The eighth season of Friends aired from September 27, 2001 to May 16, 2002 in the UK
Season summary
The question is still "Who is the father?" But is later revealed to be Ross
Joey begins to develop romantic feelings for Rachel after they go on a date as friends, but he comes to terms with her moving in with Ross so that he will be more involved in Rachel's pregnancy. When Joey's feelings are revealed, things become awkward between him and Rachel. Their friendship returns to normal.
The season was regarded as a return to form for the series; its ratings increased as viewers tuned in for comfort following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. It won the Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series in 2002. The first in that category for the series.
Season 8's premiere to finale was set about 8 months long, since in the second episode, "The One With The Red Sweater", Rachel is about one month pregnant and in the finale, she gives birth, which makes it set 8 months long.
Cast
Main Cast
- Jennifer Aniston as Rachel Green
- Courteney Cox Arquette as Monica Geller
- Lisa Kudrow as Phoebe Buffay
- Matt LeBlanc as Joey Tribbiani
- Matthew Perry as Chandler Bing
- David Schwimmer as Ross Geller
Recurring Cast
- Bonnie Somerville as Mona
- Sean Penn as Eric
- Alec Baldwin as Parker
- Eddie Cahill as Tag Jones
See also
Episode List
# | Total | Image | Title | Writer | Director | Original Airdate |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 171 | "The One After "I Do"" | David Crane & Marta Kauffman | Kevin S. Bright | September 27, 2001 | |
Monica and Chandler's wedding reception is almost upstaged by the news that someone may be pregnant. Phoebe suspects its Rachel and comes up with a plan to cover for her friend. | ||||||
2 | 172 | "The One With The Red Sweater" | Dana Klein Borkow | David Schwimmer | October 4, 2001 | |
Monica and Phoebe speculate about who might be the father of Rachel's baby. Mistakenly thinking Phoebe is the one who's pregnant, Joey makes a gallant gesture. | ||||||
3 | 173 | "The One Where Rachel Tells..." | Sherry Bilsing-Graham & Ellen Plummer | Sheldon Epps | October 11, 2001 | |
Everybody seems to know who the father of Rachel's baby is, except the guy himself: Ross. Phoebe and Joey fib about a gas leak to gain entry to Monica and Chandler's apartment. | ||||||
4 | 174 | "The One With The Videotape" | Scott Silveri | Kevin S. Bright | October 18, 2001 | |
Ross and Rachel's attempt to explain how they wound up getting pregnant turns into an argument over who came on to whom - until Ross makes the shocking announcement that he has the encounter on videotape. | ||||||
5 | 175 | "The One With Rachel's Date" | Brian Buckner & Sebastian Jones | Gary Halvorson | October 25, 2001 | |
Ross is horrified to learn that the pregnant Rachel is headed out on a date with a handsome actor, while Phoebe protests when Monica wants to fire a cute but clumsy sous-chef whom she fancies. | ||||||
6 | 176 | "The One With The Halloween Party" | Mark Kunerth | Gary Halvorson | November 1, 2001 | |
At Monica's Halloween party, Phoebe meets her twin sister Ursula's fiance and finds herself attracted to him as well. | ||||||
7 | 177 | "The One With The Stain" | R. Lee Fleming Jr. | Kevin S. Bright | November 8, 2001 | |
Ross learns Rachel wants to move out and find her own place... and suggests a vacancy in his building. But Joey gives Ross tough competition when he puts a nursery in their apartment to make her stay. | ||||||
8 | 178 | "The One With The Stripper" | Andrew Reich & Ted Cohen | David Schwimmer | November 15, 2001 | |
Feeling guilty for denying Chandler a reach bachelor party, Monica arranges for a stripper to perform for him, but Chandler's in for a big surprise. | ||||||
9 | 179 | "The One With The Rumor" | Shana Goldberg-Meehan | Gary Halvorson | November 22, 2001 | |
Monica bumps into an old high school friend and invites him to Thanksgiving dinner with the gang - unaware that he isn't exactly fond of Rachel. | ||||||
10 | 180 | "The One With Monica's Boots" | Teleplay by Brian Buckner & Sebastian Jones, Story by Robert Carlock | Kevin S. Bright | December 6, 2001 | |
Chandler is peeved when Monica splurges on an expensive pair of boots. When Phoebe learns Ross's and Sting's children attend the same school, she angles to meet the celebrity and get concert tickets. | ||||||
11 | 181 | "The One With Ross' Step Forward" | Robert Carlock | Gary Halvorson | December 13, 2001 | |
Ross becomes nervous when Mona wants to mail a joint Christmas card with the couple's picture. As the hormonal effects of her pregnancy kick in, Rachel searches for possible romantic partners - such as Joey. | ||||||
12 | 182 | "The One Where Joey Dates Rachel" | Sherry Bilsing-Graham | David Schwimmer | January 10, 2002 | |
To prepare Joey for a big date, Rachel goes out with him for a night on the town. But things take an unexpected turn: the date is a success and Joey becomes intensely attracted to Rachel. | ||||||
13 | 183 | "The One Where Chandler Takes A Bath" | Vanessa McCarthy | Ben Weiss | January 17, 2002 | |
Joey is crazy with guilt over his newfound affection for Rachel - and things get screwier when Monica mistakenly thinks he's infatuated with Phoebe. | ||||||
14 | 184 | "The One With The Secret Closet" | Brian Buckner & Sebastian Jones | Kevin S. Bright | January 31, 2002 | |
Chandler becomes obsessed with finding out what is behind the locked door of Monica's forbidden closet. Phoebe feels betrayed when she discovers Monica has been using another massage therapist. | ||||||
15 | 185 | "The One With The Birthing Video" | Dana Klein Borkow | Kevin S. Bright | February 7, 2002 | |
Monica goes all out for Valentine's Day with sexy lingerie and X-rated entertainment. But Chandler is too shell-shocked to respond after he accidentally watches a birthing video meant for Rachel. | ||||||
16 | 186 | "The One Where Joey Tells Rachel" | Andrew Reich & Ted Cohen | Ben Weiss | February 28, 2002 | |
Joey tells Ross about his true feelings for Rachel. They agree that Joey should tell Rachel during dinner, regardless of the consequences. Chandler fears that Phoebe's new boyfriend Don may be more compatible with Monica than he is. | ||||||
17 | 187 | "The One With The Tea Leaves" | Teleplay by Steven Rosenhaus, Story by R. Lee Fleming Jr. | Gary Halvorson | March 7, 2002 | |
Phoebe determine through reading tea leaves that she'll soon meet the man of her dreams. Feeling awkward after revealing his true feelings for Rachel, Joey keeps a low profile. | ||||||
18 | 188 | "The One In Massapequa" | Teleplay by Mark Kunerth, Story by Peter Tibbals | Gary Halvorson | March 28, 2002 | |
Monica regrets her request to supplant Ross as the designated toast-giver at their parents' 35th wedding anniversary. Phoebe's latest boyfriend drives everyone at the party crazy with his upbeat optimism. | ||||||
19 | 189 | "The One With Joey's Interview" | Doty Abrams | Gary Halvorson | April 4, 2002 | |
Joey is thrilled when his name is used in a Soap Opera Digest crossword. But he's reluctant for them to do a profile of him because his last interview got him into so much trouble he was written out of the show. | ||||||
20 | 190 | "The One With The Baby Shower" | Sherry Bilsing-Graham & Ellen Plummer | Kevin S. Bright | April 25, 2002 | |
Rachel panics that she is unprepared to care for a newborn and reluctantly goes along with her mother's plans to move in and help out - which hardly makes roommate Ross jump for joy. | ||||||
21 | 191 | "The One With The Cooking Class" | Teleplay by Brian Buckner & Sebastian Jones, Story by Dana Klein Borkow | Gary Halvorson | May 2, 2002 | |
Monica's restaurant is hit with a bad review, and she drags Joey along to a class taught by the critic in the hope of changing his mind. While shopping for baby gear, Rachel is put out when a salesgirl flirts with Ross. | ||||||
22 | 192 | "The One Where Rachel Is Late" | Shana Goldberg-Meehan | Gary Halvorson | May 9, 2002 | |
An overdue Rachel will try anything to get the baby moving. Joey is ticked off when Chandler nods off during he screening of his new movie. | ||||||
23 | 193 | "The One Where Rachel Has A Baby, Part 1" | Scott Silveri | Kevin S. Bright | May 16, 2002 | |
Rachel's baby nears delivery with an anxious Ross nearby. While she's in endless labor hell, her waiting friends cause hospital havoc. Chandler and Monica search for privacy in a quest to have their own baby. | ||||||
24 | 194 | "The One Where Rachel Has A Baby, Part 2" | David Crane & Marta Kauffman | Kevin S. Bright | May 16, 2002 | |
Rachel has her baby and names her Emma. Joey finds Ross's ring and Rachel thinks Joey is proposing to her! |
<< Season 7 | Season 8 | Season 9 >> | |||||||
#01 | "The One After 'I Do'" | #09 | "The One With The Rumor" | #17 | "The One With The Tea Leaves" | ||||
#02 | "The One With The Red Sweater" | #10 | "The One With Monica's Boots" | #18 | "The One In Massapequa" | ||||
#03 | "The One Where Rachel Tells..." | #11 | "The One With Ross's Step Forward" | #19 | "The One With Joey's Interview" | ||||
#04 | "The One With The Videotape" | #12 | "The One Where Joey Dates Rachel" | #20 | "The One With The Baby Shower" | ||||
#05 | "The One With Rachel's Date" | #13 | "The One Where Chandler Takes A Bath" | #21 | "The One With The Cooking Class" | ||||
#06 | "The One With The Halloween Party" | #14 | "The One With The Secret Closet" | #22 | "The One Where Rachel Is Late" | ||||
#07 | "The One With The Stain" | #15 | "The One With The Birthing Video" | #23 | "The One Where Rachel Has A Baby, Part 1" | ||||
#08 | "The One With The Stripper" | #16 | "The One Where Joey Tells Rachel" | #24 | "The One Where Rachel Has A Baby, Part 2" |