Hanging Out with Friends 01.31.08: Farewell Marcel
Posted by Jerome Cusson on 01.31.2008
In honor of Super Bowl week, we take a look at the highest-rated episode of all-time and keep our regularly scheduled recap as well
In honor of the Super Bowl and my general wanting to get all things Marcel related out of the way, I’m giving you two recaps for the price of one. Enjoy.
Jennifer Aniston-Rachel Green
Lisa Kudrow-Phoebe Buffay
Matt LeBlanc-Joey Tribbiani
Matthew Perry-Chandler Bing
David Schwimmer-Ross Geller
Courteney Cox-Monica Gellar
Claudia Shear-Fake Monica
Karla Tamburrelli-The Teacher
Harry Shearer-Mr. Baldharar
Philip Rayburn Smith-Actor
Writers-Adam Chase & Ira Ungerleider
Director-Gail Mancuso
Original Airdate: April 27, 1995
Ah, this episode. One last chance to see Marcel as a regular cast member before saying farewell. It is also a chance to see what kind of a bond can be created between a person committing identity theft and the person being robbed. [sarcasm]All in all, this is a heart-warming episode. [more sarcasm].
Before the credits begin Monica and her mother are having lunch, and despite her efforts to pay for the meal, Monica’s credit card is denied. Well, that isn’t good.
When we come back, Monica is looking at the mysterious charges on her credit card with the rest of the gang. They even bought a “Wondermop.” Well, that was Ms. Gellar. Elsewhere, Marcel is humping a lamp amongst other things. See, it’s time for Marcel to become a man and his humping everything means he won’t be staying with Ross much longer.
Monica continues staring at her credit card bill and figures that this person is living a better life then she is. There’s only way to change that. Monica calls one of the schools that this fake Monica is taking classes at. She wants to find out who this person is and who’s been stealing her life. One of the classes happens to be a tap dance class. While Monica was born with two left feet and Phoebe is all over the place, Rachel is quite a natural at this. Something tells me Jennifer Aniston has some experience with this type of dancing; just a hunch. Monica has to find a dancing partner since Phoebe and Rachel partnered up instead. It’s then that a pear-shaped, blonde-haired woman runs in late for class. She informs Monica that her name is Monica. We have our culprit. The real Monica tries to fake her out by using a different name.
Joey and Chandler are discussing a potential new name for Mr. Tribbiani. His last name is apparently too ethnic and needs to be changed. Chandler joking says Stalin and Joey showcases that high I.Q. of his by actually accepting the name and decides to change it to that. Chandler does not give him a brief Russian history lesson, and hijinks are sure to ensue. Ross joins the other guys at Central Perk after a trip the veterinarian. Marcel’s humping is not a phase, but he’s reaching sexual maturity. Ross is going to have to give his little monkey up.
After a commercial, the guys are doing “See no evil, Hear no evil, Speak no evil.” Ross then begins working on getting his pet into a zoo. It turns out to be much like picking a college for them. The girls, on the other hand, took the fake Monica out to lunch instead of making the right move and turning her into the police.
Monica and the fake Monica get thrown out of a hotel, and I really wish we could have seen that. At this point, Monica tells her new best friend the real story. The fake Monica was inspired by Dead Poet’s Society. Thanks for spoiling for ending guys.
Speaking of spoiled, Ross can’t get his monkey into any zoo, even the safety zoo. He does have a meeting with the manager of Ross believes is a zoo. I’m not sure what to call it, but Marcel would have to fight other animals. Michael Vick would probably know or own a place like this. The zookeeper is played by Harry Shearer, which is ironic considering the next episode with Marcel in it has another Simpsons actor as well. More on that later. Chandler and Joey burst in and tell Ross that the little monkey got into The San Diego Zoo, one of the most prestigious in the country.
Joey learns that the name “Joseph Stalin” isn’t such a great idea. Being a Russian dictator might to do that to a name.
After a drunken bender, Rachel convinces Monica that what she is doing is wrong. Drunk Monica is still pretty funny. The restaurant she works at calls her and informs her that the fake Monica has been arrested. Monica goes to visit her in jail and they have a discussion about life and living it to the fullest. As great as it was to see Monica acting like this, she really doesn’t learn a thing and goes back to the way she was. I know this is the way sitcoms tend to play out, but it’s still annoying.
Ross, Rachel, Phoebe, Chandler, and Joey say farewell to Marcel at the airport just before the flight to San Diego. I don’t know, knowing that the cast members hated the little bastard and were probably glad to see him go takes away from this moment a lot. At least this is the end…
The “How you Doin’ moment?”Funniest Lines/Moments:
Rachel: Marcel! Bad monkey!
Ross: What?
Rachel: Let's just say my Curious George doll is no longer curious.
The “Oh no!” moment (weakest moment of the episode): The fake Monica is quite annoying.
The 411: A mediocre episode with a couple of pretty unfunny storylines, but the actors redeeming the material yet again.
Jennifer Aniston-Rachel Green
Lisa Kudrow-Phoebe Buffay
Matt LeBlanc-Joey Tribbiani
Matthew Perry-Chandler Bing
David Schwimmer-Ross Geller
Courteney Cox-Monica Gellar
Brooke Shields-Erika Ford
Chris Isaak-Rob Donan
Dan Castellaneta-The Zoo Keeper
Fred Willard-Mr. Lipson
Roark Critchlow-Dr. Mike Horton of Days of Our Lives
Sean Masterson-"Monkeyshine" Guy
Tahj Mowry-Little Boy
Elliot Woods-Waiter
Lawrence A. Mandley-Security Guard
Karman Kruschke-Coma Woman
Written-Jeffrey Astrof & Mike Sikowitz
Director-Michael Lembeck
Original Airdate: January 28, 1996
There is a very coveted spot in television, the show that airs after the Super Bowl. It is where Family Guy and American Dad made their debuts. 3rd Rock from the Sun did a gimmick show guest-starring a bunch of supermodels. Other shows like The Simpsons, Survivor, Alias, and The X-Files have also held this most coveted of spots. This year, FOX will air an all-new episode of House following the Patriots/Giants match-up.
While the spot is coveted and provides your show some awesome exposure, the artistic results can leave much to be desired. Let me point you to exhibit A. This is the “The One with after the Super Bowl.” It’s the biggest audience Friends ever had and came five days before “The One with the Prom Video.” It’s also by far one of the worst episodes in the history of the show. There is really no continuity whatsoever from previous episodes except the fact Joey is a soap star on “Days of Our Lives.” I wanted to do this episode since it is Super Bowl week. The timing also worked out amazingly well since the episode I just recapped dealt with Ross giving Marcel away. Now we get one last look at Marcel before saying good night and good luck forever.
Before the credits, Ross mourns the loss of his monkey while watching a monkey in a beer commercial. If you think I’m actually going to provide as much plot detail, you’re crazy.
The first half hour showcases Ross searching for Marcel in Los Angeles while Joey has his very own stalker and Phoebe being asked to perform her brand of song for children. There are some very funny moments, particularly when Joey and Chandler are in their apartment waiting for Joey’s stalker. Anyone remember Blue Lagoon or Suddenly Susan? If you did, I’m sorry. And if I just reminded you of them, and it’ll give you nightmares, I’m even sorrier. Brooke Shields, who actually got the aforementioned “Susan” based off this performance, could be not be less funny. The writing and Matt LeBlanc are literally the only things that keep her from making a complete ass of herself. Speaking of asses, we’ll get to Chris Isaak’s work later, but first…
Ross is in the monkey house looking for Marcel when he runs into a zookeeper played by the usually funny Fred Willard. At least he can act.
Phoebe performs for the children, except her barnyard songs and material about parents leaving their kids are way more depressing then the children need. However, it’s not as depressing as Chris Isaak mumbling through his lines. The guy is just a complete embarrassment, and when I think of the ultimate example of stunt casting, Chris Isaak is it. That is for about ten minutes when Jean Claude Van Damme walks on-screen.
Joey and his stalker Erica actually begin dating, but this relationship is doomed to fail since she actually thinks Joey is Dr. Drake Remoray instead of a real person. Meanwhile, Ross is depressed until a janitor walks up to him and tells him to meet him in another part of the zoo. The janitor is played by one Dan Castalnetta, the voice of Homer Simpson on The Simpsons. To picture this odd, bald little man doing the voice of one of the most iconic characters on television is pretty bizarre. This scene is not only bizarre, but not funny. Not funny at all. The one thing we do learn is that Marcel is not dead but participating in the entertainment field. Yes, he was the monkey in the beer commercial seen at the beginning of the show.
To end this first half Erica and Joey officially break up. Phoebe is fired as the library’s singer but still gets to tell the truth to the kids in Central Perk, and we see Marcel on the shoot of his latest movie, Outbreak 2. Great, a sequel to a movie that sucked anyway. At least that never happens in real life…
The gang is on the set of the film as the second half begins. Monica and Rachel notice Jean Claude Van Damme and have a mini-competition to try and date him. Ross gets to spend some quality time with Marcel as Chandler discovers one of his former female classmates who is a make-up person. It happens to be Julia Roberts, who is like clear water in a river of pollution. Roberts actually seems somewhat enthusiastic and delivers a very solid comedic performance. I’m not her biggest fan, but I enjoyed her. And Matthew Perry reaped some of the benefits as they dated briefly after the filming of this episode.
As for Jean Claude Van Damme, let’s just say he won’t ever be competing for an Oscar anytime soon. He either cannot speak or the cue cards he’s reading off of did not work. This episode showcases why he’s relegated to doing movies with Dennis Rodman. Let’s move away quickly from this little scene and talk about the best scene on the show, which features Julia Roberts and Chandler going on a date.
See, Chandler pulled up Roberts’ skirt in fourth grade during a play and this is her chance for revenge. She gets Chandler to put on a pair of women’s underwear and convinces him to go to the bathroom but Ross and Joey happen to be around. Joey is around because he’s dating the assistant director in an attempt to be casted and Ross is a fifth wheel. This is where the fun ensues as Chandler is only wearing women’s underwear and has to figure out how to get out of the restaurant. Without spoiling too much, let’s just say there will need to be a new door installed in the men’s restroom.
I should also point out there is a decently funny sequence involving Phoebe, Monica, and Rachel in the apartment. The problem is Rachel is dating Jean Claude Van Damme and Ross is apparently clueless or not caring. Continuity anyone? Monica begins dating Van Damme, except the twist is he thinks there’s going to be a threesome with him, Monica, and Drew Barrymore. After a battle of sweater against handbag marinara, this madness mercifully comes to an end. It is kinda funny, but the context is so awkward, I can’t really appreciate the comedic skills of all the actors.
Next week, IT’S MORPHIN TIME!!!
The “How you Doin’ moment?”Funniest Lines/Moments: Phoebe’s lyrics deserve to be highlighted at some point for their humor and absurdity.
Phoebe (singing): Sometimes men love women
Sometimes men love men,
And then there are bisexuals
Though some just say they're kidding themselves.
La lalala lalalalala la
La la lalala lala la la
The “Oh no!” moment (weakest moment of the episode): Jean Claude Van Damme, Chris Isaak, and Brooke Shield should be banned from ever acting on television.
The 411: As far as the first five seasons of the show go, this is the worst episode of all of them. There are a few highlights and the exposure probably led to “The One with the Prom Video” to be the second highest rated Friends episode of all time. This is also a farewell to Marcel, which I’m very thankful for. With some bad stunt casting and the bad acting accompanying, it just didn’t feel like a regular Friends episode, Better days would be ahead.
