Hanging Out With Friends 05.08.08: The One With the Lesbian Wedding

Posted by Jerome Cusson on 05.08.2008

Please don't make any "Hot Lesbian Action" jokes. That's just not nice

Jennifer Aniston...Rachel Green
Courteney Cox...Monica Geller
Lisa Kudrow...Phoebe Buffay
Matt LeBlanc...Joey Tribbiani
Matthew Perry...Chandler Bing
Lauren Tom...Julie Marlo Thomas...Sandra Green
Jane Sibbett...Carol Willick
Jessica Hecht...Susan Bunch
Phil Leeds...Mr. Adleman
Candace Gingrich...Minister
Symba Smith...Chrissy
Lea Delaria...Woman

Written by Doty Abrams
Directed by Thomas Schlamme

Original Airdate: January 18, 1996

Five weeks. This episode lost out on an opportunity to become the first show with a gay wedding by five weeks. That award went to Roseanne. I guess it’s still pretty historic considering the person who performed the ceremony was the sister of the Newt Gingrich, Speaker of the House at that time. Two NBC affiliates at that time were so offended, they chose not show it. It effected ratings so much, it was only the second highest rated episode of the season. Damn that Super Bowl. So let’s talk about lesbians and why Chandler is a big doofus.

Susan and Carol announce to Ross they are finally getting married. To say that Ross is a little freaked out would be an understatement.

I did such a brilliant job describing the pre-credit sequence, we can get to the meat of the show. Everyone is watching Days of Our Lives since Joey is now on it. Monica is happy because the catering company who was supposed to do the wedding has an accident and now Monica gets the opportunity. Ross has made the decision not to go, which is understandable. Chandler makes a Mr. Rogers joke as Rachel arrives home just in time to see Joey on television. Joey talks about some fart acting and makes his debut on the show. I hate soap operas.

Joey performs some of his scenes for everyone as everyone else goes to work. Phoebe then walks in and announces one of her massage clients died on the table. Clearly being freaked out, Phoebe begins acting like this poor old woman.

At the coffee house, Monica is planning dinner as Rachel is nervous about her mother arriving. That Marlo Thomas is a trip. And the old lady voice Phoebe has is quite funny seeing it again. Rachel’s mom arrives to see where her daughter works and meets everyone. We get a fat joke about Monica and a refusal to shake Ross’ hand. Clearly mommy knows what the deal was then, which is interesting on a lot of levels. She also seems to be proud of her daughter for actually living on her own and being independent.

Back at the apartment, Rachel and her mom spend some bonding time together. Mommy apparently wants the same life for her daughter since she wants to leave Rachel’s father. Monica comes in at this very awkward moment and her brilliant idea for the wedding is chicken breasts. Rachel says she’s going to be sick, but I’m assuming it has to do more with the whole divorce thingy. Rachel’s mom gives her reasons for the divorce. She wants to hang out have fun, and wants a Chandler. If only he was there to hear that. Rachel’s mom can do all the things she wants to, except with money. Poor Rachel.

Back at the favorite hangout of these wacky friends, Rachel is still jarred about the whole divorce. Phoebe still has the old woman living inside her, and Chandler makes things worse (something he’s exceedingly good at) by saying it is actually kind of Rachel’s fault the divorce is happening. Mr. Adelman, the old woman’s husband, comes in and tells Phoebe she wanted to see everything… and sleep with him one last time. DIRTY OLD MAN. Good try though.

Rachel and mommy are looking over some old pictures, but then Monica requests the help of the ladies Greene. Phoebe took herself, and I guess the person inside of her, all around the city of New York. Rachel’s mom wants to smoke marijuana and wants to know what’s new in sex. Monica is blissfully ignoring all of this. Rachel wants to know why she would drop this bomb and then it becomes very clear that mommy married her Barry while Rachel was smart enough to get out of that situation.

Later that night, everyone except Ross is helping make the food for the wedding. That ends in short order as Carol walks in and announces the wedding is being cancelled because her parents won’t give her away at the wedding. Then Carol and Susan get into a big argument. Ross actually mans up at this point and decides to give his ex-wife away. At the wedding, it’s just a parade of lesbians. Chandler and Joey are having issues. Joey’s Superman jokes are quite funny. Then we get to watch the first ever wedding on Friends and it’s a little unorthodox to say the least. Hopefully Carol is smart enough to say the right name. The spirit inside Phoebe is now gone since she’s seen everything. I’d make jokes, but this is quite ballsy for a network show to do.

Rachel’s mom is having quite a bit of fun as Susan and Ross have one of the better moments they’ll ever have on this show. They even dance together, and Ross gets to lead. Swear to God, no jokes. Chandler gets his moment in the sun as he walks up to clearly a lesbian woman and says the following, “Look, penis, schmenis! Okay, we’re all people!”

The six friends are discussing which one of them will be the next to get married. While they’re not sure who will be the first, everyone points as Chandler to be the last. Boy, will the joke ever be on them.

A final note before we put this recap in the books: Next week is “The One With The Prom Video” and to celebrate I’ll be having some extended discussion beforehand about the history of “Will they or won’t theys?” Any comments about Ross and Rachel, what you think are the best and worst aspects of these types of storylines, or your favorite happy couple that can’t decide “Will they or won’t they?” please e-mail me or leave comments below.

The “How you Doin’ moment?”Funniest Lines/Moments: Chandler hitting on the lesbians at the wedding.

The “Oh no!” moment (weakest moment of the episode): Jack and Judy are awful, awful parents for turning one of their children’s rooms into a gym.

FRIENDS TRIVIA REVEALED: Nothing here.

The 411: This was another very solid and funny episode. A little bit of network television history, the sister of a prominent politician, a lot of laughter, a woman in another person’s body. This episode had it all.

Final Score:  8.5   [ Very Good ]