Why does Ross say he's been married three times?

It's a sitcom convention, and it's fun to make easy brain-dead wisecracks about the guy who got married three times, but I think in real life most people who knew somebody like this would probably agree that only the first one counted. Neither of the other two were ever consummated after the actual ceremony, and in the case of Emily, he's got a pretty substantial case for abandonment. He did not marry Rachel in his right mind, and no court on earth would actually refuse to grant that annulment. There is no chance that, amidst the yammering about drug use and homosexuality, the fact that they were drunk would not come up.

Ross does not have three failed marriages. He has one failed marriage, an abortive wedding ceremony and a very strange date with Rachel. If Emily had actually come to the US and attempted to live with Ross, and THEN flew off the handle because Rachel was impossible to avoid, that would have been a marriage. As big a whiner as Ross is, and given his WE WERE ON A BREAK mantra, it really seems to me that he should be clinging to the points of law that work in his favor and make his slate cleaner. It could even have been a comic point, arguing about which marriages count and which don't.

I've only been lurking a few days, but might as well jump right in...

I see Ross as a fatalist, and, as you say, a whiner, and also somewhat of a martyr. Of course he'd cling to the fact that he'd gone through three marriage ceremonies and therefore gotten married each time. Thus, it's yet another thing that's wrong with his life. Ah, but maybe someday someone will take pity on him...

(And no, I don't dislike the character, they all have their negative as well as their positive points.)

Hi all, BTW. :)

Millan

claire abraham wrote in message news:[email]...

The way I see it, it's a good "character staple" in the future. Something that everyone knows about, and thus can put into a joke or situation quickly without a lot of prior explination (like saying Carol was gay, Emily never left England, and both Rachel and he were drunk). One way or another, the "three divorces" staple can go to show that Ross either has something very wrong with him to make three women divorce him, or he just has terrible taste in women. Either version is funny, and shows that Ross has problems. (Although I think bad taste in women is the lesser problem, and puts him in a better light.)

True. But saying he has three failed marriages is faster. Besides, having a failed marriage or three is always good for running jokes on sitcoms. (Cybil, Becker, Titus, Frasier, etc.) Whether it makes that character more and less likeable depends mostly on the character (we're supposed to dislike Becker and Titus' dad, but we like Cybil and Frasier.)

I personally think Ross saying "We were on a break" has gotten funnier over the seasons. Rachel: Oh! I am so mad! Ross, I don't think I have ever been this angry! Ross: What about the time I said we were on a break? That's a lot funnier than Ross saying "What about the time I boinked the girl from the copy place?"

He already did that in TOW Ross Hugs Rachel, which was one of DS' funnier comical moments this season and also brought newer viewers up to speed.

Ross: .once you know the stories, it's not that bad. First marriage, wife's hidden sexuality, not my fault. Second marriage, said the wrong name at the altar, a little my fault. Third marriage, well they really shouldn't allow you to get married when you're that drunk and have writing all over your face, Nevada's fault.

Saying that again with Paul would have been repetetive to the viewers. Also, it makes Ross look more like a pathetic loser to just say he's had three failed marriages than go into the (rather drawn-out) details behind Marriages #2 and #3. The Friends writing staff seem to get the most laughs out of Ross looking like a loser anyway. I think it's a Daffy Duck thing: Ross is only funny when he loses.

Bobby C.

In article , "ROBERT COAKLEY" wrote:

It's often overlooked that Frasier Crane has *two* ex-wives.

Tennant

I could be wrong, but didn't Diane leave him at the altar?

The first was Nanny G, Emma Thompson The second Lilith.

Jac

And he's a psychoanalyst, not a psychiatrist.

Which season was that?

Wait, this happened well after season 5, right? That explains why I didn't know about Nanny G or whatever. I stopped watching when Diane left.

They married in college or shortly afterwards. She turns up in a guest role in Cheers, not Frasier.

didn't

I think that would explain it. Lilith and Frasier were dating when Diane left (I've just seen the ep where they're flirting on the tv show, oddly enough, and Diane's definitely in that!)

Jac

Jacqui wrote:

Emma Thompson appeared as Nanny Gee in "Cheers", Season Ten Episode 16, "One Hugs, The Other Doesn't", first aired on January 30th 1992.

Tennant

James Squire wrote:

Yup. I kept watching, but my interest fell big-time after Diane left. Sam was so 2 dimensional it was pathetic.

James Squire wrote:

Yes she did. Before Frasier was married to Lilith, he was married for a short time to that woman who was a children's performer. I can't remember her name, but I remember that she sang a song at Freddy's birthday party where she was basically trying to hit on Frasier.

Jay

Yesterday I saw a Frasier episode and Frasier said (paraphrased) "I've been divorced twice and left at the altar once" So, yes, you're right.

Millan

[email] wrote:

Well, Ross was pretty much left at the altar right AFTER the words "Man and Wife!" He should go to Frasier for some therapy. It could be quite a sweep stunt. Then Frasier should try to go out with Rachel. I see deep comic potential here.

claire abraham wrote:

Oh man. That would be HILARIOUS.!!

In article , claire abraham wrote:

It's not impossible, as both Chandler and Niles & Daphne have appeared in episodes of "Caroline in the City".

Tennant

It doesnt matter how long they have actually been married. Ross married the lesbo....Married Racheal when they were drunk in Vegas. And married Emily