Friends S8-18 - a litany of death

I was afraid she would start going on about blood.

British/Anzac/Euro SPOILER SPACE for 818...

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818 "TOI Massapequa"

Jack & Judy Geller are celebrating their 35th wedding anniversary at their new home town of Massapequa, and very kindly they have invited Ross & Monica's friends to the party. On previous occasions, Ross has given such a moving toast that everyone cried - except for Monica, still wounded by not being the favoured one.

Ross sweetly lets Monica give the toast for a change, but instead of a heartfelt speech, she prepares 'Sobfest 2002', a tasteless litany of death in the family, from her dead dog to her dead grandmother.

Even as Monica begins, she's greeted by groans from the audience, then goes downhill from there, with a speech so awful that Chandler covers his ears, as she drags in weepy movies & sad news items, and ends by insulting her relatives in general and her parents in particular!

Although Judy is not upset, she asks Ross to say a few words - thus of course his sincerity brings the gathering to tears. Later, Monica informs Ross that he can give the next toast. Her brother is very supportive, declaring how much he enjoyed her speech, and wishing that their dead grandmother could hear it, so making Monica cry!

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Phoebe has been happily dating Parker for some while now, for he treats her like a queen - except at night when he treats her like a naughty girl! But what she most admires is that he has an incredible zest for life. However, when her five friends meet the guy, they soon find his zestfulness not only shallow, but very wearying.

When Phoebe catches her friends making fun of Parker behind his back, she's offended on his behalf, for she never made fun of their dates, such as Tag, Janice, and Mona. Yet once she's back with the zesty guy, Phoebe realises that her friends were right, and before long she can't stand his hollow enthusing.

Eventually, Phoebe takes him back to her place, hoping that there she can get him to shut up. Failing, she loses her temper, declaring that he's like Santa Claus. On Prozac. At Disneyland. Getting laid. And at last he departs, eventually.

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When Ross & Rachel arrive at the Geller celebration, they're surprised that relatives congratulate them on their recent wedding - since Judy has told lies to save face about her illegitimate granddaughter. Ross is appalled; but Rachel doesn't mind, and soon starts nodding along.

But when Ross's aunts & uncles start giving them money, greed takes over, and so before long Rachel once again shows her skill at greatly embellishing a lie. But while her imagined wedding becomes ever more fanciful, Rachel makes Ross relate how he proposed, and his tale is so romantic that she's touched.

Back home, Rachel tells Ross how much she appreciated his story, so he reveals it was how he'd intended to propose, six tears before when they were dating. As she looks thoughtful, Ross mentions that the fake wedding she'd lied about would have been too expensive - and after another pause for thought, they bid each other good night.

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After a whole episode building up to the arrival of Alec Baldwin as Parker, I must say that I was rather disappointed by the main event, even though he was better than Sean Penn a few months ago. Okay, so in a family TV show we will never see Parker treating Phoebe like a naughty girl in the bedroom, but why didn't we ever see him treating her like a queen? As it is, all we were given was his zestfulness, which left Lisa Kudrow with no reality to invest in her story.

Meanwhile, there was some nice continuity with Nana, Chi Chi, and the planetarium; but what little Chandler had to say included another gay joke against him : sigh. And from the way that Joey behaved, no-one would ever know that he was in love with Rachel - apart perhaps from one tiny clue, in that they are still not speaking to each other.

Although Rachel's fanciful lies were quite amusing, and she had some cute scenes with Ross, the only part of the episode that really worked was that Monica's speech was every bit as excruciating as it was meant to be. But at least she looked really hot, and Ross was allowed to be a nice guy once more. Sadly however, this episode falls below par.

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Isn't it most generous of Jack & Judy Geller to invite Ross & Monica's friends (apart from Rachel who's carrying their grandchild) to what is supposed to be a family affair?

Isn't Joey's inability to cry on cue a bit unfortunate, considering the lack of success of the "Friends" cast in that department?

How come Monica, who is usually quite bright, completely misses the point that people cried at Ross's toasts because they were moving, not because they harped on about death?

Is this anything to do with the way that Monica goes on about blood?

We first heard of Monica's dog Chi Chi in 103 "TOW the Thumb", when Dr.Geller finally realised that the animal was dead, and not chasing rabbits on a farm in Connecticut after all. Nana was their maternal grandmother Althea, who died twice in 108 "TOW Nana Dies Twice". It is their paternal grandmother who owns the lease for Monica's large apartment, which explains how she is able to afford it.

It was nice to see Joey putting some thought into his present-buying again (after his lassitude in S4 but success in S1) but doesn't naming a star & a book on Karma Sutra for the elderly show that he thinks of Jack & Judy as older versions of Ross & Monica?

Did you notice Monica said "I've got the car keys", and not "Got the car keys"? And if she was driving everyone apart from Ross & Rachel, doesn't that mean there were five adults squeezed into a Porsche?

Hasn't Monica learned a thing from her dreadful speech to the kitchen staff in 409 "TOW They're Going to Party!" or her drunken speech to her parents in 714 "TOW They All Turn Thirty"?

Or was she better than the three best man speeches given by Chandler and also Joey in 424 "TOW Ross's Wedding (part 2)", then Ross in the extended version of 723 "TOW Monica and Chandler's Wedding (part 1)"

Did you notice one of Monica's relatives was named Aunt Lisa? So can we expect to meet an Aunt Jennifer or an Uncle Matt one day?

And why do we keep meeting new members of the Geller family, when there are already several that we've heard about, but never seen?

Isn't great to see that even though Monica's parents don't love her (or at least don't show it) how her big brother is always there for her, loving & supportive, and not basking in the Princely glow?

Did Parker seem at all zesty to you in 817 "TOW the Tea Leaves", when he first met Phoebe at Bleecker Street Dry Cleaners?

Wasn't Parker just a retread of Tim in 805 "TOW Rachel's Date", of whom Phoebe at first thought was good, but then became too good?

After Phoebe catches Ross making fun of Parker, then Ross apologises, take a look at the guy in the blue shirt standing right behind them, in the centre of the screen. He can't be Eddie Cahill, can he? Okay, so he wasn't playing Tag, but could it be that he was sneaking in a guest appearance as one of the Gellers?

Is it true that Phoebe has never made fun of Tag, Janice, and Mona?

Are those three the worst people that anyone in the gang has dated?

And isn't it interesting that Ross instantly defends Mona?

What was the game Parker wanted to play, instead of staying quiet?

A test of imagination - who could be more positive than Santa Claus on Prozac at Disneyland getting laid?

As Parker leaves, take a look at Phoebe's door - it's #16, just like in 712 "TOW They're Up All Night", and unlike in 715 "TOW Joey's New Brain" where she said it was #14.

So, Parker turned out to be just another poor date, albeit one not as creepy as Jim Nelson. But how come there was nothing from Phoebe about the universe intending them to be together?

What did Ross say was in the shape of a teepee?

Wasn't it a pity that poor Monica didn't hear her mother insulting the favoured son (and the mother of her grandchild) with her catty remark that she thinks it's absolutely marvellous that they're having the baby out of wedlock? Judy should be giving Chandler lessons in sarcasm.

Wasn't it clever of Rachel to tell such outlandish lies? Of course, none of Ross's relatives believed them for a second - but in the face of such tall tales, the core lie became unthinkingly accepted.

Wasn't it foolish of Rachel to shut up Aunt Lisa so that she could hear the rest of the Planetarium Lilies story?

How come Rachel says that (unlike Ross) her imaginary wedding might be the only one she has? Did she temporarily forget that one of his three weddings was actually to her? Or the one that she ran out on?

This time I haven't seen any of the promos for the episode. What were they like? Did they distort the Ross & Rachel storyline at all?

And whatever they showed, did they succeed in boosting the ratings?

Ross said that he made an easy 400 bucks, so would that be half of his and Rachel's loot? Was it worth it to tell a pack of lies to embezzle $800 from those kind people? Or are their consciences clear because they have in fact been married already?

Ross was being careful when he described the planetarium as being the site of his 'first date' with Rachel. As the title 215 "TOW Ross and Rachel... You Know" suggests, it was where they first had sex, though not before a little premature ejaculation scare...

When Rachel admitted the proposal would've been very hard to say no to, was she talking about 1996 or 2002? When Ross agreed the wedding would've been very expensive, was he talking about 1996 or 2002?

Is Rachel enjoying the story of Ross's fake proposal a good sign for the future? Or was the whole story no more than the way in 601 "TOA Vegas" that she hesitated about ending her marriage to Ross to think about keeping the presents, and then hoped that she could still have an annulment shower?

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I was going to ask if Massapequa was a town on Long Island, until I looked up Alec Baldwin in the IMDb - and saw he was born there. His father Alexander was not only a social studies teacher in Massapequa, but also the football coach, who coined the nickname Matzoh-Pizza. In fact, twenty other actors & actresses come from Massapequa, including Steve Guttenberg, Helen Slater, and Jerry Seinfeld.

If John C. Moskoff (who played Uncle Dan) seems familiar, he was the father of Paul Pfeiffer in "The Wonder Years". There is a widespread urban myth that this boy grew up to be the musician Marilyn Manson, but it is totally untrue. Manson's real name is Brian Warner, while Pfeiffer was played by Josh Saviano, who is seven years younger. One possible cause of such rumours is that Saviano gave up show business after the TV series ended, and he is now a lawyer in New York.

No spoilers PLEASE from anyone who has already seen episode 819.

Tennant Stuart

"Tennant Stuart" wrote in message news:[email]...

Grin. Your even handed description here is noted and appreciated. I figured I owed it to you to say that

A source of considerable controversy and disappointment on ATF, I assure you.

Unfortunately, I didn't find it particularly funny. I don't really like it when they do this to Monica, any more than Ross. I just don't like this kind of scene. It's unflattering AND unrealistic.

Yes. I think they may not be as bad people as they are presented as being.

Well, some of them can get it right....

Well, you know, it's like clowns in a Volkswagon...

I think Jack loves her. He's the one who gave her the Porsche, remember. He may not be sure how to show it, but Jack has had several scenes in which he shows concern for his Little Harmonica. Judy? No. She mothers a girl the same way Nana did, which is with hypercritical jabs.

Aaaaah.... whattya think?

Only if you don't count Barry, Paolo, Bonnie, Aurora, the guy who was too close to his sister, shall I continue...

That was nice. She deserved that.

Doctor?

Mary Lou Retton at a motivational session for Up With People on the Fourth of July.

So maybe Judy is just a catty person, inclined to dish out to both kids when disappointed?

Judy should be giving Chandler lessons in sarcasm.

I suspect the fact that Judy told them that lie made the lie unthinkingly accepted. I think the size of the lies Rachel took was far more likely to expose them.

Let's just say my opinion of Rachel is well documented and it is best I don't get started. This was very much in character, almost BECAUSE of the oddity you just noticed. She ain't no prize.

The ratings were down for this one. It came on the heels of several reruns during the week of Passover and Easter.

Call it a baby shower gift. The baby is real and they WILL need that money for it. And, oh yeah, they have been married... kinda ... a little... not really...

Ain't this the $69 question?

Muffle murmur mimbel gumf.

"abrahammy" wrote in message news:...

Jenga! I remember it now. We had bought it for my cousin's kids. You have to make a tower with blocks of wood stacked one on top of each and you have to pull out block by block with tumbling the tower down.

Priya

In article , "abrahammy" wrote:

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Thanks Claire, your kind words mean much to me.

Eep, there are hundreds of posts I've not read yet...

Oh, I didn't find it funny at all while watching the episode itself, but I must admit that while talking about the scene it does seem amusing in a way. I guess that's because I'm not confronted by the full horror, and possibly even thinking of the scene in the way that the writers intended.

But as the speech was presented, it was truly ghastly, and unflattering as you say. This is what I meant by it working - the speech was supposed to be bad, and it certainly was. As for being unrealistic, I partially concur, as a matter of degree. She has not been good at public speaking in the past, for she loses her confidence in front of strangers - but I can't see why an intelligent woman would make such a poor choice of her material - it would have been more realistic if she'd been dull. Maybe her competitiveness let her down, she should have enlisted Ross's help.

I have a theory that we're shown secondary characters as one of the six primaries see them - Judy via Monica, Ursula via Phoebe, and so on.

Can they? If you're referring to 316 "TOT Morning After", then is it not claimed that Ross & Rachel were not written as crying, but their actors became caught up in the emotion of the scene?

If so, then in my book that's good acting, but not crying on cue.

ROTFL! Take off their hats!! Oh no, that's popes...

Okay. But he wasn't there for her when Harmonica was down on her luck, and instead she was rescued with a dinosaur cheque.

Yeah.

Grin. I have a little list in mind, but I really like to see what you guys can come up with, especially all the stuff I'll have missed.

Ooh, I hated Paolo with a vengeance, Barry was a jerk, and Danny was weird anyway - but what was wrong with Bonnie & Aurora? Have I been blinded to their faults by their looks & eagerness to disrobe? :)

Yeah. Just for once no hideous fault suddenly appeared.

Lol, does that mean the same in Texas as it does in England?

Ooh, you'll have to explain MLR and UWP to me, please.

Yeah, in a way, but Judy was pushed a long way in her belief system before she dished it out to Ross, while Monica cops it for anything.

You don't think that people will assume she had a humble wedding?

Exactly. Doesn't it annoy you to see so many RnR fans duking it out with so many JnR fans over which guy wins Rachel's hand?

Oh, it was like Thanksgiving, when every show that evening went down?

This is true. It's still not honest though, is it?

Grin, kinda a little not really is just about right. :)

Yep. This is like Monica's "got the keys" or Rachel saying "ex(ac)cept that" or were they on a break. I don't mean the situations, which are entirely different, but the writers writing both ways at once.

Lol, thanks! :)

Tennant

"Tennant Stuart" wrote in message news:[email]...

Oh, wait till you get to catch up. It's quite a circus. Actually, I'm wondering if at least one thread title didn't give stuff away.

Well, Little Harmonica did not actually TELL Daddy what her real financial situation was. Jack expressed confidence that she'd remembered to save money, and Monica did not 'fess up. Jack probably would have come through if he'd been told the truth. He really does not strike me as being a deliberately unkind person at all, though his wife is a witch. >

Oh, Tennant, I just don't have time. Yes, she did.

too

Well, Bonnie was very promiscuous and even more gullible, with eccentric fashion taste. Aurora was MARRIED.

Oh, yeah.

Mary Lou Retton was a gold-medal winning gymnast who was impossibly perky all the time. Up with People is a teenage performance group which sings frentically upbeat, happy songs at football halftimes and such.

Extravagent, yes. Blind nuns, no.

It's funny. My real reason for choosing my preference is that the writers never let the Mona's hang around. And I do think a baby should be raised by both parents if possible.

No, ER was still up. Dr. Greene is dying.

Well, if they do get married, they can't tell anybody now, except their four friends!

In article , "abrahammy" wrote:

British/Anzac/Euro SPOILER SPACE for 818...

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All thread titles are automatically assessed for possible spoilers, and may be encrypted so that I can't read them. For example, since April 9th you & Paul Walker have had quite a debate going in ")�&&�{uk{�FF����������Cd��@", which is marked so highly that I shan't read it until after the S8 finale.

That's a good point, but that still means he's insensitive. Monica did tell him that she'd been fired. Judy was more concerned for her than Jack was.

So Marita has been telling me. :)

Ah yes, but I'm afraid I did not make myself clear. I meant worst as in annoying for us. For example, Tag was an okay guy, but we disliked him.

Ooh! :)

Oh my god, I think that so far you're the winner! :)

Hehe. As long as they accept there was a wedding, that's all Judy needs.

Oh, I liked Mona too (except for anticipating a hitherto unsuspected character defect to show up, which in the end didn't happen).

Well, those six friends are so tight that would always happen.

Oh. Sorry Claire, but I don't get this. The ratings for "Friends" were down because it was Easter Thursday, and the ratings for "ER" were up because it had a catchy storyline?

Ooh, thanks Claire, that is an *excellent* point! :)

Tennant

On Tue, 16 Apr 2002, Tennant Stuart stated this considered view. Waking from my doze, I hastily scrawled -

D'oh - I just found this thread - must have ignored it originally, since I hadn't seen the episode concerned at the time.

That bothered me at the time, too.

No-one except Chandler seemed to have a problem with that, though.

Damn, I must have missed that fight by now! :)

Mind you, Emily looked great too until Ross's unfortunate Freudian slip!

Just how I feel!

If R&R were to get married again, they could tell Ross's family they'd got divorced again first! :)

They'd know it was their 2nd wedding, even if the family thought it was their 3rd!

In article , Paul Hyett wrote:

British/Anzac/Euro SPOILER SPACE for 818...

Awww, and I've only just found your reply. Sorry about that.

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Claire had a good point, but it still means Jack Geller is insensitive.

Monica did actually tell her father that she'd been FIRED.

And even *Judy* was more concerned for Monica than Jack was.

WAS

That's what happens with relationships outside the Six.

Good.

Isn't that got divorced again second? ;)

That's right, but then when they get divorced again, the family will think it was their third divorce, instead of only their second.

Tennant

On Tue, 4 Jun 2002, an infinite number of monkeys, masquerading as Tennant Stuart typed this -

Was when?

So far?

Or annulled?

Now I'm confused! :)

In article , Paul Hyett wrote:

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Wait And See.

Followed by leaving. Joey ain't leaving.

No, they didn't get annulled, since Doctor Professor Geller acted like a dumbass, and made a complete bollocks of lying about it to Rachel.

Not to be outdone, Rachel then behaved ten times more badly by lying with extreme prejudice to the judge about the grounds for annulment.

Some ideal married couple they make.

Just think of it as yet another pack of lies, Paul, except on this occasion they swindled hundreds of dollars out of his relatives.

Tennant

On Sat, 8 Jun 2002, an infinite number of monkeys, masquerading as Tennant Stuart typed this -

Ah - best not to use acronyms that can be confusing though!

But they *aren't* married.

BTW, How long do you think Rachel will stay at Ross's apartment now the baby is born?

In article , Paul Hyett wrote:

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BEG

Eek! no spoilers, please Paul!

Tennant

On Sat, 8 Jun 2002, an infinite number of monkeys, masquerading as Tennant Stuart typed this -

That is rather silly - it's not a spoiler that the baby will be *born*. Besides, the S8 finale has been shown now!

In article , Paul Hyett wrote:

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No it isn't. For all an innocent fan knows, something might happen.

That's irrelevant, we're under S8-18 spoiler space here.

Please show the same regard for Europeans & Australians, as well as viewers without digital TV, that we ask the Americans to show for us.

Tennant

Tennant Stuart wrote in message news:...

Any luck yet? If you haven't found it yet, you'll just have to accept that MP is special and that he does contribute to the script however rare that may be. :)

Priya

In article , p r i y a wrote:

Nope.

I'll think we'll just have to wait until it turns up. :)

Tennant

On Tue, 25 Jun 2002 02:40:34 BST, Tennant Stuart wrote:

Keep looking or tell me what you want to know from that and I'll get the extract for you.

Hmmm...

Priya

In article , p r i y a wrote:

It was a description of how the writers supposedly asked MP to help with writing Chandler's best man speech in 424 "TOW Ross's Wedding (part 2)".

Tennant

Tennant Stuart wrote in message news:...

I was afraid she wouldn't stop so I followed Chandler's lead. :)

"And yet you wonder why Ross is their favorite?"

The toast wasn't moving but I'm wondering why the writers thought it would be funny??

I think her parents pretty much ignored it.

Only thing I like about this awful filler was Monica's dress.

This was supposed to be a story for Phoebe but she had very little to do here. She (LK) even looked bored by it. Another boyfriend with a flaw. What else is new? This story reminded me of the psychiatrist she dated in Season 1 where he kept annoying everyone by analysing them too much and she couldn't see it till the end. It was like 805 too, where you know she's going to dump him and its going to be at the very end.

I gotta agree with Ross. What was wrong with Mona? I thought I would find something about that line in your review. Something like, "Could it be that Phoebe didn't like Mona because of her underlying feelings for Ross?" lol.

Had a few laughs here. She only seemed to be getting in to the story at this point, the very end. I hope she gets better stuff to do next season. Why are we being made to watch such predictable, done to death plots?

Why didn't we get to the Geller's reaction when they first heard the news? That would have been really funny.

Did you notice the close up of her reaction to Ross's proposal? Could it be foreshadowing of some kind?

six tears before? Ah, the rare typo! :)

Their story was the only entertaining one in this episode. It was funny and cute. "It has to be realistic".

Oh yes, definitely better than Sean Penn.

It seemed more of Alec Baldwin story with Lisa playing a support character. Until the last scene, she hardly had anything to do. <sigh>

Yeah, we have to cling to that hope. Why didn't we see Joey's reaction when Ross talks about his new bride, Rachel? All they had to do was show Joey looking somewhat perplexed.

It was meant to be excruciating for those at the party but it wasn't meant to be funny for us but it wasn't. Instead it was doubly excruciating to watch.

Ross was really good in this episode. Yeah, the R&R story was it's only saving grace but that wasn't not enough.

Well, some of them can cry on cue quite convincingly while some others leave much to be desired. However, Joey's inability to cry and his smell-the-fart act during Monica's speech was really cute.

Well, she couldn't tell time till she was 14. Maybe she will learn how to make a good toast on 50th wedding anniversary.

Ummm..I don't get this bit. The only reference to blood that I remember Monica making is when she said that she will be related by blood to Rachel's baby.

<checks> Okay, that remark at her cousin's wedding. Good thing she didn't say that here. That would have made it worse. We might have had blood coming out of our ears. :)

Yes, nice continuity indeed. Ross didn't find out about the dog dying till 103 but Monica seems to have known since high school.

It's not Karma Sutra, it's Kama Sutra which means Sexual Tantrics. Kama is Hindu God for sex. :) So, it actually means His guidance to sex.

I was thinking that too. Maybe was sitting on Santa's lap.

There's a thought. She should have made her speech after getting wasted. I didn't think the 409 speech was so bad. She had a tough crowd.

Monica's speech in this episode, hands down, the worst speech in the show.

Yeah, Ross was a terrific big brother here. Like Claire says, Jack does love his daughter but is clumsy in expressing it. Judy obviously learnt nothing from their talk in 108.

No, he didn't seem very zesty. If he was, we would have known what we know after seeing about 5 minutes of 818 without seeing it at all. But I didn't like him in 817 either. He was supposed to be this hot guy that the universe....

Yes, definitely. It's sad that they write her the same old stories.

What??? <checks> No, I don't think so. I don't think he was so tall and his hair was so poofy...

Well, did she? She called Mona a kiss ass. She must have made fun of Janice.

Oh, there have been worse. How quickly Phoebe forgets that her last date was a total disaster.

hehe.

Jenga! I think that's what he said. I don't know what it is, though.

My little boy in a toy shop!! :D. Actually, at this moment, I'd have to say ME!! I was typing this reply and I got a call from a woman who has found my file which I lost a few months ago. I was so ecstatic. I ran off to collect it and I was so happy on the way, I tipped the cabbie and smiled at everybody. I'm having the best day. YAY for me. :)

Oh, okay.

Monica scared away the universe with her speech.

Arby's - a fast food joint. Near my house, ther's an Arby's shaped like a tent, which is pretty close to a teepee. :)

Yeah, that would have made Monica feel a little better. Chandler's line about flash not going off wasn't bad but you see smell the gay joke coming the minute he starts rattling off about the ribbons. Not funny at all.

She was the highlight of the episode. Some would say that she looked like a floating angel. lol.

Well, if it wasn't that. I'm sure that they would have known she was exaggerating when she talked about the fist sized engagement ring. They would have wondered why the couple weren't wearing their wedding rings especially when Rachel went on about a duck placing the ring on her finger!!

That's only a drunken vegas wedding. Not exactly a picture perfect wedding - she can't go around bragging about that.

She can't brag about this one either. So, I think it was okay for her to say that.

I didn't see the promo either. I'm staying away from promos. Apparently, they are giving away a huge spoiler in the promos from a May sweeps episode. According to discussion here, the promo talked about Alec Baldwin's enthusiastic character, Monica's speech and the R&R chemistry.

It didn't do too well in the ratings. It was a holiday week.

Well, they did complain that they didn't get any gifts in 703.

Okay, so where was their first date?

1996. Ross can't pull off that scenario when he doesn't work at the museum anymore.

Any year. If he has to marry Rachel, he better hope that their parents sell their beach house to help pay for it.

You can never say.

Oh, that's some interesting trivia. Thanks.

So many people have been rumoured to be Marilyn Manson...

Priya

Tennant Stuart wrote in message news:...

Noticing a trend in this episode, Monica's "forced crying" storyline was a waste of time.

Take out "Monica's "forced crying" storyline" from the above review, and replace it with "the Alec Baldwin part".

I suppose you meant 6 years before they started dating, not 6 "tears". Anyway, other than the ridiculously rapid attempt to create R&R tension that was likely borne out of uncertainity of a 9th season happening, the storyline was the best of the episode, which still isn't saying much.

Movie actors just can't go back into television roles seamlessly. Even Bruce Willis wasn't as effective once he became John McClane.

Well, it was kind of hard to look at Joey in this episode, since he had about 4 lines the entire time...

An episode that doesn't prominently use Chandler and Joey, probably the show's two greatest comedic assets, is going to severely lack in the laughs department.

Since it's Masters Sunday...it was a 3-putt triple bogey.

I'm still trying to understand, like Ross was, what exactly was *wrong* with Mona.

Jenga.

Now you're scaring me with this attention to detail...

Maybe it would have been kind of redundant since she just said that line in the last episode.

An Arby's. The fact that you even ask that obviously shows you are not really Americanized. Arby's is a large, nationwide fast-food chain that specializes in roast beef sandwiches among other things.

I could offer Chandler a few pointers myself...

Once again, it's kind of redundant to use the adjective foolish for Rachel.

They *suggested* with the voice-over that a wedding might be sooner than we think, and then ran Ross briefly talking to Rachel in their apartment. It was a desperate attempt to arise the curiousity in R&R again, and it didn't work.

They failed miserably. Viewership wise, it was the second lowest new episode of the season, just barely eclipsing the Thanksgiving episode. But as I've mentioned before, the Thanksgiving episode shouldn't count since the entire prime-time night suffers on that night, whereas ER, Survivor, CSI all fared very well in the ratings compared to their season average on the night 818 aired.

If the people giving them the money were too stupid to notice them not wearing engagement rings, then they don't deserve to have the money in the first place.

Maybe it was just me, but I thought they could have spared that joke while they were doing it. Just kind of takes a little bit away from the scene with the crass joke that Ross spilled early.

I think they both meant 1996, but you can tell Rachel suddenly didn't mind it if it was 2002.

Well...you ask a question that would require us to reveal information from future episodes, yet you don't want any spoilers. So which is it?

A side note: I absolutely can't wait to see these episodes come out in syndication, because the lack of continuity from 817 to 818 is so incredible it's actually going to be humorous to watch. NBC was able to get away with this somewhat since these episodes aired 3 weeks apart, but you air these episodes in back-to-back days in syndication and it is borderline ridiculous to see them carry on in 818 like nothing before that happened.

Well, they were bloooood relatives almost all of them. ;)

British/Anzac/Euro SPOILER SPACE for 818...

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Sounds like such a magical place, doesn't it?

It's sort of odd that Ross is all of a sudden known for being a great speaker. He didn't manage to make sediment flow rate interesting in 604 TOW Joey Loses His Insurance, and his speech at the rehearsal dinner was a total disaster in 723 TOW Monica and Chandler's Wedding, part 1. Be that as it may, how cruel was Judy when she actually said "boo" when young, fat Monica tried to honour her parents?

This had failure written all over it from the start. Sadly, Monica didn't realise that to make people touched one needs to focus on the good times, not on people (and pets) dying.

Yeah, when Chandler covered his ears, knowing how embarrassed he was after his speech in 424 TOW Ross's Wedding, Part 2, Monica should have known that she needed to wrap it up - and fast. And Terms of Endearment and orphans in Romania? Who mentions that in a speech?

Yeah, Judy could have said some bad things to Monica after that speech, so at least Monica can be grateful that she let it pass. Also, her husband tried to comfort her as she sat down, so I don't think there will be any permanent damage.. :)

As for Ross and his speech, I wasn't particularly pleased with Rachel gloating in front of Joey in particular since she was Ross's "new bride." Not very tactful.

Also, I noticed a funny detail in the tag scene. Now, I only have this episode on tape so I can't see it clearly, but isn't Monica wearing a shell necklace? It isn't the same one that she was complaining about in 804 TOW The Videotape, but still...

No wonder. This guy was just too much! However, I have to say that it was interesting to see that Phoebe apparently had told Parker about Chandler's good features since Parker said that Chandler already was his favourite.

Well, plate-dispensing problems are only amusing for so long.

That was the funniest line Phoebe had in this episode. The strange thing is that there might be a part of this scene that was cut from the final version. Take a look at this picture at NBC Media Village that was released several weeks before the episode aired on NBC: http://www.nbcmv.com/pw2/photos/preview/Primetime/Friends/2FRNaj01.jpg Perhaps they'll include this clip on the DVD.

Once again this whole "out-of-wedlock" business. As a European, I'll never understand the obsession with this, but I guess Judy and Jack's friends are very old-fashioned. And what did Rachel's incredible enthusiasm about being married to Ross mean? Considering what has happened to Rachel and one of her friends in the last episodes, this was very bizarre indeed.

I thought it was funny that Rachel imagined having her wedding on a cliff in Barbados at sunset since Jennifer Aniston had her wedding on an ocean bluff in Malibu at sunset... As for Ross's proposal, it sounded incredibly romantic. And isn't it funny how all of them have a thing for "The Way You Look Tonight"? First Monica in 617 TOW Unagi, and now this? On a side note, you'd think that Ross's relatives would notice that they weren't wearing wedding rings since Rachel went on and on about her engagement ring.

While I think they have shed more than six tears since they broke up ( ;) ), I can't help thinking that this scene has to be some kind of foreshadowing. Ross was wonderful in this episode; both funny, sweet and romantic. Rachel was funny, although her lies went way overboard, and that last scene was easily the highlight of the episode.

But still, there is something so incredibly inappropriate with starting a new romantic story for Rachel when we don't even know if the storyline she has been so involved in for the last seven episodes is over yet.

And we are hardly surprised by that. LK has nothing to do on the show these days, and that is such a shame. I wonder if the writers have totally forgotten about what a great comic gem they have in her and Phoebe. Parker got annoying too quickly for his own good; and while the others were funny when they made fun of him, it is not funny enough.

I know!! When I heard him describing ribbons, I knew right away what was coming. Don't they realise that this is getting old and dull by now?

Don't even get me started on the Joey-thing. If they keep this up, we should start wondering if Joey dreamed the whole thing.

Ross was the nice guy he's supposed to be, yes, and I totally agree that this episode wasn't good enough. The RnR-story was the best of the storylines, but it couldn't save an episode that relied on Monica making a fool out of herself.

Yes, you wouldn't think that Phoebe and Joey would get invited to their party. Come to think of it, they could have had a much better story together at some other place and with Parker nowhere in sight.

Why didn't he bring tweezers so that he could start pulling when she wanted people to cry?

Exactly. That's the secret to good speeches.

She has a weird thing about her family, doesn't she?

Yep. Also, Judy wished that Nana had been alive to see Monica's wedding in 724:

Judy: Oh I wish your grandmother had lived to see this. Monica: She�s right there. Judy: Not that old crow, my mother.

Lol! I hadn't thought of that. I wonder what Joey gave Chandler and Monica as a wedding present.

My thoughts exactly! Did Phoebe sit on Parker's lap?

Apparently not.

She was definitely the worst, even though Ross's speech about Chandler's dog in the uncut version of 723 made no sense whatsoever.

Grin. Her husband was called uncle Ben, so perhaps there's an uncle Frank Jr, aunt leslie or aunt Chandler out there as well?

Lazy writers or a huge family.

I think Jack loves his daughter, but Ross was definitely the one who stood up for her here.

He seemed perfectly normal back then.

Only Parker didn't call her as much as Tim did.

Nope, that's not Eddie Cahill. The guy at the party has too brown hair.

Phoebe made fun of Janice in 203 TOW Heckles Dies: Phoebe: I miss Janice though. (In a Janice-voice) "Hello, Chandler Bing." (...) Phoebe: Chandler, you called Janice! That's how much you wanted to be with someone!

She laughed at Rachel when she hired Tag in 704 TOW Rachel's Assistant, but I cannot remember her ever making fun of Mona. But how about the numerous times she has made fun of Chandler? That has to count in this category.

Tag and Janice, yes, but Mona was great. Ethan, Paul, Julio and Chip were all awful. Janine was not among the top dates either.

Foreshadowing?

Jenga. It's a block game.

Grin. That's easy. March 15th, 2002. I'm standing in the audience in studio 24 at Warner Brothers Studios in Burbank, California. We're watching the cast of Friends emerging from "Monica's secret closet." People start screaming and clapping. Now, that's excitement! Talk about Beatle-mania! :)

Yes, it is easy to notice this on the picture I talked about earlier in this post.

If the writers can forget about Joey and Rachel, I don't think it's that difficult for them to forget Phoebe's storyline in 817.

Arby's. It's an American fast-food restaurant that specializes in e.g. sandwiches.

Yes. Perhaps that would have made Monica's evening a little better.

The ring and the dove didn't sound very convincing...

That practically gave everything away.

Yes, she seems to have forgotten all about Vegas and Barry.

The promo focused on Ross, Rachel and Parker. First, the announcer started talking about Alec Baldwin, and then Parker came with his "mental picture" line. After that the music changed, and the announcer said that, "everybody here thinks that Ross and Rachel are already married. Could it be closer than we think?" Ross then said his line about how he had imagined he would propose (from the last scene in their apartment). The camera zoomed in on Rachel looking rather stunned...

Nope. However, this episode was aired during a vacation, so that might have something to do with it.

I took it to mean that they got $400. Wouldn't it seem more logical that they kept that money and spent it on the baby? And I guess Rachel didn't feel guilty about taking the money since she never got that annulment shower.

Hehe.

1996.

I'd say that it's a very good sign for all the RnR fans out there. The problem is that since we've had seven episodes in a row about a different pairing, it just seems rushed.

Oh, I didn't know that. I've seen clips of Marilyn Manson without make-up before he was famous and he didn't look like uncle Dan..

In article , [email] (Marita Bakken) wrote:

Ooh!

British/Anzac/Euro SPOILER SPACE for 818...

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Ah yes, superbly situated at the eclectic moment of a concrete miracle aglow with the light of a million fairies, it lies steeped in glorious Native American history, now celebrating mitzvahs both bah & bat...

That's an excellent point, sweetie. I've mentioned 723 further on, but this is a guy who manages to bore people while talking about dragons.

Is it because here he spoke from his heart and not his head?

Aren't there other examples of him speaking well, in public or private?

Oh dear, I pictured a slim Monica - BOC you're right, this was months before Chandler called her fat, and changed her life.

As for the old bat, she so deserves upending.

I know! When my friends were watching this, they were crying out "oh no" and "please stop" and "don't do it" to the TV screen when poor Monica had hardly got going, so I had to bite my lip, much as I wanted to save them from further pain. Much were the strangled screams of agony as her speech got worse & worse - after she started talking about Debra Winger I had to skip it back a bit because they were missing the dire awfulness...

I suspect that Monica wasn't even there, the BFG had taken over.

BTW, that was one of the movies Lily stopped Phoebe from watching. (220)

I knowww! Weirdly enough, having hated the scene, I think I can see what prompted the writers, since in discussion it seems quite funny now.

I guess so, but I'd rather he leapt in to help her out, like Ross did with Rachel struggling to sing "Copa Cabana".

Absolutely, although ISTM that Rachel was thinking no further than the loot she was getting. Notice that Joey's reaction was not shown.

Ooh, hang on, I'll check it for you <clicketty-click> yes, I've got it on zoom, just as Ross says it was a beautiful speech, and I can see the line on the two nearest shells where the mollusc's mouth/foot comes out.

Exactly. When is Phoebe going to pay attention to the universe?

Oh no, you're forgetting that everything Parker said was insincere.

Eep, I can remember being quite intrigued by one of those dispensers, upon first seeing one as a boy; since as you remove the top plate, the reduced load on the spring causes it to lift the next plate to exactly the same height. That might seem lame to you, but within a decade or so such considerations led me into creating new spring analysis software, resulting in significant weight savings in aerospace engine design.

Yep. That's why. I quoted it. So carefully. ;)

Ooh, ta. I'd forgotten that since I'm all caught up, I can roam that gallery with impunity.

I hope so, but OTOH the bagpipe/guitar scene was left out. :(

Absolutely - and note that this wasn't just disapproval of birth OOW, but of conception OOW. I guess it's because they're more religious.

I dunno - this is a woman who likes to be given money.

Lol! Were there any other curiously inverted parallels?

That's right, or at least Janice, Chandler, Monica, and Ross do.

Well, Rachel's more into porno movie music.

Yes, that's a good point, since even while play-acting in 420, Monica borrowed a ring from the proprietor to complete her bridal look; but don't pregnant women have swollen fingers?

Eep, a Freudian typo! In my defence, the T is right next to the Y.

Yeah, it was only the R+R story that kept this episode from being bad.

Indeed, this episode should have been more like 718, after Rachel fell pregnant in 701 "TOW Monica's Thunder". So much for the greatly vaunted continuous story telling. I reckon they'll keep us guessing until S9.

It seems like that. She delivered her lines well, but when you think of what she can do, it's such a shame. Maybe in S9?

Yeah, it was impossible to believe he wasn't always like that; and then if so, why Phoebe never saw it for herself.

Yeah, Chandler's getting even worse material than Phoebe. It was a saving mercy that in this episode there was so little of it.

Well, here I'm not too worried - the lack of any interaction between him & Rachel is a logical extension of their awkwardness in the last episode. What would be peculiar was if they were suddenly at ease.

Absolutely, though at least she made a fool out of herself at something she's not good at, as opposed to Ross making a fool out of himself at something so straightforward as giving his girlfriend a key.

Well, yes I agree with you given a zesty Parker - but since he seemed quite normal last week there was room for quite a good story with all three. Maybe it could have explored Phoebe's New Age belief system.

Lol, yes - probably because Phoebe had stolen them for her game...

Ta.

Poor girl. At least she's got a wonderful brother.

Oh yes, I'd forgotten that one. But why did Jack wish she'd been there?

That depends on if the S7 Joey was like the S4 Joey or the S1 Joey.

There's no room! Did you get the point about the keys?

Sigh.

Yeah.

Ah sorry, no, he was Uncle Dan.

They must have researchers to look stuff up for them.

Exactly.

Yeah, although he did tell her that she was so incredibly beautiful.

Okay, but it was still the same type of plot.

Okay, I accept what you say, but were there non-hair differences?

Ah yes, that's true. But out of the six, it's Phoebe who likes Janice the most - as you just quoted, she did say she missed her. And in 307 she was very supportive about the Mattress King, going ewwwww when he came on TV, and criticising Monica's actions. And then there's...

CHANDLER: I'm gonna get so drunk, I'm gonna wanna call Janice. PHOEBE: You should! How is she?

..and...

JANICE: Chandler! Come on, I'm gonna show how to roll up your underwear and stuff it in your shoes. It's a real space saver. PHOEBE: Yeah, I know, I do that 'cause it makes me look taller.

..but you are right, coz there were gems like this...

ROSS: Okay, look, I-I know what you guys are going to say-

PHOEBE: You two will have very hairy children.

Yeah, and she wanted Tag for herself.

Well, it's true that Chandler was Monica's date, but he's not an outsider, so that's different, isn't it?

Ah, I agree with your assessment of Tag, Mona, Julio, Chip, and Janine, but what was wrong with Ethan (too young but that didn't hurt us), and Paul (who was alright except at the end)? You don't mean Paolo?

As for Janice, don't worry - I accept that I'm unusual in liking her.

I think it certainly shows that we should be careful about any small details at a time when the plotting is doing handstands.

Where you remove blocks without toppling the tower?

That's a wonderful memory for you, sweetie. :)

How does it feel to have people dismiss you as canned laughter?

Oh, good.

Yeah - that's if they have of course.

Is there a URL?

Yeah.

That's the point. The people listening were smugly telling themselves that Rachel Geller was lying about her fancy wedding.

Yeah - luckily they'd already swallowed the lie.

This whole episode just doesn't fit in, does it?

Oh gosh - that suggests Ross would propose to Rachel at the end of the episode. The Ross & Rachel fans must have tuned in by the millions.

Oh, it was like Thanksgiving, when every show that evening went down?

At least "Friends" would still have been at number one, yes?

Well, Ross said "it was the easiest 400 bucks I've ever made", he didn't say "we". And Rachel did most of the work.

If they kept the money that's what they should do, but it's still dishonest.

Well, she didn't feel guilty about accepting the extra maternity leave.

We just don't get innuendi like that any more, do we?

Okay.

TBPH I'm reserving judgement. What changed so impetuously can change again.

Hehe - thanks for indepthness of your reply!

Tennant

Tennant Stuart wrote in message news:...

<SNIP

Oh, that a good idea. Too bad the writers didn't think of it.

On Angels, there was a thread about this pic. They were wondering if this was a separate scene all together because they are pretty cosy in this picture. But Phoebe was pretty bugged by him when they got back from the party. So, maybe the picture is from a scene before they left to Monica's place.

Not all of them. Some women don't have any of the classic pregnancy symptoms. :)Looks like Rachel belongs to that group.

Yeah, everyone picked up on it. Poor you.

apologises,

This guy seems taller than Eddie Cahill.

arbys.com

That was only a guess but there really is a site there. :)

Priya

In article , [email] (p r i y a) wrote:

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Thanks.

Yes, I would say it was from when he treated her like a queen.

What I want to know is why that woman is looking down her top!

Well, Jennifer Aniston doesn't have swollen fingers because she's not pregnant, but it could be that Rachel Green has. It would be a bit much to expect the make-up department to make prosthetic hands for her.

Oh well, at least it was artistically correct. :)

Hmmm... I'm beginning to think that *maybeee* I was mistaken... :)

Okay, thanks sweetie, I'll check that out.

Tennant

"Tennant Stuart" wrote in message news:[email]...

Not all pregnant women get swollen fingers. I never had that problem.

In article , "abrahammy" wrote:

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Gosh. No sooner does one woman give me a personal detail about pregnancy than another woman says the opposite. Since I'm the baby in the family I've got little to go on myself. I guess this shows that pregnancies vary greatly, so it's impossible to criticise JA's portrayal. :)

Tennant

Tennant Stuart wrote in message news:[email]...

Although I agree that not all women swell when pregnant, I understood your point here. It wouldn't have seemed suspicious to Ross' relatives for her to be without the giant engagement ring that she bragged about because they would likely have assumed that she couldn't get her rings on anymore. (Whew, that was hard to say)

As for me, I couldn't wear any rings from about halfway through both pregnancies. I have a tendency to retain some serious water when pregnant.

Tana

In article , "Tana" wrote:

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Exactly.

Grin.

Well, thanks for that, Tana. Some women have said quite the opposite, it's amazing how pregnancies vary. Certainly there are no grounds for complaining about JA's portrayal of Rachel.

Tennant

Tennant Stuart wrote:

Let's just be happy Frannie and Stuart weren't there. And if they were, they didn't say anything.

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I wonder if Ross rapped in that room? ;)

He can only get their attention when he imitates the dinosaur-sounds..

Probably. Thankfully, he didn't mention the Porsche.

Well, I remember two really good ones: His speech to baby Ben in the end of 123 TOW The Birth. His "museum-segregation" speech in 411 TOW Phoebe's Uterus.

Yep, and therefore, she was even more vulnerable than she was now.

Absolutely.

My sister and I just shook our heads in frustration, wondering what on earth she was going to say next.

Do you think that the BFG got to eat any oysters later on? ;)

Oh, that's right. There must be something wrong with me, because I remember Jack Nicholson on the beach, while I vaguely remember Debra Winger saying goodbye to her children.

Perhaps they thought they could repeat what Chandler did in London (at the rehearsal dinner that is... not the "museums" <g>) since that was actually funny. However, they failed miserably.

Yes! He could have gone up there to sing, "Groundcontrol to Major Tom..."

Should we take that as a sign?

I knew it. She has indeed calmed down since her bad early S8 days.

Lol. Hopefully as soon as possible. Otherwise we're bound to have dozens of new creepy guest stars in season 9 as well.

So do you think that Phoebe had in fact forgotten to mention him?

Smil. Okay, I stand corrected.

Good, and judging by Disneyland, it's probably very true as well.

Yes, but I have a feeling there will be spoilers there soon. You're safe for now, though.

But that picture never showed up on NBC's official websites IIRC.

Welcome to right-wing, conservative America. It's a wonderful place, but don't mention abortions or people having children out of wedlock.

Yep, but she didn't know that they would get money at that point. That came later on.

Not that I can think of. Stevie Wonder was not at her wedding, and Brad didn't ride a Harley.

Fred Astaire is probably ten times better than Janice. :)

Lol, yeah, especially the theme from "Good Will Humping."

I've seen many of them wear their wedding ring as a necklace when they're pregnant. Besides, Ross should have worn his "ring."

Hehe, I know. It was actually a good typo since they have cried a lot since 1996.

Absolutely.

I bet the cliffhanger has something to do with one of these stories.

Yeah, hopefully, they'll learn from their mistakes and let her have some good stories in season 9.

And if they had dated for a while, you'd think that he had seen the fantastically well lit hallway and the comfortable couch before..

It's such a shame. Chandler had literally nothing to do in this episode besides being there.

Future episodes will show if that's the case.

Well, come to think of it, Monica has indeed given some good speeches, albeit in a private context. How about when she convinced Phoebe to "take" Rachel in 606 TO On The Last Night, and that getting married wasn't a good idea in 515 TOW The Girl Who Hits Joey?

That's a possibility, yes.

Pardon? A game with tweezers?

Yep.

Even though she was his mother-in-law, it's possible that they had a good relationship.

Considering that S6 Joey gave Chandler a hug for his birthday, perhaps the gift wasn't very impressive.

Perhaps he sat on the roof so that he could enjoy the concrete miracle.

Yep. Sure did. :)

Oops, sorry. My mistake. I was sure he said Ben.

I thought Priya's suggestion was excellent. Let the studio audience be more involved, and I'm sure many small errors could have been caught right away.

That was just basic flirting. Perhaps it was a tad intense, but in a good way.

Yep. I guess they reckoned they could do it again since Alec Baldwin was playing the part this time around.

He was taller than Ross. In the tag scene for 802 TOW The Red Sweater, Ross and Tag are about the same height IIRC.

Good point.

Perhaps she was trying to be nice, or felt that they had something in common since Janice was the only mom in the room.

Yes, that's a good one.

That's because she had only seen a picture of him. Perhaps she would have changed her mind after chatting with him.

I don't see why. Phoebe made fun of Chandler as a boyfriend right after she saw him and Monica "fornicating," and she has dropped small hints about him ever since.

Paolo, I forgot about him. Ugh. Yes, he was terrible. However, I did mean Paul since he was a creep who lied to women in order to sleep with them.

Well, it's nice that at least some people like her. :)

Perhaps that's the cliffhanger? The return of Mona? Anything is possible at this point. Although I wouldn't bet on it.

Yep.

It is. It's definitely the craziest thing I've ever seen. If people had had the chance, I'm sure they would have jumped down from the audience and into David Crane's lap. People were *that* excited.

LOL! On the contrary, I feel honoured, but my friends are more worried about hearing my laughter in the episode.. :)

Yeah. And if it comes up again, it should be mentioned in May.

http://www.arbys.com

I don't buy that, sorry. It was obvious that they didn't believe her when she said that blind Belgian nuns had made her veil, but afterwards they believed the proposal story, so I'm sure they took it for granted that Ross and Rachel were in fact married. Besides, why would they give the couple $400 or $800 if they didn't believe them?

Yeah.

No, it was incredibly out of place. And if it hadn't been for Rachel's belly and Monica and Chandler's wedding rings, they could have shown it in season 3 for that matter.

Exactly. Some of the most extreme RnR fans went absolutely nuts when they saw it.

Yep. Besides, many people (including me) were on spring break.

No, it was number four that week. CSI, ER and Everybody Loves Raymond all got better ratings.

Perhaps they're starting to think of themselves as one entity. After all, they have a lot of shared expenses coming up, what with rent, food, and baby-stuff.

Absolutely, but I guess they could use the argument that they have been married in the past.

Apparently Rachel has a craving for money during her pregnancy.

No, and that's too bad, because that was a really good joke.

Could be. But with Bush as president and American views on children born out of wedlock... Well, the solution seems quite clear. Even Carol and Susan got married less than a year after Ben was born, in a ceremony that still isn't legal in New York.

On Tue, 16 Apr 2002 21:18:33 GMT, [email] (Marita Bakken) wrote:

British/Anzac/Euro SPOILER SPACE for 818...

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I wouldn't go there now if I were you. Four new pictures from two upcoming episodes were posted there today.

In article , [email] (Marita Bakken) wrote:

Oh dear! Thanks for warning me, sweetie.

When I looked at the site, there were 30 pictures which I hadn't got, and I've already downloaded half of them. The other 15 are these...

   2FRNab01
   2FRNah00
   2FRNav00
   2FRNaw00
   2FRNax00
   2FRNaz00

   2FRNbl00
   2FRNbm00
   2FRNbn00
   2FRNbo01
   2FRNbp01
   2FRNbq01
   2FRNbu01
   2FRNbv01
   2FRNbw01

..are they okay?

Tennant

Tennant Stuart wrote:

VSG.

809 TOW The Rumour

708 TOW Chandler Doesn't Like Dogs

715 TOW Joey's New Brain

713 TOW Rosita Dies

713 TOW Rosita Dies

714 TOW They All Turn 30

801 TOA "I Do"

801 TOA "I Do"

801 TOA "I Do"

802 TOW The Red Sweater

803 TOW Rachel Tells...

803 TOW Rachel Tells...

806 TOW The Halloween Party

807 TOW The Stain

807 TOW The Stain

Yes. The only pictures on that page that are spoilers for you are 2FRNak01, 2FRNal01, 2FRNam01 and 2FRNan01. The first three are from 820 (which was easy to tell since I saw the guy taking pictures of the scenes), and I believe the last one is from 822.

BTW, did your newsreader "eat" my posts in the 815-, 816- and 817- threads just like it "ate" Priya's? :)

In article , [email] (Marita Bakken) wrote:

Ooh, thanks!

My newsreader does not eat any posts (I can look at the data stream before it reaches the newsreader) but the ISP filters out any posts with attachments in text-only groups. I suspect that some people's software is duplicating their text with a HTML copy, then lying to them that it isn't. This happens all the time with emails.

Tennant

Tennant Stuart wrote:

VSG.

Oh, well, just wanted to make sure you got them. My newsreader practically inhales posts, so...

In article , [email] (Marita Bakken) wrote:

I mean it - I nearly made a bad mistake in thinking that because I'm up-to-date with America, then there would be no pictorial spoilers, totally forgetting that the site consists of production stills.

Well, at the moment your emails come complete with not just a HTML copy, but also an attached file 'MsgText', so now you're in triplicate... :)

Tennant

Tennant Stuart wrote:

Yeah, the photographer was very active at the taping I was at, so I knew that some pictures would appear really soon. Also, the picture from 818 showed up many weeks in advance while the episode was still called TOW The Zesty Guy.

Really? I'm sorry. That must have something to do with my e-mail program. The problem is that I have no idea how to fix it.

In article , [email] (Marita Bakken) wrote:

It gets worse than that, for a lot of Windoze software requires you to turn off more than one flag before it will obey you - while if you miss just one then it lies to you about it.

Tennant

On Mon, 22 Apr 2002 17:36:15 BST, Tennant Stuart wrote:

Lol. You *so* don't like Windows. ;)

BTW, you never told me what the big continuity error in 117 TOW Two Parts was. Remember we discussed it in the 816-thread?

In article , [email] (Marita Bakken) wrote:

It's a crappy system, and the sad thing is that most people just put up with its failings, thinking that computers are meant to be like that, in the same way as rain falls or ants come to picnics.

Did I? I don't remember. <checks> No, it wasn't a big continuity error, it was a freakish little error. You asked me which part I was talking about, so I told you, and AFAIA you didn't reply.

Tennant

Tennant Stuart wrote:

Hehe. My computer has crashed so many times that the people at the store and I are on a first name basis. :)

This is making no sense at all. I posted my last message in that thread on April 7th, and if you replied to that one, it never showed up on Google. Some messages must have vanished.

In article , [email] (Marita Bakken) wrote:

This is what I mean - I think mine's only crashed once this year.

The last 816 message I had from you was on the 3rd at 20:54, and I replied to it on the 4th at 18:25. Since then I've only seen a message from you to Belphoebe on the 9th at 02:15. Perhaps you'd like to repost your April 7th message. Meanwhile, here are the unrequited posts in my threads...

    S8-02   18 Jan 18:50
    S8-03   08 Feb 13:48
    S8-06   29 Jan 17:37
    S8-07   24 Jan 23:54
    S8-08   15 Feb 13:30
    S8-11   07 Mar 13:33
    S8-12   11 Apr 18:17
    S8-13   10 Mar 11:19
    S8-15   23 Apr 18:09
    S8-16   04 Apr 18:25
    S8-17   06 Apr 12:14
    S8-19   23 Apr 23:35

..so if you did answer any of them, I didn't receive it. :(

Tennant

Tennant Stuart wrote:

Blame Bill Gates etc.

That's what I thought. Seems like whatever happened to Priya's messages happened to mine as well. Anyway, I'll repost the ones in question. :)

In article , [email] (Marita Bakken) wrote:

Yeah.

Thankyou very much Marita, you're a star. :)

Tennant

In article , [email] (Marita Bakken) wrote:

Not that we heard. But did they hand over the dosh?

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And everyone left?

Perhaps he should try telling them that T-Rex really would have wanted to be brought back to life, instead of denying "Jurassic Park" could happen.

Hehe. Thankfully, she didn't mention the dead mouse.

Yes, that was quite good.

Ah! An excellent example, yes! That's gone into my review.

Awww, poor kid.

Ja.

Yeah. Was 818 the only episode Eirin saw while she was out there?

That's probably what shut her up.

And then she dragged Muriel into the bathroom...

Ah. I've never seen the movie. Thankfully. ;)

Absolutely. (Grin back for "museums").

Lol!

Yes. We should take that as a sign that BKC have more story to tell.

Well yes, but it was more like her bad early S8 minutes.

Ilg.

No, Phoebe had mentioned Chandler, and said the sort of things that she says to Monica about him, then Parker made it much nicer.

VSG

Hehe.

Indeed? How come it's February in the official calendar?

Humph.

No sweetheart, you're wrong.

Rachel showed no enthusiasm about being married to Ross, she was merely less uncomfortable about the lie than he was. She told him that they do not have to lie, say nothing, just smile, nod along. That's all they did when Aunt Lisa & Uncle Dan congratulated them on the baby & the wedding.

Then Uncle Dan gave them a little something to get started.

Oh well.

Not according to his first screen test, when it was said:

"Can't act. Can't sing. Balding. Can dance a little."

Exactly. :)

Okay, but not all women do that, and not all men wear a ring.

Yeah, a lot more than six tears.

Yep.

Hang on.... right, I've just crossed all the saucepan handles, *and* all the kitchen knives, *and* all the spatulas. That should do it.

He was too busy treating her like the naughty girl she is.

Exactly.

Yep. I wonder if Rachel will be as keen on Ross by the next episode?

Absolutely, but she's far more competent in private.

TT

Oh sweetie, it's a rare day that I can catch *you* out! :)

Remember 104 "TOW George Stephanopoulos"? When Phoebe brought her game of Operation? And she'd lost the tweezers, so they couldn't operate? But at least they could prep the guy?

Oh, good point. Okay.

Unless the S7 Rachel's birthday is still after the S7 Chandler's birthday, in which case that was the S7 Joey.

While Monica drove at more than 37 mph?

G4U

NW

Okay. So you're in the audience with Ane Jegstad, who calls out that instead of Lisa & Dan, they should use the names of an aunt & uncle that we've heard about, but never seen, like Sylvia & Freddie. Marta Kauffman reckons that's a good idea, but Mark Kunerth chips in that Sylvia was killed off in S3. From memory, what would you call out?

I agree, but that was still a first sign of over-positiveness.

Well, let's have the same plot again, but with Gina Gershon. ;)

Okay, it's out of the review. Thanks. :)

Thanx.

Aww, and in a few months Pheebs would not be a mom.

Of course, that comment applied just as much to Ross, whom she loves as a dear friend. And if she had begged Frank if she could have one of the triplets, and he'd said she could have the very hairy one, oh how joyous Phoebe would have been, and how much she'd have loved her baby...

Oh, fair point. How did they get on after that?

Well, perhaps to Phoebe, members of the gang are fair game.

Absolutely.

Oh you mean the wine guy, not the Bruce Willis character.

If Rachel ends up old & lonely as Crazy Snake Woman, and Ross marries Phoebe, then I would like to see Janice return, looking & sounding like Polly in S4 of "Will & Grace", to sweep Joey off his feet.

Well, maybe Rachel will suddenly realise she's a lesbian, Joey will sail off round the world in his boat, Chandler & Monica will win the lottery so start hobnobbing with the rich & famous, Ross will move to the west coast, and Phoebe will start speaking in a foreign accent.

Then in Season 9, Rachel's girlfriend suffers an incurable illness, Joey's boat sinks making him come crawling back to work for Gunther, Chandler dies but Monica believes that he'd died years before, Ross gets his own radio show but Jack & his nurse move in with him, and Phoebe develops a whole string of multiple personalities.

Ah. Played it, but never took much notice of the name.

Lol, would you?

Ooh, you must tell me in rot13 exactly where you can be heard!

Yep, which reminds me - has JA directed an episode yet?

Thanks. I see that their beef sandwiches are only 79�.

That's what I'm saying. Did you not notice the word "fancy"?

Yeah.

Don't forget Monica's car. :)

But now I'm hearing that millions of ordinary viewers were bored by it.

Okay, you were on spring break, but you still watched the episode. And Claire Abraham tells me that ratings for "ER" went up that night, for they had a catchy storyline (some doctor is dying). That sounds to me that "Friends" was hit by promo apathy, not the Easter holidays.

Ah well, there you go then. So much for RnR among ordinary viewers.

In that case, Ross would have said "it was the easiest 400 bucks we've ever made".

That's a rationalisation. They still embezzled hundreds of dollars.

They still stole from Ross's relatives.

Oh, she was probably envisaging a money bouquet again.

Oh well.

Maybe, but Ben was still born out of wedlock.

Tennant

Tennant Stuart wrote in message news:...

Perhaps aunt Millie paid on their behalf.

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And the rats were hanging themselves in the basement.

The best thing would be to show the movie to his class, and then give points (extra credits) to the students who could point out the errors in the movie.

Ewww.. I think Monica forgot about the mouse as soon as she got the keys. (Note: No question mark in the end. ;) )

And very politically correct.

Yeah, but we saw some of the uncut episodes on DVD too, since I got them a couple of days before she arrived. And since she is just as much of a DVD-fan as I am, that was a must.

Because it is an aphrodisiac?

Like in 517 TOW Rachel's Inadvertent Kiss?

Well, good old Jack is really good in it, so you should see it when you have time.

Hehe. Well, we had a discussion about that after 814! :)

Yeah.

Let's not get into that again. We both appreciate the fact that Monica is happy and calm nowadays, and the past cannot be changed. :) (And my opinion on her in 802-804 is as strong as ever.)

Poor Chandler.

Well, NBC has nothing to do with the calendar.

Nah, sorry, I disagree. The normal Rachel would have protested right after Jack and Judy walked away.

Well, that's your opinion. :)

Yeah, I heard about that.

Yeah, that happens, but the fact that *none* of them wore a ring should have made the relatives suspicious.

You do that a lot, don't you? :)

He treated her like a queen during the day and would undoubtedly have noticed it then.

The behaviour in the next episode might be an important sign, yes.

Well, you asked me for Ross's good speeches in private and in public..

Enjoy it while it lasts... ;)

I thought you meant this episode.

Not all mother-in-laws are old dragons.

Yeah, well, that's an issue we'll never know for sure.

Where else would he be? The trunk? (That makes Monica sound like she's in the mob.)

She wasn't there...

Uncle Nathan (421) and aunt Marilyn (719). ;) (I've already mentioned aunt Millie.)

Still, no reason to be alarmed.

As long as one of the guys is married, one is in love with another woman, and one is busy with his moody roommate, I don't think that will happen anytime soon. Unless Gunther hooks up with her, that is.

VSG.

Exactly. If anyone should be broody in sesason 9, it's Phoebe.

Hehe. I don't think the babies were particularly hairy, but I see where you're going.

She gave Rachel a strange look in 705 when Rachel was gushing over Tag, she encouraged Rachel to wait to ask him out in 708, and then in 714 she told Rachel that she did the right thing when she broke up with him.

They shouldn't be. Especially after she found out that Chandler and Monica were serious. Okay, she was of course allowed to think he wasn't a really good boyfriend, but she shouldn't say it out loud as often as possible.

Yep. Paul the Singer was okay.

She would have to love soap operas, though.

Oh, please, don't bring back Melissa.

Norwegian, of course. j/k

Why don't they all sleep together, and afterwards they can get amnesia? Sounds DOOL-worthy.

No, but I was in the second row. I was busy straining my eyes to see all the actors and the props. :)

Lol! I sure will, although judging by the 601-documentary, I find it highly unlikely that you'll actually hear me laughing. (But I did laugh. A lot.)

I haven't read the spoilers, but it's very odd if she hasn't.

Yeah. They're big on sandwiches.

Yeah..? But I still don't think people would voluntarily give a couple $800 if they thought they were lying.

They never said it was hers. Viewers might believe that Phoebe had allowed Monica to drive her grandma's cab because she wanted to make out with Parker in the backseat.

I know I was.

I taped it and watched it a couple of days later.

ER has this huge storyline going on right now where Mark Greene is dying, and NBC had aired dozens of promos for that episode. Therefore, it was logical that people tuned in to watch him saying goodbye to his colleagues. (Which also means that Friends should have problems winning the ratings on May 9th, since his final episode airs that evening.)

But you're right. The ratings shouldn't have gone down the way they did. Alec Baldwin should be enough of a draw to keep the ratings on a good level, even though many people were on vacation.

Exactly.

I just don't buy it. $800 is way too much.

Once again, that's your opinion. :)

I agree with this one.

Which reminds me, we never got to see who got Monica's bouquet.

Yes, but my point is that it will be so much easier for the producers to please the American public if they put Ross and Rachel back together again. Voila. Happy ending in Scarsdale.

In article , [email] (Marita Bakken) wrote:

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Ooh, could be.

Eek, trust Rachel to find the biggest insult of Ross.

Lol, there are enough of them. My favourite is how the T-Rex entered through the little doors at the tourist centre without damaging them, or shaking the ground. And if you look closely, when the girl dangles from the skeleton, she lets go, then remembers and hangs on again.

Grin.

Indeedy. Good for Ross.

Ah well, I'm thinking of reviewing the uncut 803, possibly 801 also.

That as well.

Yep, and her olds in 216.

No promises.

Yeppity.

Good girl.

Shrug.

Exactly.

Yeah, but the pictures used are production stills, aren't they?

Well maybe, maybe not. Rachel is not known for her honesty, and in 418 she continued with her deception of Joshua's family, even though this meant going to a restaurant in her underwear, and a boob popping out.

You can't argue with that. Even if the deception was out of character for Rachel, she showed no enthusiasm for it until she saw the money.

Okay.

People believe what they expect to believe.

It works. Remember Season 9?

Well, the guy is a bigger liar than Rachel.

We must wait & see.

Okay.

<does a little dance, then makes a cup of tea to celebrate>

Ah. No worries. :)

Of course not, but Judy described hers as an old crow, even though the woman is kind enough to let Monica have her huge apartment cheaply.

Not never, there's a year left for a script to address it.

Maybe Joey didn't go.

Okay, Gary Halvorson then.

Gary Halvorson reckons that's a good idea, but Peter Tibbals chips in that Aunt Marilyn looks exactly like Cousin Cassie, yet Ellen Gerstein doesn't look like Denise Richards. From memory, what do you say then?

Yeah, but you want an aunt & uncle we've heard about, but not seen.

Of course, but it does show that there was an inkling.

Oh sweetheart, you've been living in right-wing conservative America for too long. It's the *same* plot, about Phoebe's too-perfect lover.

Maybe she's been suppressing her broodiness since Season 5.

Alice carefully shaved Chandler before handing her to Phoebe in 605.

Exactly.

Ah. Couldn't that have been because she wanted him for herself?

Has she ever been less than supportive of Chandler *outside* the group?

Lol, that song won his actor an Emmy.

Why?

Her actress needs the work after her recent travails.

Of course.

Well, unlikely though they sound, those were all famous storylines that changed the course of long-running sitcoms. Do you recognise them now?

RPGOL!! Oh, poor baby! :)

Yay!

Does nobody know?

Or little, since 79� is cheap.

They didn't think the couple were lying about being married, they thought that they were telling tall tales since their wedding had been so humble.

Lol, well done, which also solves the space problem. :)

Exactly.

That still counts in the ratings.

But how could they tune in if they were away for Spring Break?

Ah.

Thanks, though I still dispute that the vacation made a difference.

It's obvious that a pro-RnR promo is not a big ratings winner, since it tends to delight millions of viewers who'd watch the show anyway.

Anyone reading this, please note that "big ratings winner" does not refer to the number of people who watch the episode, but the *extra* number of people who watch the episode, because of the promo.

Thanks.

How many people were there? 40?

That's 20 bucks apiece. Cheap wedding present.

Yes it is, but one based on the story.

However one looks at it, they went along with a lie to please Judy. When people started giving them money for it, they embellished those lies to steal more money from them, even though these people were relatives.

Okay.

Oh yes, there's so much that is missing.

Nah. Boresville. ;)

Tennant

Tennant Stuart wrote in message news:...

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Yeah.

Grin. It's always funny to catch the bloopers in big movies.

I know. :)

Eww.. That was just creepy.

Yeah, but my point is that the pictures could be used by WB, and they could give it to Danilo that makes the calendars.

I don't see why that necessarily had something to do with honesty. It has to do with standing up for yourself and doing what you want, not what people tell you to do.

If Rachel didn't want to do it, she would have said so! She's strong enough to do that nowadays. She has decided to be a single mom and have this kid, which shows courage. She shouldn't have any problems saying it to some people she might never meet again. And this is the whole point. The fact that she agreed to it right away showed that she was more than okay with it.

Odd nonetheless.

Unfortunately, Lisa said in an interview today that that will be it. (Not that I had expected any more seasons, though.)

Parker needed to tone it down a bit..

Tea? How very British. ;) <Grabs a bottle of Coke.>

That doesn't have to mean that Jack thought Althea was an old crow. Granted, he watched a sports event at her funeral, but there's a long way from hating someone to watching sports.

Well, I have faith in the writers, but unless the show turns into a sci-fi show, I think they'll have trouble explaining how Rachel was born both in February and on May 5th.

Pardon?

Aunt Sheryl from 711.

I had the exact same opinion last year after 720 aired, and I lived in Europe at the time. I am not a homophobic; on the contrary, I come from a very liberal country where gay marriages have been legal since 1993. Therefore, I support them, and more power to them, but using homosexuality as a cheap way of getting good ratings is ridiculous.

I think very few people shave their little girls. They may cut their hair, but shaving is out of line.

I don't think so, since she revealed in 715 that she had a thing for older men.

Like when they're alone?

Perhaps he should have won a Grammy instead.

So that they could have something in common, and she would appreciate his work. (Which is important in a relationship, just look at Ross & Rachel and Chandler & Monica.)

Nah, she'll be fine. She's going to host an upcoming episode of SNL, plus she has two movies coming out this summer.

I don't watch many sitcoms (just 2 or 3 in fact), but I know that Ross is Frasier with the radio show.

When you're there for a couple of hours, you have to spend them wisely!

Okay, I see what you mean now.

Exactly.

I've heard that it doesn't?

Better time-slot perhaps?

I've heard so many arguments over the now infamous ratings for 818 that I don't know what to believe.

No, I still don't agree with you. I'm basing this on what I've seen of American weddings, plus how long they were there. Yes, there might be 40 guests there, but there is no way Rachel and Ross had time to tell their elaborate lies to all the guests (listening to Ross's speech doesn't count). And second of all, most of the guests would give them presents as a couple (like Monica and Chandler did in 714 and 818). Besides, $800 is *a lot* of money.

Yes, I'm not arguing that they got money for all the wrong reasons, I just don't agree with the amount.

I never said I hoped for it. It would be more like Predictabledale.

In article , [email] (Marita Bakken) wrote:

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Well, let's hope the baby will make her a better person.

Absolutely. A movie like "Pearl Harbor" is as long as 9 episodes of "Friends", yet it had a budget of $153m, equivalent to $17m per episode. Of course, "Friends" doesn't have ships & planes to pay for, but then it doesn't have dozens of really bad errors either.

My favourite error is that Rafe McCawley (Ben Affleck) sets off to travel from New York City to London by *train*!!! Somebody else got to the IMDb before me about this one, but I don't mind, since the unknown author's entry was far cuter than mine would have been...

*�Despite receiving the backing of the US, Canadian, British & Irish *�governments, plans for the Newfoundland to Galway Bay Transatlantic *�Railway Line were dropped in 1936 following a disagreement over the *�correct temperature at which to serve the Chablis in the restaurant *�car. The trip by train would therefore be impossible. The docks are *�a few blocks from the railway station, thus it would be easier to *�walk there than to travel by train.

Good good good. :)

Well, as long as Ben isn't hiding in the shower...

Oh, okay, fair enough.

Really? It sounds to me like a willingness to continue a deception.

What would you have done in similar circumstances?

Yes, I accept that, but it seems to me that there is more to this than doing it or not doing it, it's a question of *how* it's done. Rachel's initial plan was just to smile & nod along, and if she didn't want to do it, she would have said so. But when relatives started giving them money, that's when Rachel took the deception to a new level.

Well, Rachel was pregnant, and many men don't wear rings.

Oh sorry, this is where we came in. :)

I think you've misunderstood me. Season 8 was supposed to be it, but after I did a little crossing magic we got a Season 9.

He was worse than enthusiastic & positive, he meant none of it.

BOC

I prefer Pepsi. :)

Lol, I'd forgotten that, it still shows lack of respect. But even so, I'm not saying that Jack didn't get on with Althea, I'm saying that even nice women can be disliked by sons-in-law or daughters-in-law. Not always, but sometimes. And there are some mothers-in-law who are not nice.

All they have to do is move Chandler's birthday to January. :)

He might have gone separately to avoid Rachel, not knowing she did too.

Okay, well done, you got there in the end. :)

But look how long the shoot was held up on this one point alone, maybe costing thousands of dollars in lost studio time. And if Peter Tibbals hadn't pointed out the difficulty with your first suggestion, some fans would still be moaning about continuity errors when the episode aired.

Yes okay, that's fair enough, and I apologise for any implication that you're homophobic. However, you'll recall that I was not worried about 720, so I still believe that a lesbian story could be a good idea - as long as it was properly done of course, for I'm totally against *any* story being merely a cheap way of getting good ratings. This includes some possible heterosexual storylines that are being touted by fans.

Grin, they shave the very hairy ones.

Yes, good point. So how come she liked the photo?

She does tend to be much nicer to him when the others aren't about, but that's not what I meant. OTTOMH I can't think of a direct example, which is why I asked you - so look at 314 "TOW Phoebe's Ex-Partner" when Joey was hiding from Ginger. She knew he was behind the coats, but although Monica was right there, she turned away rather than help the outsider.

Lol!

Ooooooooooooh, sometimes the word 'grin' just isn't enough, sweetie. :)

Goodie.

Well done, sweetie! :)

It was Ellen Morgan in "Ellen" who suddenly realised she's a lesbian, but her girlfriend suffered an incurable illness; Sam Malone in "Cheers" sold his bar to buy a boat, and sailed off round the world, but the boat sank, making him come crawling back to work for new manager Rebecca Howe; Dan & Roseanne Connor in "Roseanne" won the lottery, so they started hobnobbing with the rich & famous, but in the end it turned out the *real* Roseanne wrote the series after her husband died or something like that, and her sister was really a lesbian but I left that part out; and Latka Gravas in "Taxi" started speaking in a foreign accent, which was of course English, and then he developed a whole string of multiple personalities.

I am just so impressed. n/k

Ohh. Great. Phew. Yay! :)

Now can you *please* tell me how to put that so that other people will get it straight away? So far nobody has, and many still haven't. :(

It came up a month or so ago during a discussion about the ratings on Angel's Friends, and IIRC it was Dan Gottleib himself who said that time-shifting was taken into account. Unfortunately I didn't keep it.

That accounts for "ER" doing well at Thanksgiving, for the dinner is over by then. But I assume that when Americans go on their Easter vacation, it lasts until Easter Monday at least, not 10pm the previous Thursday.

Sweetheart, it's simple. Despite (or maybe because of) the promos for 818, the number of viewers dropped by 4.3 million. Nobody really knows why this happened, except that it wasn't because of the holiday, since other shows that night did well, especially "ER" with its good story.

Can't Rachel & Ross tell their elaborate lies to groups of half-a-dozen people at a time? If the whole story lasted as long as ten minutes, they could tell it to everyone in an hour, not much out of a whole evening.

And is $800 a lot of money to these people? They appear well-off to me, especially if unlike Jack they didn't fritter their money away. Bear in mind that Chandler spent *ten*times* as much money on a ring for Monica, and if his "dinner for 128 people" cost $800 that's only 6 bucks each.

If all the relatives had clubbed together to give Ross & Rachel one fridge, would you now be complaining that they were too generous or too stingy?

Okay, fair enough sweetie, I agree. :)

Tennant

Tennant Stuart wrote in message news:...

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Otherwise she might turn into Judy!

LOL!! Yeah, I wondered about that one as well. Besides, it would be more romantic if she ran to the docks to see him off.

You haven't got it yet?

The poor kid would be scarred for life if he heard his uncle going, "YIPPIE!!"

I think it has to do with stubbornness, which Rachel showed a disturbing lack of in this episode.

Well, I'm pretty radical in these matters, so I would certainly not agree to say that I was married. I would tell people I was going to be a single mom to see their reactions. Besides, seeing that basically all my cousins had children out of wedlock, I know that even my older relatives would be perfectly okay with it. And even if they were as judgmental as the Gellers, I would still have refused to do it. Bottom line; I don't think you'll get a proper answer from a Norwegian like myself, especially since our future queen was a single mom until she married the heir to the throne.

That sounds reasonable, yes, as long as we agree that Rachel was much more willing to go along with it than Ross.

We're going around in circles. :)

I know. Just wanted to point it out. :)

I always buy lots of tea when I'm in London. They have the best tea in the world at Piccadilly Circus IMO.

Always Coca Cola. ;)

Oh definitely. Some are mean old hags who can never stop complaining about their son-in-law/daughter-in-law.

How would they explain that there were only 6 episodes covering the year 2000 then?

Okay, that's a good point.

Mardi and I said that we had a feeling you would have wanted to suggest something to the writers if you were at the taping that I was at, but we'll discuss that when we get there. ;)

Sorry. I tend to fly off the handle when ethics and politics come up. (What do you expect with my field of interest? <g>) However, if they choose to have a lesbian storyline on the show, I hope they do it in a realistic way. What if we suddenly found out that Ursula is gay? Or Sandra? My point is that it is too late and too stupid to add homosexual tendencies to the main characters, but if one of the recurring characters came out of the closet, it would be more believable.

I am *so* glad I have never heard of that.

"A girl's got to eat..."

I'm sorry, I can't come up with an example.

He was better than many artists who have won one.

I would have been ashamed if I hadn't got one. :P

Ah, I see. :)

I got some pretty weird looks after a couple of hours. I was busy writing down lines and bloopers, and finally, a woman asked me what on earth I was doing, and more importantly, why I was doing it.

I'm stumped.

Oh, I see.

ER also got better ratings this week.

Okay, that explains it. The problem is that if you start drawing conclusions, some die-hard fans are bound to get offended and defend their cause.

We only saw them getting money from two people at a time IIRC. What were they doing; collecting money like they do in church?

Chandler comes from a rich family. There's no doubt about it. Besides, he had saved money for years that he was willing to spend on his and Monica's wedding. Therefore, I don't think we can assume that Monica and Ross's relatives are as wealthy as the Bings.

In fact, I don't think they are a particularly rich bunch. I think they're rather normal. If we look at some of the episodes (this is off the top of my head, so bear with me here), I get the feeling they aren't that wealthy.

108 TOW Nana Dies Twice: Ross: Oh! ...Yeah, they were gross. Oh, you know what I loved? Her Sweet 'n' Los. How she was always stealing them from- from restaurants. Jack: Not just restaurants, from our house. (Would a woman steal Sweet 'n' Los if she were rich?)

112 TOW the Dozen Lasagnas: Monica: Aunt Syl, stop yelling! All I'm saying is that if you had told me vegetarian lasagna, I would have made vegetarian lasagna.Well, the meat's only every third layer, maybe you could scrape. (...) Aunt Syl, I did this as a favor, I am not a caterer. What do you want me to do with a dozen lasagnas? Nice talk, Aunt Syl.You kiss Uncle Freddie with that mouth? (Apparently, aunt Syl never planned on paying Monica, even though she made all those lasagnas.)

214 TOW the Prom Video: Jack: Judy, Judy, relax, this is our little Harmonica we're talking about. We taught her well. Ten percent of your paycheck, where does it go? Monica & Ross: In the bank. Jack: There you go. So she dips into her savings, that's what it's there for. She's gonna be fine, and if you need a little extra, you know where to find it. (pulls out a *quarter*.) (Apparently, Jack and Judy have taught their children the value of a dollar. It is therefore very likely that they heard about this when they were growing up.)

421 TOW the Invitation: Emily: So what did he decide? Does your Uncle Nathan get an invite or not? Ross: Ohh, God, nobody likes him, and he�s so cheap, he�d never fly to London in a million years. Yeah, invite him. (Would cheap uncle Nathan give them hundreds of dollars for a wedding present?)

702 TOW Rachel's Book: Phoebe: Look, why don�t you just pay for it yourself? Monica: How? I don�t have any money. (Okay, so this has to do with Monica, but I think it shows that she hasn't received anything from her relatives, e.g. inheritance etc.)

818 TOI Massapequa: Ross: Aww! Chi-Chi! Oh, I loved this dog! Y�know Monica couldn�t get braces because Chi-Chi needed knee surgery. (If they couldn't afford the medical bills for their daughter, wouldn't it be easier to go to their supposedly wealthy relatives for help?)

(Besides, their former house isn't that big. It's quite small actually.)

The point is that you think *many* of their relatives gave them money. I don't. Besides, I'm sure Ross talked for both of them in the end. I just cannot explain why at this point. :)

In article , [email] (Marita Bakken) wrote:

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Eek, there's the possibility that Judy was quite the bitch until baby Ross made her a better person. Then came baby Monica...

Absolutely, but I guess they didn't want it to look like "Titanic".

Oh yes, ages ago (there was a surprise in 801 that nobody has mentioned), but of late I've been very busy: either working hard, or out & about.

Lol, exactly - and he would suffer severe psychological problems if his mother tried to put vapour rub on his chest, gave him a toy boat to play with, or served him chicken, coleslaw, beans and *diet* Coke for dinner.

Oh, that too.

That's very good, I totally agree. All of my older cousins were born out of wedlock, and their mothers (my three oldest aunts) eventually married men who'd care for those babies, and not the natural fathers.

Oh, absolutely. Ross was willing to go along with it, and he did take part in the deception, but Rachel undertook the lion's share.

Yep.

Okay. Still, it's not impossible that there'll be a Season 10.

Oh, tea in London is *horrible*, they have such nasty water!

You've obviously never drunk tea made with Welsh water. :)

Hmm.. I notice that you repeat the advertising slogan... ;)

Exactly.

How do you mean?

610 "TOW the Routine" was set a week before Christmas 1999, and 611 "TOW the Apothecary Table" was either set later that night (if we go by Joey having just kissed Janine), or after Twelfth Night 2000 (according to the lack of decorations in Monica's apartment) - but 612 "TOW the Joke" must have been in 2000. 710 "TOW the Holiday Armadillo" was set the following Christmas, so that means at least 24 episodes (612-710) were set in 2000.

Thanks.

Ooh, how intriguing! :)

That's okay, sweetie.

Smiler bredt.

Absolutely, since they set the precedent with Ross's first-ever scene.

Hehe, I wonder about Miss Anastassakis sometimes...

Lol, is she that desperate then?

No worries. I think this means that we shouldn't take it too seriously when such close friends are a bit hard on each other, at least no more so than how they take it. When the chips are down, it's still the six of them against the rest of the world.

Exactly.

Awww...

Good, so now you see that *anything* can happen in "Friends".

Eep, who was she, and what did you reply?

Oh. :(

Okay. Why not ask him on Angel's Friends? As we approach the finale I'm a bit afraid to go there, I'm getting the ratings from his web site.

Oh really? And this was when "Friends" dropped another 0.4 million from its already low point, making 820 the second-worst new episode after 818.

Yep. What interests me is why the ratings went up for the clip show.

How was it promoted?

Grin.

Agreed, but that doesn't make the Gellers into paupers either.

Yes. If she was poor, she'd steal something more necessary.

That wasn't because she was poor, but because she was bloody-minded.

That's a fair point, but poor people have debts, not savings.

No. He was cheap, not poor.

Poor people don't attend far-flung weddings.

Apart from her large NYC apartment which she rents at cut-price?

It's never easy to go crawling to relatives for money, but in any case the point of the story was that young Monica came bottom of their list of priorities. If Ross had needed expensive treatment, his parents would have done anything to beg, borrow, or steal the money.

It's not that small, just a normal sized American house. But these supposedly poor people owned a *second* home, at the beach. And in any case, many of the relatives could well be much better off.

Oh, I don't think that at all, it was just a debating point. If many of them gave money, then the sums could be very low. If the relatives were well off, then only a few of them needed to have contributed.

Whichever way round it is, $800 is not a huge sum of money, and would not go far to set up a newly married couple with a baby on the way.

Well, all of this great debate comes from this line...

ROSS: It was the easiest 400 bucks I've ever made.

Ross said "I've", not "we've". Since we are agreed that Rachel did the lion's share of the fraud, he had to have been talking about his cut.

Tennant

Tennant Stuart wrote in message news:...

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Perhaps girl babies do that to women from Massapequa.

Nobody ran to see anyone off in Titanic. In fact, the whole point of Jack Dawson's first scene on the Titanic was that he didn't have *anyone* to wave goodbye to... ;)

Me too. April and May are busy months.

LOL! Let's just hope his mom never gives him porn or sock bunnies. Cake would be acceptable, though.

Yeah, it's an American thing. Many of my American friends have been rather shocked when I've told them how we handle relationships and children born out of wedlock.

Okay, I think we agree now.

I think there's a bigger chance of Joey getting a spin-off in 2003. :)

I wasn't talking about the water, I just buy the tea! :)

That's true. I've never been in Wales.

I'm being brain-washed by American media. ;)

617 would have to be in November/December 2000 if Chandler's birthday took place in January: Monica: Y�know, your birthday is in a month-and-a-half, what do you say I forget to get you a present for that too?

You'll understand what we were talking about when you get to see the episode.

And we could get some interesting guest stars for sweeps.

Really?

Perhaps it was a relapse from her Evander Holyfield days.

True. The problem is, though, that when you hear it in almost every episode in about four seasons, you know there's something else there.

And judging by the show's track record, we have to be at least half-way there.

She was sitting in the audience, and she asked if I had a website or something. I just laughed and said that I wanted to make sure I remembered *everything* about the taping.

No, that's Dan Ginsburg. I can probably ask him.

Not second worst, it just didn't have many viewers, that's all. ;)

Rot13:

Naabhapre: AOP Guhefqnl vf nyy arj!

Wbrl (609 - rngvat gur Ratyvfu gevsyr): Tbbq!

(Fubg bs Wbrl va Prageny Crex, ybbxvat ng Enpury naq gur erfg engure hapbzsbegnoyl va 817 GBJ gur Grn Yrnirf.)

Naabhapre: Naq vg fgnegf jvgu Wbrl'f ovt vagreivrj. Vadhvevat zvaqf jnag gb xabj:

Wbheanyvfg: Ubj qbrf vg srry gb unir n uhtr tnl sna onfr? Wbrl: Jbj! V qba�g rira xabj nal uhtr tnl crbcyr!

As I said, I think they're normal.

<snip>

I don't really see us agreeing here any time soon. ;)

Well, actually it is, because I've seen it in real life. ;)

Once again, I don't agree, but let's just leave it here.

I can't comment on that, sorry...

In article , [email] (Marita Bakken) wrote:

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Yes, maybe that's what baby Michelle did to Barbara.

Lol, alright then, you know what I mean. :)

Absolutely.

Lol, she might...

Yeah, and the world's best chocolate chip cookies.

It sounds like they're stuck in the 19th century.

Okay. :)

Indeedy.

The water's the biggest bit!

It's a beautiful place, but you don't have to go there to drink the water, it's piped into much of the English Midlands.

Poor you.

No, 617 was set about two weeks after Valentine's day, so it took place near to 28th February 2000. Chandler's birthday was a month-and-a-half later, so that was in the middle of April 2000. Rachel's birthday came about three weeks later, on 5th May 2000.

Then in the 'magic time' of the summer 2000 hiatus, Chandler suddenly became three months older, and Rachel became 21 months younger, moving their birthdays to January & February respectively. Easy! :)

A few weeks ago, everyone was discussing what Tennant would say about events in 818/819 - may I be so vain as to ask if that happened again?

Ooh, does Joanna Jones turn up, to stop Ross & Rachel's wedding?

Yeah, check out that upper lip in a certain light.

Lol, she had Tag's photo blown up to life size?

A seething hidden mass of sexual jealousy?

Well, I still want to see a mellifluous Janice sweep Joey off his feet.

Ah, smooth.

I thought he was Dan Gottleib?

Sorry, you're right. Second-lowest ratings, not second-worst quality.

Here are 801-820 in order of how many million viewers each had...

     801   31.696
     802   30.038
     813   29.235
     803   29.202
     814   28.644
     815   28.636
     816   27.524
     806   26.956
     808   26.539
     817   26.300
     805   25.642
     804   25.581
     812   25.532
     807   24.236
     809   24.236
     811   23.847
     819   22.592
     810   22.436
     820   22.240
     818   22.047

..note that those are the finalised prime-time ratings, which are posted the Tuesday after the episode airs; not the less-reliable fast affiliate ratings, which are posted 4 days before on the Friday.

That was a lie, some of it was arj, but it wasn't nyy arj.

Ah, this is why the ratings went back up by a bit.

And this is why the ratings didn't go up by a lot.

Okay, fair enough. :)

Well...

Okay, so it's small, but they still had *two*.

Yes it's not worth arguing over a measly 400 bucks. :)

Okay sweetie, I'll take the hint. Okay? :)

Tennant

Tennant Stuart wrote in message news:...

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And Richard didn't want that to happen again with Monica.

Hehe, yeah, I know.

She'll love him to death, though.

And the best duck confit with broccoli rabe.

Unfortunately, some of them are.

Yeah, but we have wonderful water in Norway (very clean, mind you), so I want Norwegian water in my tea.

I'll have to check that when I go to England the next time.

When you get to see movies and TV-shows months before the rest of the world, it ain't that bad..

I know that, I was talking about your theory.

Shakes head.

Not really. It was just Mardi and I.

Tag's mom?

You've been checking this on the DVD?

Probably.

Something like that.

Perhaps Janice and Joey can get a spin-off. Now, that, I'd like to see.

No, his name is Dan Ginsburg. :)

Are the numbers for 808 and 809 the ratings they got after the first viewing?

NBC is famous for making a mountain out of a molehill.

Well, we didn't see Rachel, we only saw Joey, but I still know it's from that episode.

Yep, I think this was what turned some people off. The drama was gone.

The beach house could be something like the one in 325 TO At the Beach, though. Remodelling and all that.

Agreed. We've got sweeps coming up, and that's way more important.

Good. :)

In article , [email] (Marita Bakken) wrote:

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It all makes tragic sense now...

Thanks, sweetie.

Yeah, but how will that leave poor Phoebe?

Lol yes, her child will be such a gourmet. :)

Ja.

BOC

Yep.

Hehe, we get SWE2 "Attack of the Clones" eight hours before you do. :P

Oh, sorry.

Grin.

I'm still flattered. :)

Yep. :)

Not in particular, just stuff one notices.

Eep.

Ooh.

Lol, me2.

Okies - ta fish.

All the figures are the ratings *of* the first viewing. However, I've just noticed that 807 & 809 are exactly equal, so did Dan Ginsburg accidentally type in the same number twice?

Yeah.

Indeedy.

That too. The 822 promo must be very Ebff & Enpury, since the number of viewers dropped once again, despite being just before the finale.

I've just thought, maybe it was scaled down, like Central Perk is.

It's not to be sneezed at!

Okay.

Tennant

On Tue, 14 May 2002 00:46:36 BST, Tennant Stuart wrote:

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It does, doesn't it? I really feel sorry for Ross.

Phoebe?

No fried stuff with cheese? ;)

Lol! I saw that on the web this weekend, so I could have downloaded it then. But I refuse to watch Star Wars on my computer screen.

Grin. Good.

Yeah, I know. I do that too. :)

"Joey and Janice's Show of Fun!"

Did you ask him?

Do you want an answer to that assumption?

Could be, but in that case the camera crew is doing an excellent job. :)

Grin.

In article , [email] (Marita Bakken) wrote:

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Well, at least Rachel's mother was a lovely person six years ago. If we should ever see her again - and we ought to, since we still don't know if Sandra has been told the big news - then we need not feel quite so sorry for Ross just as long as she hasn't since turned into a dragon.

That's right. The score will be Rachel 1�, Monica 1, Phoebe -3.

Hehe, not with Chandler in the house!

Oh, I didn't mean that - the movie is released on the same day around the world, so Australia gets it first, and west coast USA last.

Thanks.

Yeah, only better than I do.

What a great title!

Yes, he said he's checked his figures, and he got it right; so I asked him to check if Nielsen got it right.

Nope, especially since the number of viewers didn't drop. As I warned elsewhere, that was an extrapolation from the fast affiliates figures; yet when the final prime-time ratings came out yesterday, it turns out the number of viewers went up by a tiny amount (0.3 million) but being just before the finale, the figures should've shot up 20 times higher.

Same excellent camera crew, same excellent job?

Tennant

Tennant Stuart wrote:

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Well, if she has turned into a dragon, Joey "Dragon" Tribbiani is probably the only one who can handle her. He kissed her in 222 TOW Two Parties, so he should be able to set her straight.

Oh! Gotcha now. :) Yes, I truly hope she can find some happiness next season.

Perhaps he'll be okay with it if she makes him some mozzarella sticks.

I know (in fact, I should have been in Norway now to watch it really early), but I'm just pointing out that one could have downloaded it even earlier.

Hehe, I think we're both doing a good job. ;)

I know. One can only imagine what their baseball-episode would be like.

Yeah, I trust his numbers. He's really serious about the ratings, so I think he's right.

I figured, so I'm not going to comment on it. Meanwhile, the finale had an estimated 34.9 million viewers, making it the second most watched Friends-episode ever.

Hehe, probably.

In article , [email] (Marita Bakken) wrote:

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Oh yes, good idea! I'd like to see that.

Good.

Yep.

Only with jalepino poppers.

Yes, yes. Okay. :)

Awww... that's sweet of you, thanks. I agree. :)

Please please please please please please please be on the 301 DVD...

..the uncut versions of 101, 501, 701, and 801 are all very long.

Yep.

Thanks.

So I heard. If accurate - and bear in mind that fast affiliates figures are rather unreliable - that wasn't 20 times but 35 times higher.

Exactly.

Tennant

Tennant Stuart wrote:

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Also, this would provide the writers with a perfect opportunity to give Joey a final closure scene.

BOC. They're the most important part, and they're easy to clean/rinse.

With a little bit of luck, they'll release the S3 DVDs in time for Christmas. We can always hope, right?

Yeah, I loved all of them. Too bad I only have the uncut version of 501 on tape.

And the final numbers were amazing.

In article , [email] (Marita Bakken) wrote:

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Why?

That depends on where they've been!

It's not impossible.

S2 is due out in September, so they'll need something for December.

Oh, yeah, too bad. I don't have it at all. :(

That was the final number - it was 34,910,000 in the end.

Tennant

On Fri, 31 May 2002 05:50:55 BST, Tennant Stuart wrote:

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Any interaction with a member of the Green-clan is better than nothing.

Eww..

Absolutely. The last BoF volumes were released around November 20th last year, just in time for the Christmas shopping, so I think we can look forward to season 3 before the end of the year.

I'm sorry... But maybe we'll get the entire season 5 uncut on DVD next year. :)

Yep, I heard. Fantastic. :)

In article , [email] (Marita Bakken) wrote:

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Maybe, but why write a final closure scene?

The ratings are seven million down, and if the show is ever to ride high again, BKC will have to write a new openure scene.

Exactly.

Yay!

Yes!! :)

Highest ever for a Thursday episode!

Tennant

On Tue, 4 Jun 2002, an infinite number of monkeys, masquerading as Tennant Stuart typed this -

The potential cost of my imported Friends S8 box-set is rising all the time - the Euro seems to be rising rapidly against the pound. :(

In article , Paul Hyett wrote:

Eek, maybe you should have bought the discs earlier.

Tennant

On Sat, 8 Jun 2002, an infinite number of monkeys, masquerading as Tennant Stuart typed this -

I can hardly buy a box-set before the *whole* season is released on DVD though! :)

Besides, buying 4 episodes at a time on DVD will cost �100+, and that's still *waaaaaay* more expensive than from DVDzone2!

In article , Paul Hyett wrote:

That's why I said "discs", not "set".

That's up to you.

Tennant

On Sat, 8 Jun 2002, an infinite number of monkeys, masquerading as Tennant Stuart typed this -

Or my poor suffering bank balance. :)

In article , Paul Hyett wrote:

You could always try selling off the family silver.

Tennant

Paul Hyett wrote:

Which means my England trip at the end of July is getting cheaper by the minute ;)

Andr�

fOn Tue, 04 Jun 2002 18:41:48 BST, Tennant Stuart wrote:

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I listen to the RnR-fans too much, don't I? :)

Seriously, though, I don't see a big future for Joey and Rachel no matter what they decide to do with this story in the future. Seeing that many fans, especially in the USA, would go ballistic if the parents of the baby don't ultimately end up together, I'd be very surprised indeed if BKC opted for such a controversial move.

Having said that, I'd be very happy if they did choose to have a surprising ending for the three characters (R/R/J), and perhaps Rachel doesn't have to end up with any of them.

In article , [email] (Marita Bakken) wrote:

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Awww...

Even if those fans did go ballistic, the vast majority of them would keep on watching the show. But there are another seven million Americans who only watch when Rachel is with Joey, or Ross is with someone else.

Could be. Expect the unexpected.

Tennant

On Sat, 8 Jun 2002, an infinite number of monkeys, masquerading as Tennant Stuart typed this -

But if you expect it, it can't be an *unexpected* ending any longer. :)

In article , Paul Hyett wrote:

Ah, the conundrumity of it all.

Tennant

On Sat, 8 Jun 2002, an infinite number of monkeys, masquerading as Tennant Stuart typed this -

That's not *even* a word! :)

In article , Paul Hyett wrote:

Grin. Monica, 412 "TOW the Embryos", Scene 7.

"'When I use a word', Humpty Dumpty said in rather a scornful tone, 'it means just what I choose it to mean - neither more nor less.'"

• - "Through the Looking Glass", by Lewis Carroll, Chapter 6.

Tennant

On Sat, 08 Jun 2002 00:31:54 BST, Tennant Stuart wrote:

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Some of them have very strong opinions, and they can get pretty loud... :)

Not to mention the international fans who have yet to make up their minds as to which guy Rachel should end up with in the end.

This is turning into an episode of The X-Files. :)

In article , [email] (Marita Bakken) wrote:

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Just remind them that Ross is allergic to lobster.

Exactly, there's about a hundred million of us.

Hehe, if Ross & Joey can sort something out, the truce is out there...

Tennant

On Mon, 10 Jun 2002 00:44:39 BST, Tennant Stuart wrote:

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Perhaps Rachel should carry a shot or a squirt gun from now on if she really is his lobster?

Strangely enough, all the people I've shown the new episodes to, are rooting for Joey.

Hehe, it certainly is. A girl cannot come between these two nap partners.

In article , [email] (Marita Bakken) wrote:

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You mean like Luisa Gianetti?

That's probably right. The thing is that all the people I've shown the new episodes to, are people who couldn't watch Season 4 when the show moved from network television to a satellite subscription channel.

The first thing they saw was that RnR didn't get back together again after all, as they had hoped; and then that CnM didn't get together in the first place, as I had predicted. :(

Exactly. Of Joey's five friends, Ross is the most supportive.

Tennant

On Wed, 12 Jun 2002 00:47:59 BST, Tennant Stuart wrote:

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Sort of. I was just thinking of Ross's suggestion in 206 TOW the Baby On the Bus.

OIC. My friends have either watched season 7 on TV here or on C4. We therefore had a long Friends-marathon when I came back from the States. :)

So does this mean that more people are watching the new episodes on E4 than on C4?

Especially in 815 and 816.

In article , [email] (Marita Bakken) wrote:

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Oh - lol, that was a thquirt gun... ;)

People in Norway are watching the British C4?

No, because it's on digital TV, and only about 10 million have got that.

Absolutely.

Tennant

On Sat, 15 Jun 2002 17:53:28 BST, Tennant Stuart wrote:

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Lol! Yeah, my mistake. BTW, they can buy the thquirt gun for the money they made at Jack and Judy's anniversary...

No, but one of my Norwegian friends lives in Britain. :)

Oh, I see. C4 is going to start showing the new episodes soon, aren't they?

In article , [email] (Marita Bakken) wrote:

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Abtholutely!

OIC...

July 5th, which is a week earlier than normal.

Tennant

On Wed, 19 Jun 2002 23:21:45 BST, Tennant Stuart wrote:

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And then they can live happily ever after -- thanks to the thquirt gun.

Oh, it's getting close then. Norway still has to wait until August or September for the season premiere of season 8.

In article , [email] (Marita Bakken) wrote:

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Hehe.

Yep. We've got 13 days 4 hours 10 minutes 56 seconds to go...

That's not too bad.

Tennant

On Sat, 22 Jun 2002 17:49:04 BST, Tennant Stuart wrote:

It seems so weird to air a premiere of something that popular in the middle of the summer when many people are on vacation.

The people who live here sure think it's too bad.

In article , [email] (Marita Bakken) wrote:

They had to wait until the season finished in digital TV, and they have to finish showing it by Christmas.

Well, be careful of my reviews, because the spoiler space is coming off.

Tennant

On Tue, 25 Jun 2002, an infinite number of monkeys, masquerading as Tennant Stuart typed this -

Remember - no cheating by posting them at 9pm instead of 9.30pm! :)

In article , Paul Hyett wrote:

They'll be timed at 9pm, but they won't arrive on UMTF until later.

Tennant

On Wed, 26 Jun 2002, an infinite number of monkeys, masquerading as Tennant Stuart typed this -

I tend to go on-line as the credits start rolling, so no matter what time my post is stamped, it can't arrive on the NG until after the episode finishes.

In article , Paul Hyett wrote:

Ah.

Tennant

Tennant Stuart wrote:

the

OIC. We don't have any of that. The S7 finale aired here for the second time last night, and that's the most recent episode they've seen.

off.

It's about time the rest of the world get to see these episodes. :)

In article , [email] (Marita Bakken) wrote: