The One with the Birth Mother (8 Jan. 2004)

After Rachel confirms Joey is more mature in relationships, Phoebe presents him to another friend as date, Sarah, who fails alas to respect his primordial rule by touching food in his plate... See full summary »

Director:

David Schwimmer

Writers:

David Crane (creator), Marta Kauffman (creator),

Stars:

Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow

Cast

Episode cast overview:
Jennifer Aniston	...	Rachel Green
Courteney Cox	...	Monica Geller-Bing (as Courteney Cox Arquette)
Lisa Kudrow	...	Phoebe Buffay
Matt LeBlanc	...	Joey Tribbiani
Matthew Perry	...	Chandler Bing
David Schwimmer	...	Dr. Ross Geller
Anna Faris	...	Erica
Jim O'Heir	...	Adoption Agency Worker
Annie Parisse	...	Sarah
Jorge Luis Abreu	...	The Waiter
Carla Toutz	...	Joan

Storyline

After Rachel confirms Joey is more mature in relationships, Phoebe presents him to another friend as date, Sarah, who fails alas to respect his primordial rule by touching food in his plate. Ross wants fashion advice for his date, so Rachel and Phoebe take him shopping, but after he left the choosing to professional buyer Rachel he accidentally ends up wearing her stuff, despite Joey's 'jealous' warning. Monica let the gang get her hopes up when Chandler and she fly to on adoption agency in Ohio. The pregnant mother, Erica, likes them- but only because their files got mixed up with a doctor and a female minister; Monica throws everything at playing the reverend part, but Chandler tells the truth, so Erica calls it off; Monica's pressing on only makes it worse, but Chandler explains privately...

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Certificate:

TV-PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 January 2004 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bright/Kauffman/Crane Productions, Warner Bros. Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

22 min 22 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

[to the woman whose baby Chandler and Monica want to adopt]
Chandler: My wife's an incredible woman. She's loving and devoted and caring. And don't tell her I said this, but the woman's always right... I love my wife more than anything in this world. And I... it kills me that I can't give her a baby... I really want a kid. And when that day finally comes, I'll learn how to be a good dad. But my wife... she's already there. She's a mother... without a baby... Please?

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Connections

Spoofs Twilight Zone (1959)

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Soundtracks

"The Twilight Zone"
(uncredited)
Written by Marius Constant

User Reviews

The One with the Birth Mother

Monica is disgusting in this episode. Just like she usually is. Her trying to be a reverend to trick that girl into giving them her baby and not even agreeing with Chandler right away that it is wrong once again shows what a worthless human being she is. Chandler might have made a sweet speech at the end (good job writers), but this in no way can make one be happy that someone like her is happily married and will get a child. Well, Erika seems a little bit of a dumb character so this may explain her decision

Matthew Perry did a great job in this episode. Not just with the speech but also when he realizes Erika's mistake, you can see him struggling and feeling guilt. So well done!

The whole story of Joey doesn't make much sense yet it is the best story of the episode. Him being covered in chocolate cake when his date comes back and saying that he doesn't feel sorry is one of the funniest scenes in the episode