster than western medicine.

3 The One Where Everybody Finds Out

"Hello, Mr. Bicep. – Phoebe Buffay"

You can’t look away. It’s a train wreck, but one we know is coming and we want to happen (I’m of course of talking about a train play set that can’t harm anyone). Monica and Chandler’s charade is all but up as Phoebe and Rachel conspire with the ever-suffering Joey, who’s known the secret too long and can now go back to just knowing his secrets. Like his bedtime penguin pal, Huggsy.  What ensues is fantastic charade play, where Chandler and Phoebe attempt to out sexy one another. Oh – I forgot to mention Ross scores his ideal apartment by bonding with recurring anomaly Fat Naked Guy. How? By getting naked. Right before he sees Chandler and his sister canoodling.

Next: 13 Teen shows best and worst high school to college transitions

Friends Reunion
Friends – NBC /

4 The One With The Cop

"Pivot! – Ross Gellar"

Pivot. That’s all you need to picture that iconic scene that has become a part of the social vernacular. Watching Ross, Rachel and Chandler (Monica wasn’t available – had to settle for Chandler) try to get a huge couch up a narrow set of stairs never ceases to be hilarious. Meanwhile, Joey has had a dream that he and Monica are together. Rather than freak out too hard, Chandler and Monica convince him to get make friends with women first before sleeping with them. Which of course leads him to a threesome. And last but not least, Phoebe gets a little bossy when she finds a police badge and starts to enforce her own laws. While she does get caught, she also gets lucky when the detective that owns the badge is struck smitten with our flaky heroine.

5 The One Where Ross Got High

"I like it. Custard good. Jam good. Meat gooood. – Joey Tribbiani"

Another fantastically written bottle episode, this one centered around Thanksgiving. Joey and Ross are trying so frantically to get out of Thanksgiving dinner quickly and go to Joey’s roommate’s party with dancers and drinking. Monica and Chandler are working to get Monica’s parents to like Chandler after it’s revealed Ross blamed Chandler for smoking weed years beforehand. Phoebe is harboring a lust for Monica’s Dad after she had a saucy dream about him. And Rachel is making a dessert – which ends up being half trifle and half shepherd’s pie. It all culminates in a fantastic revelatory argument between the Gellar siblings as the parents realize how much Chandler has to put up with.

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6 The One With The Prom Video

"Shut up. The camera adds ten pounds. – Monica Gellar"

This was a tight one for early episodes dedicated to Ross and Rachel’s romance. This has to take the cake though. In the subplot, Joey buys Chandler a garish gold bracelet that Chandler hates. Chandler pisses off Joey by making fun of it behind his back, Chandler loses the bracelet, buys a replacement, finds the original and Joey and Chandler become bracelet buddies. But this episode is definitely dedicated to the prom video Monica unearths that reveals the extent Ross went to in his college days to make sure Rachel didn’t go to prom alone. Even though his plans fell through. After seeing this we’re led to the true start of their relationship with one of the more passionate kisses you’re likely to see.

Let me know if you feel like I missed out on any classics that deserve a listing in the top 6!

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