Played by: David Schwimmer Ross was dismissive of his ex-wife’s lesbian relationship, couldn’t handle the idea of a male nanny for his child, and was the worst kind of jealous boyfriend. Rachel deserved better, TBH. And for more throwback television, here are 20 Beloved TV Shows You Won’t Believe Are 20 Years Old. Played by: Cosimo Fusco Rachel’s Italian boyfriend was fun to have around for a little while, but never forget that he exposed himself to Phoebe during a massage. Major loss of points. Played by: Alexandra Holden Elizabeth seemed nice enough, but she falls towards the bottom of this list by virtue of how she ended up in the lives of our friends. She was a student Ross dated when he was a college professor, which is yet another reason why he has the spot he does on this list. And for shows from the past that weren’t nearly as popular as Friends, here are 20 ’90s TV Shows You’ve Completely Forgotten About. Played by: Steven Eckholdt Mark was mainly used as a way to drive a wedge between Rachel and Ross (see: Ross’s extreme jealousy issues), though it did come out that he was playing the long game with her by helping her out with her career. Gross. Played by: Mitchell Whitfield As it turned out, Rachel dodged a bullet when she ran away from her wedding to Dr. Barry Farber, the “evil orthodontist.” He was sleeping with Mindy, her best friend at the time, though Rachel did return the favor by rekindling things with him when he and Mindy were officially together. Played by: Helen Baxendale Ross’s British almost-wife had some strong moments early in her arc on Friends, but the debacle that was their wedding (“I, Ross, take thee, Rachel”) turned her into one of the show’s more humorless characters. But really, who could blame her? Played by: Elle Macpherson Janine confessed that she hated her roommate/boyfriend Joey’s friends, which explains why she never really fit in with the group. And for the most quotable big screen moments of the Friends era, here are 30 Movie Quotes Every ’90s Kid Knows by Heart. Played by: Katie As adorable as he was, Ross’s pet monkey was written off the show when the human Friends cast members complained about the animal actor’s behavior, i.e. vomiting worms on set. You know, classic diva-like stuff. Played by: Paget Brewster Joey and Chandler’s friendship was tested again when Chandler fell in love with Joey’s actress girlfriend, Kathy. But it didn’t end well for them either. And for more critically acclaimed hits, here are 23 Emmy-Winning TV Shows You Can Stream Right Now. Played by: Eddie Cahill Rachel’s young assistant-turned-boyfriend was not exactly Ms. Green’s best decision. He was sweet but not very mature, though he did give excellent gifts. Played by: Anna Faris The flighty biological mother of Chandler and Monica’s children was wiser than she seemed. And for more series you’ve been missing since they went off the air, here are 15 Classic TV Shows You Didn’t Know You Could Stream Right Now. Played by: Adam Goldbergae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb Friends wouldn’t have been a show about New York if it didn’t include the quintessential “nightmare roommate” experience. And boy, did Eddie the Sleeper Creeper deliver. Played by: Lauren Tom Julie, a fellow paleontologist Ross started seeing during his trip to China, was way more understanding of all the Ross and Rachel drama happening around her than she needed to be. We hope she found true love. And for more fun content delivered right to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter. Played by: Cole Sprouse Ben was the ideal sitcom kid, in that he wasn’t always around. He’s also the reason we got the Holiday Armadillo and Rachel and Ross’s prank war, two of Friends’ most iconic moments. Played by: John Favreau Monica’s sweet, puppy dog of a billionaire boyfriend could have been the one—if he hadn’t been so determined to become the Ultimate Fighting Champion, that is. Played by: Larry Rankin Every sitcom needs a weird neighbor. And with his bathrobe, his compulsive lying, and his broom banging, Mr. Heckles was one of the best. May he rest in peace. Played by: Aisha Tyler A point on another Friends love triangle, the brilliant and accomplished Charlie was so obviously a better match for Ross than Joey. But really, she deserved better than both of them. Played by: Christina Pickles Ross and Monica’s mother was relentlessly critical of her daughter’s choices, leaving fans wondering just how much deeper her jabs could go. Played by: James Michael Tyler As reliable as a cup of Central Perk coffee (not served by Rachel), Gunther was also an excellent Bryce on All My Children. Played by: Jane Sibbett Ross’s ex-wife put up with a lot while trying to co-parent with him, and she did it with grace and humor. Played by: Hank Azaria For a while, it seemed like David, the sweet scientist who moved to Minsk, was going to be the one that got away for Phoebe. Played by: Unknown Whether they were racing for Nutter Butters or getting stuck in the VCR, the chick and the duck were way more fun and more manageable than Marcel. Played by: Giovanni Ribisi Phoebe and her little brother seemed like wildly different people (one of them may have been a pyromanic), but they forged a really tight sibling bond, which only got more intense when Phoebe carried triplets for Frank and his wife. Played by: Elliott Gould Monica and Ross’s dad was the king of non-sequiturs and even a brief crush object for Phoebe. Played by: June Gable Joey’s agent smoked like a chimney and seemed to be stuck permanently in the ’70s, but she believed in him, and that’s all that matters. Played by: Tom Selleck It caused some controversy in her family when Monica started dating her father’s friend Richard, but what else was she supposed to do? It’s Tom Selleck! Played by: Paul Rudd Mike Hannigan was Phoebe’s endgame, and rightfully so. No one can rock the air piano like him. Played by: Jessica Hecht Carol’s wife, Susan, always had a sarcastic remark ready, delivered in a killer deadpan. Played by: Maggie Wheeler As the girlfriend who just kept coming back, Janice also got the show’s best catchphrase. Everybody, say it with us: “Oh…my…” Played by: Lisa Kudrow A free spirit of the first order, Phoebe was definitely the most unpredictable friend. And her coffee shop songs, as bizarre as they were, were pretty darn catchy too. Played by: Courteney Cox Monica could be a control freak, but her enthusiasm was infectious. And her unexpected relationship with Chandler put new life into the show. Played by: Matt LeBlanc Joey may have seemed dim, but he knew what was most important in life: having fun, following your dreams, and ordering two pizzas every Friday night. Played by: Matthew Perry Chandler’s neuroses are still shockingly relatable. Who really knows what they’re really doing at their office job anyway? And who doesn’t worry about dying along? We all have a little bit of Miss Chanandler Bong in us. Played by: Jennifer Aniston Friends started when Rachel Green ran into Central Perk in her wedding dress, and over the years, she became an independent person, a businesswoman, and a mom. And she did it all while serving the best ’90s and ’00s fashion. And the hair. You can’t forget the hair. And for more on “The Rachels” of their time, check out The “It” Hairstyle the Year You Were Born.
