Ladbible X Whatsapp
  • iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • Australia
    • Ireland
    • World News
    • Weird News
    • Viral News
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Science
    • True Crime
    • Travel
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV & Film
    • Netflix
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • TikTok
  • LAD Originals
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • Lad Files
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Extinct
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube

LAD Entertainment

YouTube

LAD Stories

Submit Your Content
David Schwimmer's 'Rachel' script slip up accidentally created one of the most awkward lines in Friends

Home> Entertainment> TV

Published 18:29 23 Oct 2023 GMT+1

David Schwimmer's 'Rachel' script slip up accidentally created one of the most awkward lines in Friends

An iconic moment born out of a complete accident

Dominic Smithers

Dominic Smithers

Ross and Rachel, Rachel and Ross... for many years, it was all anyone could talk about.

But while the writers worked hard to keep their story going, one of the most iconic lines from the show was a total accident. This is the story:

Cast your mind back to the year 1998 - Ross had moved on with Emily, and was set to tie the knot, putting the final nail on the coffin of his relationship with Rachel... or so it seemed.

Like anything with the hapless palaeontologist, it was never gonna go quite according to plan, was it?

Advert

And when Rachel followed the gang to London to profess her faith to him, and hopefully call off the nuptials, it all went decidedly t**s up.

I mean, we all know what happened, right?

Oh dear.
Warner Bros.

Instead of saying 'I Ross, take thee, Emily', he accidentally says 'Rachel', which is just about the worst way to kick off your marriage, tbh.

The line has since gone down in history, but it could have all gone very differently.

Advert

Revealing the true story behind the scene, one of the show's producers, Greg Malins, explained that David Schwimmer, who played Ross, accidentally came up with it.

In a clip that's been shared on social media, he revealed they were struggling to find a way to progress the story, and during filming the actor actually messed up his lines.

Even Rachel was surprised.
Warner Bros.

"There was one time at a taping, where David Schwimmer walked in the room and what he was supposed to say was, 'I have the cab waiting downstairs, Emily', but he walked in and said, 'I have the cab waiting downstairs, Rachel... oh, shoot, sorry'.

"And he ran back out, and we went, 'That's what should happen'. But it just happened because David flubbed his lines."

Advert

And we're thankful he did.

From ‘mistakes’ in the filming to a ‘plot hole’ in Rachel’s backstory, fans are often finding another new talking point about Friends.

During the season five episode ‘The One Where Phoebe Hates PBS’, Ross gets uncontrollably excited when Emily calls him up to resolve their mess of a marriage.

As he rises up from his chair, he gets pretty frantic, shouting at the others and moving about erratically.

In this moment of madness, Ross picks up a lamp and randomly hands it to Chandler - who understandably looks rather confused.

Advert

More understandably so considering Schwimmer decided to add this move in for his actor, with Matthew Perry reportedly having no idea what was going on.

Perry was genuinely confused.
Warner Bros.

So, Chandler’s reaction is totally genuine as the actor is left holding a lamp with no clue why.

But being a skilled improv comic, Perry didn’t break character and just kept holding onto the object for the rest of the scene - making the whole thing even funnier to fans.

Users were in stitches over the video as they reminisced on the iconic Friends scene.

Advert

Another pointed out the shock of the other actors, claiming Lisa Kudrow (Phoebe) ‘wouldn’t look at the camera because she was laughing’.

One user praised Perry, writing: “Just shows how much Matthew is Chandler irl. Chandler would have reacted that way if it was scripted, even better that it wasn't.”

Featured Image Credit: Warner Bros.

Topics: US News, TV and Film, Friends, Jennifer Aniston

Dominic Smithers
Dominic Smithers

Dominic Smithers is LADbible's Editorial Lead. After graduating from the University of Leeds with a degree in French and History, he went on to write for the Manchester Evening News, the Accrington Observer and the Macclesfield Express. So as you can imagine, he’s spent many a night wondering just how useful that second language has been. But c'est la vie.

X

@SmithersDom

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

7 hours ago
8 hours ago
9 hours ago
10 hours ago
  • 7 hours ago

    Oasis fans in shock after hearing soundcheck for first gig in 16 years this week

    Liam and Noel Gallagher are back with their Live '25 Tour on Friday (4 July)

    Entertainment
  • 8 hours ago

    Will it be illegal to watch controversial film as UK government contemplates terrorism ban

    The documentary covers the work of Palestine Action who look set to be proscribed as a terror organisation

    Entertainment
  • 9 hours ago

    Netflix's strict three point policy explained after u-turn banning subscribers from watching Line of Duty

    Netflix have reversed a decision on a popular BBC show

    Entertainment
  • 10 hours ago

    Ex-reality star says she has been 'free from masturbation' for 10 years

    Madison Prewett has revealed that she's led a life without porn of self-pleasure for the last decade

    Entertainment
  • David Schwimmer breaks silence over Friends co-star Matthew Perry's death
  • Anna Kendrick gives awkward response after being asked about co-star Blake Lively's ongoing legal battle
  • Jennifer Aniston was 'first' to go to Matthew Perry's funeral as Friends actors reunited to mourn co-star
  • Jennifer Aniston speaks out on Matthew Perry’s final moments in first interview since star’s death