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Friends Replaced Jack Geller With A Terrible Stand-In

Friends Replaced Jack Geller With A Terrible Stand-In

Fans are spotting more continuity errors in the show, and it's all thanks to changing TV technology...

Emma Rosemurgey

Emma Rosemurgey

We may never see new episodes of much-loved TV favourite Friends, but that's ok - it's barely off our screens as it is, thanks to repeats and endless binge-rewatches (thanks, Netflix). In fact, we've all seen it so much, it's almost a surprise that we've not picked up on some of the show's scarcely-hidden continuity errors.

You've not spotted any either? Well, here's a pretty good one to start you off - remember The One Where Ross And Monica's Dad Was Played By A Totally Unconvincing Stand-In...? Check it out in the clip below:

The error occurs in the episode titled The One In Massapequa, at Ross' parents' 35th wedding anniversary party.

Jack and Judy Geller confess that since Ross and Rachel are having a baby out of wedlock, they've only gone and told all their friends that the pair have already gotten married - oh, and could they please go along with the ruse for the evening?

Yep, A W K W A R D.

While a guest comes up to congratulate Ross and Rachel on expecting their first child, the woman tells them: "Oh, and congratulations on your wedding, too!"

But, while Jack and Judy Geller stand in the background, Elliott Gould, who plays Jack in the sitcom, is mysteriously replaced with a man who looks quite frankly nothing like him.

Still Elliott Gould at this point... wait for it...
Warner Bros.

Twenty-seven seconds into the clip, we see a mystery man hovering behind Rachel. Not only is this not the Jack Geller who we know and love, he's also wearing a different suit and glasses.

The reason for this was revealed when the iconic series first came to Netflix, fuelling our addiction and allowing us to binge to our heart's content.

Put simply, fans wouldn't have been able to see the stand-in - because he wouldn't have been visible on standard TV screens.

Jack's replacement isn't even wearing the right suit.
Warner Bros.

Why, you ask? Well, 'widescreen' is essentially your answer.

When Friends was first made in the 90s, it was filmed in 4:3, which was standard at the time. However, now with bigger screens, the usual dimensions are 16:9 - aka widescreen - meaning viewers now get a wider angle of the show - and therefore it's easier to spot these errors.

As a result, fans have started noticing characters disappearing and being replaced by (not very good) stand-ins.

Warner Bros.

Another example spotted by eagle-eyed viewers can be found in The One With Rachel's Crush, where Joey makes pancakes for Phoebe.

He flips the pancake and throws it across the room for Pheobe, but while she demonstrates the perfect catch, Ross is somehow jumping through space in the background.

Somehow we'll forgive them, just because it's Friends.

Featured Image Credit: Warner Bros.

Topics: TV and Film, Fail, US Entertainment, Friends