Could there be a greater show to marathon on Thanksgiving than “Friends?”
“Friends” is a classic show to look at on turkey day, since each season had an episode themed to the vacation. It doesn’t hurt that it’s a crowd-pleasing look ahead to the entire family too.
This 12 months, it’s especially poignant, since Matthew Perry, who played Chandler, died at age 54 on Oct. 28.
All of his former co-stars paid tribute to him on Instagram, with Jennifer Aniston writing an especially heartfelt remembrance: “I confer with you day-after-day… sometimes I can almost hear you saying ‘could you BE any crazier?’” she wrote. “Rest little brother. You usually made my day.”
Within the classic Joey and Chandler fashion, Matt LeBlanc cracked a joke in his tribute, writing, “I suppose you’re keeping the 20 bucks you owe me.”
Whether you must pay tribute to Perry, or you only wish to enjoy a “Friends”-filled holiday, here’s a rating of the last word “Friends” Thanksgiving episodes.
10. “The One With the List“
This Season 2 episode happened shortly after Ross (David Schwimmer) and Rachel (Aniston) had their first kiss. Ross made a “pros and cons” list about pursuing a relationship along with her – and clearly, things went sideways when she found it, and wasn’t too completely happy. It’s a fun episode, and Ross and Rachel’s epic roller coaster of a romance was a cornerstone of the series. But, even though it has a Thanksgiving-themed subplot with Monica (Courteney Cox), this episode feels more “Ross and Rachel” centric. There are higher episodes in regards to the holiday.
9. “The One With the Late Thanksgiving”
On this Season 10 episode, Monica and Chandler attempt to get out of hosting Thanksgiving, Phoebe manipulates them into hosting it anyway, and so they get annoyed when everyone seems to be late, and Monica locks everyone out. It’s a fun episode, but it surely’s not essentially the most memorable among the many Thanksgiving episodes, and doesn’t have a colourful guest star.
8. “The One With Rachel’s Other Sister”
On this Season 9 episode, Rachel’s sister (Christina Applegate) involves dinner and offends everyone. Chandler (Perry) wants Monica to make use of their wedding china for the meal, but Monica refuses. Meanwhile, Joey realizes that he was purported to be on the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow) helps him give you an outlandish excuse for why he missed it.
7. “The One Where Ross Got High”
On this Season 6 episode, Monica is keeping her relationship with Chandler a secret from her parents, since it seems they blame Chandler for smoking pot in college, when Ross was the perpetrator. So, they fight to persuade Ross to fess up. Rachel also has a classic cooking disaster – relatable.
6. “The One With the Rumor”
On this Season 8 episode, Aniston’s then-husband, Brad Pitt, is a guest star. He plays Will, an old friend of Ross’ who involves Thanksgiving, and seems to carry a grudge against Rachel and created an “I Hate Rachel” club. Joey also puts on Phoebe’s maternity pants. It’s a classic episode, and Pitt is hilarious in it. But, the stunt casting of Pitt does steal the show from the core group (plus, the gag that Will hates Rachel was funny because Pitt and Aniston were a power-couple in real life — it loses its edge a bit and becomes darker once it loses that context).
5. “The One Where Chandler Doesn’t Like Dogs”
On this Season 7 episode, Rachel takes a date (her assistant, Tag, played by Eddie Cahill) to dinner, Ross and Chandler get into a contest to call all 50 states, and it’s revealed that Phoebe has been hiding a dog in her room, because Chandler has an aversion to the animal. It’s full of classic shenanigans from the gang.
“The One With the Football”
On this Season 3 episode, the group decides to play football — and so they discover why Monica and Ross each previously got banned due to their overly aggressive and competitive playing. It’s a fun episode and a change of scenery from going down in one in all their apartments, or in Central Perk.
“The One With Chandler In a Box”
On this Season 4 episode, Joey makes Chandler spend the day in a box (for the transgression of kissing his girlfriend). Monica has a romance with a health care provider, and there’s numerous drama around Secret Santa, since Ross is offended to understand that Rachel returns or exchanges gifts – and did that while they were dating. It’s a very good episode when you’re a fan of the Joey and Chandler friendship.
“The One Where Underdog Gets Away”
On this Season 1 episode, Monica offers to host the primary Thanksgiving dinner for the group of pals. A Thanksgiving skeptic, Chandler agrees to come back provided that it has his traditional meal of grilled cheese and funyons. There’s a side plot with Rachel trying to affix her family’s ski trip, and so they all find yourself stuck on the roof after they get locked out (after they go to look at an escaped Macy’s parade balloon). It’s a classic episode full of funny moments, absurdity, and a few heartwarming friendship.
“The One With All of the Thanksgivings”
This Season 5 episode ranks No. 1 since it’s the classic episode where Joey gets a turkey stuck on his head, in one in all the show’s most famous visuals. It’s also stuffed with flashbacks to everyone’s past worst Thanksgivings, so it’s full of fun bad facial hair (and the famous Monica fat suit). It’s got every little thing: humor (Monica puts a turkey on her head, too, in one other iconic scene), and heart – since Chandler also comes out with a love confession for Monica.