Hanging Out With Friends 04.24.08: The One With Phoebe's Dad
Posted by Jerome Cusson on 04.24.2008
Not the best episode of the season, but it's got a few redeeming qualities
Jennifer Aniston...Rachel Green
Courteney Cox...Monica Geller
Lisa Kudrow...Phoebe Buffay
Matt LeBlanc...Joey Tribbiani
Matthew Perry...Chandler Bing
Audra Lindley...Frances (Phoebe's Grandma)
Michael G. Hagerty...Mr. Treeger
James Michael Tyler...Gunther
Writer...Jeffrey Astrof & Mike Sikowitz
Director...Kevin S. Bright
Original Airdate: December 14, 1995
After the debacle that was last week, it’s Christmas time in Friends. Nothing like discussing Chrismas in April. At the apartment, everyone is decorating for the holidays. Ross is noticeably sitting away from Rachel. Joey and Chandler walk in wondering what the girls are giving to the Super for a Christmas bonus. As it turns out, they’re giving cookies instead of money. Monica and Rachel being broke clearly has something to do with it.
The cookies are clearly not working as the newspaper comes with cookies smashed in them. Something tells me the newspaper delivery man didn’t like the cookies. After the break, Joey talks about the fact that it’s already Christmas. Ross got Rachel a present, a slinky. This works about as well as one might expect. Hey, hey. Gunther gets to speak for the first time. It’s just a simple one word answer, but will he ever play an important role in the show come the third season.
Ross shows off the presents he purchased for Christmas, including some picture frames that Phoebe thinks is a picture of her real dad. It’s not. It’s the frame guy who comes with your flame. Phoebe goes off to talk to her grandmother as Joey awkwardly transitions into his own problems. At her grandmother’s, Phoebe sees the same guy and it becomes blatantly obvious that Phoebe being the most intelligent might not be so true.
Granny reveals that Phoebe’s mom did not want her daughter to know the truth about her father. There is also one and only one picture of the real father that was hidden in the back of one of the frames. So Phoebe decides to make the trek up somewhere to find him. She spends some time trying to find him with no luck. Granny tries to convince her not to find him. She does prove to be useful as we find out the father lives in Middletown. And Phoebe thinks Einstein is her grandfather. Oh boy.
Chandler talks about his own experience with his father and Christmas. Or maybe not. Chandler and Joey still have not gone Christmas shopping. Plus, the mailman obviously didn’t like Monica’s cookies either judging by the crushed ornaments. Ross is still trying to talk about Rachel. He even tells her to make a list. Whiny, compulsive, not able to seize the day, too much hair gel. It’s all of his greatest hits.
Chandler and Joey are stuck travelling in an ugly ass cab with Phoebe up to Middletown on Christmas Eve. At least Joey came prepared with a sandwich. These two guys really should have gone shopping. The stupid cab doesn’t even have seatbelts so Joey and Chandler are now in the back together. Ross, Rachel, and Monica are back the girls’ apartment trying to turn the heat down, but the knob comes off and Ross has broken the radiator. Rachel calls the Super, but he’s not having any of it since he apparently didn’t like the cookies either.
Phoebe, Chandler, and Joey mercifully arrive at Middletown, but she can’t go in. And this goes for a little while. The party, on the other hand, is a disaster as its way too hot. Ross’ insanity is shining through too. The super arrives and Ross tries to convince him to replace the radiator, but Mr. Tegger reveals he actually liked the cookies and the place really where they could get a replacement part isn’t open until Tuesday.
Phoebe still can’t bring herself to go the door and deal with the fact she does have a dad. She finally decides to make the long trip back to the city. Chandler and Joey improve the situation instead of being their usual selves. They arrive back at the apartment and it’s Christmas time. Joey turns the radiator off from underneath and we’re out.
During the end credits, the gang exchanges gifts. Joey and Chandler’s gifts are quite crappy since they didn’t get to go in the store. Phoebe isn’t mad because, well, they were in the car with her for a bajillion hours. Monica gets condoms and we’re really out.
The “How you Doin’ moment?”Funniest Lines/Moments: Thanks Chandler once again for bailing this segment out. Chandler: Ho-Ho-Ho-Ho-Holy crap, it’s hot in here!
The “Oh no!” moment (weakest moment of the episode): Ross is still a big twit.
FRIENDS TRIVIA REVEALED: Phoebe’s real father is alive and well in upstate New York.
UGLY NAKED GUY ALERT: His first appearance of this season shows him decorating for Christmas.
The 411: One of the more forgettable episodes of all time, although it really isn’t necessarily bad. The stuff with Phoebe’s family never seemed to work out all that well since it would be addressed once, maybe twice a seasom, and then it was never really paid. This really materialized itself in later seasons after Phoebe has the triplets for his brother, who we’re going to meet later. Next week later we get to talk about someone very special…
