The One Where My Thursdays Become More Entertaining
The first episode of the much-publicized television program "Friends" aired.
Then a whole lot of crap happened.
Now we are looking to the last episode of Friends.
And there is much rejoicing.
You may ask, "if you don't like the show, why do you watch?" Because I'm married. Oh yes, I'm married. When you first fall in love with someone, you put that person on a pedestal (or pedistal, depending on your spell-checker capabilities) and you do things you wouldn't normally do. Sooner or later things happen which cause you to think that, maybe, that person wouldn't make the Garden of Eden seem relatively like a landfill.
"Whatcha watching?"
"Friends."
*whoop* *whoop* WARNING! WARNING! WE HAVE A BREECH IN PEDESTAL STRUCTURE! EVACUATE! EVACUATE! *whoop* *whoop*
Okay, so maybe Friends isn't that bad. And maybe I should have capitalized the letters in "whoop." But sometimes you look at a television show and think to yourself, "I turned the Nintendo system off for THIS?"
Anyway, I have seen the show enough to know a bit about Phoebe, Monica, Joey, Chandler, Rachel, and Rod.
I remember the first funny joke on the show. Someone went into the apartment and said something about having big news or good news or something. Chandler said, "What? The fifth dentist finally caved in?"
This show has been one of trials and tribulations. Like the time it was up against the Simpsons, which caused trials in our household. Then there was the time it was up against Whose Line is it Anyways? That caused tribulations in our household. Sure, we've always had two televisions, but who wants the use the lesser television? Not me; especially when I have to give up quality time with the quality television for a sitcom like Friends.
It's not that I don't appreciate Friends. I do. I'm always amazed by the coffee shop. I don't know what's going on but, even though the couch and the armchairs take up about eighty percent of the floor space, no one goes near them except for the Friends and their friends. The place can be packed with people standing, but no one dares go to the couch or armchairs to relax. Except Peter DeLuise and Nicky Katt. But that was to claim territory and pick a fight with Chandler. Oh, and Billy Crystal and Robin Williams did, also, but they quickly left because the Friends gang was so confused by other people sitting. Maybe everyone but the Friends knows that the furniture pieces are for decoration. Maybe everyone else notices a smell or something around the couch. Maybe everyone else saw what "that one guy did to it." Maybe it was Poppy.
Maybe at the end of the last episode, when everyone goes his or her separate way, there will be a final goodbye at that coffee shop. They all leave in one big emotional scene. After the door closes, you hear someone exclaim "Finally!" and Jerry, George, Elaine, and Kramer walk over and sit down. "You know, I've been waiting for years to sit down in this place," Jerry tells his friends. "I know I was sure getting sick of that restaurant dump!" adds Elaine. "Yeah, what was with those uncomfortable booths?" asks George. Yada, yada, yada; you get the idea.
Of course, that's not the ending I envision. Here's the one ending I hope to see and I will be dissatisfied if I do not see it.
Okay, Joey gets a job in Los Angeles and has to move there. (If my memory serves, that's where his spin off show takes place.) Chandler and Monica move to the suburb and raise the baby born during the final episode. Phoebe and her hubby start their lives together (which had to be delayed while the final episodes had her with the Friends). There is nothing surprising here. The surprise of the show is supposed to be Ross and Rachel and their relationship.
Here's how I demand it proceeds. Ross and Rachel decide to get married. They ultra quickly (during a commercial break) plan, organize, and start the wedding. They have the reception and that is where everyone says their farewells. You know how they always have the final scene, go to commercial, and then have an extra scene while credits are rolling (so that people won't leave during the commercials)? Well, during the credit scene, Rachel is dancing with Gunther. Gunther gives her a big kiss. The final shot of the entire series is of a post-kiss Rachel with a lusty "Wow! That Gunther fellow ain't bad" expression.
Okay, it doesn't translate well to words. But if you see it in your mind as I see it my mind, it truly is the one and ONLY acceptable ending for the series. Then it is time crank up the ol' Nintendo system again.
So, save some room on the couch for me!
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The opinions expressed here are solely those of the writer and do not neccessarily reflect those of the rest of the family.
© 2004, Mark Wentz