If there’s one show we all miss, it’s Friends. Though this classic show was meant to entertain us, it does carry some imporant messages – and some silly ones. Here are 13 little lessons and facts we learned from 10 hilarious seasons of Friends.
1. Never use “we were on a break” as an excuse.
You may recall from season three that Ross and Rachel took a brief break from their relationship. Within that short time span, Ross spent a little time with “The Xerox Girl.” Though Rachel was devasted when she found out, Ross claims that it was justified because they “were on a break!” This phrase is repeated countless times throughout the remaining seven seasons. If there’s one thing we learned from Ross and Rachel’s experience, it’s that “we were on a break!” is never a good excuse for cheating – always try to stay out of that gray area.
2. Don’t count in “Mississippis” at the tanning booth.
Jealous of Monica’s spray-on tan, Ross tries to get one himself. Unfortunately Ross misunderstands how to count to five in the booth and gets much tanner then he intended. Always know what you’re getting yourself into at the tanning salon, ladies (and gentlemen, in this case)!
3. Always think outside the box.
In the seventh season, Ross finally has his son, Ben, for the holidays. Feeling like Ben is only exposed to Christmas traditions, Ross attempts to teach Ben a little about his Jewish heritage. He wants to entertain Ben but can’t rent any Christmas suits so last minute, so he invents “Santa’s Tex-Mex friend: the Holiday Armadillo.” Though it’s not the typical mascot, Ross’s creative character gets the idea across. Ross and the other members of the Friends gang (namely Phoebe) are always thinking outside of the box, which is a great way to provoke creative ideas and new thoughts!
4. Humor is always a good coping mechanism.
All Friends fans know that Chandler is “the funny one” of the group, always cracking jokes and poking fun at the other characters. Chandler grew up with what he calls a troubled childhood and claims that all his untimely jokes are just a coping mechanism. Whenever you’re in a stressful situation, think like Chandler and crack an (appropriate) joke to ease the tension!
5. Don’t let yourself get too distracted.
In one episode of the second season, Joey and Chandler (unfortunately) offer to babysit Ben. The two notice that the baby gets them a lot of female attention, especially from two girls they meet on the bus. Just they all agree to go have drinks, the guys notice that they don’t have Ben. They immediately realize that they must have left him on the bus. This situation teaches us a couple lessons – one being to fulfill your responsibilites without getting distracted!
6. Sometimes, living with your best friend is not the best idea.
Rachel and Monica go way back to when they were friends in high school. Though the two are a prime example of a good friendships, they do have their bad times. In numerous episodes, the two bicker, argue and even physically fight – mostly about guys. Though you and your BFF might make good friends, that doesn’t mean you’ll always be the perfect roommates.
7. Other times, it is.
Needless to say, Rachel and Monica (and Joey and Chandler) make a great pair. The episode in which Rachel moves out of her and Monica’s apartment and Chandler moves out of his and Joey’s is one of the funniest and most heartfelt of the 10 seasons. Though you and your roomie may have some disagreements, there will always be a bond between the two of you!
8. It’s never too late to act like a kid again.
Though the six main characters of Friends are in their late 20s and 30s, they don’t always act their age. Just look at Joey – he’s obsessed with pizza and sleeps with a stuffed penguin. Friends teaches us that you can never be too old to act like a kid again.
9. Respect others’ thoughts and opinions – even if they seem crazy.
We all know that Phoebe is a little out there, but we were still surprised by her in this episode. Phoebe finds a lost cat and claims that it carries the soul of her mother. Unfortunately, it turns out the cat belongs to a little girl and the group has to force her to let her “mother” go. Though the group thinks Phoebe is a little crazy, they respect her opinions and let her down gently. Think like the Friends gang and always respect others’ thoughts and opinions – even if they seem a little odd!
10. Having a crush can really take a toll on you.
Throughout the series, the three main girls go through a lot of crushes. There’s Richard, Mark, David, a few famous celebrities the girls fight over… and tons in between. The girls do a great job representing what it’s like to have crushes that don’t work out as they turn to food, alcohol and each other for comfort.
11. Ducks and chicks make the best pets.
After hearing about pet chicks on the news, Joey decides to buy Chandler one to cheer him up. The chick ends up causing bickering between the two, so Chandler goes to return it. Instead of returning without the chick, he comes back not only with his small fluffy friend, but also a pet duck. The two animals become recurring characters for the rest of the show. It’s probably best that you’re not allowed pets in your dorm room, though, because the chick and duck end up causing various problems throughout the series!
12. It’s possible to drink a gallon of milk in 10 seconds.
In one episode, Joey is trying to boost his resume by learning French. Though he pretty much fails at that task, he still has one special skill – drinking a gallon of milk in 10 seconds. Here’s a tip though: don’t put that on your resume.
13. “How you doin’?” is a valid pick-up line.
Okay, so it sounds a little sleazy. But if a young Matt LeBlanc came up to you and asked how you were “doin’,” we’re sure you would at least consider giving him a chance.