Courtney Cox first made her appearance in our lives as Monica Geller in Friends in 1994. Monica had a tumultuous love life as an adult and was shamed for being fat until she met Chandler. She was truly a survivor.
When you needed to escape a wedding, needed a place to stay, or needed business advice, Monica was that friend who was always there for you. Courteney Cox brought her own unique voice to the role.
Today, famous actress Monica Geller turns 60. Let’s relive ten of Monica Geller’s most memorable moments.
1. Fake Monica (Season 1, Episode 21)
In this underrated episode of season one, Monica discovers that someone stole her credit card and is living a better life. Monica, determined to catch the culprit, enlists the help of Phoebe and Rachel. However, when she finally meets an imposter named Fake Monica during a tap dance lesson, she unexpectedly befriends her instead of reporting her.
2. The One in Barbados (Season 9, Episodes 23 and 24)
The One in Barbados, the final episode of season nine of Friends, may not be the most memorable episode, but it is a fun Monica story. Monica’s hair draws attention to itself due to its raised volume due to the humidity.
Her hair grows out throughout the show, which leads to some funny moments. For example, when Phoebe asks, “Are you quitting the Supremes?” Jennifer Aniston laughs so hard that she changes character. Chandler meanwhile learns what it’s like to be the more attractive person in his marriage.
The highlights of this season finale, besides Monica’s giant hair, are her interference in Phoebe’s romantic life and her fierce ping-pong match with Mike.
3. The One with Rachel’s Sister (Season 6, Episode 13)
In this season six episode, Monica refuses to admit she’s sick because she considers it a display of weakness. To show that she’s “at the pinnacle of her life,” she tries to seduce Chandler into bed. Her attempt to entice Chandler with her nasal voice is one of the funniest scenes on the show. Courteney Cox almost laughs when she says, “Are you saying you don’t want to be involved?”
In the end, Monica lures Chandler into bed by applying vaporub to her chest right in front of him. Before following him into the bedroom, she claims, “It works like magic.” Episodes like this make us wonder why Courtney Cox didn’t win an Emmy for her work as Monica.
4. The One Where No One Is Ready (Season 3, Episode 2)
In The One Where No One’s Ready, Monica finds a message from her ex-boyfriend Richard on her answering machine. Monica becomes obsessed with the message, even though her friends tell her it’s old. She tries to leave Richard a normal message, but everyone in the group realizes it’s nothing more. After that, Monica receives a message from another woman, which makes things worse.
Assuming that she left the message, she begins an awkward conversation with Richard’s daughter Michelle. Monica leaves Richard another message, blaming her menstrual cycle for his actions, in a last-ditch effort to make things right. However, she inadvertently sets it as her outgoing message, which causes more concern. Monica’s attempts to appear nonchalant end here.
5. The One with All the Thanksgivings (Season 5, Episode 8)
The fifth season episode “The One with All the Thanksgivings” features several flashbacks to past Thanksgiving festivities. One of Monica’s most vivid memories is her attempt to woo Chandler after he makes a hurtful comment about her weight. But despite his best efforts—using knives and other cooking utensils—Cherene ends up losing his thumb. Despite the mistakes, Chandler’s first “I love you” moment is made even more touching when Monica places a turkey on his head.
6. The One With the Butt (Season 1, Episode 6)
Monica’s attention to detail in her home is a recurring metaphor throughout the episodes. In season one’s The One with the Butt, Rachel becomes agitated when she shakes the green ottoman, causing her friends to mock her cleanliness.
Monica leaves her shoes in the living room to reflect her spontaneous nature. However, she has difficulty sleeping as she contemplates whether or not to retrieve them. Her inner turmoil is hilarious, and she considers getting up early to return the shoes without anyone noticing. Finally, she gives up and asks for help.
7. The One with Chandler in a Box (Season 4, Episode 8)
Chandler apologizes to Joey for hooking up with his girlfriend in this Thanksgiving episode. Joey advises Chandler to reflect on his behavior by spending Thanksgiving inside a box. Meanwhile, Monica gets ice in her eye and reluctantly goes to see Richard’s son, an ophthalmologist.
Monica accepts his invitation to go on a date and attend Thanksgiving dinner, despite her initial misgivings. In response to the group’s criticism of her for dating her ex-boyfriend’s son, Monica makes light of her past transgressions.
“Well, judge as much as you want, but,” she says. “I threw a girl’s wooden leg in the fire, married a lesbian, left a man at the altar, and now I’m living in a box.” An eye patch is included, presenting this collection with a light-hearted touch.
8. The One With All the Rugby (Season 4, Episode 15)
Monica finds a shocking light switch in her apartment, while Chandler jokingly pretends to be in Yemen and Ross struggles in a rugby match. Monica, who has a reputation for paying attention to detail, asks Joey for information but receives no helpful information.
Monica performed several tests in an attempt to determine the function of the switch, including plugging loud noise devices into every outlet connected to the switch. After trying in vain, Monica decided to take the matter more seriously. She went to the municipal hall, paid the fee, and waited patiently for hours to receive the electrical drawings for the building. After that, she carefully drilled holes in the wall and covered them with drawings so that Rachel would not find out.
After Monica is electrocuted multiple times she reluctantly gives up her quest. This subplot provided an interesting twist to Monica’s storyline, with her perseverance being praised while also emphasizing the show’s comedic elements.
9. The One with Phoebe’s Uterus (Season 4, Episode 11)
In The One with Phoebe’s Uterus, Chandler seeks advice from Rachel and Monica about his relationship with Kathy. Monica, in a memorable scene, teaches Chandler about the seven erogenous zones using a diagram and enthusiastic guidance. This hilarious moment ends with Monica yelling “seven” over and over. Kathy later shows her gratitude by visiting Monica’s apartment, which adds to the episode’s humorous plot.
10. The One with the Embryos (Season 4, Episode 12)
In the popular episode, The One With the Quiz, Chandler, Joey and Monica compete against each other in a light-hearted quiz. Betting on what items are in Rachel’s shopping bag isn’t just a guessing game, as Ross creates a fun trivia game.
After tying the quiz, Monica uses the Lightning Round to show off her competitive nature by betting on the flat. Due to its humor and standout moments, such as the apartment switch which sets up further comical situations, this episode, also known as The One with the Embryos, is a favorite among fans.
