Best of Friends Volumes 3 & 4

Rating:
Summary: Not the best, merely "fan favorite" episodes of "Friends"
Review: Volumes 3 & 4 of the "Best of 'Friends'" provides a chronological progression through these "fan favorites" (Volumes 1 & 2 are devoted to the "Top 10 Episodes"). On Volume 3 we find:

(1) "The One with Chandler in a Box" (November 20, 1997), finds Chandler, who hates Thanksgiving to begin with, banished to a packing box after stealing Joey's girlfriend, Kathy. Picked as #4 on TV Guide's list of 50 Best "Friends" moments, which seems to be way too high, especially since it is my least favorite episode on this particular disc.

(2) "The One Hundredth" (October 8, 1998), has surrogate mom Phoebe delivering her brother Frank's triplets. Certainly one of the most creative ways of dealing with the pregnancy of an actress in television history, although Phoebe's Fonzie-obsessed obstetrician is a clunker. #31 on TV Guide's list.

(3) "The One with All the Resolutions" (January 7, 1999), but the only ones that matter are Chandler's New Year's vow not to make fun of his pals and the tight leather pants Ross is wearing as part of his attempt to try something new every day. The all time funniest scene of a guy with his pants down around his legs, this is #14 on TV Guide's list. This episode also sets up the grand fun of "The One Where Everybody Finds Out," which caps off Volume 2.

(4) "The One With Ross Got High" (November 25th, 1999) is yet another fun Thanksgiving Day with the sextet. The good news is that Rachel is trying to make desert and has combined recipes for English trifle and shepherd's pie. The bad news is that Mother and Father Geller cannot stand Chandler because Ross told them it was Chandler's marijuana they were smelling in his room way back when. It is time for Ross to come clean, but not before he and Monica engage in a classic bout of sibling one-up-manship as they rat each other out. #49 on the TV Guide list (way too low).

(5) "The One with the Proposal - Parts 1 and 2" (May 18, 2000), finds Chandler being too smart for his own good in his attempt to surprise Monica with his proposal. Tom Selleck returns as Richard, just to make things interesting. #10 on the TV Guide list, which also seems low for one of the most truly romantic proposals in television history (the only one I have seen that was better is when Donny proposed to Daphne; ANYONE would have said yes to that surprisingly powerful proposal from that unexpected source).

Take out Volume 3 and insert Volume 4 and you will find that only one of the episodes on this DVD were listed on TV Guide's "The 50 Best 'Friends' Moments":

(1) "The One with the Blackout" (November 3, 1994), New York City is blacked out (due to a mishap on Mad About You), and Chandler is trapped in an ATM vestibule with Jill Goodacre. The rest of the gang hangs out at Monica and Rachel's apartment watching Ugly Naked Guy light a bunch of candles. This episode also has the first appearance of Mr. Heckles.

(2) "The One with the Candy Hearts" (February 9, 1995) finds the gang suffering through Valentine's Day, where Ross is on a date and runs into Carol and Susan, while Chandler breaks up with Janice (again), and the girls decide a cleansing ritual is in order to improve their love lives.

(3) "The One Where Ross and Rachel...You Know" (February 8, 1996) might be focus be focused on the main event, the proverbial consummation devoutly to be wished, but this follow-up episode to "The One with the Prom Video" also has Joey and Chandler getting their La-Z-Boys. #40 on the TV Guide list.

(4) "The One with the Football" (November 21, 1996) is not another horrible Thanksgiving, it just seems that way. A game of touch football threatens the end of the world as we know it as Ross and Monica compete for the "Geller Cup," Chandler and Joey hit on the same Dutch girl, and Phoebe and Rachel explore notions of good sportsmanship.

(5) "The One That Could Have Been - Parts 1 & 2" (February 17, 2000) takes us into an alternative Friends universe. You see, when the gang learns Barry and Mindy are getting divorced they wonder what would have happened if (a) Rachel had gone through with her marriage to Barry, (b) Ross's wife Carol never realized she was a lesbian, (c) Joey was still on "Days of Our Lives," (d) Phoebe was a stockbroker, (e) Chandler quit his job to be a writer, and (f) Monica was still a tad overweight. As with most of these "It's a Wonderful Life" episodes, the lesson is that some things are just meant to be.

This one also includes "The One That Goes Behind the Scenes," which is a very interesting look at the first episode from the fall of 1999 (picking up on the Green-Geller surprise nuptials in Las Vegas in "The One in Vegas, Part II"). However, I have to admit that I do not know these episodes intimately enough to always recognize the ADDED FOOTAGE that is included. Having these DVDs is nice because you do not have to keep paying attention to the repeats in syndication to see your favorite scenes again.

Rating:
Summary: Not the best, merely "fan favorite" episodes of "Friends"
Review: Volumes 3 & 4 of the "Best of 'Friends'" provides a chronological progression through these "fan favorites" (Volumes 1 & 2 are devoted to the "Top 10 Episodes"). On Volume 3 we find:

(1) "The One with Chandler in a Box" (November 20, 1997), finds Chandler, who hates Thanksgiving to begin with, banished to a packing box after stealing Joey's girlfriend, Kathy. Picked as #4 on TV Guide's list of 50 Best "Friends" moments, which seems to be way too high, especially since it is my least favorite episode on this particular disc.

(2) "The One Hundredth" (October 8, 1998), has surrogate mom Phoebe delivering her brother Frank's triplets. Certainly one of the most creative ways of dealing with the pregnancy of an actress in television history, although Phoebe's Fonzie-obsessed obstetrician is a clunker. #31 on TV Guide's list.

(3) "The One with All the Resolutions" (January 7, 1999), but the only ones that matter are Chandler's New Year's vow not to make fun of his pals and the tight leather pants Ross is wearing as part of his attempt to try something new every day. The all time funniest scene of a guy with his pants down around his legs, this is #14 on TV Guide's list. This episode also sets up the grand fun of "The One Where Everybody Finds Out," which caps off Volume 2.

(4) "The One With Ross Got High" (November 25th, 1999) is yet another fun Thanksgiving Day with the sextet. The good news is that Rachel is trying to make desert and has combined recipes for English trifle and shepherd's pie. The bad news is that Mother and Father Geller cannot stand Chandler because Ross told them it was Chandler's marijuana they were smelling in his room way back when. It is time for Ross to come clean, but not before he and Monica engage in a classic bout of sibling one-up-manship as they rat each other out. #49 on the TV Guide list (way too low).

(5) "The One with the Proposal - Parts 1 and 2" (May 18, 2000), finds Chandler being too smart for his own good in his attempt to surprise Monica with his proposal. Tom Selleck returns as Richard, just to make things interesting. #10 on the TV Guide list, which also seems low for one of the most truly romantic proposals in television history (the only one I have seen that was better is when Donny proposed to Daphne; ANYONE would have said yes to that surprisingly powerful proposal from that unexpected source).

Take out Volume 3 and insert Volume 4 and you will find that only one of the episodes on this DVD were listed on TV Guide's "The 50 Best 'Friends' Moments":

(1) "The One with the Blackout" (November 3, 1994), New York City is blacked out (due to a mishap on Mad About You), and Chandler is trapped in an ATM vestibule with Jill Goodacre. The rest of the gang hangs out at Monica and Rachel's apartment watching Ugly Naked Guy light a bunch of candles. This episode also has the first appearance of Mr. Heckles.

(2) "The One with the Candy Hearts" (February 9, 1995) finds the gang suffering through Valentine's Day, where Ross is on a date and runs into Carol and Susan, while Chandler breaks up with Janice (again), and the girls decide a cleansing ritual is in order to improve their love lives.

(3) "The One Where Ross and Rachel...You Know" (February 8, 1996) might be focus be focused on the main event, the proverbial consummation devoutly to be wished, but this follow-up episode to "The One with the Prom Video" also has Joey and Chandler getting their La-Z-Boys. #40 on the TV Guide list.

(4) "The One with the Football" (November 21, 1996) is not another horrible Thanksgiving, it just seems that way. A game of touch football threatens the end of the world as we know it as Ross and Monica compete for the "Geller Cup," Chandler and Joey hit on the same Dutch girl, and Phoebe and Rachel explore notions of good sportsmanship.

(5) "The One That Could Have Been - Parts 1 & 2" (February 17, 2000) takes us into an alternative Friends universe. You see, when the gang learns Barry and Mindy are getting divorced they wonder what would have happened if (a) Rachel had gone through with her marriage to Barry, (b) Ross's wife Carol never realized she was a lesbian, (c) Joey was still on "Days of Our Lives," (d) Phoebe was a stockbroker, (e) Chandler quit his job to be a writer, and (f) Monica was still a tad overweight. As with most of these "It's a Wonderful Life" episodes, the lesson is that some things are just meant to be.

This one also includes "The One That Goes Behind the Scenes," which is a very interesting look at the first episode from the fall of 1999 (picking up on the Green-Geller surprise nuptials in Las Vegas in "The One in Vegas, Part II"). However, I have to admit that I do not know these episodes intimately enough to always recognize the ADDED FOOTAGE that is included. Having these DVDs is nice because you do not have to keep paying attention to the repeats in syndication to see your favorite scenes again.

Rating:
Summary: What can you say...
Review: What can you say... It's Friends! If you like the series, you will love this set [If you don't, go do a search on Barney or something...]. A must have for any fan of the series!

Rating:
Summary: Marvelous!
Review: What could be better? 10 episodes of one of the funniest sitcoms EVER to hit television! Not only do you get "must-see" and "must-have" episodes such as "The One with all the Football" and "The Hundreth." But you get slightly lesser known, and maybe slightly MORE funny ones such as "The One that could have been" and "The One with Chandler in a Box." This cast of actors is probably the most talented comedic ensemble I have witnessed. Not only have they mastered physical comedy (Chandler's AhhhhhACK! for isntance) but wit and sarcasm are not too sophisticated for them either. "Friends" achieves light and fluffy humor, with a provocative and edgy feel to it that keeps you on the edge of your seat laughing, like you would if you were with real friends. The characters are easy to watch, and to relate to. You start to realize why these people hang out together (their characters) and even if at the beginning Rachel bothered you because she was so shallow...or Ross annoyed you for being whiny...if you see enough episodes, they begin to be people, and you accept them for who they are. If you allow the humor to just sink in, and don't judge it, "Friends" is truly a masterpiece of a television show, and this DVD is a masterfully thought out and put together collection of some of the funniest episodes.