Recurring characters on Friends… The unforgettable recurring Friends characters include Janice (Oh. My. God.), Jack Geller, Richard, Mr. Zelner, & Gunther.
Collect all 5…
Perhaps the Most Unforgettable of all the Recurring Friends Characters: Janice
Janice, played by Maggie Wheeler, made an appearance in 19 episodes.
Oh. My. God.
Throughout the series, Janice consistently seemed somewhat like a bad rash that wouldn’t go away & would pop back up when one would least expect it.
Like a broken record early on in the series, Chandler & Janice get together, then they break up, then they get back together, then finally they break up for the last time.
One might think Janice recurring on Friends might be done, but no, she makes her way back…
…via a one-night stand with Ross.
Remember it or not, Janice leaves Ross because of all of his whining… Oh. My. God.
Speaking of Ross, the next time Janice pops up is in the hospital when Ross & Rachel not-so-comfortably are waiting to have their baby in a semi-private room. Pregnant woman after pregnant woman goes into labor meanwhile Rachel is taking forever to dilate.
Shocking… one of these women is Janice. Oh. My. God.
Then of course, like a bad rash, Janice makes another appearance. This time when Monica & Chandler are at a fertility clinic.
Guess who also has an appointment…
Finally, at the end of the series buzzer… Janice’s final appearance…
Monica & Chandler are securing their home purchase in Westchester but decided to take a peek inside the house next door that is also for sale. The realtor on-site politely lets them in to take a peek as she already has someone taking a look.
She’s upstairs. Then she comes downstairs. Oh. My. God.
Another One of the Unforgettable Recurring Friends Characters… Jack Geller
While much less annoying than Janice, Jack Geller just about as long-term includes Jack Geller (played by Elliot Gould). Jack & his wife Judy Geller are the parents of both Ross & Monica.
While Jack Geller can’t touch Janice in the annoying department, he for sure excels in the way of being awkward, hence unforgettable…
Despite Ross being favored over Monica, Jack Geller & daughter Monica had some great warm fuzzy, yet awkward memorable moments…
Monica & Richard Break-up…
Most loyal Friends fans would agree that the most difficult break-up for Monica was when she & Richard broke up.
Despite their love & their connection, Richard was not willing to have children as he has previously been there & done that. If you remember, Richard is approximately the same age as Jack Geller.
While Monica is as distraught as we ever saw her throughout the show, Jack Geller stopped by to console her.
After asking Monica if she started smoking cigars meanwhile her holding one of Richard’s & replying she just liked the smell, Jack shared with his daughter that Richard has never been this distraught.
Monica asked if this was true & if he was making it up. Jack reassured his daughter. Monica finally fell asleep & Jack fired up the cigar seated on the couch with Monica.
Monica Gets Her Dad’s Porsche
During Season 7 Ross & Monica learn that their parents are selling the home they were raised in. Shocking… Ross gets there first to claim his belongings & to count his childhood trophies.
Counting trophies is interrupted after Jack & Ross realize that all of Monica’s cardboard boxes packed with memories have suffered water damage. They both attempt to find some of Ross’s items to pass off as Monica’s.
Monica finally arrives & doesn’t take long to figure out that her boxes were used to block the bottom two inches of her dad’s Porsche during a rainstorm. She’s not happy.
Monica begins going through her water-damaged boxes to find something unidentified that has some fluff to it.
She rubs it against her face & says that it must have been important for her to keep but can’t figure out what it is. Ross & Jack assume it’s a dead mouse out loud. Monica is not happy.
Finally, Jack fires up a cigarette & gives Monica the keys to his Porsche. Now Ross is not happy.
Monica does not care & is not happy with her gifted Porsche.
Monica & Chandler Decide to Try to Get Pregnant… in a Hospital
While Rachel is in the hospital in the process of having her & Ross’ baby, Monica & Chandler decide it would be a good time to try trying to have one on their own.
Instead of giving up a coveted private room stumbled upon by Monica & Chandler to Rachel, they decide to have sex in it.
Jack is in the hallway. He hears people in the room Monica & Chandler are in & takes a peek to see what is going on.
Now Jack has seen his daughter & her husband having sex.
One would think the awkwardness would stop there & one would be wrong.
Monica & Chandler are simultaneously embarrassed & begin sharing with Jack that they are trying to have a baby. Jack exclaims “to get back in there.” Monica & Chandler decline. One might think that the awkwardness would stop there & one would be wrong again…
Jack proceeds to give unsolicited advice to the Bing’s in regards to the best positions to get pregnant in. He speaks from experience sharing what positions were used for Judy to become pregnant with Monica.
This awkward progression finally ends with Jack sticking pamphlets related to the topic inside the door that Monica & Chandler were having sex in but are not anymore.
He learns it’s another couple getting it on & asks for his pamphlets back.
Now… Back to Richard | Recurring Characters on Friends
Before Monica & Chandler got things rolling in London, Richard played by Tom Selleck was the most intense love interest & the hardest for her to get over.
Sometimes when watching friends reruns, I hope that Monica & Richard stay together or get back together, depending on the episode.
Richard, or Mr. Eye Doctor Burke, makes his initial appearance during a catering gig Monica & Phoebe are doing. Dr. Burke is obviously charming. Not shocking, Monica now needs her eyes checked out.
Monica & Richard fell in love almost immediately. Their relationship was great despite the age difference, which ultimately was the demise of their relationship as Richard was not up for having children with Monica.
Not super long after Monica & Richard break up, they run into one another at a video store. They go out for an innocent burger then make plans for Monica to provide Richard a tutorial on making lasagna for some upcoming potluck he has.
Lasagna-making leads to lovemaking…
Monica & Richard spend some time in a “friends with benefits” arrangement. Monica then wants to enter into an “exclusive friends with benefits” arrangement.
This arrangement finally ends as they are right back where they were the 1st time around.
Richard returns again in Season 6 as Chandler has things set up to propose to Monica… on a date.
Richard & his date not so conveniently end up sharing a table with Monica & Chandler. Ergo, Chandler is not able to propose.
Following this “double date,” Richard shows up at Monica’s restaurant to “complement the chef.” “Complementing the chef” in this case means sharing how he, Richard, is in love with Monica & is ready & willing to have children with her.
Mr. Zelner… or Mr. Tolerant of Employee Rachel Green
Interviewing with Mr. Zelner
During Season 5 Rachel interviews with Mr. Zelner for a position at Ralph Lauren. Things seem to be going well until Rachel inadvertently kisses Mr. Zelner on the cheek at the conclusion of the interview.
#awkward
Rachel returns home after the interview & shares with the others that everything went well but then she went & kissed the interviewer on the cheek.
Very little time passes before Rachel receives a call back for a 2nd interview. She’s guessing she’s being brought back because who wouldn’t want to hire the girl that kisses everyone…
Rachel goes in for the 2nd interview anyway & is greeted by Mr. Zelner pointing his finger at his lip meanwhile motioning that he either wants a kiss or Rachel may have something on her lips.
Rachel, of course, assumes that he’s motioning that he wants a kiss in light of how the 1st interview wrapped up.
She again returns home post-interview to update the others on how things went. She barely gets inside the door & the whole gang motions just like Mr. Zelner.
At this point, Rachel finally learns she has ink on her lip.
Somehow Rachel manages to schedule a follow-up meeting with Mr. Zelner to persuade him to hire her based on her integrity, courage, more courage, & not being litigious.
Mr. Zelner admits out loud that he may regret this, but hires her anyway. Then instead of a handshake to seal the deal Rachel’s hand inadvertently goes another direction.
Written Job Evaluations, Submitted to Mr. Zelner, One of the Unforgettable Friends Characters
Then there’s that one time when Rachel decides to hire an assistant based on attraction versus merit.
For example, when Rachel “reviewed” her eventual boyfriend/assistant & marked it confidential. Her review included complements of Tag’s kissing, his tiny toushie, & a pornographic sketch.
Enter in Mr. Zelner (Mr. Tolerant) of employee Rachel Green…
Mr. Zelner goes over the standard corporate response to relationships in the workplace but then punctuates his messaging with how he doesn’t mind a naughty limerick here & there.
Both Rachel & Tag keep their jobs…
Mr. Tolerant Runs out of Tolerance… for Now
That’s of course until Rachel agrees to interview with Gucci. The interview happens to be at a restaurant where Mr. Zelner is also lunching.
Rachel not only doesn’t get the Gucci job but also loses her job at Ralph Lauren.
That’s of course until Rachel gets offered a job with Louis Vuitton in Paris, & Ross wants her to stay in New York.
Not only does Ross (or Ron) persuade Mr. Zelner to hire Rachel back, but also to give her a raise.
This all the while working the dinosaur route to make Mr. Zelner look like a super awesome dad to his son Ross.
Gunther: The Most Frequent of all the Unforgettable Recurring Friends Characters
Finally, we have the most frequent of all the Unforgettable Recurring Friends Characters, Gunther, played by James Michael Tyler.
Gunther loves Rachel
Most notably remembered for his intense & long-term crush on Rachel Green…
An episode best capturing the intensity of Gunther’s crush on Rachel is The One with the Ball, & also known as The One with Rachel’s Cat.
Rachel ends up purchasing a super bitchy & bald (yes, completely bald) for $1000.
After Rachel realizes what she apparently purchased from a disciple from hell & learns she cannot return the cat, she attempts to sell it outside of Central Perk.
Gunther purchases the most awkward cat we have ever seen for $1500 in hopes Rachel would miss the bald & bitchy cat & will visit him.
Perhaps the least favorite episode highlighting Gunther & his intense crush on Rachel is The One with the Morning After.
This, of course, is the morning after Ross sleeps with the hot copy shop girl after he & Rachel may or may not have broken up.
Chandler & Joey advocate for Ross to not own up to sleeping with the hot copy shop girl regardless, but they do recommend that he follows the trail…
Chandler: Okay, okay, okay. Uh, Chloe works with that guy Issac… Issac’s sister is Jasmine… and Jasmine works at the massage place with Phoebe. And Phoebe’s friends with Rachel. And that’s the trail… I did it!
Well, Chandler almost did it… Except that Jasmine lives with Gunther & Gunther is in love with Rachel.
However, why not end this post on a high note… Gunther’s wit.
Gunther: Witty & Sarcastic
How about The One with Joey’s Porsche… That’s Joey’s fake Porsche, of course.
Joey brings up a set of Porshe keys that had been left asking if they were Gunthers. Gunther fires back with “Yes, that’s what I drive. I make 4 bucks an hour. I saved up for 350 years.” Classic Gunther…
Then there was the time when Ross says he’ll see Gunther at Chandler and Monica’s wedding. Gunther replies “I wasn’t invited.” Ross replies back promptly & awkwardly that they will see if the day after the wedding then.
Finally, we have the Best Man fiasco prior to Ross & Emily’s wedding. Chandler is upset that Ross has selected Joey as his best man. During Ross’ bachelor party, Chandler asks Gunther to be his Best Man when he gets married…
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