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FRIENDS EPISODES FOR IRL MOMENTS


This coming Monday, NBC’s beloved sitcom Friends turns 20.

Of course, the media frequently uses Friends for fodder from rumors of a reunion (which creators David Crane and Marta Kauffman say will never happen) to stories of the Friends stars actually being friends and, not to mention, the show runs in syndication on several stations including TBS, Nick at Nite and TV Land. In the past month with all the hype leading up to the anniversary, Friends has garnered a lot of publicity: Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox and Lisa Kudrow acted out some Friends fan-fiction on Jimmy Kimmel Live, the pop-up Central Perk opened in New York City and Gawker released a “definitive” ranking of every Friends episodes (which doesn't exactly align with mine). BuzzFeed also ranked the iconic episodes.

Obviously, the brand is still very much in-tact even though Friends wrapped ten years ago.

In fact, because of the ingenious syndication deals the Friends stars struck up with the network, together they’ve made over $944 million since the show has ended. Let’s just write that out since it’s Funny Friday, and we’re allowed to have a little fun: $944,000,000.00. In case you were wondering, that’s INSANE… insanely awesome for them.

But in all seriousness, Friends’s reach is truly awesome.

Take for instance my personal anecdote: when I studied abroad in London in 2010, Friends was running in syndication across the pond right after Ricki Lake (America is very well represented on British TV). Better yet, they ran the London episodes while I was in London–not that I spent my semester in England watching reruns of an American television show of which I’ve seen and own copies of every single episode–but sometimes a life event happens, and there’s the perfect Friends episode to watch when you’ve completed the day (and it’s even greater when the network throws it on for you).

In that spirit, this Funny Friday, we’re featuring ten Friends episodes to that “told you life was gonna be this way.”

Mind you, Friends filmed 236 episodes; each episode had about three different plot lines, so to narrow the lot down to ten was a challenge. If you find an event missing from this list, please leave it for us in the comments!

10. Episode: The One with the Cop Life Event: Helping a Friend Move

Moving furniture is a pain. Moving anything in the city is a huge pain. But sometimes a friend has got to do what a friend has got to do and help a buddy move (so that one day said friend will return the favor). The day might get a little frustrating though, so what is a better way to end it than watching this hilarious Friends episode?

9. Episode: The One with the Cheap Wedding Dress Life Event: Wedding Dress Shopping/ Bargain Shopping

Whether you’re at that time of your life when all your friends are getting married or you’ve just had to arm wrestle someone’s grandma for the last 42″ LED special at Costco, this episode probably speaks to you. Crazy brides and chaotic bargain shoppers are terrifying; this episode is perfect to help you de-stress.

8. Episode: The One Where They All Turn 30 Life Event: Birthdays–Especially 30th Birthdays

Birthdays are so bittersweet. Sometimes you miscalculate your age (and find out you do have a middle name but don’t know what it is), treat yourself to a new present to make up for the fact your aging, go out and celebrate a little too hard with your coworkers, cry over getting older, cry over your friends getting older or do the math and figure out where you need to be in life… or get a scooter. The best way to relax after a day like that is to throw on this episode… it’s like you all share a birthday. Amazing.

7. The One With the Blackout Life Event: The Power Goes Out

Few things are more terrifying in today’s society than losing power. So when the lights do come back on and you can stomach making a power outage a laughing matter, start up this episode.

6. The One Where No One’s Ready Life Event: Waiting Around for EVERYONE to get Ready

You make plans. Everyone agrees. You verify plans. Everyone confirms. You’re ready for the plans. Everyone else makes you wait… forever. We’ve all been there. Rather than riding up your friends rears (thereby making them move slower), pop on this episode and relax for a bit… hopefully they will be ready by the end of the episode.

5. The One in Vegas Life Event: VEGAS

Say it with me, “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.” Since you can’t talk about your trip, re-watch this episode and just talk about it instead.

4. The One with Monica’s Thunder Life Event: Engagement/ STOLEN THUNDER

Getting your thunder stolen is the absolute WORST! But rather than be angsty towards your friends, you might as well calm down by watching Monica lose her cool.

3. The One with the Lesbian Wedding, The One With Ross’s Wedding, The One in Vegas (again), The One With Monica and Chandler’s Wedding, The One With Phoebe’s Wedding

Life Event: Weddings (Whether You’re a Guest or in the Wedding)

Want to know what weddings are? They’re stressful, chaotic messes that look really good in photos. Something always happens (the groom goes missing or says the wrong name, Nevada grants a marriage license to a completely inebriated couple, the weather doesn’t work out or the maid of honor has to get a Greek Orthodox priest to fill in as the minister), but in the end the party (“if you call my wedding a party again, you might not get invited”) is always worth it. Party a little too hard at the reception, and the day after might not be too action-filled, so you might as well throw on these episodes.

2. Episode: The Last One Life Event: Moving On

Whether you’re graduating college, switching jobs or moving to France to work for Louis Vuitton, throwing this on right before you say good-bye to your friends helps ease the pain. WARNING: This will activate your tear-ducts, AND it is dangerous to watch alone… You might get off the plane, extra phalange or not.

1. Episode: The One Where Underdog Gets Away, The One With the Football, The One With Chandler in A Box, The One With All the Thanksgivings, The One Where Ross Got High, The One Where Chandler Doesn’t Like Dogs, The One With the Rumor, The One with Rachel’s Other Sister, The One With the Late Thanksgiving Life Event: EVERY THANKSGIVING

Watch a parade, throw a pig skin, invite Brad Pitt over… Friends’s Thanksgivings are exactly like mine. But really, every season the Thanksgiving episode is the best. And take it from a seasoned vet, watching all nine episodes (way to be too cool for Thanksgiving, season two) during your Thanksgiving holiday break is the PERFECT way to celebrate the holiday.

While we might never get a real Friends reunion, we still have ten seasons of Friends that will always be there for us, so at least there’s that.

Cover Photo Source: Neftali / Shutterstock.com

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