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Kitschy Coffee Houses and Huge Coffee Mugs
With Central Perk being the regular hangout spot for the friends, it's no surprise it influenced coffee culture, with kitschy coffee houses featuring huge coffee mugs popping up everywhere after the show debuted in 1994.
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Pivot!
When Rachel and Chandler try to help Ross maneuver his new couch up the stairs to his apartment, they get frustrated when Ross keeps offering up advice on how to get it around a corner, specifically that they should "pivot" the couch. Chandler snaps when Ross won't stop saying "pivot" which, to be honest, we would have, too. Courteney Cox recently paid tribute to the episode
whilst moving her own furniture in real life.
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The 'Rachel'
Not a catchphrase but a hairstyle that took the world by storm in the early seasons of the series. Jennifer Aniston's 'do is still a popular one with many women today, though the actress herself said she hated it, calling it the 'ugliest haircut I've ever seen'. Really, now?
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Lobster Love
Much of the first couple seasons of the show focused on whether Ross and Rachel would ever get together. In season two's "The One With The Prom Video" we not only get a glimpse of what Rachel, Monica, and Ross looked like in high school ("Hello, Mr. Kotter!") but we're also introduced to the concept of a lobster being a term for your soulmate when, after it's revealed Ross was willing to step in as Rachel's last minute prom date, prompting Rachel to passionately kiss Ross, Phoebe declares, "He's her lobster!" signifying that the couple was definitely on!
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Ugly Naked Guy
Or "unattractive nude gentleman" as Rachel's mother once referred to him. For several seasons we saw the friends keep an eye on Ugly Naked Guy in the building across the way (including when they fashion a large poking device when they fear he may have died) Ross eventually moves into Ugly Naked Guy's apartment which leads to a pivotal moment - finding out Monica and Chandler are together.
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How You Doin'?
Joey's classic catchphrase. It sounded innocent enough on the surface, but when Joey said it to an attractive woman he just met, it came off like a sleazy pick-up line (which it was, of course). The line never seemed to work, though that never discouraged Joey. In one fantasy sequence, a hugely fat Joey even said 'How You Doin'' to a fork full of food. Just this year, Joey actor Matt LeBlanc parodied the line on his show Episodes when a fan asked him to say it during sex. He did - to great approval.
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Could I BE Any More....
Chandler's cynical observations manifested themselves in this phrase. The proper pronunciation puts the emphasis on the 'be'. "Could she BE more out of my league?'' "Could we BE more white trash?" You get the idea. Invariably, he'd say the line to comment on the latest sticky situation he or the other friends got into. Eventually, the other friends came to use this phrase more often to mock and imitate Chandler.
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We Were On A Break
Ross's angry explanation as to why he cheated on Rachel that one time. But did he really cheat on Rachel? I mean, they were indeed...on a break. So by definition, all bets were off. Right? A lot of real relationships no doubt were busted up over this whole Ross and Rachel debate.
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The WENUS/ANUS
The mystery of Chandler's job was a running joke on 'Friends'. It wasn't that he kept it a secret. The job was just so gosh darn unmemorable. For the record, he worked as an IT Procurement Manager, and constantly talked about the WENUS (Weekly Estimated Net Usage System) and the ANUS (Annual Net Usage Statistics). "I haven't seen an ANUS this bad since the '70s," he would say. A cheap running joke but funny.
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I Know!/Nooo!/Oh no...
Monica's short catchphrase 'I Know!' was similar to the other girls' much-repeated exclamations. Monica would say "I Know!" when someone would acknowledge her wild statements. Phoebe would say 'Oh no' in a downbeat way in reaction to bad news, while Rachel would exclaim 'Noooo!' for the same reason. Sometimes, the girlfriends would say all three catchphrases in the same scene, or even say each other's.
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The One With...
'Friends'' hip image was solidified right from the start with its episode summaries -- seen most often in your weekly TV guide. Every episode was titled 'The One With...' as in 'The One With Ross' Wedding' or 'The One With The Monkey'. It was a perfect imitation of how TV viewers talked about TV around the ol' water cooler. The phrase is actually a very good memory device, describing the exact episode element viewers would remember.
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Smelly Cat
Phoebe's silly song about a flatulent kitty ('What are they feeding you?" was the lyrical punchline) had a long story arc on the sitcom. There was a failed attempt to record the song (with music video); it even ended up in a TV commercial for kitty litter. Eventually, it was revealed the song was a variation on a tune her estranged father sang to get her to sleep at night.
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Hi...
A depressed Ross would often say this short introduction after some big personal crisis (like after someone ate his prized turkey sandwich, for instance). For maximum effect, it's best delivered in a low monotone while looking at the ground.
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Joey Doesn't Share Food!
Joey's love for food (particularly sandwiches) is well-known. Remember the one where he ate a whole turkey with dessert on a bet? Joey was also willing to break up with a girl if she dared to take some food off his plate, resulting in this funny line: "It's not about a few fries," he explained. "It's about what the fries represent -- ALL FOOD!" Joey's rule extended to not just girlfriends, but Rachel's toddler.
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Oh My God!
The only 'Friends' catchphrase from a guest star. Janice (Maggie Wheeler) appeared in every season but one as Chandler's on-again, off-again girlfriend. Known for her nasally cackle, she tended to utter this phrase when she'd once again stumble across Chandler (or had just woke up beside him).
Courtesy of Warner Bros.
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Everett Collection
Paul Drinkwater/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images
Courtesy of Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Television
Everett Collection
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Courtesy Everett Collection
Everett Collection
Warner Bros. Television
Warner Bros. Television
Warner Bros. Television
Warner Bros. Television
Warner Bros. Television
