Best of Friends "The One With The Author" Jae-Ha Kim is the pop-culture reporter for the Chicago Sun-Times and Fox News Chicago. A New York Times bestselling author, Kim received her B.A. from the University of Chicago and her M.S. from Northwestern University, which Friends star David Schwimmer also attended. In a perfect world, she would meet a man who has Chandler's wit, Joey's looks and Ross' kind heart. She would settle for Keanu Reeves.

"The One With The Pitch"

• BEST OF FRIENDS is the unofficial "Friends" companion guide that's packed with everything you ever wanted to know about the NBC sitcom, but were too busy sipping mochaccino to ask. Written by New York Times bestselling author Jae-Ha Kim, the book takes a look at the actors, guest stars, creative team and the Rembrandts (who hit the big time with the theme song I'll Be There For You). There also are recaps of each episode from the debut season, plus Q&As, true/falses, matching columns, quizzes, a glossary of Friendisms and all manner of trivia covering everything you don't really need to know about the show, but will make a better fan of you. 
• BEST OF FRIENDS is for all the "Friends" fans--both the diehard ones who've caught every episode since the show's debut on Sept. 22, 1994, as well as the casual viewers who tune in every now and again to see what the gang is up to. It showcases the sitcom's classic premiere season. You so remember it, no?

"The One With The Prologue"

THE FRIENDS:

Rachel Green........(Jennifer Aniston)  Ross Geller...........(David Schwimmer)  Phoebe Buffay.......(Lisa Kudrow)  Joey Tribbiani.......(Matt LeBlanc)  Chandler Bing.......(Matthew Perry)  Monica Geller.......(Courteney Cox)

Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher gives "Best of Friends" a quick skim backstage at Chicago's Aragon Ballroom.

A "Friends" fan, Gallagher admits he's partial to Jennifer Aniston. The author admits she's partial to him.

"The One With The Loopy Lingo"

    So you wanna speak like the Friends, only you can't remember all their floopy terminology? Not to worry. It's so not hard.
    Just add a "y" (pronounced "eee") at the end of the desired word, preferably a verb: "What's with that flippy thing with your hair?" And if you're talking about a person, add Guy or Girl to the description. For instance: "Talky Guy asked Itchy Girl out on a date."
    Also, be sure to make liberal usage of "not" and "so": "Do we not like them?" or "You are so going to Minsk." Use "so" and "not" together in the same sentence and get a double whammy: "That is so not true." Add emphasis to "not" and you've got Chandler: "That is so not true!"
    To talk specifically like Chandler, remember to put emphasis on a word that normally wouldn't be emphasized: e.g. "Could that report be any later?" or "The hills are alive with the sound of music." Also, let all your innate smart assness come out and say exactly what's on your mind, preferably with a smirk.
    Add a "shall we" at the end of any sentence and you've become Monica: "Let's analyze this, shall we?"
    If Ross is your speech God, just enunciate everything very clearly and make use of archaic terms: "I want to woo her." Sprinkle in plenty of non sequitors to be more like Pheebs. And if you wanna talk like Joey, be sure to state the obvious and then add, "If you know what I mean," at the end of the thought.
    Friendspeak is so not hard, if you know what I mean. So let's all try it, shall we?
 

	FRIENDISMS	ENGLISH
	Doi.   Filter tip little buddy.   Floopy.   Icky.   Nippular area.   Nuh uh.   So not true.   Testosteroney.   Um no.   Wee.   Why so scrunchy?   Yuh huh.	Duh.  Cigarette.  Messed up.  Gross.  Boobies.  No way.  Not true.  Macho.  No.  Minute.  Why are you such a crab?  Oh, yeah.

FRIENDSHIP RING:

To understand "Friends," you have to be familiar with thecharacters.


Each BEST OF FRIENDS chapter encapsulates an episode of the classic 1994-1995 season.
For a quick overview, here's a synopsis of the highlights: 

Carol (Jane Sibbett) divorces Ross so she can live with her lesbian lover Susan (Jessica Hecht). But Carol is pregnant with Ross' baby. Ross likes Rachel, who left her groom standing at the altar because he reminded her of Mr. Potato Head. Unfortunately, Rachel is hot for Paolo (Cosimo Fusco), an Italian playboy who makes a play for Phoebe. So Ross shares a romantic kiss with Mrs. Bing (Morgan Fairchild), who is the mother of his friend Chandler. Meanwhile, Chandler ends up on a blind date with his ex-girlfriend Janice (Maggie Wheeler), whom he already has broken up with twice within the past five months. Chandler and Joey live across the hall from Ross' sister Monica and Rachel. At one point or another, most of them have seen each other naked in the shower, though they don't date each other. Chandler shares an apartment with Joey, who dates and then gets dumped by Phoebe's twin sister, Ursula (also played by Lisa Kudrow).Carol gives birth to Ross' baby, who has two moms, a dad and an adoring Aunt Monica who promises the newborn she will always have gum. And when Rachel finally realizes Ross is in love with her, she goes to meet him at the airport. But he has another woman in his arms. 

Always happy to return to Chicago  --his home away from home-- David Schwimmer looks pleased after "caroling"  to the animals at Lincoln Park Zoo. There is absolutely no truth to the rumor that  Marcel (the feces-throwing monkey) was in attendance.

"The One With The Quiz"

1. Which Friend appeared as Eve's unwilling, handcuffed love slave on "Larroquette"?
2. What was the name of Monica's and Ross' childhood dog?

(a) Spot.
(b) Julio.
(c) Chichi.
3. Which of Joey's sisters has a restraining order on them?
4. What's the name of the softball team that the Friends finally beat?

(a) Hasidic Jewelers.
(b) Central Perk Sluggers.
(c) New York Wenus.
5. How does Monica guestimate the size of men's penises?
6. Where did the Rembrandts shoot their video for the "Friends" theme song "I'll Be There For You"?
7. How much did Rachel's parents spend on her wedding to Barry?
8. Which Friend got bit by a peacock at the zoo?
9. Ross sees a framed picture of Carol and Susan with their friend Tanya. Which celebrity does he mistake Tanya for?

(a) k.d. lang.
(b) Huey Lewis.
(c) Florence Henderson.
10. What was the name of Chandler's roommate before Joey?

(a) Angela.
(b) Kip.
(c) Brad.
11. How old was Chandler when his parents divorced?
12. How did Ross end up majoring in paleontology in college?

(a) On a dare.
(b) Based on an aptitude test.
(c) Carol was majoring in paleontology.
13. What does Rachel call Chandler when he's smug?

(a) Sarcastic Boy.
(b) Smirky.
(c) Kicky.
14. The Friends live in what part of New York?

(a) Brooklyn.
(b) Tribeca.
(c) Greenwich Village.
15. What is Ross' "nickname" for Paolo?
16. Matthew Perry played Tracy Gold's boyfriend on "Growing Pains." What was his character's name?

(a) Sandy.
(b) Ben.
(c) Robin.
17. Who is the only cast member who doesn't smoke?
18. On what sitcom did Matthew Perry make his TV debut?

(a) "Boys Will Be Boys."
(b) "Second Chance."
(c) "Charles In Charge."
19. Which female Friend was hired and then fired to play Roz on the pilot for "Frazier"?
20. After co-hosting the "1995 MTV Movie Awards," which celebrity was Courteney Cox linked with (who ended up guest starring on the show during the second season)?

(a) Chris Isaak.
(b) Val Kilmer.
(c) Jim Carrey.
21. Ugly Naked Guy has a pair of gravity boots.

True. False.
22. Joey takes classes at NYU.

True. False.

QUIZARAMA answers:

1. Matthew Perry. He played Steven.
2. (c) Chichi.
3. Joey's little sister Tina's husband puts a restraining order on her. Why? We don't know.
4. (a) Hasidic Jewelers.
5. The distance from the tip of a guy's thumb to the tip of his index finger.
6. NBC's studio 8H in New York City, where "Saturday Night Live" tapes its shows.
7. $40,000.
8. Chandler.
9. (b) Huey Lewis.
10. (b) Kip.
11. 9.
12. (a) On a dare.
13. (b) Smirky.
14. (c) Greenwich Village.
15. Ross calls Paolo "Rigatoni."
16. (a) Sandy.
17. David Schwimmer.
18. (c) "Charles In Charge."
19. Lisa Kudrow.
20. (a) Chris Isaak. He denies it.
21. True.
22. False. Joey participates in a fertility study at NYU Med School.

"The One With the Factoids"

"The One With The Release Date"

Look for Jae-Ha Kim's BEST OF FRIENDS (HarperCollins) at bookstores everywhere. If you don't see it on the shelves, be sure to ask for it, or look for it online. See for yourself why "Best of Friends" has been featured on "Entertainment Tonight" and "Extra," as well as in GQ, the Chicago Sun-Times, the Chicago Tribune etc.

 

Read more by Jae-Ha Kim at www.jaehakim.com.

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