It is revealed early in the series that she had been overweightwhile growing up. Monica, who develops a crush on Chandler, cooks macaroni and cheese for him instead. This is the first and only episode in which the white dog is named (Pat). Directed by Kevin Bright. Every time Monica gets into a … While it is true that the first episode of "Friends" that included Fat Monica aired in February of 1996, and times have changed in the last two decades, many TV shows and movies today are still guilty of the same crimes. The plot centers on Ross's (David Schwimmer) anxiety as his friends take too long getting ready for a function that evening.. Ross's complaint that his divorce and eviction means he is having the worst Thanksgiving ever prompts the others to tell their stories of bad holidays gone by. Created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, and portrayed by actress Courteney Cox, Monica appears all of the show's 236 episodes, from its premiere in 1994, to its finale in 2004. But that would have deprived it of “reliable” laughs at the expense of a fictional fat character doing normal things like eating, dancing, or simply living. "Fat Monica" fed into the whole media perpetuated image of overweight individuals as punchlines and nothing more. Monica is still fat and dating a doctor. [14], "Friends Episode: "The One with the Thanksgiving Flashbacks, "Friends – The One With All The Thanksgivings", "Warner Home Video Brings the Emmy-Winning TV Show FRIENDS To DVD and VHS for the First Time on December 19", "Top 5: Funny Thanksgiving TV shows for which we're grateful", The One with Monica and Chandler's Wedding, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_One_with_All_the_Thanksgivings&oldid=969024758, Pages using citations with accessdate and no URL, Pages containing links to subscription-only content, Short description is different from Wikidata, Television episode articles with short description for single episodes, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 22 July 2020, at 23:19. And speaking of characters from Friends that did not age well, “Fat Monica” is another big point of contention for some fans. Ironically this is what made her lose all the weight, but that wasn’t the whole story. Together with Phoebe and Rachel, she decides to … Fat Monica appears in just four episodes over the course of the 10-season series, but she is referenced in nearly half. Joey tries to come up with a less ethnic-sounding stage name. [10] The popularity of this episode placed it on one of the first Region 1 "best of" DVD releases. "[4] They also were concerned that a flashback episode would be mistaken for a clip show, but felt it would be believable because they were "flashing so far back into the past. The gang remember and share with each other their worst Thanksgivings. Fat Monica. He is rushed to the hospital to have it reattached but, in the commotion, Monica inadvertently mixes up the toe with a carrot. It first aired on the NBC network in the United States on November 19, 1998. Monica Eng Reporter, Curious City ... One listener letter inspires this week’s Chewing the Fat episode of MYTHBUSTING THE FAT. A scene that could have been used to demonstrate that Fat Monica was cool and confident regardless of living in a fatphobic society instead becomes another example of Friends’ lazy approach to fatness as comedy. Monica E. Geller is a fictional character on the popular U.S. television sitcom Friends (1994–2004), played by Courteney Cox. Chandler's "flock of seagulls" hairstyle, mentioned in a previous episode, was based on the 1980s time period. [1], Debra McGuire was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Costume Design for a Series, while the mixers were nominated for Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy Series or a Special. "The One Where No One's Ready" is the second episode of the third season of the American television sitcom Friends and 50th overall, which aired on NBC on September 26, 1996. Come watch her make funny faces! Chandler is an aspiring writer and Phoebe is a Wall The gang considers what things might have been like if their lives had taken different courses. ). Ross is forced to give away Marcel. Fat Monica was the past self of present-day Thin Monica, and that was a part of the appeal. Some point out characters like womanizer Joey (Matt LeBlanc) have certainly not aged well. Subscribe like… dance, hot, speedo, fat guy # dance # hot # speedo # fat guy. “Problematicness” is one thing, but it’s more accurate to say that Fat Monica is an intrinsic part of Friends’ canon that it cannot seem to escape, even 25 years later. Rachel reveals that is not the story she was referring to. As mentioned above, Monica’s “fat past” was constantly mentioned by her friends (including her brother), and all the times she was on screen it was merely for the laughs. Subscribe. Since airing, it frequently ranks high in polls about the series' best episode. With Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc. With Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc. Monica befriends the woman who stole her credit card. [4][5] When discussing story ideas, the writers decided to create "a bunch of little pieces", until someone suggested "what if it's the worst Thanksgivings? T… Monica E. Geller-Bing is a fictional character, one of the six main characters who appears on the American sitcom Friends (1994–2004). It didn’t matter how much skinny Monica had grown. [11] It was also released as part of Friends: The Complete Fifth Season in Regions 1, 2, and 4. Fat Monica was an exaggerated version of Monica, and perpetuated the film and TV stereotype of overweight individuals as punchlines and unlovable characters. fat monica geller dancing 83183 GIFs. Ross's (David Schwimmer) complaint that his divorce and eviction means he is having the worst Thanksgiving ever prompts the others to tell their stories. She only became a "worthy" character after she lost the weight, or … Chandler reminds everyone of the Thanksgiving where his parents told him they were getting a divorce. Friends, Episode I: The One Where Monica Gets a Roommate 28034372 Monica E. Geller-Bing is a fictional character, one of the six main characters who appears on the American sitcom Friends (1994–2004). "[6] According to Kauffman, certain scenes filmed in the apartment were shot in advance because "it was all over the place"; the cast were tired and full and their energy levels were low. Some prefer to view the show with rose-colored, nostalgic-tinged glasses. [4], Elliott Gould and Christina Pickles reprised their roles as Jack and Judy Geller. Take Melissa McCarthy's character in the popular movie "Bridesmaids." Fat Monica is often seen eating sloppily, wiping chocolate from her face, or licking powdered sugar from her fingers. [6], A special rubber and foam turkey was created for Joey and Monica to place on their heads for sanitary and insurance reasons. The episode earned Debra McGuire a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Costume Design for a Series. Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) reveals Monica's worst Thanksgiving—accidentally cutting off Chandler's toe after he called her "fat" in their first encounter. The producers knew from past recordings that the audience responded well to seeing "the Friends as they were" and decided to incorporate a flashback episode into a Thanksgiving special. The fact that she eventually became thin undoubtedly made it easier for me to love her. Career Edit. [4] Dramatic music was dubbed over instead. It is unfathomable to people like Joey that Monica existed and would have certainly eaten “the real” Monica if she had. A tag scene shows another of Phoebe's past life memories as she serves in a World War I field hospital in 1915 and again loses an arm. Fat virgin Monica is dating Roger and considers having sex with him for the first time. If you really observe how Chandler looks across all the seasons of FRIENDS, you will find a Matthew Perry 1 initially. [5] The comedic content was bigger than usual, because Phoebe's arm was blown off and Joey's head stuck in a turkey. Chandler and Monica have known each other since they were in their late teens. The group also learns that when Chandler returned the following year after she’s lost all the weight, Monica was still upset. Some praise it as one of the funniest sitcoms of all time. But later on in the episode, she is attacked by a jellyfish. Thus, Friends’ accidentally demonstrates how fatphobia and fat-shaming are used as forms of control and regulation regarding beauty and specifically respect where cis women are concerned. A flashback approach was incorporated as the producers realized the audience responded well to it, despite concern the episode might be confused for a clip show. She had a slightly difficult childhood, characterized by the bickering which took place between her and her brother (some culminating in memorable events such as the Geller Cup, which took place every Thanksgiving). Phoebe then tells of a worse one from a past life where she lost an arm, though Ross disqualifies her story, limiting the tales to present lives. The Adam and Dr. Drew Show Play. Discussing the legacy of Friends can lead to a lot of disagreement. She yells, “Damn all the jellyfish,” and the hotness of her outfit is totally lost behind the drama. Oct 28, 2019 - 7,087 Likes, 103 Comments - Lorna Kelleher (@lornakelleherart) on Instagram: “Fat Monica is the cutest Friend It killed me in the Thanksgiving episode where she overhears…” © Copyright 2020 Meredith Corporation. [8] It aired on Channel 4 on August 27, 1999 and was watched by 4.40 million viewers making Friends the channel's third-highest rated program for the week ending August 29, 1999. Even if you overlook the fatphobia that follows this character around like a shadow, you’ll find that the biggest problem with Fat Monica is how the show used her to garner cheap laughs in the laziest ways possible. Rachel says she knows Monica's worst Thanksgiving, but Phoebe interrupts with a story about the Thanksgiving whe… The set for the Geller house was used previously in "The One Where Joey Moves Out", for Jack's birthday party and in the season seven episode "The One Where Rosita Dies", when Ross and Monica visit their parent's garage. Summary: Monica solves the problem of having to choose between Rachel and Phoebe to be her maid-of-honor by leaving it up to them. She begins to wonder what life might be if she didn't run out on her wedding and actually married Barry. The episode was directed by Kevin S. Bright and written by Gregory S. Malins. Here is Monica laying on the beach, looking very hot in a string bikini. In the two episodes "The One That Could Have Been" (Part 1 & 2) the opening credits have been changed: you see the alter-egos of the cast members in the "alternate reality" (Monica still being fat, Joey as famous actor etc. One of the most consistent themes running through all 10 seasons of Friends was fat shaming Monica. Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow) then tells of story from a past life when she was an American Civil War nurse in 1862 and lost an arm, though Ross objects, with the demand of only tales of present lives. Fat Monica worked in a horrendously offensive sense in that — in an era where SlimFast was popping, extremely thin models like Kate Moss were It girls, and “heroin chic” was the prevailing fashion trend — pop culture fed a hysteria over being or becoming fat. In “The One With All the Thanksgivings,” a young Monica and Chandler (Matthew Perry) finally meet and though she develops a crush, she is put off by him when she overhears his disgust at her weight and then gets “revenge” on him a year later by losing weight and finally revealing herself as — what the show deems — an attractive woman. In the present, Chandler becomes upset after learning that he had lost his toe because he called Monica fat, and angrily leaves. What is also ugly is the fact that this character is weaved into other parts of the series by being the thing that normal (read: skinny) Monica is repeatedly slapped over the head with. He is so amused that he inadvertently tells her he loves her for the first time in their relationship. This is the beginning. Entertainment Weekly may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Rerun Doree Shafrir and BuzzFeed's Ashly Perez talk about physical comedy, fat Monica, and the casual bigotry of Friends in "The One With All The Thanksgivings". In “The One That Could Have Been” two-parter where Monica never loses weight in an alternate timeline, she remains a virgin for the longest time (because apparently fat people didn’t have sex in the ’90s?). [7] The episode premiered in the United Kingdom on Sky1 on February 25, 1999 and reached 1.88 million viewers which made it the most watched show that week. It first aired on the NBC network in the United States on November 19, 1998. Phoebe found out in this episode, and it was the best.She was touring Ross' new apartment and saw Monica and Chandler hooking up through the window. Could the show have treated her better? 10 funny mockumentaries to remind us about the absurdity of life, Family-friendly Halloween films for boos big and small, Here’s why Monica’s apartment walls were purple on. Barring the absurd (but relatable) quest to lose weight so that a man can see you as fully (and attractively) human, it’s a grim demonstration that even her friends and family didn’t value her until she was no longer fat and thus “normal.” This is aggravated by the fact that it’s also her so-called friends that deem it appropriate to routinely use her fat past as some sort of “gotcha” against her presently skinny self. Season 6, Episode - The One That Could Have Been, Part 1Songs - Shake Your Groove Thing, Saturday Night Bright. To excuse the continuity error, Bright adds they do not remember each other meeting because they look different. Problems arise when it turns out to be the best nap they ever had. Monica tells of what she thinks is her worst Thanksgiving. [4], The inspiration for Phoebe's character spurting blood was Dan Aykroyd's Julia Child sketch on Saturday Night Live. It was the network's second highest-rated show that week, after ER, which aired on the same night. Everything about FAT Monica in FRIENDS - Season 2 - YouTube ... Get Episode Alerts Apple Podcasts. Offers may be subject to change without notice. The flashback in Thanksgiving 1987 was Monica and Chandler's first meeting along with Rachel and Chandler. Ross begins t… trap card (like his recurring nightmare of her eating him and her apparently crushing a horse) when he thinks she’s gotten the better of him. With Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc. She also meets him in a later flashback episode, "The One Where The Stripper Cries". Sure. Directed by Kevin Bright. It morphs into a recurring gag of, “Hey, look at this fat person MOVING. Entertainment Weekly is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation All Rights Reserved. The One Where Ross Finds Out (Season 2, Episode 7) There's plenty of good stuff in this episode: … [4] For safety, the scene where Monica severed Chandler's toe was pre-shot. After watching Die Hard for the umpteenth time, Joey and Ross fall asleep curled up on the sofa together. It didn’t even matter that in an alternate timeline, she would have supposedly ended up with Chandler even with her being fat. The fact that she eventually became thin undoubtedly made it … Back in the present, Chandler apologizes to Monica for calling her fat. [4] Show creator David Crane considered the Thanksgiving-themed episode as the "hallmark show" in each season. Subscribe . [6] In the sketch, Aykroyd plays Julia Child who accidentally cuts her finger, causing blood to spurt everywhere. Sort: Relevant Newest. Warner Bros. Television; NBC, Credit: Her being fat, to begin with, and the show’s treatment of it, still lingers like a putrid stench or an unshakable specter in the background of the show, telling us — with the aid of a laugh track — that being fat is a disqualification for basic human decency, but does sure make for a good laugh. At the end of the Friends Episode, The One That Could have Been Part 1 (when Phoebe works in stocks, Ross is still with Carol etc) Fat Monica dances to a song during the credits of the first of the 2 episodes. Unsuccessful at pulling the turkey off Joey's head, which he had put on to scare Chandler, Phoebe enlists help from Monica, who needs to bring the turkey to feed a dinner party at her parents' house. Because if … Directed by Kevin Bright. Here is Monica laying on the beach, looking very hot in a string bikini. She yells, “Damn all the jellyfish,” and the hotness of her outfit is totally lost behind the drama. cat, dancing, fat, fatass # cat # dancing # fat # fatass. 23-year-old EMT speaks out about revealing article [6] The turkey stuck on Joey's head is a reference to Act 4 in "Merry Christmas, Mr. Bean" from Mr. Bean. 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