If you have only seven hours to spend watching Friends (which is available to stream on Netflix starting Jan. 1) on New Year’s Day, these are the flat out funniest episodes — ones you don’t need to have any prior knowledge about the show’s intricate history to enjoy. Presented in chronological order.
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A quick note: With 236 episodes to choose from, there were countless worthy contenders for this list, but in the end, the episodes selected had to be funny from start to finish and represent the very best whole installments of Friends. So, while some major and hugely memorable moments are not represented below — Phoebe's free-balling boyfriend, Ross' preachy pivot, Monica's sexual "seven," etc. — that does not make them any less iconic.
"The One With the Blackout" (Season 1, Episode 7)
The Plot: A city-wide blackout strands Monica (Courteney Cox), Rachel (Jennifer Aniston), Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow), Joey (Matt LeBlanc), and Ross (David Schwimmer) at the girls' apartment and traps Chandler (Matthew Perry) in — say it with me — "An ATM vestibule with Jill Goodacre" (who plays herself).
Why It's So Funny: While the gang in the apartment delivers great comedic moments — Joey's menorah, the cat attacking Ross, Mr. Heckles (Larry Hankin) trying to steal the cat, which he calls Bob Buttons — this episode is a showcase for Chandler as he chokes (literally and figuratively) while trying to play it cool around the Victoria's Secret model.
Best Line: "You know, on second thought, gum would be perfection." —Chandler
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"The One With Two Parts: Part 2" (Season 1, Episode 17)
The Plot: Ross frets over impending fatherhood while Joey is dating Phoebe's twin sister, Ursula, much to Phoebe's chagrin. After Rachel injures her ankle, Monica rushes her to the hospital, where they meet two cute doctors (George Clooney and Noah Wyle, who were starring on E.R. at the time, but play different characters here). The rub is that Rachel doesn't have health insurance so she pretends to be Monica, which wreaks havoc on their subsequent double date.
Why It's So Funny: The double-crossing double date is one of the most hilarious bits of comedy the show has ever done. As the girls' frustrations with one another take over, Monica (as Rachel) and Rachel (as Monica) begin to talk shit about one another to the doctors, who could not be more confused by what they've walked in to.
Best Line: "[hysterical laughing] Oh God, I'm so spoiled." —Monica as Rachel
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