I was reading a book about the 98-99 TV season called "Showrunners" that featured some stuff about Friends' 5th season, and in it, BK&C are congratulated for making the fact Carol's gay more than a few quick laughs. Huh? Aside from mentioning in TOW the Lesbian Wedding that the fact she's lesbian has estranged Carol from her parents, *every* time the fact Carol is gay is brought up it is done for quick laughs, usually at Ross' expense. "Oh, by the way, Ross married a lesbian. Ha ha ha!" It appears this will be done again in the "What If/Alternate Universe" episode planned for Februrary. So that and the stuff I've heard in the news about grandparents visitation rights got me thinking: Why not do an episode featuring Carol's parents, George and Adale Willick (played by Lawrence Tierney and Bo Derick), and Ross trying to mend some fences with them for Ben's sake? The only ideas I can think up for Carol's family are: (a) She has a slutty younger sister, so Ross can say "Who'd've thought I'd end up marrying the one that *wasn't* a sexual deviant?" (b) Carol's mom (or her dad) has always blamed Ross for Carol "going lez" which ties into the fact Ross has occasionally blamed himself as well (shown in TOW Phoebe's Husband). (c) Carol's dad (or her mom) had some strong suspicions Carol was gay, but had hoped Ross would be able to change her. Ross admits he thought he could change Carol as well, which is why he stayed married to her as long as he did (explaining the year-long space of time between TOW the Flashback and the pilot episode, which always bugged me a little). What do you think?
Bobby C.