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

Analytical Episode Guide:

Season 4, Part 4

Season 4, Episode 19

The One with the Haste

 

Plot Summary-Monica and Rachel demand their apartment back from the guys; Ross wants Emily to stay and ends up proposing

Funniest Line-“So get a job here! I'm always hearing about foreigners moving in andstealing American jobs. That could be you!”….Ross

Nitpickof the episode-I always liked how this time Phoebe is involved with the game and Ross is nowhere to be seen. In many ways this episode is like a “what if the one with the Embryo’s had featured Phoebe rather than Ross as the neutralparty".  Rachel’s hatred of the guys place is ironic since she will live there later in the series.

Standout Character-Rachel, when Ross makes his annoucement you can see what she is feeling right on her face

SyndicationEdit-The game is longer

Final Thoughts-Can a bland episode be fantastic? I guess so because that’s what we get here.  It just ends the arc about the apartment switch and sets up the remainder of the season with Ross engaged to Emily. However the scenes involving the apartment stuff is really funny. The best of all of course at the end. That moment when Chandler and Joey enter their apartment, fully restored, is just great. Then the payoff at the end with Rachel and Monica thanking them is equally hilarious. Just a fantastic series of events, followed by that heartbreaking scene where Rachel finds out Ross isengaged to Emily.

Grade=B+mostly just for the last five minutes (the gag with the Santa pants is lame)

Analytical Episode Guide-Friends (Season 4, Part 3)

Analytical Episode Guide

Season 4, Part 3

Season 4, Episode 13

The One with Rachel’s Crush

 

Plot Summary-Chandler isn’t happy with Kathy’s new role, Rachel has an attractivenew customer, Monica fights to once again be the hostess of the group.

Funniest Line-“It's like someone literallywrote down my worst nightmare…and then charged me $32 to see it! – Chandler  (one of my favorite Chandler lines which is cut in the syndicated episode)

Nitpick of the episode-Why???? Why go through all of that drama introducing us to Kathy, having Chandler fall for her, getting them together----just to have the relationship end just a few episodes later! I mean, really? I could forgive them ending the relationship but did it have to be so fast and for such a dumb reason??

Standout Character-Chandler, poor guy will he ever get a break?

Syndication Edit-Monica explaining why she made a big deal about the guys hosting now only to change her mind

Final Thoughts-I decided not to make it my funniest line but there is no way I couldf orget to mention that Joey’s classic “How you doin?” is introduced here. As for the episode, as infuriating as the breakup is I have to say it is handled well. You gotta feel bad for Chandler, and thankfully this would be the last woman to break his heart. I could complain how superficial Rachel is here but since this would come up again I guess it fits her character. I will have harsher words for her later, but in this episode she is ok. And as for Monica….sigh! Another boring story for her but believe it or not, and it gets worst a few episodes later! The best part of the episode is the end when the “we were on a break” thing is resurrected in one of the best closing scenes of any episode.

Grade=B-

Five Overrated Academy Award Nominees and/or Winners IMO

This Sunday is the Academy Awards once again, where Hollywood honors itself and the amazing films which came out in the last year. The Oscar's are always the subject of heated discussion. Sometimes people talk about the host, sometimes they talk abouit the fashion,and others discuss the nominees and in many cases Why? Where certain perople nominated when they clear don't deserve it? sometimes you have to wonder what the academy is thinking with the nominations. Sometimes a personwill get nominated, or even worst win, and it just leaves people scratching their heads. So here are five nominees who were overrated in my opinion, and in some cases they even won!

I decided not to make this a “top” 5 because this is highly subjective. I am sure people will disagree with me and think some belong on here more than others. As always, this is just my opinion. So here are five Academy Award nominees and/or winners I just don't get!

#5 Working Girl (Best Picture)

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

Analytical Episode Guide

Season 4, Part 2

Season 4, Episode 7

The One Where Chandler Crosses the Line

 

Plot Summary-Kathy and Chandler reveal their feelings; Ross’s keyboard playing is kind of odd

Funniest Line-“Over the line? You are so far past the line you can't even see the line! The line is a dot to you.”….Joey

Nitpick of the episode-Ross is moving more into dufus mode, he really can’t tell that what he is playing is not music?

Standout Character-Chandler, it’s really his episode

Syndication Edit-An entire subplot with Rachel enjoying spending time by herself

Final Thoughts-Amazing how an episode can be powerful and empty at the same time.Aside from the Joey and Chandler stuff, nothing really happens here. Ross’s keyboard story is funny at first but gets old. The final scene between Chandler and Joey is very well done, and makes up for a lackluster episode. There was a Rachel story which can only be seen on the DVD, and it deserves to be cut the story is really boring. For some reason this show always had trouble with two parters,they just never know how to give the other characters something to do thatisn’t just filling the time. It’s Chandler’s show and to be honest, he has much better chemistry with Kathy than Joey does.

Grade=C+

Look at Sitcom Cliches-Top 5 Most Annoying Cliches

I have talked a lot about story cliché’s, those stories which pop up in every sitcom. For instance how every show has to do at least one bowling episode like it’s some kind of rule or how every sitcom has one annoying neighbor who drops in without invite.

But what about those little clichés which are not plot related, but seem to appear again and again in sitcoms? Here are the five most annoying to me. 


#5. To Be Continued

I always loved the Seinfeld bit about how annoying it iswhen you can sense the To Be Continued coming. We all know that feeling, that there is no way that the story can be wrapped up in the time allowed.  In my day, being as old as I am, very often we didn’t see that coming and it was annoying. In fact in another article I willtalk about a “To Be Continued” which was nearly traumatic! But that is another article…………

Analytical Episode Guide-Friends (Season 4, Part 1)

Analytical Episode Guide:

Season 4, Part 1

So as I noted Season 3 did not end on a high note for me. So there was some concern that maybe the show was fading. So what did Season 4 bring? Let's check it out!

Season 4, Episode 1
The One with the Jellyfish
 
Plot Summary-Monica gets stung by a jellyfish and Chandler has to help in an odd way, Phoebe confronts her birth mother, and Rachel expects Ross to take full responsibility for their breakup

Funniest Line-“That's right, I stepped up! She's my friend and she needed help. If I had to, I'd pee on anyone of you.”….Joey

Nitpick of the episode-Full responsibility?? Are you crazy Rachel? I love her but she is way out of line with that demand. Of course Rachel played a part in their breakup! I mean really, she doesn’t think she made any mistakes??

Standout Character-Ross, totally believable in his anger here

Syndication Edit-Joey recaps the previous season ender; Monica, Chandler, and Joeyuncomfortable

Final Thoughts-This is a great episode and strong way to start the season. It seems clear to me that the creators had a change of heart over the break. Thecliffhanger doesn’t  even really match as we see Ross walk in to find Bonniewith Rachel. Good to see Phoebe make peace with her mom, but why does she onlyappear one more time? As for the jellyfish story, yeah it’s gross but makes forbig laughs and, believe it or not, even a bit of character development. That final scene between Ross and Rachel is one of the strongest of the series,capped off by a fantastically delivered line by Chandler.

Grade=A

The Awful TV Version of Ferris Bueller

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off was one of my favorite 80’s movies.Starring Matthew Broderick it was fun romp and the only John Hughes productionI really loved. But that movie had a special something, it would be insane forsomeone to try to make a sitcom out of it….right?

Well someone did and in 1990 we had Ferris Bueller starring the annoying Charlie Schlatter. To say that this guy was no replacement for Matthew Broderick would be an understatement. The show barely lasted half aseason before it quietly disappeared. So what was the premise?