The first season of this monstrously successful sitcom introduces us to hapless Ross (David Schwimmer),



used-to-be-a-rich-girl Rachel (Jennifer Aniston),



charmingly uptight Chandler (Matthew Perry),



lovable dimwit Joey (Matt LeBlanc),



free-spirited Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow)



and obsessive-compulsive Monica (Courtney Cox).



This group of close-knit chums gave us an earful of catch phrases and proves friendship is the tie that binds...and gags. This disc includes the following episodes:

1. The One Where Monica Gets a Roommate - Rachel runs from her wedding and meets the friends in the coffee place. Ross is depressed about his divorce but he still has a crush on Rachel. 3.38 stars (Dale-3.75, David-3)

2. The One With a Sonogram at the End - In this episode, Ross finds out that his ex-wife Carol is pregnant with his child. He's stunned to learn she wants to give the baby her and her lesbian lovers last name. Ross and Monica's parents come for dinner which makes Monica really stressed. Rachel decides to return her engagement ring to Barry, the man she left at the alter and learns that he didn't let their honeymoon go to waste. He spent it with her maid of honor Mindy. 3.5 stars (Dale-4, David-3)

3. The One With the Thumb - Monica is reluctant to introduce her new boyfriend, Alan, to her friends because they've mocked all of the boyfriend they've met before. To her surprise, they love Alan. However, she realizes she doesn't feel a spark with Alan and breaks up with him. Her friends take the news very hard, but Alan is relieved (since he couldn't stand her friends). Chandler resumes his smoking habit. Phoebe encounters a problem with her bank account, when a bank error in her favor nets her $1,000. She gives the money (and a complementary football phone) away to a homeless friend, who in turn buys her a soda. When Phoebe opens it, she sees a thumb, so the soda company gives her $7,000. 3.88 stars (Dale-4.25, David-3.5)

4. The One With George Stephanopoulos - Joey and Chandler take Ross to a hockey game to keep his mind off of the anniversary of his first time with Carol. Monica, Phoebe and Rachel get George Stephanopoulos' pizza by mistake, and spy on him from Monica's balcony. 4 stars (Dale-4.25, David-3.75)

5. The One With the East German Laundry Detergent - Eager to spend time with Rachel, Ross pretends his building's washroom is rat-infested so he can join her at the laundromat. Chandler points out this could be a 'date' and the first time she'll see his underwear so it shouldn't be dirty! Rachel, the spoiled 'laundry virgin' feels managing this domestic chore is a real step to independence, but despite Ross's good advice she leaves a red sock in the machine. The real accomplishment comes where she has to stand up as no-nonsense-New Yorker against a rude, aggressive woman who invents rules to pretend it's not Rachel turn to do her laundry. Joey realizes he regrets dumping foxy Angela when he learns she is dating Bob. He proposes a double-date, then needs a girl stat. Monica agrees to be Joey's date but when she sees hunky Bob and realizes he's not Angela's brother she starts to enjoy the evening. Chandler drinks too much espresso while desperately trying to break up with neurotic Janice. 4 stars (Dale-4.5, David-3.5)

6. The One With the Butt - The friends attend Joey's new musical, Freud. At the theater, Chandler meets a beautiful women named Aurora. Joey gets hired to be Al Pacino's butt double. Chandler learns that Aurora is married, AND has another boyfriend. 4.25 stars

Rated NR 2 hours 35 minutes 1994

3.84 stars-Disc 1; 3.84 stars-Season 1. Love the later friends better but enjoyed seeing some of these! When this debuted I was still in high school and therefore didn't have TV (my dad got rid of the TV when I was in the 4th grade--so I missed out a lot of the popular culture from that time!)