Top 10 Friends Scenes That Needed a Laugh Track to Not Be Creepy

“The One with the Metaphorical Tunnel”
“Friends” every so often shows its age as a show starting in the mid-‘90s. As it turns out, in this episode, the only things “of their time” are the Winter Sport Barbie from the same period and Ross’ idea of what kids *should* play with. When Carol and Susan drop Ben off with his dad, Ross immediately spots Ben’s beloved Barbie doll and… proceeds to try to trick him into picking something else? Characters left and right tell him to get over himself, but Ross cannot be convinced. As far as he’s concerned, toys are gendered, and he won’t rest until G.I. Joe is Ben’s toy of choice. He does happen to forget that he used to dress in his mom’s clothes when he was little, which should just show Ross that fostering a child’s imagination is what’s most important.

“The One with Rachel's Book”
When Phoebe briefly goes to live with Ross, she brings her massage clients with her. Ross is not too happy about this — that is until a gorgeous woman shows up at the door asking about a massage. Ross tells her he is a masseur, only to discover that she isn’t asking for herself. Everyone laughs when the woman introduces Ross to her much older dad. But taking a step back, the situation is just gross. Ross — who has no qualifications to give massages — lied to a woman in the hopes of getting her in a vulnerable position. Not so funny anymore, is it?

“The One with the Ick Factor”
Monica and Richard may have had a big age difference, but it was Monica’s earlier dalliance with a high school senior that made the cut here. The writers certainly get some laughs out of it, but finding out what his real age is just plain icky — to use Monica’s word when she finds out. Another uncomfortable relationship that was played for laughs on the show was that of Phoebe’s half-brother Frank Jr. and his former home-ec teacher, Alice. While the 26 year age difference is one thing, it’s the uneven power dynamic and Frank barely being 18 that creeps us out.

Various
There’s a big difference between not telling someone you don’t like their shirt after they just spent a boatload of money on it and not telling the person that you married after having some drinks in Las Vegas that you got an annulment when you didn’t. However, that’s exactly what Ross does in the sixth season of “Friends” following his marriage to Rachel at the end of the previous season. Ross also ups the creepy factor ten-fold in the way he tells Phoebe about what he’s done - with a secretive tone and wry smile as he asks her not to tell Rachel.

Various
“Friends” has some absolutely hysterical moments we still quote; some storylines were a low blow even then. Case in point: how often people fat-shamed poor Monica. Any time we get a glimpse into the past, we wonder how she ended up well-adjusted. Alas, one of “Friends”’ most iconic episodes, “The One with the Prom Video,” contains some really upsetting jabs at a young Monica’s weight. Her parents and brother are culprits of it on a few occasions, but some of the worst ones involve her eventual husband, Chandler. Monica overhears Chandler fat-shaming her, which sets her on her weight loss journey. Even in “The One That Could Have Been,” the whole idea that Monica and Chandler still would’ve ended up together even if Monica hadn’t lost weight is supposed to be romantic is messed up.

“The One with The Dozen Lasagnas”
This scene from the first season of “Friends” sounds more like it came from a dramatic movie. However, with the backing of canned laughter and the way the scene is written, the ominous subject matter is slightly glossed over. While Phoebe gives a massage to Paolo, he grabs her and exposes himself, all without her consent. As Phoebe recounts the assault to the other friends, they react with shock. The scene is accompanied by a laugh track and played as more or less classic sitcom shenanigans, when it really seems much more disturbing.

“The One with All the Jealousy”
To paraphrase Shakespeare’s character of Iago, jealousy is a green-eyed monster. When it came to Ross and Rachel, the events of the third season brought out that beast in Ross. Rachel makes a new work friend named Mark, so Ross takes to sending gifts, flowers, and even a barbershop quartet to her work. Rachel accuses him of trying to mark his territory. A little insecurity might be normal, but to have such a possessive attitude towards your partner is not something to laugh off. Also, after they’ve broken up, Ross tells Rachel he can picture her naked whenever he wants. It might be true, but that doesn’t make it less creepy.

“The One with Ross and Monica's Cousin”
Critics have called this moment on “Friends” everything from embarrassing to weird to one of the worst things Ross ever did. We’re talking about the time Ross tried to kiss his cousin. Not only was it way more disturbing than funny, but it was made even more so with his joking excuse that he hadn’t been intimate with anyone for a while. Speaking of uncomfortable family moments, it’s hard not to forget the time it was revealed that Monica’s first real kiss was actually with her brother Ross. It was in a dark room and they both thought they were with someone they weren’t related to, but still.

“The One Where Ross Can't Flirt”
Ross Geller can do a lot of things, but he really can’t flirt. We learned that in the fifth season when he tries to talk to an attractive pizza delivery person. It turns out that talking about eight-year-old boys and the smell of gas isn’t a great way to get someone interested in you. While it’s not really inappropriate or offensive, this moment is just totally cringy and awkward. It’s kind of hard to watch — it would probably be even worse if there was no laugh track to ease our pain.

“The One with Unagi”
It wasn’t the first time “Friends” would make light of what could be a serious situation, but “The One with Unagi” takes it to a new level. Ross’s desire to teach Phoebe and Rachel a lesson by attacking them is written to be funny, and to an extent it is. His over-the-top seriousness about the principle of unagi and the back-and-forth surprise ambushes get lots of good laughs. However, without a laugh track it probably wouldn’t make us crack up. We’d be more likely to react like how the self-defense instructor does when Ross goes to him for tips on how to better attack his friends.