818 - The One In Massapequa

[Breezy]

This is the latest promo released from NBC.  I'm sorry, no NBC written release as yet.  (See edit date)  When they do release the information, I'll add to this post, I won't edit this one.  Anyway...  (Picture and caption)

*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
TOW The Zesty Guy
NBC Promo - USA Airdate:  March 28, 2002
**
*
*
*
**
*

FRIENDS -- NBC Series -- “The One With The Zesty Guy” -- Pictured (l-r): Alec Baldwin as Parker and Lisa Kudrow as Phoebe Buffay -- GUEST STAR ALEC BALDWIN AS PARKER, THE NEW MAN IN PHOEBE’S LIFE -- Photo provided by Warner Bros. Television
Airdate: Thursday, March 28 on NBC (8-8:30 p.m. ET)
Posted: 02/26/02
*
*
*
*More...when the information is released....

[Breezy]

Okay, at this point in time, there are two titles for this episode, I'm wondering if the one in parentheses will be the official title?  Well, anyway, here's the spoiler:
*
*
*
**
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
TOW The Zesty Guy (aka The One In Massapequa)


A tongue-tied Monica regrets her request to supplant Ross as the designated toast-giver at their parents' 35th wedding anniversary party while Phoebe arrives with her latest boyfriend (Alec Baldwin) -- an upbeat optimist who always gushes so enthusiastically that he drives everyone crazy. What's more, Mr. and Mrs. Geller (guest stars Christina Pickles and Elliott Gould) ask a shocked Ross and pregnant Rachel to pretend that they're married for appearance's sake.

[Breezy]

Okay, here's TV Guide's Spoiler:
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
March 28: The One in Massapequa: Alec Baldwin guest stars as Phoebe's latest ill-fated fling. Baldwin plays Parker, a bubbly lover of life whose enthusiasm wins over Phoebe. Certain that her friends will feel the same, Pheebs invites him to the Gellers' anniversary bash, but Parker's unfettered excitement over everything soon begins to bring out the worst in the sarcastic sextet. Meanwhile, Monica is hellbent on one-upping golden child Ross with a tear-jerking toast to her folks that's sure to leave the guests speechless.

*
*

[Breezy]

And, I don't know what to do here, so, I left my first post on here alone, but changed the title of this topic to match TV Guide's version.  If, and when, they change the captioning for the photo, I'll do that.

[Breezy]

I forgot to write a recap about this show.  Sorry about that.  
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Here's a partial recap because I don't have much time to write right now, and I'll write more later on?

Parker (Alec Baldwin) was an "extremely happy-type" of a guy.  He was soooo enthusiastic about everything...from guessing who all of Phoebe's friends were to being very excited to go to the (boring) Geller's anniversary party.  And from just one small meeting, Ross & Rachel decided to get their own cab to go to the anniversary party and not go with everybody, especially,  "Mr. Love-Everything-and-Is-Way-Too-Happy."

At the party, Parker was commenting about everything.  Sooo, after Parker was gone, Ross was "mocking" him in front of all the friends except Phoebe; however, Phoebe saw him and commented that she never made fun about their dates.  But, this made her realize that she was defending Parker's habit which later became very annoying to her.

Meanwhile, Monica had been overplanning the speech that she would say at the Geller Anniversary.  She wanted it to be a real "tearful", emotional, attention getting, do-better-than-Ross type of speech.

Elsewhere, Mr & Mrs Geller had confronted Ross and Rachel to "pretend" that they are married.  Since the Gellers didn't want to "explain" why they were having a child without the marriage, they conveniently had told everybody that Ross & Rachel already were married.  At first R&R decided to just nod and agree to whatever Mr. & Mrs. G's guests would say about the "marriage", however, things started to change when the guests were soooo curious about "details" of the wedding...as well as the proposal...

And....

[Breezy]

Oh and...I've gotto go, however, for all those curious minds...this is an R&R episode....the R&R fans will celebrate this one.

And what about Joey?  This is very bizarre, because this episode pretends that "nothing...I mean nothing....happened at all..."  Maybe we were all dreaming and the J&R thing never happened?

Anyway, more about the highlights when I get back.    Feel free to write in here if you have questions and/or if you've seen this episode & would like to comment.

[Breezy]

More of the highlights:
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Ross & Rachel started to embellish their "wedding" ceremony.  At one point Rachel said that she walked down the aisle with Stevie Wonder singing "Isn't She Lovely..." and that Stevie was an old family friend.  And, some of the guests were indescretely handing Ross money as a  belated wedding present as they both continued with their "wedding story".  However, Rachel paused a moment when Ross told the huge gathering of Mr. & Mrs. Geller's friends about how he proposed to Rachel.

Meanwhile, it started to sink in to Phoebe that Parker was annoying.  He would be very happy and excited about everything...so at one point she is sitting and Joey is apologizing to Phoebe that he was sorry and that they (all the other friends included) shouldn't have made fun of Parker.  Phoebe in turn confesses to Joey that she isn't having second thoughts about Parker.  Joey reassures her that it's okay to be "too" optimistic about life.  

Then, Monica has her "shining moment" and gives her speech.  (Which was very disasterous!  I felt very bad for her.)  And, as expected the Gellers insisted that Ross say a few words.  Naturally, Ross first declined, but later consented to say a few select words.

And....

[Breezy]

More episode happenings:
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Ross then decides he has no choice but to give a toast to his parents because they seem to insist upon it.  He stands up and says, "I just wanted to say on behalf of  my new bride, Rachel,
(scene cuts to show Rachel just smiling and glowing, then focusses on Ross), that if in 35 years we're half as happy as you guys are, we'll count ourselves the luckiest people in the world..."

Mr. & Mrs. G's faces were in tears and they were so happy.  Meanwhile, they focus on Monica who is doing this:  

Much later...Phoebe has had about enough of Mr. Too-Nice-&-Happy-About-Trivial-Things, that she gives him one more chance.  She takes him home and says they should play the quiet game.  The one that speaks first , loses!  Parker, sits for about 2 seconds before he says, "Okay, I lose, now, let's play Jenga."  Phoebe has had it!.  She asks him to leave.

And....

[Breezy]

Some of the R & R dialog plus end tease:
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
At their apartment, Ross & Rachel are commenting about the events that happened that night.  

Ross:...And then we cold have gone from the ceremony to the reception with you in the side car.  (previously Ross had been suggesting that he rode in on his Harley {motercycle}, but Rachel had not liked that idea at all).

Rachel:  Ross, it just wouldn't have been feasible...

Ross:  But having a dove place a ring on your finger was no problem?

Rachel:  It was really fun being married to you tonight.

Ross:  And it was the easiest 400 bucks I ever made.

Rachel:  (laughs, then comes closer to Ross to face him), Hey Ross, can I ask you something?

Ross:  Sure

Rachel:  That proposal at the planetarium...

Ross:  I know, I know, it was stupid

Rachel:  Are you kidding?  With the lillies & the song & the stars...it was really wonderful....Did you make all that up?

Ross:Well, actually, I thought about it when we were going out.  That's how I imagined I would ask you to marry me.

Long pause

Rachel:  Wow, that would have been very hard to say "no" to.

Another long pause

Ross:  Well, then it's a good thing I didn't do it, because it sounds like it would have been a very expensive wedding.

Rachel:  (laughs)

Again, another pause

Ross:  Okay, goodnight (he puts his hand on the "baby")

Rachel:  Goodnight.

They head towards their separate bedrooms?  Ross pauses.

Ross:  Uh....even if the sidecar had a windscreen so your hair wouldn't get messed up....

Rachel:  I will think about it!

Ross:  That's all I'm asking...

End credits.

Small Tease at the end:  

Monica & Ross are at Central Perk discussing the "toast".  Monica cannot understand how Ross makes everybody so happy that they cry.  Ross then goes over what Monica says telling her that her speech was wonderful, however, how he describes what she said makes Monica cry....so Monica (in frustration and happiness) comments that she doesn't know how Ross does that!

[Breezy]

Oh and the title Massapequa refers to where the 35th Anniversary was held at.  However, I might have called this TOW Ross & Rachel's Fantasy Wedding Stories.

Not much Chandler going on in here.  And like I said before, the thing with Joey...like nothing happened at all between Rachel & Joey, ever!  

I hope that this isn't "sledgehammer foreshadowing"...or very unsubtle hints about what the season finale is about.  But, I'll have to wait and see what actually airs.  Stay tuned.  And feel free to speculate in here, if you want to.