Like many Friends fans, I have watched and rewatched every episode of the series more times than I can remember. I have no intention of putting a stop to that pattern of behaviour any time soon, because somehow, Friends still manages to make me laugh.
Except rewatching does make a few things clear. First off, it’s no secret that Friends has NOT aged well. It’s plagued with toxic masculinity, homophobia, transphobia, heteronormativity, gender stereotyping and things of the like. Some episodes are actually hard to watch.
But rewatching also crystallised something that I must have known all along. Although Friends makes me laugh, not all the friends contribute equally to the comedic value of the show. In fact, Chandler is often not funny at all.
Thus making ‘the funny one’, the least funny of them all.
Chandler Bing, of course, has his moments. He absolutely can be funny occasionally. But by virtue of self-identifying as the comedian of the group, Chandler simply tries too hard. He too-frequently answers banal, semi-rhetorical questions with elaborate punchlines that are as random as they are snarky.
When someone asks “guess what?”, that is not an invitation for your stand-up routine every damn time.
The best humour in Friends is derived from the characters being the butt of the joke – which Chandler actually does well – and when the one liners are intended first and foremost as jabs at another character. Chandler makes too many jokes for jokes sake, too often.
Perhaps if it occurred less often it wouldn’t be so bad, because one-liner gems like this one wouldn’t be buried in the rubble of Chandler’s bad jokes.
Ross [on the phone]: “No, Homo habilis was erect. Australopithecus was never fully erect.”
Chandler: “Well, maybe he was nervous”
I still love Chandler Bing and what he contributes to the show, but once you admit it you can’t ignore the truth. Chandler’s material is too-often convoluted and something of a nuisance. Chandler is the least funny friend.
As a footnote, I would like to add that Ross is the funniest friend, and Phoebe is the most likeable friend. Thank you for listening to my TED talk.