Thirty years ago, a group of Friends and a few movie stars lit up NBC after Super Bowl XXX, as nearly 53 million viewers tuned into “The One After the Superbowl” on January 28, 1996.
The double-length Friends episode saw Ross (David Schwimmer) reconnecting with former pet monkey Marcel on a film set, Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow) scandalizing her librarian boyfriend (played by Chris Isaak) with her inappropriate children’s songs, Joey (Matt LeBlanc) dating a fan (played by Brooke Shields) who mistakes fiction for reality, Chandler (Matthew Perry) getting his just deserts from an elementary-school classmate (played by Julia Roberts) he tormented, and Monica (Courteney Cox) and Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) vying for the affection of Jean-Claude Van Damme (played by himself).
kAmp?5 E9@F89 ?@ @?6’D D2J:?8 “%96 ~?6 p7E6C E96 $FA6C3@H=” :D 4=2DD:4 k6>muC:6?5Dk^6>m[ E96 6A:D@56 DE:== 9@=5D E96 5:DE:?4E:@? @7 36:?8 E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]EG:?D:56C]4@>^=:DE^>@DE\H2E4965\A@DE\DFA6C\3@H=\6A:D@56D^Qm>@DE\H2E4965 $FA6C q@H= =625\@FE @? C64@C5k^2m] qFE 96C6’D H92E 2== E9@D6 >:==:@?D @7 G:6H6CD 2E 9@>6 5:5?’E <?@H…k^Am
k9am`] }qr H6?E H:E9 k6>muC:6?5Dk^6>m 3642FD6 :E 5:5?’E H2?E E@ 563FE 2 ?6H D6C:6D 27E6C E96 $FA6C q@H=]k^9am
kAm(96? :E 42>6 E:>6 E@ D4965F=6 2 =625\@FE 7@C $FA6C q@H= )))[ }qr H6?E H:E9 2 EC:65\2?5\ECF6 72G@C:E6 :?DE625 @7 2 7C6D9>2? D6C:6D =:<6 :ED D:E4@> k6>m%96 v@@5 {:76k^6>m 2?5 E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]EG:?D:56C]4@>^?6EH@C<^234^Qmpqrk^2m 5C2>2 k6>mtIEC6>6k^6>m[ 6249 @7 H9:49 @?=J =2DE65 `b 6A:D@56D 56DA:E6 86EE:?8 A@DE\$FA6C q@H= 2:C:?8D :? E96 EH@ J62CD AC:@C]k^Am
kAmk:7C2>6 DC4lQ9EEADi^^HHH]J@FEF36]4@>^6>365^A2J'_<'Je~*nD:l25(|vx<G&tF<0c32Q H:5E9lQde_Q 96:89ElQb`dQ 7C2>63@C56ClQ_Q 2==@H7F==D4C66?lQ2==@H7F==D4C66?Qmk^:7C2>6mk^Am
kAm“%CJ E@ E9:?< @7 E96 ?6H D9@HD E92E H6C6 AC6>:6C65 27E6C C646?E $FA6C q@H=D[ 2?5 ?2>6 @?6 E92E’D DE:== 2C@F?5[” rFCE z:?8[ 2 D6?:@C AC6DD >2?286C 7@C E96 D9@H[ E@=5 k6>mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?6HDA2A6CD]4@>^:>286^cc_gf_h_a^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@@A6?6CQm%96 q@DE@? v=@36k^2mk^6>m 2E E96 E:>6] “(92E H6 564:565 E@ 5@ E9:D J62C H2D ?@E E@ F?G6:= 2 ?6H D9@H 3FE 8:G6 A6@A=6 2? 6IEC2\DA64:2= G6CD:@? @7 2 D9@H E96J 2=C625J =:<6 2 =@E]”k^Am
kAmWz:?8 >:89E 92G6 366? 7@C86EE:?8 23@FE E96 }qr 5C2>2 k6>mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]EG:?D:56C]4@>^D9@H^9@>:4:56\=:76\@?\E96\DEC66E^Qmw@>:4:56i {:76 @? E96 $EC66Ek^2mk^6>m[ H9:49 563FE65 27E6C $FA6C q@H= ))'xx E9C66 J62CD AC:@C[ H2D DE:== 8@:?8 DEC@?8 2E E96 E:>6 @7 k6>muC:6?5Dk^6>m’ $FA6C q@H= 6A:D@56]Xk^Am
k9ama] |2EE96H !6CCJ HC@E6 2 A2A6C @? BF2?EF> A9JD:4D E@ 86E yF=:2 #@36CED E@ 8F6DE\DE2C]k^9am
kAmk6>muC:6?5Dk^6>m 6I64FE:G6 AC@5F46C z6G:? qC:89E E@=5 k6>mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]9@==JH@@5C6A@CE6C]4@>^EG^EG\?6HD^E96\@?6\H6\H@F=5?E\?@C>2==J\5@\E96\F?46?D@C65\DE@CJ\@7\E96\7C:6?5D\DFA6C\3@H=\6A:D@56\c`a`dce^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@@A6?6CQm%96 w@==JH@@5 #6A@CE6Ck^2mk^6>m !6CCJ C624965 @FE E@ #@36CED E@ 2D< 96C E@ 2AA62C @? E96 D9@H[ 2?5 D96 82G6 9:> 2 492==6?86] “$96 HC@E6 324< E@ 9:>[ ‘(C:E6 >6 2 A2A6C @? BF2?EF> A9JD:4D[ 2?5 x’== 5@ :E[’” qC:89E D2:5] “|J F?56CDE2?5:?8 :D E92E |2EE96H H6?E 2H2J 2?5 HC@E6 2 A2A6C 2?5 72I65 :E E@ 96C E96 ?6IE 52J]”k^Am
kAmp5565 DE277 HC:E6C p=6I2 yF?86[ “%96C6 H2D 2 =@E @7 7=:CE:?8 @G6C 72I:?8] $96 H2D 8:G:?8 9:> E96D6 BF6DE:@??2:C6D =:<6[ ‘(9J D9@F=5 x 8@ @FE H:E9 J@Fn’ p?5 6G6CJ@?6 :? E96 HC:E6CD’ C@@> 96=A65 9:> 6IA=2:? E@ 96C H9J]”k^Am
kAm!6CCJ HC@E6 :? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]2>2K@?]4@>^uC:6?5D\{@G6CD\q:8\%6CC:3=6\%9:?8^5A^q_h#"c{fd`nE28lEG:?D:56C__\a_Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@@A6?6CQm9:D >6>@:C k6>muC:6?5D[ {@G6CD 2?5 E96 q:8 %6CC:3=6 %9:?8k^6>mk^2m E92E 96 2?5 #@36CED k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]E96E:>6D]4@>^F<^2CE:4=6^>2EE96H\A6CCJ\:\=@G65\7C:6?5D\3FE\:\925\2\D64C6E\:\H2D\D:4<\G4KCB8dK?Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@@A6?6CQm6?565 FA 52E:?8 7@C EH@ >@?E9Dk^2m 367@C6 96 6?565 E96 C6=2E:@?D9:A @FE @7 :?D64FC:EJ]k^Am
kAmk:7C2>6 DC4lQ9EEADi^^HHH]J@FEF36]4@>^6>365^dDzr8r+Gz2|nD:l?y}>_KJ\J8c&;55IQ H:5E9lQde_Q 96:89ElQb`dQ 7C2>63@C56ClQ_Q 2==@H7F==D4C66?lQ2==@H7F==D4C66?Qmk^:7C2>6mk^Am
k9amb] #@36CED H2D “D@ ?6CG@FD” 7:=>:?8 96C C@=6 — >@C6 ?6CG@FD E92? D96’5 366? D:?46 96C k6>m!C6EEJ (@>2?k^6>m 52JD]k^9am
kAm#@36CED E@=5 E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?6HDA2A6CD]4@>^:>286^`aag_ddffg^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@@A6?6CQmv2??6EE }6HD $6CG:46k^2m :? `hhe E92E 96C k6>muC:6?5Dk^6>m 8F6DE DA@E H2D 96C >@DE ?6CG6\HC24<:?8 6IA6C:6?46 D:?46 96C k6>mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]EG:?D:56C]4@>^D9@H^AC6EEJ\H@>2?^Qm!C6EEJ (@>2?k^2mk^6>m D4C66? E6DE]k^Am
kAm“x H2D D@ ?6CG@FDP” D96 6I4=2:>65] “x E9:?< :E 4@>6D @FE @7 E9:D f\J62C\@=5 56D:C6 E@ 86E E96 E2:= C:89E @? E96 5@?<6J’D 2DD[ 2?5 J@F 92G6 ?@ :562 9@H E@ 5@ :E] x H2?E65 E@ 36 E96 36DE x 4@F=5 36] ,!6CCJ :D. :?4C65:3=J 7F??J[ 2?5 J@F H2?E E@ :?DA:C6 E92E D2>6 <:?5 @7 ;@J E92E 96 5@6D] %96? 2E 2 46CE2:? A@:?E 2E =F?49[ J@F 8@[ ‘(6==[ :E 2:?’E 8@??2 92AA6?] x’== ;FDE ECJ E@ 36 4FE6]’”k^Am
k9amc] qC@@<6 $9:6=5D 8@E 96C @H? D:E4@> @FE @7 96C 8F6DE\DE2CC:?8 C@=6]k^9am
kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]EG:?D:56C]4@>^A6@A=6^H2CC6?\=:EE=67:6=5^Qm(2CC6? {:EE=67:6=5k^2m[ E96?\AC6D:56?E @7 }qr t?E6CE2:?>6?E[ H2D D@ 3@H=65 @G6C 3J $9:6=5D’ A6C7@C>2?46 :? “%96 ~?6 p7E6C E96 $FA6C3@H=” E92E 96 82G6 96C 2 D:E4@>]k^Am
kAm“x H2D H2E49:?8 E96 C@F89 4FE :? >J @77:46 2?5 D2J:?8[ ‘w@=J DYYY[ qC@@<6 $9:6=5D :D H:E9@FE 762C]’ p?5 x 42==65 ,k6>muC:6?5Dk^6>m 4C62E@CD. k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]EG:?D:56C]4@>^A6@A=6^>2CE2\<2F77>2?^Qm|2CE2 ,z2F77>2?.k^2m 2?5 s2G:5 ,rC2?6. 2?5 2D<65[ ‘xD qC@@<6 $9:6=5D 2D 8@@5 2D D96 D66>Dn’ %96J D2:5 E96J 925 2 3=2DE H:E9 96C] $@ x C624965 @FE E@ 96C C6AC6D6?E2E:@? 2?5 D2:5 x H2?E65 E@ 5@ 2 4@>65J H:E9 96C] %92E EFC?65 :?E@ ,E96 `hhe\a___ D:E4@>. k6>mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]EG:?D:56C]4@>^D9@H^DF556?=J\DFD2?^Qm$F556?=J $FD2?k^2mk^6>m]”k^Am
kAmk:7C2>6 DC4lQ9EEADi^^HHH]J@FEF36]4@>^6>365^'}9Bb#"w$>&nD:lDv&(+#@f7ub8@G`pQ H:5E9lQde_Q 96:89ElQb`dQ 7C2>63@C56ClQ_Q 2==@H7F==D4C66?lQ2==@H7F==D4C66?Qmk^:7C2>6mk^Am
k9amd] p?5C6 p82DD: H2D C6A@CE65=J ;62=@FD @7 $9:6=5D’ D46?6D H:E9 |2EE {6q=2?4]k^9am
kAmpE E96 E:>6 @7 E96 7:=>:?8[ $9:6=5D H2D :? 2 C6=2E:@?D9:A H:E9 E6??:D 492>A:@? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]EG:?D:56C]4@>^A6@A=6^2?5C6\282DD:^Qmp?5C6 p82DD:k^2m[ 2?5 |:4926= {6>364<[ H9@ 5:C64E65 3@E9 A2CED @7 “%96 ~?6 p7E6C E96 $FA6C3@H=” E@=5 k6>m%w#k^6>m p82DD: 925 2 7:E @7 ;62=@FDJ 27E6C $9:6=5D’ C6DE2FC2?E D46?6 H:E9 {6q=2?4]k^Am
kAm“$96 5@6D E96 D46?6 H96C6 D96 DE2CED =:4<:?8 |2EE’D 92?5] %96? x D66 9:> 4@>6 5@H?[ AF== qC@@<6 2D:56[ 2?5 6G:D46C2E6 96C 3642FD6 96’D 4C2KJ\;62=@FD[” {6>324< C642==65] “$96’D C65F465 E@ E62CDP x 3C@<6 E96 D9@H 7@C 2 H9:=6[ 2?5 E96 8:C=D E@@< qC@@<6 2D:56 2?5 =@G65 96C[ E@@< 42C6 @7 96C[ 2?5 8@E 96C 324< @? E92E DE286] $96 5:5 8C62E 3642FD6 @7 E96 DFAA@CE @7 E9@D6 E9C66] w6 H2D 2 ;24<2DD]”k^Am
kAm$9:6=5D 2?5 p82DD: >2CC:65 :? `hhf 2?5 5:G@C465 :? `hhh]k^Am
k9ame] (C:E6CD E6DE65 y62?\r=2F56 '2? s2>>6’D =:?6D :? 2 uC6?49 2446?E]k^9am
kAmxE H2D “BF:E6 2 492==6?86” 7:?5:?8 7F??J =:?6D 7@C '2? s2>>6[ 2? F??2>65 k6>muC:6?5Dk^6>m HC:E6C C642==65 :? E96 3@@< k6>mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2C49:G6]@C8^56E2:=D^F=E:>2E67C:6?5D4____DE2=^A286^da^>@56^`FAQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@@A6?6CQm%96 &=E:>2E6 uC:6?5D r@>A2?:@?k^2mk^6>m] “(6 925 E96D6 7F??J =:?6D[ 3FE E96J H6C6?’E 7F??J @? 9:>[” E96 HC:E6C D2:5] “$@ H6 925 E@ 4@>6 FA H:E9 =:?6D E92E H6C6 '2? s2>>6\AC@@7] $@ x H@F=5 D2J E96> :? 2 C62==J 9@CC:3=6 uC6?49 2446?E[ AFEE:?8 E96 6>A92D:D @? E96 HC@?8 H@C5[ 2?5 :7 A6@A=6 DE:== =2F8965[ E96? H6 A:E4965 E96> E@ '2? s2>>6] %92E’D 9@H H6 42>6 FA H:E9 9:D ,=:?6.] ‘x 42? 4C24< 2 H2=?FE H:E9 >J 3FEE]’”k^Am
kAmk:7C2>6 DC4lQ9EEADi^^HHH]J@FEF36]4@>^6>365^F:&bqFC9C;tnD:l~$3|5c{2ua&9hr0cQ H:5E9lQde_Q 96:89ElQb`dQ 7C2>63@C56ClQ_Q 2==@H7F==D4C66?lQ2==@H7F==D4C66?Qmk^:7C2>6mk^Am
k5:G 4=2DDlQ:?=:?6\42==@FEQmk5:G 4=2DDlQ:?=:?6\42==@FE\4@?E6?EQmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]EG:?D:56C]4@>^82==6CJ^7C:6?5D\>@DE\4C:?86H@CE9J\>@>6?ED^Qmk:>8 96:89ElQ`deQ H:5E9lQac_Q DC4lQ9EEADi^^HHH]EG:?D:56C]4@>^HA\4@?E6?E^FA=@25D^a_ad^_h^@776?D:G6\7C:6?5D\>@>6?ED\`ca_Ifhg];A8Q 2=ElQ`` |@DE rC:?86H@CE9J U=DBF@juC:6?5DUCDBF@j |@>6?ED tG6CQ ^mk^2mk5:G 4=2DDlQ:?=:?6\42==@FE\=236=Qm#6=2E65k^5:Gmk9bmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]EG:?D:56C]4@>^82==6CJ^7C:6?5D\>@DE\4C:?86H@CE9J\>@>6?ED^Qm`` |@DE rC:?86H@CE9J ‘uC:6?5D’ |@>6?ED tG6Ck^2mk^9bmk^5:Gmk^5:Gm
k9amf] rC:E:4D A2??65 E96 6A:D@56]k^9am
kAm“%96 ~?6 p7E6C E96 $FA6C3@H=” H2D ?@E 2 DFA6C k6>muC:6?5Dk^6>m 6A:D@56 :? E96 >:?5D @7 >2?J 4C:E:4D] “‘%~p%$q’ D9@HD E96 HC:E6CD 76=E E96 AC6DDFC6 @7 AC@5F4:?8 2 >6829:Ei %96 6A:D@56 :D 7C28>6?E65[ A@@C=J A2465[ 2?5 @?=J DA@C25:42==J 7F??J[” E96 k6>mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^H63]2C49:G6]@C8^H63^a_``_e_f_gcfch^9EEAi^^HHH]6H]4@>^6H^2CE:4=6^_[[ae`bd`[__]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@@A6?6CQmt?E6CE2:?>6?E (66<=Jk^2mk^6>m DE277 @A:?65] “rC2>>:?8 E96 2=C625J 4C@H565 6?D6>3=6 H:E9 46=63D >2J 92G6 366? 2 C2E:?8D 8C2336C … 3FE E96 C6DF=ED 2C6 7@C465 D:E4@>65J 2?5 DE:=E65 24E:?8 WE92E >62?D J@F[ |C] '2? s2>>6X]”k^Am
kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?6HDA2A6CD]4@>^:>286^eafhdaf`g^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@@A6?6CQmz?:89E\#:556C }6HDA2A6CDk^2m’ %:> v@@5>2? 4:E65 E96 6A:D@56’D “A2E96E:4 :?7FD:@? @7 ‘DE2C 2AA62=’” 2D 2 D:8? E92E k6>muC:6?5Dk^6>m H2D “962565 5@H? E96 C@25 E@ CF:?]”k^Am
kAm%96 k6>mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?6HDA2A6CD]4@>^:>286^bdehhcha`^n>2E49l`U2>AjE6C>DlTaa42>6Ta_@77Ta_=:<6Ta_2Ta_J@F?8Ta_{@G6Ta_q@2ETaaQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@@A6?6CQmpFDE:? p>6C:42?\$E2E6D>2?k^2mk^6>m’D s:2?6 w@==@H2J D2:5 E92E k6>muC:6?5Dk^6>m’ “@G6C6IA@DFC6 C624965 4C:E:42= >2DD @? $FA6C q@H= $F?52J” 2?5 E92E E96 6A:D@56 “925 2 4@FA=6 @7 49F4<=6D[ 3FE 42>6 @77 =:<6 2 J@F?8 k6>mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]EG:?D:56C]4@>^D9@H^E96\=@G6\3@2E^Qm{@G6 q@2Ek^2mk^6>m]”k^Am
kAmtG6? rC2?6 :D?’E E96 3:886DE 72? @7 E96 A@DE\$FA6C q@H= :?DE2==>6?E] “%96 6A:D@56 :D?’E :? >J E@A 7:G6[” 96 E@=5 k6>m%w#k^6>m] “(6 H6C6 >F49 92AA:6C H:E9 D:I @7 E96> :? E96 2A2CE>6?E 2?5 5@:?8 AC@A@D2=D 2?5 H655:?8D 2?5 92G:?8 323:6D] qFE 8:G6? E96 >2C49:?8 @C56CD[ x E9:?< H6 5:5 AC6EEJ H6==]”k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m|@C6 w625=:?6Dik^DEC@?8mk^Am
kF=mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]EG:?D:56C]4@>^`aca_gd^9@52\<@E3\46=63C2E6D\2=\C@<6C\E@52J\b_E9\2??:G6CD2CJ\52F89E6C\A9@E@D^Qm‘%@52J’ u2?D v@ (:=5 2D w@52 z@E3 $92C6D $H66E !:4D @7 p= #@<6C (:E9 w6C z:5Dk^2mk^=:mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]EG:?D:56C]4@>^``ch`ae^E65\=2DD@\D62D@?\c\42DE\AC6>:6C6\52E6\EC2:=6C\56E2:=D\2AA=6^Qm‘%65 {2DD@’ $62D@? c $6ED !C6>:6C6 s2E6 2D pAA=6 &?G6:=D u:CDE {@@< 2E $9@H’D #6EFC? W!w~%~$Xk^2mk^=:mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]EG:?D:56C]4@>^`aca_fh^43D\6G6?:?8\?6HD\E@?J\5@<@FA:=\>@>\82:=^Qm‘rq$ tG6?:?8 }6HD’i %@?J s@<@FA:= &?56C u:C6 7@C x?E6CG:6H:?8 w:D ~H? |@>k^2mk^=:mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]EG:?D:56C]4@>^`aca_eb^9:;24<\D2>\>2CD92\D@?\5625\<2:\6IA=2:?65^Qm‘w:;24<’ q@DD tIA=2:?D ,$A@:=6C’D. s62E9 2D $2>’D |@E:G2E:@?k^2mk^=:mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]EG:?D:56C]4@>^`a__c_a^4C:>:?2=\C64@C5\D62D@?\a\AC6>:6C6\52E6\42DE\EC2:=6C\56E2:=D^Qm‘rC:>:?2= #64@C5’ $6ED $62D@? a !C6>:6C6 s2E6i v6E p== E96 s6E2:=Dk^2mk^=:mk^F=m
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.