Friends is jam-packed with jokes, with every single episode featuring some comedic moments. Whether it be quick one-liners, sarcastic comments, or physical humor, there is always something going on. The show is incredibly well written, which is why it was such a success, and it allowed for long-running or hidden jokes to unfold over the course of several episodes.
The writers knew that the fans were deeply invested in the characters, and this allowed for a lot of these moments to take place. It only made the eventual pay-off even greater and these types of jokes are what helped separate Friends from other shows.
Chandler's Job
What is Chandler Bing's job? Can any fan answer this question? This was a running trope throughout Friends and while it was hinted at and briefly explained, the big joke pay-off came during "The One With The Embryos."
During the hilarious quiz that took place, one of the questions was about what Chandler did for a living, and Rachel didn't have a clue. Her best guess ended up being that he was a "transponster," whatever that is.
Huggsy
Huggsy is a character who everyone ends up knowing and loving after it is revealed that Joey can't sleep without his cuddly penguin. However, keen-eyed Friends fans may have noticed that the penguin actually appears in several episodes before he is mentioned.
It's just a little hint for fans about what is to come and a great bit of detail put in by the show. The fact that the penguin is there all this time and most people just see it as a bit of the set, makes it a great joke when it finally pays off.
Gunther's Love
When Phoebe is pregnant with the triplets, she is forced to miss out on quite a lot of things. One of the big things she's not part of is the trip to London for Ross' wedding. Due to the fact she's pregnant, Phoebe can't travel, and therefore the group decides to throw her a surprise trip to make up for it.
This plan seems like it is setting up a new episode, but just as they leave the door, Phoebe's water breaks. It's an exciting moment, but it is also hilarious, as she just wants the trip.
Sleepy Girl
Phoebe's singing is very funny and fans enjoyed seeing all the wacky moments of her personality shine through. Even though her "Smelly Cat" song seemed to be the big pay-off, this wasn't actually the case, as people had to wait a little longer for that one.
Phoebe's first indication of what would eventually become "Smelly Cat" came during the moment when she and her father began to try to get to know each other. He remembered a song, "Sleepy Girl," that he used to sing to put her to sleep, and it just so happened to have the same beat as "Smelly Cat."
Mike & Ross Hang Out
Something the show does a great job of is making it seem like everyone gets along right away when they join the group. There are a lot of partners that come and go, and most of the time, you don't see how their relationship with the group begins and develops.
This is shown to hilarious effect when Phoebe's boyfriend, Mike Hannigan, and Ross have the chance to hang out, just the two of them, at Ross' apartment. The sheer awkwardness behind this moment is what makes the pay-off worthwhile, as it is incredibly funny. It almost feels like a "behind the scenes" moment of what it took for Mike to become a regular part of the gang for an eventual 17 episodes.
"Could I BE Wearing Any More Clothes?"
For many first-time viewers, the big moment where Joey puts on all of Chandler's clothes is hilarious, simply because of the visual aspect, seeing Joey wearing all those clothes. However, this moment is actually a nod to the long-running gag regarding how Chandler speaks.
He emphasizes certain words and asks tons of sarcastic, rhetorical questions as a long-running aspect of his personality. Sometimes it is done for laughs and other times it is just part of his character.
The Rachel Haircut
The Rachel haircut became truly iconic during the early seasons of Friends. It's something a lot of people began copying and while the show never openly referenced the style, the episode "The One With The Lesbian Wedding" contained a hidden joke about it.
After Rachel's mother decides she wants to have a life like Rachel's, she complains to the group that if her mother wants to be like her, she should copy her hairstyle. It's a fun joke that took the show a few episodes to get to, but it was certainly worthwhile.
Rachel's Miserable Date
This joke took not just a few episodes, but a few seasons to pay-off. In season one, Steve appeared to try Monica's food in order to work out if she was good enough to become his head chef. However, he ended up being high and was crazy during the interview, which did lead to a very funny moment.
Years later, in season nine, Phoebe sets up Rachel on a blind date that just so happens to be with Steve! The date ends up being a disaster and he references his drug problem, stating that he lost his restaurant due to drugs, which was a clear wink for any long-term fans.
"We Were On A Break!"
The "we were on a break" argument is a massive part of Friends and it something that is spoken about a lot throughout the series. However, after the initial moment and following episodes, things calm down, that is until it comes to "The One With Ross' Wedding, Part Two."
When Rachel is on her way alone, she begins ranting and telling the classic Ross/Rachel story to her neighboring passenger on the plane, who is played hilariously by Hugh Laurie. It all ends with him stating that it sounds like they were on a break, which is a hilarious way to call back to this storyline.
The Phalange!
The word "phalange" might not mean anything to most people, but for Friends fans, it is massive. This is something that Phoebe mentions a few times throughout the series, often using it as a fake name when she needs to pretend to be someone.
These are normally throwaway jokes, but then it all comes full circle in the final episode. When Ross and Phoebe frantically try to stop Rachel from going to Paris, Phoebe pretends that the "phalange" is a part of the plane and that there is something wrong with it, forcing everyone off.