Analytical Episode Guide-Friends (Season 2, Part 4)

Analytical Episode Guide:

Season 2, Part 4

Season 2, Episode 20
The One Where Old Yeller Dies
 

Plot Summary-Rachel discovers Ross has planned their future, Phoebe discovers her motherhid sad endings to movies from her, Monica worries that Richard is spending toomuch time with the guys.

Funniest Line-“Okay Ross, just so you know, calling it a poopie diaper doesn't make thisprocess any cuter.”…Rachel

Nitpickof the episode-Why did Monica “make” them watch Old Yeller?

Standout Character-Rachel, her anxiety in this one is totally believable

Syndication Edit-The tag, which had Phoebe watching a potentially scary moment with Ben. In this scene she does what her mother failed to do, watch the program with the kid and walk them through it to make sure they are not scared. It’s actually a very nice Phoebe scene and it’s a shame it’s lost to syndication.

Final Thoughts-Phoebe’s story is kind of dark in this one, but I guess that is appropriate. It is hard to believe she didn’t know the real endings to some of those movies. When I was married I was the opposite of Ross and Rachel here, she would be thinking about our future while I was just wondering what was going to happen next week. So I can relate and I understand why Rahcel would feel alittle smothered. This is the first time Ross and Rachel officially say thatthey love each other. The other story is really good as Chandler and Joey bond with Richard. I like how they keep it Monica’s story and not make it all about Richard which they could have easily done. The scene where Ben says his firstword is great.

Grade=B+

Sitcom Graveyard-The People Next Door

I have talked an awful lot about great sitcoms. Those showsthat are so loved that they become a part of our culture (ok some more than others). But what about the other side of the coin, those sitcoms which are sobad the idea they were even greenlit boggles the mind. Those are the sitcoms Iwant to take a minute to look at in this series. Today we have a special treatfrom 1989, The People Next Door. Now don't confuse this with the 1996 tele-filmor the film made in 1970. This was a sitcom which premiered on CBS. It lastedfive episodes.

Analytical Episode Guide-Friends (Season 2, Part 3)

Analytical Episode Guide:

Season 2, Part 3

Season 2, Episode 14

The One with the Prom Video

 

Plot Summary-Joey buys Chandler a tacky bracelet. Rachel tells Ross to accept that they will never be together, but a prom video found by Monica may change that.

Funniest Line-“Oh, I thought that's what they used to cover Connecticut when it rains.”….Chandler

Nitpickof the episode-I think Chandler should have been honest with Joey about the bracelet, and just said he appreciated the gesture but it wasn’t for him. I always wondered how the rest of the night went after Ross got dressed in the tux, his parents must have been apologizing all night!

Standout Character-Monica, this was a tough choice but I love her in the fat suit here because Courtney Cox doesn’t play it silly like she will later on.

Syndication Edit-The scene at the end of act 1 between Ross and Rachel was longer

Final Thoughts-This is not a perfect episode but it’s about as strong as you can get. I say that because everything leading up to the prom video is pretty standard.But when we get to the prom video, we get some very well done stuff. So much greatness is in those few minutes. We get funny lines, hilarious sight gags,character development, drama when we feel  for  the crushed Ross after Rachel unintentionally leaves him standing there, and of course the fantastic  conclusion when Rachel walks across the quiet floor and gives Ross a kiss without saying a word. Perfect! Go ahead; watch that without getting misty I dare you! Yeah Joey & Chandler’s story is filler but it’s really good stuff which doesn’t drag the episode down so I will let it go.

Grade=A+,it’s considered the best episode for a reason

Season 2, Episode 15

The One Where Ross and Rachel….You Know

 

Plot Summary-Joey buys a big screen TV, Monica gets a catering job with her parents friend Richard Burke, Ross and Rachel have their first official date.

Funnies tLine-” Who's Richard Burke? Doc, Doctor Burke? You have a date with Doctor Burke? Why, why, why should that bother me? I, I love that man. He's like a uh,brother to dad.”….Ross

Nitpickof the episode-It does come up once, but with all the time Joey and Chandler sit there and refuse to move don’t they have to go to the bathroom every so often?

Standout Character-Rachel, her laughing while she and Ross start kissing is very well done and makes perfect sense

Syndication Edit-Mostly scene extensions

Final Thoughts-It amazes me how different this part of the season is from the first.We have Ross and Rachel together, Monica in a happy relationship, and Joey successful. Of course all this would be undone eventually, but for now it’s fun to enjoy. I wish I could say Joey and Chandler’s story was hilarious in this one, but having them sitting there for the whole episode gets old. Sure some of the gags are funny but by the end it is just boring. Monica meets her new guy,who is a tad older. Tom Selleck did a great job in this role; I never doubted he loved her for a second and their chemistry was great. And I was glad to see Rachel feeling awkward since going from friends to lovers is not easy and thisepisode handles that weirdness very well. And that final scene in planetarium?Just gold.

Grade=B,Chandler and Joey waste our time as they waste they’re own

Season 2, Episode 16

The One Where Joey Moves Out

 

Plot Summary-After a fight with Chandler, Joey decides to move out. Rachel and Phoebe decide to get tattoos. At her father’s birthday Monica and Richard try to keep their relationship a secret from her parents.

Funniest Line-“Woah, woah, woah. I don't need a roommate either, okay? I can afford tolive here by myself. You know, I may have to bring in somebody once a week to lick the silverware.”…Chandler

Nitpickof the episode-Totally on Rachel’s side at the end when we find out what a wimp Phoebe is.  Especially the way she tries to rationalize her not getting the tattoo. I would have been harder on her, it was her idea!

Standout Character-Monica, it is nice to see her stand up for herself with her parents regarding her seeing Richard

Syndication Edit-Longer first scene and we see Ross, Monica, and Richard discuss not telling her parents as they arrive to the party, the tag where Monica’s father comes over

Final Thoughts-It’s story arc time! And what a decent one it is to. We really explore the characters of Chandler and Joey through these episodes. In fact this iswhere the whole “is Chandler gay” rumor started. Heaven forbid a guy has a male friend and not be sexually attracted to them at the same time! Anyway we get a strong episode here except the whole Phoebe/Rachel story is kind of weak. Lotsof laughs from Monica’s story though, and the reveal of her relationship with Richard is handled very nicely.

Grade=B+

Season 2, Episode 17

The One Where Eddie Moves In

 

Plot Summary-Phoebe is discovered by a record producer. Monica feels like a kid again with Ross around all the time. Chandler gets a new roommate.

Funniest Line-”I did. I thought it'd be great. I figured I'd have, like, time alone withmy thoughts, but, you know, it turns out I don't have as many thoughts as you'd think.”….Joey

Nitpickof the episode-Um, is Ross really over that much more than he used to be now that he’s dating Rachel? And if he is, why don’t they spend more time at Ross’sapartment since he lives alone? I think this story fails because we have seen how close Ross and Monica are now and that should cancel out childhood flashbacks(ok, the diaphragm joke is funny).

Standout Character-Chandler, see why below

Syndication Edit-a gag with a pie in a guy’s hood, check out the DVD; Joey bored in his newplace, the smelly cat video is longer as is the tag

Final Thoughts-This episode tries, but it seems like the characters had to change to make the stories work. What is Monica’s problem? Why is Phoebe such an idiot? Why did Joey change his mind about moving out so fast? The only character who feels normal is Chandler, though even then I could question why he asked Eddieto move in when he barely knew the guy. Yes the smelly cat video is cute but is Phoebe really as dumb as she comes off here? And as I already stated, is Ross really over more than he was before he started dating Rachel? The thing saving this one is the Chandler/Joey story which is very strong. The tag is great with Phoebe singing Smelly Cat with the whole group in the coffee house, and is longer on the DVD.

Grade=C+,raised it to a + because of the tag but the episode feels like the writer knew nothing about the characters

Season 2, Episode 18

The One Where Dr Ramoray Dies

 

Plot Summary-Joey gets into trouble on his show after a dumb comment. Chandler discovers Eddie is not quite right. Monica and Rachel argue over a condom.

Funniest Line-“Because sometimes, Phoebe, after you sleep with someone... you have to kill a fish.”…Chandler

Nitpickof the episode-Ok this one has bugged me for a long time. Follow me on this,this is how it happens. Monica, Richard, Ross, and Rachel leave the coffee house for the apartment. We then get Chandler arguing with Eddie, Joey coming into the coffee house with the Soap Opera Digest, a cut to a writer angry about Joey’s comments, and then another cut back to Joey’s apartment where he gets the new script. THEN WE SEE THE FOUR GET TO THE APARTMENT! Wow, it took a longtime for them to make that walk and we know that Central Perk is not far from their apartment at all. Then the next day, the episode of Days with Drake getting killed has already been shot and aired! Wow that was fast too! Good editing, what’s that?

Standout Character-Joey, you got to feel bad for the guy. He makes one boneheaded comment and then….. down an elevator shaft!

Syndication Edit-The opening with everyone watching Joey on TV was longer as was Joey getting the script

Final Thoughts-Well we all knew Joey’s luck was going to run out, and it sure does here. Eddie also starts to reveal his true colors, as he and Chandler have a fight over something which only happened in Eddie’s imagination. I am always amazed at how active Monca’s apartment was at this point in the series, and the scene where Monica and Rachel argue over the last condom is fantastic. Too bad the girls don’t believe in other birth control, or the guys in providing their own stuff. There is also discussion among the couples on past romances which is pretty good too.

Grade=B+, Phoebe gets the short straw this time and the pacing sucks

Season 2, Episode 19

The One Where Eddie Won’t Go

 

Plot Summary-Chandler tries to get rid of Eddie, Joey ends up in debt after losinghis job, and the girls read a new book about female empowerment

Funniest Line-“Actually it's the movie theater that has the time schedule. So you don't miss the beginning.”…Ross

Nitpickof the episode-Good thing Chandler didn’t sign Eddie to a lease.

Standout Character-Chandler, his attempts to get rid of Eddie are hilarious

Syndication Edit-Monica trying on Joey’s hat, Chandler sleeping on Monica’s couch

Final Thoughts-First of all, the story with the girls is so dumb. Where in the world did this come from? They have a fight for no reason which barely lasts through a scene change. The stuff with Eddie was hilarious, and I think one of the best moments of the series is when Chandler finally gets rid of him and we see Joey back where he belongs. It is so nice to have Joey and Chandler back, of course it would only be for another few years but who would have guessed that at the time? Eddie was just starting to get scary when he finally left, thankfully he never returned! Ross doesn’t really have anything to do in this one except comment on Joey’s situation,which kind of sucks.

Grade=B-, the girls have a dumb story and Ross has less, it’s the Joey and Chandler episode

I will be back later this week to finish season 2!

Top 5 Favorite TGWTG Videos

have done articles on Nostalgia Critic and AT4W, but today I wanted to talk about my favorite videos period. These are videos are good because the quality just shines through. Everything from the writing to the acting to the comedy and/or drama. I can watch them literally a million times. No I am not exlcluding NC or Linkara from this list. I am excluding the anniversary specials, those belong to a whole other category!





#5.The Review Must Go On


I am putting this high because it just came out this week, but oh my god is this an amazing video! Not just because it signals the return of the Nostalgia Critic either. This video is just fantastic, the mood, the music, it even has genuine laughs. The end was beautiful, even hating Demo Reel I still felt sad when the characters vanished. Doug Walker hit every note I think he had to hit. It's a shame Demo Reel did not work but I like what they did, connecting it to NC. It means that the Scooby review, TBF, and every episode of Demo Reel make up a major Nostalgia Critic story arc, and I love it! Cannot wait to see what two weeks brings.

Analytical Episode Guide-Friends (Season 2, Part 2)

Analytical Episode Guide

Season 2, Part 2

Season 2, Episode 7
The One Where Ross Finds Out


Plot Summary-A drunken Rachel lets slip her feelings for Ross, Monica becomes Chandler’s personal trainer while Phoebe can’t figure out why her boyfriend won’t sleep with her.

Funniest Line-“When were you under me?”….Ross

Nitpickof the episode-The whole Monica and Chandler story feels different knowing what will happen o these characters down the line.

Standout Character-Ross & Rachel, they are both perfect in this one

Syndication Edit-We actually see Ross and Julie at a pet store, but Ross is distracted by his conversation with Rachel. Rachel’s dinner with Michael is a bit longer.

FinalThoughts-Wow, talk about filler! Obviously this episode was all about theRoss/Rachel stuff because the other stories are so boring, especially the Monica/Chandler one. Yawn! Phoebe’s story may have worked, if we met this boyfriend even once! However this episode is also a classic and it’s all because of the Rachel and Ross scenes. From the drunken phone call to the big kiss at the end, every time they are on the screen it works. Although I do feelbad for Julie, I did like her; but it is nice to finally see Ross and Rachel together!
Grade=B-,all about Ross & Rachel

Did You Know?-Real Sitcom Houses

Did you know that many of the exterior shots used in sitcoms are real locations?

Very often these homes are on back lots, like the Golden Girls house which I did get to see years ago when I was at Disney (sadly, it no longer exists). This is something that's always fascinated me. There is just something about knowing these houses are real places which makes these silly sitcoms somehow seem a little more realistic. You would think I would have done a tourof these kinds of sitcoms homes but that is one thing I sadly have not done.Someday!


Today I present an overview of some of the more notable sitcom exteriors. Regrettably I did not take any of these pics; going on a TV tour is something I have been dying to do for years!



The Golden Girls


   
Actually, before the back lot house was built the Golden Girls house was a real house which is still standing. It is located in Brentwood,California located at 245 N Saltair Ave. It was used for the first season andthe replica used from then on.


Cheers
 
The Bull and Finch Pub is the one place I have seen, because I live near Boston. Sadly I have not been inside but have been told it isnothing like the bar on the show. If you want to see it the bar is right there next to The Public Gardens.