Revisiting Matthew Perry's Best, Most Memorable Moments as Chandler Bing
Could he BE any funnier?
As the world mourns the sudden death of Matthew Perry at the age of 54, fans are no doubt thinking of his spectacular work as the sarcastic but sweet Chandler Bing on Friends.
Over the course of 10 seasons, Perry brought the character through heartaches and regrets and growth, maturing from typical dude-around-town to a devoted husband and father. Bing famously got the last line of the series, and is considered by many to be the best and funniest "Friend." He of the third nipple, the hatred of Thanksgiving, the divorced parents, the many large button-down shirts...
Perry's comedic timing was a true and rare gift, and if you need a pick-me-up after reading about his challenging life and untimely death, there is, ironically, no one better to put a smile on your face than Chandler. Perry brought magic to every scene and storyline, but here are just some examples of his best work on the show, in no particular order:
Trapped in an ATM vestibule with Jill Goodacre (Season 1, Episode 7, "The One With the Blackout")
In an early episode, Chandler is stuck in an ATM vestibule during a citywide blackout, but is thrilled to realize he's not alone: Victoria's Secret model Jill Goodacre is there, too. In their first few scenes together, Perry is mostly silent, using his body language to communicate Chandler's awkwardness as we hear his thoughts in voiceover. It's a tricky bit of comedic acting he pulls off perfectly. Or should we say, his acting is perfection. (Goodacre's real-life husband, Harry Connick, Jr., posted clips from the episode in his tribute to the actor.)
Chandler and Monica, aka Mondler, 4Ever (Whole Show)
It's impossible to pick a singular funny Chandler-Monica (Courteney Cox) moment. From Season 4 where they appeared sharing a bed in London, the pairing of Type A sweetheart Monica and neurotically insecure Chandler was comedy gold. She really was the second-greatest love of his life (after Joey, of course).
Chandler in a box (Season 4, Episode 8, "The One With Chandler In A Box")
After kissing Joey's girlfriend, Chandler is desperate to show his friend how sorry he is. Joey was recently trapped in a cabinet while their shared apartment was robbed, and so proposes that Chandler make it even by spending Thanksgiving in a box. Within the logic of the show, it actually makes a lot of sense, and the scene is a great example of how funny Perry could be using just his voice.
Playing chicken with Phoebe (Season 5, Episode 14, "The One Where Everyone Finds Out")
They don't know we know they know. After secretly sleeping together for months, Chandler and Monica are finally found out by their friends, who use the information to play a prank: Phoebe seduces Chandler, knowing he can't go through with it, and can't say why. Perry and Lisa Kudrow have excellent comedic chemistry, and of course it's also sweet when Chandler finally breaks and admits how much he loves Monica.
How he dances (Season 4, Episode 20, "The One With All the Wedding Dresses")
Did someone say physical comedy?
The proposal (Season 6, Episode 25, "The One With The Proposal")
Warning: weepy. One of the all-time most tender moments in the series is when Chandler, who has spent the last day and a half trying to figure out if he's ready to marry Monica, comes home to find her proposing to him. He ends up being the one to ask the question and gives her a ring, eliciting sobs from Mon and the whole studio audience. Perry didn't get too many opportunities to flex his dramatic muscles, but he did have them.
Handcuffed to Rachel's boss' Cabinet (Season 4, Episode 3, "The One With The Cuffs")
Hello, sweet pants! Between being handcuffed to furniture and stuck in a box, Chandler was basically the Houdini of the group, and watching him try to wrangle his way out of crazy situations was one of the best parts of the show.
Talking to Erica (Season 10, Episode 9, "The One With The Birth Mother")
After Erica (Anna Faris) reveals that she'd like to give the baby — later revealed to be twins — she's carrying to a different couple, Chandler has a heart-to-heart moment with her about why he and Monica want to adopt with this amazing monologue... and he wins her over.
"My wife's an incredible woman. She's loving and devoted and caring. And don't tell her I said this but the woman's always right... I love my wife more than anything in this world. And I... it kills me that I can't give her a baby... I really want a kid. And when that day finally comes, I'll learn how to be a good dad. But my wife... she's already there. She's a mother... without a baby... Please?" And I'm crying again.
Pivot! (Blooper)
The famous sofa-stuck-in-the-stairwell scene shows how funny the Friends cast is. And their inability to keep a straight face while shooting shows how much they loved each other in real life.