The One With the Joke

Thursday, 13 January 2000

Ross and Chandler each claim the joke Playboy printed as their own, Joey runs out of money and takes a waiting job at Central Perk, and Phoebe names an unflattering trait in each of the three women.

What happens

• Ross shows off a joke of his that Playboy has printed, and Chandler insists he invented it first.
• Chandler discovers that Joey's cable and phone have been cut off for non-payment, and Joey turns down the offer of a loan.
• Monica asks Phoebe and Rachel which of the group they would date, and Phoebe chooses Rachel over Monica.
• Joey cannot pay his coffeehouse bill, so Gunther offers him work and Joey decides to take it.
• Phoebe explains that she picked Rachel because Monica is high maintenance and Rachel is easily walked over, and Rachel bars Phoebe from lunch to prove otherwise.
• Joey admits to the group that he works at Central Perk now, and says going from actor to waiter embarrasses him.
• Gunther leaves Joey in charge to get his hair dyed, and Joey shuts the coffeehouse so he can go to an audition.
• Ross and Chandler make Monica settle the dispute, and she rules that the joke is bad and offensive and that neither of them should want credit.
• Chandler tells Monica she is high maintenance but that he enjoys looking after her, and she forgives him.
• Joey loses both the part and his job, and Rachel confronts Gunther and gets Joey rehired.