The One Where No One's Ready
Encyclopedia
"The One Where No One's Ready" is the second episode of the third season of the American
television situation comedy
Friends
, which aired on NBC
on September 26, 1996. The plot centers on Ross
's (David Schwimmer
) anxiety as his friends take too long getting ready for a function that evening.
The episode was written by Ira Ungerleider and directed by Gail Mancuso
.
) arrives at Monica's apartment to gather everyone together for an important function at his museum. He begins to freak out when no one is ready, and one unfortunate event after the other starts to happen to everyone.
Joey and Chandler - After Chandler (Matthew Perry
) comes back from the bathroom, he is dismayed to find that Joey (Matt LeBlanc
) took his chair while he was up. This causes an argument between the two which frustrates Ross. Chandler tries various tactics to make Joey get up, including name-calling, sitting on Joey's lap and waving his hand in front of Joey's face repeatedly. In an effort to move things along, Ross tells Chandler to go get ready, and then when he comes back Joey will go get ready and vacate the chair. Chandler comes back and Joey gets up to go get dressed, but Joey takes the chair cushions with him in an attempt to infuriate Chandler. Joey returns shortly after demanding to know where his underwear is. Chandler tells Joey that he hid his underwear in retaliation for taking the chair. When Ross asks Joey why he can't just wear the underwear he has on now, Joey reveals that he is not wearing any, but can't do that in a rented tuxedo (as Joey puts it, "I'm not going commando in another man's fatigues"). Joey leaves again and returns wearing everything Chandler owns and starts doing lunges in his clothes, which grosses Chandler out since Joey is not wearing underwear. Ross eventually settles the argument and demands Chandler give Joey back his underwear and Joey give Chandler back the cushions. Joey then gets dressed.
Phoebe - Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow
) arrives at Monica's apartment fully dressed and ready to go, much to Ross' delight. Unfortunately though, during Joey and Chandler's argument, Joey accidentally throws hummus
onto Phoebe's dress. She tries to ask Monica what gets out hummus, but Monica is too distracted with her own problems. Rachel then tries to find something else for Phoebe to wear, but is unsuccessful. Phoebe eventually finds a hideous, oversized Christmas ribbon in Rachel's room and wears that on her dress to cover the stain.
Monica - After arriving home, Monica (Courteney Cox
) checks her messages and hears a message from ex-boyfriend Richard (a voice cameo by Tom Selleck
). She begins to freak out, wondering if the message is old or new, Ross and the gang try to convince her that it's an old message. Monica calls Richard from her room and leaves him an awkward message; when she hears the message for herself she realizes how bad it is. She breaks into Richard's answering machine to erase it, and she hears a message from another woman. Hoping that it might just be Richard's daughter Michelle, Monica calls her and hangs up when she hears the same greeting the woman on the machine left. Monica is relieved until Michelle calls her back. Monica lets it slip that she broke into Richard's machine and she thinks that Michelle will tell her father about it. Before everyone leaves, Monica taps into Richards machine again, erasing her earlier message and leaving a new one. However, she accidentally puts her new embarrassing message as Richard's new outgoing message. She's pushed out of the apartment by Phoebe, quivering and babbling that she needs to change Richard's message... or his number, but she's "assured" he'll probably do that himself.
Rachel - (Ross and Rachel are still dating at this point in the series) When Ross arrives at the apartment, Rachel (Jennifer Aniston
) is almost ready to go, but she cannot decide on what to wear. She keeps finding little reasons not to wear particular outfits, which tries Ross' patience. Eventually he snaps and yells at her in front of everyone, demanding that she pick out any outfit so that they can get going. Rachel goes into her room and comes out shortly after in sweatpants and a sweatshirt, stating that she's not going to go. Ross tries to apologize and asks what he can do to make it up to her, Joey suggests that he drink a glass of chicken fat from Monica's fridge, Rachel agrees. Ross is about to drink it, but Rachel stops him just as the glass touches his lips. She is in disbelief that Ross would actually do that for her, and she realizes how much he really loves her. She dresses in record time and lets slip to Ross as they're leaving that she, too, is "going commando."
They all eventually manage to leave and make it to the function on time. In the scene during the credits a professor sits down in a chair at their table to talk to Ross, and when Chandler comes back he states that that was his chair and he gets in an argument with the professor similar to the one he had with Joey earlier. Chandler responds by demanding the professor's underwear.
format of the series was conceived by executive producer Kevin S. Bright as a way of saving money for other episodes by using a single set and no guest stars. The success of this episode led to the format being used at least once per season thereafter, with episodes including "The One with Monica's Thunder" and "The One On The Last Night" being based solely around the six core cast. Bright believes these episodes were some of the best of the series. This is also the only episode of Friends to take place in 'real time'.
notes that the episode "owes a large stylistic debt to Seinfeld
", specifically citing the 1991 episode "The Chinese Restaurant
", which also plays out in real time. It rates the episode C and calls the answering machine gag "derivative of George Costanza
". The authors of Friends Like Us: The Unofficial Guide to Friends call it "forgettable"; "The script is dull and the performers seem to know it, with none of them trying particularly hard to make it work". Allmovie says it "stands out for the way it realistically portrays how group inertia can slow you down".
Popular reaction is more positive; the episode appeared on one of the first region 1 "best of" DVD releases and it was voted the third most popular episode in an NBC poll in 2004. Joey's use of the phrase "going commando," which originated in the U.S. on college campuses in the early 1970s, became a popular catchphrase, especially with sports-related media.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
television situation comedy
Situation comedy
A situation comedy, often shortened to sitcom, is a genre of comedy that features characters sharing the same common environment, such as a home or workplace, accompanied with jokes as part of the dialogue...
Friends
Friends
Friends is an American sitcom created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, which aired on NBC from September 22, 1994 to May 6, 2004. The series revolves around a group of friends in Manhattan. The series was produced by Bright/Kauffman/Crane Productions, in association with Warner Bros. Television...
, which aired on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
on September 26, 1996. The plot centers on Ross
Ross Geller
Ross Eustace Geller, Ph.D. is a fictional character on the popular U.S. television series Friends, portrayed by David Schwimmer. The character is noted for his geeky, lovable demeanor.- Origin :...
's (David Schwimmer
David Schwimmer
David Lawrence Schwimmer is an American actor and director of television and film. He was born in New York City, and his family moved to Los Angeles when he was two. He began his acting career performing in school plays at Beverly Hills High School. In 1988, he graduated from Northwestern...
) anxiety as his friends take too long getting ready for a function that evening.
The episode was written by Ira Ungerleider and directed by Gail Mancuso
Gail Mancuso
Gail Mancuso is an American television director.- Select TV work :* Modern Family * $h*! My Dad Says * 30 Rock * Scrubs...
.
Plot
Ross (David SchwimmerDavid Schwimmer
David Lawrence Schwimmer is an American actor and director of television and film. He was born in New York City, and his family moved to Los Angeles when he was two. He began his acting career performing in school plays at Beverly Hills High School. In 1988, he graduated from Northwestern...
) arrives at Monica's apartment to gather everyone together for an important function at his museum. He begins to freak out when no one is ready, and one unfortunate event after the other starts to happen to everyone.
Joey and Chandler - After Chandler (Matthew Perry
Matthew Perry (actor)
Matthew Langford Perry is a Canadian-American actor and comedian, best known for his Emmy-nominated role as Chandler Bing on the popular, long-running NBC television sitcom Friends...
) comes back from the bathroom, he is dismayed to find that Joey (Matt LeBlanc
Matt LeBlanc
Matthew Steven "Matt" LeBlanc is an American actor, best known for his role as Joey Tribbiani on the NBC sitcoms Friends and its spin-off Joey....
) took his chair while he was up. This causes an argument between the two which frustrates Ross. Chandler tries various tactics to make Joey get up, including name-calling, sitting on Joey's lap and waving his hand in front of Joey's face repeatedly. In an effort to move things along, Ross tells Chandler to go get ready, and then when he comes back Joey will go get ready and vacate the chair. Chandler comes back and Joey gets up to go get dressed, but Joey takes the chair cushions with him in an attempt to infuriate Chandler. Joey returns shortly after demanding to know where his underwear is. Chandler tells Joey that he hid his underwear in retaliation for taking the chair. When Ross asks Joey why he can't just wear the underwear he has on now, Joey reveals that he is not wearing any, but can't do that in a rented tuxedo (as Joey puts it, "I'm not going commando in another man's fatigues"). Joey leaves again and returns wearing everything Chandler owns and starts doing lunges in his clothes, which grosses Chandler out since Joey is not wearing underwear. Ross eventually settles the argument and demands Chandler give Joey back his underwear and Joey give Chandler back the cushions. Joey then gets dressed.
Phoebe - Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow
Lisa Kudrow
Lisa Valerie Kudrow is an American actress, best known for her role as Phoebe Buffay in the television sitcom Friends, for which she received many accolades including an Emmy Award and two Screen Actors Guild Awards...
) arrives at Monica's apartment fully dressed and ready to go, much to Ross' delight. Unfortunately though, during Joey and Chandler's argument, Joey accidentally throws hummus
Hummus
Hummus is high in iron and vitamin C and also has significant amounts of folate and vitamin B6. The chickpeas make it a good source of protein and dietary fiber; the tahini consists mostly of sesame seeds, which are an excellent source of the amino acid methionine, complementing the proteins in the...
onto Phoebe's dress. She tries to ask Monica what gets out hummus, but Monica is too distracted with her own problems. Rachel then tries to find something else for Phoebe to wear, but is unsuccessful. Phoebe eventually finds a hideous, oversized Christmas ribbon in Rachel's room and wears that on her dress to cover the stain.
Monica - After arriving home, Monica (Courteney Cox
Courteney Cox
Courteney Bass Cox is an American actress, she is best known for her roles as Monica Geller on the NBC sitcom Friends, Gale Weathers in the horror series Scream and as Jules Cobb in the ABC sitcom Cougar Town, for which she earned her first Golden Globe nomination....
) checks her messages and hears a message from ex-boyfriend Richard (a voice cameo by Tom Selleck
Tom Selleck
Thomas William "Tom" Selleck is an American actor, and film producer. He is best known for his starring role as Hawaii-based private investigator Thomas Magnum on the 1980s television show Magnum, P.I.. He also plays Police Chief Jesse Stone in a series of made-for-TV movies based on the Robert B....
). She begins to freak out, wondering if the message is old or new, Ross and the gang try to convince her that it's an old message. Monica calls Richard from her room and leaves him an awkward message; when she hears the message for herself she realizes how bad it is. She breaks into Richard's answering machine to erase it, and she hears a message from another woman. Hoping that it might just be Richard's daughter Michelle, Monica calls her and hangs up when she hears the same greeting the woman on the machine left. Monica is relieved until Michelle calls her back. Monica lets it slip that she broke into Richard's machine and she thinks that Michelle will tell her father about it. Before everyone leaves, Monica taps into Richards machine again, erasing her earlier message and leaving a new one. However, she accidentally puts her new embarrassing message as Richard's new outgoing message. She's pushed out of the apartment by Phoebe, quivering and babbling that she needs to change Richard's message... or his number, but she's "assured" he'll probably do that himself.
Rachel - (Ross and Rachel are still dating at this point in the series) When Ross arrives at the apartment, Rachel (Jennifer Aniston
Jennifer Aniston
Jennifer Joanna Aniston is an American actress, film director, and producer, best known for her role as Rachel Green on the television sitcom Friends, a role which earned her an Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award.Aniston has also enjoyed a successful film career,...
) is almost ready to go, but she cannot decide on what to wear. She keeps finding little reasons not to wear particular outfits, which tries Ross' patience. Eventually he snaps and yells at her in front of everyone, demanding that she pick out any outfit so that they can get going. Rachel goes into her room and comes out shortly after in sweatpants and a sweatshirt, stating that she's not going to go. Ross tries to apologize and asks what he can do to make it up to her, Joey suggests that he drink a glass of chicken fat from Monica's fridge, Rachel agrees. Ross is about to drink it, but Rachel stops him just as the glass touches his lips. She is in disbelief that Ross would actually do that for her, and she realizes how much he really loves her. She dresses in record time and lets slip to Ross as they're leaving that she, too, is "going commando."
They all eventually manage to leave and make it to the function on time. In the scene during the credits a professor sits down in a chair at their table to talk to Ross, and when Chandler comes back he states that that was his chair and he gets in an argument with the professor similar to the one he had with Joey earlier. Chandler responds by demanding the professor's underwear.
Production
The Bottle episodeBottle episode
The term bottle episode is used in episodic television to refer to episodes which are produced using the least money, and restricted in their scope to use as few, or no, non-regular cast members, effects, and sets as possible...
format of the series was conceived by executive producer Kevin S. Bright as a way of saving money for other episodes by using a single set and no guest stars. The success of this episode led to the format being used at least once per season thereafter, with episodes including "The One with Monica's Thunder" and "The One On The Last Night" being based solely around the six core cast. Bright believes these episodes were some of the best of the series. This is also the only episode of Friends to take place in 'real time'.
Reception
Entertainment WeeklyEntertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
notes that the episode "owes a large stylistic debt to Seinfeld
Seinfeld
Seinfeld is an American television sitcom that originally aired on NBC from July 5, 1989, to May 14, 1998, lasting nine seasons, and is now in syndication. It was created by Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld, the latter starring as a fictionalized version of himself...
", specifically citing the 1991 episode "The Chinese Restaurant
The Chinese Restaurant
"The Chinese Restaurant" is the eleventh episode of the sitcom Seinfelds second season on NBC, and is the show's sixteenth episode overall. The episode revolves around protagonist Jerry and his friends Elaine Benes and George Costanza waiting for a table at a Chinese restaurant, on their way to...
", which also plays out in real time. It rates the episode C and calls the answering machine gag "derivative of George Costanza
George Costanza
George Louis Costanza is a character in the American television sitcom Seinfeld , played by Jason Alexander. He has variously been described as a "short, stocky, slow-witted, bald man" , "Lord of the Idiots" , and as "the greatest sitcom character of all time"...
". The authors of Friends Like Us: The Unofficial Guide to Friends call it "forgettable"; "The script is dull and the performers seem to know it, with none of them trying particularly hard to make it work". Allmovie says it "stands out for the way it realistically portrays how group inertia can slow you down".
Popular reaction is more positive; the episode appeared on one of the first region 1 "best of" DVD releases and it was voted the third most popular episode in an NBC poll in 2004. Joey's use of the phrase "going commando," which originated in the U.S. on college campuses in the early 1970s, became a popular catchphrase, especially with sports-related media.
External links
- "The One Where No One's Ready" at the Internet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...
- The One Where No One's Ready article at Friends Central.