Sure, most of our favourite TV shows are chock full of very noticeable errors and Friends is no exception. Be it a quick peek of a boom hanging over one of the cast members during a scene or a a shot that was so misaligned we could actually see off of the set and onto the sound stage where producers, writers, and other crew stand during filming.
It’s all happened and while it’s annoying as a fan to have the magical experience somewhat ruined, we get over it because, at the end of the day, it’s such a small, minute part of the whole viewing experience that we usually forget about it in a matter of seconds.
But, just the other day, as I binge-watched Friends for the umpteenth time, I came across a mistake that I just can’t forget.
The episode? Friends season 9, episode 15 “The One with the Mugging”.
Only a few minutes into the episode, an enthusiastic Rachel rushes into Monica’s apartment to tell Joey that he got an audition with the famous and fictional actor, Leonard Hayes, played by Jeff Goldblum. The three friends admit to admiring the actor for his cellphone commercials in which he starred opposite a monkey.
Monica zealously posits that perhaps the monkey will be at the audition. Joey reacts by saying, “Don’t make me more nervous than I already am!” and goes to sit back down.
It’s at this point that… BAM!
Who the hell are you and what did you do with our beloved Rachel?
It’s no secret that many TV shows use stand-ins during filming, especially when they need to reshoot a particular part of the scene or when they focus on shooting one actors lines before switching to the other. But, for some reason, seeing this girl, likely a staff or crew member, has shaken me to my very core. What’s real and what isn’t? How many times are our “Friends” actually talking to someone else? Where will the lies end? Why is Gunther’s hair so bright? Could Janice hear herself talk? How did Monica afford that huge Manhattan apartment? How much has Ross spent in legal fees?
[Photos via Warner Bros.]
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