The One with the Monkey 

The gang make (and break) a pact not to bring dates to their New Years Eve party. Phoebe starts dating a scientist. Ross compensates for his loneliness by getting a monkey.

Director:

Peter Bonerz

Writers:

David Crane (created by), Marta Kauffman (created by)

Stars:

Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow

Cast

Episode complete credited cast:
Jennifer Aniston	...	Rachel Green
Courteney Cox	...	Monica Geller
Lisa Kudrow	...	Phoebe Buffay
Matt LeBlanc	...	Joey Tribbiani (as Matt Le Blanc)
Matthew Perry	...	Chandler Bing
David Schwimmer	...	Dr. Ross Geller
Hank Azaria	...	David
Vincent Ventresca	...	Fun Bobby
Maggie Wheeler	...	Janice
Wayne Pére	...	Max (as Wayne Péré)
Sarah MacDonnell	...	Sandy

Storyline

Ross is tired of living alone but doesn't want a roommate at his age so he adopts the capucin monkey Marcel. Marcel is cute in everybody's eyes, except cleaning freak Monica who returns little of the monkey's love. With Paolo about to return to Rome, it looks like New Year's Eve will see the friends desperate for someone to kiss at midnight, so Chandler launches a pact for them all not to kiss anyone. However, Rachel learns Paolo can be back early, Monica asks her ex Fun Bobby and Chandler invites his hellish ex Janice. Joey met a single mother shopping, so Ross fears to be the only single left after Phoebe hooks up with scientist David.

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Plot Keywords:

christmas episode | acoustic guitar | snowman | tmi | whiteboard | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Did You Know?

Trivia

"Shiny Happy People" by R.E.M. is played in the beginning of the New Year's Eve party scene. This was the original theme song from the pilot before it was later replaced by the iconic "I'll Be There For You."

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Goofs

Near the end of the episode when Ross tells David "[Minsk] won't be the same without you" the audio is about a second ahead.

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Quotes

Rachel: Hey, do you guys know what you're doing for New Year's?
[They all hit her with pillows]
Rachel: Gee, what? What is wrong with New Year's?
Chandler: Nothing for you, you have Paolo. You don't have to face the horrible pressures of this holiday: desperate scramble to find anything with lips just so you can have someone to kiss when the ball drops! Man, I'm talking loud!
Rachel: Well, for your information, Paolo is gonna be in Rome this New Year, so I'll be just as pathetic as the rest of you
Phoebe: Yeah, you wish!

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Connections

Featured in Friends: The One with Mac and C.H.E.E.S.E. (2000)

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Soundtracks

Shiny Happy People
(uncredited)
Written by Michael Stipe, Mike Mills, Peter Buck and Bill Berry
Performed by R.E.M.

User Reviews

Another So So Episode

After a Thanksgiving episode we get a New Years Eve episode.

Plot In A Paragraph: The gang make a pact not to take any dated to a New Years Eve party at Monica and Rachel's. But one by one the all break it except Ross. Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) has her new boyfriend Paulo flying in, Pheobe (Lisa Kudrow) starts dating a scientist (Hank Azaria) who she wants to take, Chandler (Matthew Perry) runs to his safety net of Janice (Maggie Wheeler) Joey (Matt Le Blanc) invites and single mum he just met whilst Monica (Courtney Cox) invited her old boyfriend fun Bobby!

Another so so episode, Maggie Wheeler is always fun as Chandlers annoying girlfriend Janice. Jennifer Aniston joins Courtney Cox in being very cold in this episode.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 December 1994 (USA)

Filming Locations:

USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bright/Kauffman/Crane Productions, Warner Bros. Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

22 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1