220 The One Where Old Yeller Dies

Phoebe discovers that her mother used to shield her from the sad parts of movies, like Old Yeller. She rents all the movies her mother used to show her, and gets rather depressed and pessimistic. Ross, bothered that he's missing significant steps in Ben's development, takes Ben for a weekend. Ben says his first words. At Monica's request, Chandler and Joey start spending time hanging out with Richard. Then they try to be more like Richard: Joey smokes cigars and Chandler grows a mustache. Richard starts to talk and dress like Chandler. They end up spending too much time together, until Richard discovers they view him as a father figure, rather than one of the guys. Rachel finds out that Ross has his future with her all planned out, and she panics.

Original Airdate:
04/04/1996

Other Info:
• This episode runs 22:35 on DVD (a typical sitcom runs about 22:00).

Credits:
Teleplay by Adam Chase
Story by Michael Curtis & Gregory S. Malins
Directed by Michael Lembeck
Tom Selleck as Dr. Richard Burke
Jane Sibbett as Carol Willick
Jessica Hecht as Susan Bunch
Charles Thomas Allen & John Christopher Allen as Ben