My favorite episode. And I believe Courtney Cox and Matt LeBlanc's favorite episode too. From the chick's "sex change" in the teaser, to the Buffay family drama, to the girls vs. boys face-off (sheer genius), and back around to the happy ending, nearly perfect. Everybody has their moments, but my favorite has to be Rachel and Monica's lightning round:

ROSS: 30 seconds on the clock. Five questions wins the game. The lightning round begins....now! What is Joey's favorite food?

MONICA: Sandwiches!

ROSS: Correct. Chandler was how old when he first touched a girl's breast?

RACHEL: 14?

ROSS: No, 19.

CHANDLER: Thanks, man.

ROSS: Joey had an imaginary childhood friend. His name was?

MONICA: Maurice.

ROSS: Correct, his profession was?

RACHEL: Space cowboy!

ROSS: Correct! What is Chandler Bing's job?

[Long pause.]

RACHEL: Oh gosh, it has something to do with numbers.

MONICA: And processing.

RACHEL: He carries a briefcase.

ROSS: Ten seconds, you need this or you lose the game.

MONICA: It's umm, it has something to do with transponding.

RACHEL: Oh-oh-oh, he's a transponce, transpondster!

MONICA: That's not even a word! I can get this! I can get this!

[ROSS checks the stopwatch, then looks up at Monica, as if to say, "Time's up."]

MONICA: NOOOOOOOOO!!!

RACHEL: Oh my God.

CHANDLER and JOEY: YEAH!!!

One of my favourite episodes too along with TOW Chandler in a Box, and TOW Where Everybody Finds Out.

I love the lightning round! The fact that the girls actually had to move out at the end was brilliant. I also love Chandler being wheeled in on the dog, and saying: "Stop the fighting. You're ruining moving day for us." Plus, Monica is ultra competitive in this episode, which is always fun.

Phoebe is also really touching when she is talking to the petri dish.

Are you in there little foetus?
In nine months will you come greet us?
I will...buy you some adidas!

It's amazing how Phoebe comes to grips with the idea of having her brother's children within the space of a single episode, and it never seems forced or rushed. Kudrow sold it phenomenally well. I think since the embryo implantation was the B-plot (title notwithstanding) that might have helped Phoebe's rapid acceptance go down easier with the audience.

Absolutely my favorite episode. I just love the way they answer the questions, particularly Joey. They way he reveals Rachel's actual favorite movie is hilarious.

The whole episode culminating in Frank Jr's "My sister's gonna have my baby!!" is genius. Phoebe's storyline was very touching so to have that against The Bet made for a terrific balance.

So many good lines, too.

Monica: Ha! Wanna bet?!
Chandler: Oh... I'm so confused as to what we've been doing.

This episode is in my top 3, for sure. Between the serious angle with Phoebe and the petri dish ("Hello, little embryos") and the highly comedic game, this episode was balanced very well. Not too serious, not too crazy -- and aesthetically, I loved the tiny lightning bolts on the back of the lightning round cards. Yay!

One of the greatest episodes ever. I can watch it over and over again.

And we find out so much information about the Friends, but we do not find out Chandler's job, unless he actually is a transponsder.

One of the absolute best eps ever!

Rachel: IT'S ALL RELATIVE!

Ross: You don't have to shout everything.

Rachel: I'M SORRY!

Rachel: And now I am telling you, I am not moving--and now I have got the steady hand! (shakes uncontrollably)

hee.

Definitely in my top 3, along with TOW Everyone finds out and the TOW No One is Ready.

My favorite part of this episode is when we find out who gets the TV Guide: "Miss Chinandalar Bong." I love how hilariously proud Chandler is of this mistake--like his appreciation for something funny totally outweighed his sensitivity about his name. As someone with an unusual and gender-ambigous name, I've gotten some mail addressed with some pretty f-ed up variations of my name on it, so this was especially funny to me.

Definitely one of my faves for many of the reasons already mentioned. I also love how Ross takes his role as "game show host" so seriously- "Hey, don't blame the questions!" And Monica's "NOOOO!" is just done so well. Season Four as a whole was really great (but I'll refrain from that discussion here).

I think two of the reasons I like this episode so much are that we learn more about the characters thanks to the trivia questions (one of the reasons I also enjoy, for example, TO That Could Have Been in Season 6) and we get to see the characters play off each other with rapid-fire dialogue (also seen in TO Where Ross Got High in Season 6). Situations like that really show off how comfortable the cast members were with each other (and how much better they meshed than a lot of other comedic casts out there).

You have to give Ross credit in this episode. It would appear that HE is actually the one who knows them all best. I have to assume he knows what Chandler's job is... he may be the only one, actually. I recall another episode where Joey was teasing Chandler 'And you call yourself an accountant?' 'No...'

I also love the lightning bolts on the lightning round cards. SUCH a Ross thing to do. The show is just hilarious from start to finish. The fetus stuff 'They are literally putting all of their eggs in my basket!' the rooster stuff 'What is that noise?' 'You!' and the entire competition.

The writers like to talk about how they love doing shows where it's just the characters in a room together. Even though Phoebe is in and out, when they're all together the different personalities bouncing off of each other make for some damn good fun.

This was not only one of the best episodes of Friends, I think it's one of the best episodes of any sitcoms I've ever seen. The characters are perfectly, well, in character (look at Monica for instance...her competitive streak would become incredibly annoying in later years, but it's so loveable and fun here), the writing is extremely tight with callbacks to previous episodes (particularly Chandler's job, as I too love the "You call yourself an accountant?" line), and the acting is perfect. The lightning bolts on the cards are perfect Ross, indeed.

The best part, for me, is that they actually go through with the room switch. There's no swerve at the end. They actually do it.

And I have to give major credit to Rupp and Ribisi, as they were perfect guest stars. They both have amazing comic timing, but they didn't attempt to overshadow the cast. They fit in flawlessly.

"I can check that for you." God, Chandler, for the first five years, was such a television god.

"His legs flail about as if independent from his body!" This line, and the horrified way Chandler says it, is one of my favorite moments of the series. Kills me every time.

"Get rid of the chicken"
"And the duck too"

"What did the duck ever do?"

"He gets the chicken riled up!"

I love that scene!

My friends and I were actually playing the trivia game last weekend and one girl desperately tried to add a lightning round to the game. My favorite episode. Even though I'm glad that the guys win because you get to see them dance like idiots, I'm always wanting Monica to say 'Pass', and move on to the next question instead of losing her apartment.

Monica: I'm just trying to spice it up!
Rachel: Well then, play for some pepper, stop spending my money!

I also greatly enjoyed Ross' game show host voice.

I like the stuff with the game, but I never liked Phoebe-is-having-her-brother's-babies-storyline. I find her brother so annoying after he gets married and his wife even more so. Maybe I'm humorless, but I always shudder to think of them as parents.

I love, love, love this episode! ("Wow, you're really not a morning person." etc. etc.). Didn't like Phoebe's B-plot too much though.

I really love this episode too, especially the game. I loved how seriously Ross took his role as the game show host, making up that little board with all the questions, and then being prepared with a lightning round in case of a tie. It was hilarious!

BUT I never understood why Rachel and Monica let themselves get stuck on that last question. I don't remember if they were allowed to pass, but they should have just given a wrong answer so that Ross would move on to the next question. They did that with an earlier question - they got a question wrong, and then simply moved on to the next one which they got right. Instead, R&M wasted all that time on one question, and so didn't have time to get to the next one. It seems like Monica, if she's so good at lightning rounds, would have understood the strategy behind it. I mean, I know it was written this way to be funnier, but I think they still could have made the girls lose without having them make this big strategic and tactical error.

Ha, I came on this thread specifically to say that. I've always thought the same thing. The whole competition was to see who knows who best between Joey/Chandler and Rachel/Monica when the mere fact that Ross made all those questions up and obviously knew all the answers shows that he actually knew them all the best.

This episode is in my top 5 favorite Friends episodes of all time. It's actually probably my absolute favorite. So many great quotable lines. I have to agree with whoever said Matthew Perry's delivery of the line "His legs flail about as if independant from his body" was comedic perfection.

Yep, loved this episode.

My favorite exchange was when they were trying to guess the objects in the shopping bag. Chandler whispers to Joey that there are, I assume, pads/tampons, and Joey says, "Nope, not for like, another 2 weeks". The girls then look mortified. It was awesome!

I also agree that Ross was wonderful, and the fact that he made up the questions was just so endearing.

Honestly, I probably would have been the poor sport who refused to move and alienated all of her friends, never quite regaining their trust again. Because the boys' apartment? Not good.

I loved when Rachel and Monica started bickering about whether or not to give up the apartment, and Chandler got all upset and wailed, "you are ruining Moving Day for us!"

I think this was the best episode of the whole run of the show. I was annoyed because I don't think it was selected as the viewer's favorites top 10.

Weekend at Bernie;s!

I agree. This episode, more than any other, gets quoted by me.

"What was Monica's nickname when she was a field hockey goalie?"

"Big Fat Goalie."

I love MP's reaction when JA glares at him after she gets the TV Guide question wrong.

Don't blame the questions!

Also I loved the "hand gesture" for instead of the middle finger that was spoke about in an earlier episode. priceless.

What movie does Rachel claim to be her favorite?
Dangerous Liasons!

What is her actual favorite movie?
Weekend at Bernie's, Nyah!

Heh.
I adore JA's expression after this, like she thought she was being so sly in keeping it a secret.

Are you sure, because I remember it being one?

Love this episode. Definitely in my top three for sure. Loved that Ross went so far as to have a lightning bolt logo on the back of the lightning round cards.

I just moved into a house recently, and this episode came to mind a lot during the buying and moving in process. There are 3 bedrooms, so my husband and I each wanted a room for our own to house stuff we like to work on. One of the rooms is purple, so I always think about when Rachel is refusing to move out because their apartment is pretty and purple.

Rachel: This is a girl’s apartment! That is a boy’s apartment, it’s dirty and it smells. This is pretty. It’s so pretty! And look, and it’s purple!

I just love that part.

I live in Norway, where Friends is subtitled, and that song was subtitled so well! The joke was totally understandble even though the languages are totally different! Wish I could explain it better but I don't think I can....

My favorite line from this ep:

Joey: A bet is a bet, you bet on the bet and if you loose, you loose the bet.

Definitely one of my favorite episodes.

I love Chandler's response to Rachel's declaration that she's not leaving the apartment ("This is not a boy's apartment! This is a GIRL'S apartment!"): "Cool, girl roommate!" Also, I like the way that Chandler and Joey enter the apartment on the big dog, and Rachel calls them mean boys.

Just watched a rerun of this episode, and even though I've seen it a couple of times, some of the lines simply crack me up, even though I know they're coming. A line no-one's mentioned:

Rachel: What the hell is that?!! (to Monica) What the hell is that? Is that you?

... setting up Chandler's line a couple of seconds later.

BUT, the B-plot with Phoebe. Well, I pretty much think it sucks. I actually hate it. Because of that, to me this episode isn't among the all-time best.

Thanks for pointing out that what the game really proved was that Ross knew everyone best. I never caught that... it's almost like a missed opportunity they could have used in this episode.

That also means Ross knew Chandler's job. Even JOEY didn't know what Chandler did. Even the viewers never paid attention, because I bet (though feel free to prove me wrong) not one of us could have answered that when it first aired.

As to why Rachel and Monica didn't just get it wrong and move on, they were put on the spot and surprised by it and probably never realized until that moment that they DIDN'T know what he did.

I used the Michael Flatley line just a few days ago...

And I agree the Phoebe plot was a little boring, but I do like, "Hello, teeny embryos..."

Ross doesn't necessarily have to know them the best, he could have given them all a questionaire and had them fill in the results.

I always attributing his knowing them all best because of his unique relationships with both sides. He was Chandler's college roommate, so he'd know things like how old Chandler was when he first touched a breast (assuming that boys, like girls, talk about this stuff amongst themselves). And as Monica's brother he obviously knew all sorts of things about her that not everyone may know, and he'd known Rachel since at least high school so he'd have inside information there. And in reality, he doesn't even have to really know the right answers to some of the questions since the people who do know the right answers were right there.

I thought it was Fried Green Tomatoes. I must've misheard. (Or maybe I'm confusing Rachel with Manjula Nahasapimapetalon, whose favorite food, book, and movie are all "Fried Green Tomatoes")

Regarding passing on the lightning round, maybe they were all out of questions (you can't have too many passes). Just a thought.

Definitely the best episode ever. Everyone was at the top of their game. And who doesn't like trivia and finding out stuff about characters we already love.

I would have not moved had I been Monica or Rachel. The boys' bathroom would have been reason enough for me.

I like Monica best in the episode, chastising Rachel for stupid answers. "Rachel, use your head!" and how she probably was proud that the boys knew how many towel categories she had.

When I watched this recently on DVD, I skipped more or less all of Phoebe's scenes just to get to the quiz, which is absolutely one of my all-time favourite Friends scenes. And I'm ashamed to admit (okay, not that ashamed) that I watched Weekend At Bernie's just because it was Rachel's favourite movie.

I think the Friends' comedic timing is perfect in this episode. My absolute favourite line, even though there are a hundred great ones in this ep, is Ross:
Chandler: Ross, I believe if you check that shopping bag you will find a half eaten box of cookies in there.
Ross checks, finds the cookies and starts to take a bite.
Ross: You're good... These are not.

Just the way he says it. Slays me.

Love this scene:

Joey whispers in Ross' ear

Ross: "Ewww, No! Her ear!"

I wonder how many takes that took and if LeBlanc may have whispered other things to Schwimmer.

Definitely one of the best. And I even loved Phoebe's sub-plot, mostly because I love Giovanni Ribsi and I think he and Kudrow work so well off of each other.

"Is there anything I can do, you know, to make sure I get pregnant?"

"I know!! Why don't you get drunk? That worked for a bunch of girls in my high school!" Brilliant and so in character!

Does anyone here still utilize the Geller way of flipping people off (banging your fists twice)?

This episode is also in my top 5 faves.



All the time. Love it.

Don't you think that most viewers would actually call this episode "The One with the Game" instead of "The One with the Embryos?" Ross' quiz seems to be what people remember the most in this ep.

Friends had a tendency to name thier episodes after thing that weren't the most important or stand out parts.

I understand what you mean, but I can't say I agree...

Most of the show's standout/classic episodes are named after the key plot: TOW the Blackout, TOW Rachel Finds Out, TOW All the Poker, TOW the Flashback, TOW the Football, TOW Everyone Finds Out, TOW Chandler in a box... I have to agree with Paul on this. Most episodes of Friends, I remember what they're about because of the title. But this one, not so much. Phoebe's subplot was kinda boring.

And as my counter aguement I add, TOWT Dozen Lasangas (Poalo cheats on Rachel), TOWT Race Car Bed (it's a factor but a minor one).

I'd guess, on the ones where it's named after the small sub-plot, they were trying to keep those who knew the titles in advance surprised by what actually happened.

Here's a nice article honoring the favorite episodes.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4760118/