Hanging Out With Friends 07.10.08: The One With Two Parties
Posted by Jerome Cusson on 07.10.2008
It's like a Three's Company episode, except with dresses instead of tight shirts.
Jennifer Aniston-Rachel Green
Lisa Kudrow-Phoebe Buffay
Matt LeBlanc-Joey Tribbiani
Matthew Perry-Chandler Bing
David Schwimmer-Ross Geller
Courteney Cox-Monica Geller
Marlo Thomas...Sandra Green
Rob Leibman... Dr. Leonard Green
James Michael Tyler... Gunther
Nancy Rubin...Guest
Lewis Dix...Man
Written by Alexa Junge
Directed by Michael Lembeck
Original Airdate: May 2, 1996
You will not find “The One With the Party” on very many top ten lists, but I believe this to be one of the funniest shows in the run of the show. I know I’ve picked on Friends falling into the typical cliché sitcom format and to a certain extent this episode is all about the cliché. However, the performances of these six people really saves the show. The object is very simple for these six friends. Keep Mr. and Mrs. Green from seeing each other at Rachel’s surprise birthday party. Incredibly it actually works. The fact it does work shows that despite how stupid these people can be (and also immature) they legitimately care about each other and how they will do anything for their friends. Instead of going over the plot step-by-step, I want to talk about how each character fits into this episode.
Monica is the one you have to start with since she throws the what I will call the A-party. Her obsessive need to control everything is really showcased here. People don’t even want to stay at her party but want to go next door where all the fun is happening. Monica’s highlight is inadvertently starting the B-party when Dr. Gellar shows up.
Phoebe is her usual strange self. Her highlight is laughing at Rachel’s mom far too early and going into the bathroom with her. Phoebe also gets to make people happy by bringing them from Monica’s library party to Animal House.
Rachel has to listen to her parents the whole time bitch about each other. One of her birthday parties is actually a surprise, and the other one isn’t. Her highlight isn’t all that funny, but a real heartbreaker as she relates the story of her family on the 4th of July.
Joey gets a volleyball party started in Chandler’s room. He also gets to rip the party sign to move it to the “right” apartment. His other highlight is getting to kiss Mrs. Green just before this almost divorced couple is about to see each other.
Chandler gets to comfort Rachel as she tells the story. He also has his own parent’s divorce to reference too. Being referenced as Dennis and having a tongue stuck down his throat is actually his highlight, which is quite pathetic if you think about it. Also, Chandler runs around like a freaking moron at the beginning as well as getting in two great lines.
Ross gets the toughest job of them all. He at one point pours a drink for Dr. Green, wears his bifocals, and brings him a wettened cigarette. He also gets to take over for Chandler in the middle of a hug and is pretty much the person who’s going to have to be there for Rachel.
This episode is one of those that marks a transition for these guys. All six are becoming adults very slowly. Rachel in particular must deal with her parents divorcing. It is after this episode where Rachel will say “See Ya” to Barry and Mindy once and for all too in the finale of season two. More transition would come in season three
as Rachel quits her job to begin an actual career.
The “How you Doin’ moment?”Funniest Lines/Moments: Chandler: (in response to Monica grabbing her fake boob at the diner) It’s like porno for clowns.
It’s also awesome because Chandler gets to be self-referential since he asks what Jack and Chrissy would do (Think Three’s Company).
The “Oh no!” moment (weakest moment of the episode): There is no way these six people have that
many friends, especially when you consider how often they hang out with just each other. And how the hell did Gunther get invited?
FRIENDS TRIVIA REVEALED!: Rachel has two sisters.
The 411: Not a whole lot to say here as I consider this to be a special episode for everyone involved. This episode had absolutely no business being as good as it turned out. I can almost promise you this will be play a factor in my best episodes of the series whenever I get to the end. For now, I’ll just give this a ten and move onto to talking about the last two disappointing episodes.
