Handbag Marinara: A FRIENDS Podcast

Rachel has an awkward job interview at Ralph Lauren, Joey searches for "Hot Girl" in Ross's building, and Monica competes with the Phoebe and Gary — aka the new "hot" couple. We also discuss: proper handshake technique, Love Bursts, WOW chips, and how women need to throw their hat into the ring more often!

S05 E17 - TOW Rachel’s Inadvertent Kiss

Signature Beverage: Sex on the Playa: Sex on the Beach Margarita http://handbagmarinara.com/blog/sex-on-the-playa-sex-on-the-beach-margarita

Screen shots and more at: http://handbagmarinara.com/blog/s05-e17-tow-rachels-inadvertent-kiss

**Support our Season 5 charity: World Central Kitchen!** http://donate.wck.org/handbagmarinara

00:08:45 - Is it Ralph LauREN or Ralph LAURen? Either way, we love the brand!

00:20:15 - Missing people immediately, and Love Bursts!

00:41:15 - WOW chips and Olestra!

00:55:00 - Ladies. Go. For. The. Job.

Joey dreams about Monica and thinks he’s in love with her, Phoebe finds a police badge in Central Perk and uses it to do “good deeds,” and Ross buys a couch and has to “pivot” a few times to try to get it upstairs. We also discuss: sharing jammies, a Friends/Jane Pauley crossover, NYPD Blue, and interesting uses for a tape measure.

Signature Beverage: Pivot! Color-Changing Cocktail http://handbagmarinara.com/blog/pivot-color-changing-cocktail

Screen shots and more at: http://handbagmarinara.com/blog/s05-e16-tow-the-cop

00:06:54 - How have we never noticed the Sharing of the Jammies???

00:13:00 - Do you just randomly borrow people’s clothes? Even when you live across the hall?

00:18:15 - 298 TIMES!

00:21:37 - A Friends/Jane Pauley real-life crossover!

00:27:30 - Interesting uses for a tape measure!

00:31:14 - Scary one-way streets!

00:32:50 - Relay dive into NYPD Blue references!

00:49:00 - Where are our extended-episode versions of FRIENDS??

**Support our Season 5 charity: World Central Kitchen!** http://donate.wck.org/handbagmarinara

Ross doesn’t make a good first impression with his new neighbors. Chandler freaks out about his relationship with Monica. Joey is dating a girl who playfully punches him—and it hurts! We also discuss: misogyny as a literal punchline, Punky Brewster, Sex and the City crossovers, and PRINCIPLES.

Signature Beverage: Punchy Brewster http://handbagmarinara.com/blog/punchy-brewster

Screen shots and more at: http://handbagmarinara.com/blog/s05-e15-tow-the-girl-who-hits-joey

00:14:30 - Let’s all take a moment to appreciate the beauty of Soleil Moon Frye!

00:14:46 - Deep dive on Punky Brewster!

00:19:48 - Toe dip into the “bread and salt” housewarming tradition!

00:23:48 - The new Sex and the City reboot coming to HBOMax soon!

00:34:48 - SNUGGLES! The NOOK!

00:39:22 - Deep dive on “Rockafeller Skank”

Prom dance sequence from She’s All That https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4mQmoD72tc

“Weapon of Choice” music video with Christopher Walken https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCDIYvFmgW8

00:44:34 - Two name tags! Get your own shirt on Etsy https://www.etsy.com/listing/946318956/funny-ross-geller-name-tag-shirt-dr

**Support our Season 5 charity: World Central Kitchen!** http://donate.wck.org/handbagmarinara

When Phoebe finds out about Mondler, she and Rachel decide to mess with Chandler and Monica, despite Joey’s desire to come clean. Meanwhile, Ross vies for Ugly Naked Guy’s apartment. We also discuss: Naked Ross, Sweden, Hugsy the Penguin, and proper perfume application.

Signature Beverage: Naked Ross: Blueberry Muffin Martini http://handbagmarinara.com/blog/naked-ross-blueberry-muffin-martini

Screen shots and more at: http://handbagmarinara.com/blog/s05-e14-tow-everybody-finds-out

00:04:15 - One more reason to get the DVDs: Naked Ross!

**Support our Season 5 charity: World Central Kitchen!** http://donate.wck.org/handbagmarinara

00:24:32 - A special shout-out to our #1 fan in Sweden, Katta, with some fun facts about Sweden!

00:31:50 - Duck Tales-sized bags of quarters!

00:44:35 - It’s the deleted scene of Naked Ross!

00:46:13 - Walking through perfume clouds!

00:54:42 - Taylor’s on TikTok!

S05 E13 - TOW Joey’s Bag

Phoebe's grandma dies, Rachel gives Joey a "man's bag" for his audition, and Chandler doesn't want to tell Monica that she gives the best worst massages ever. We also discuss: clothes horses, toxic masculinity, and Virgin Cola.

Signature Beverage: Checkout Counter Strawberry Yogurt Cooler http://handbagmarinara.com/blog/checkout-counter-strawberry-yogurt-cooler

Recipes, screen shots, and more at http://handbagmarinara.com/blog/s05-e13-tow-joeys-bag

00:08:10 - A factoid about the term “clothes horse!”

00:11:00 - Near-death experiences!

Many Lives, Many Masters https://www.amazon.com/Many-Lives-Masters-Prominent-Psychiatrist/dp/0671657860

00:14:00 - Let’s trust the experts!

**Support our Season 5 charity: World Central Kitchen!** http://donate.wck.org/handbagmarinara

00:19:05 - PBJ cocktails!

00:25:00 - We know them like the back of their heads!

00:28:00 - NO IS A COMPLETE SENTENCE!

00:40:00 - Bob Balaban (Frank Sr.) was in The Mexican!

00:42:10 - Just because you don’t understand something doesn’t make it wrong!

00:47:40 - Shirt sleeves with holes for your thumbs!

00:55:35 - Phoebe has good boundaries too!

00:56:40 - Virgin Cola! And Cloudy Lemon!

Monica learns about Chandler's "work laugh" and quickly decides she can't stand it. Ross dates Janice after he learns that Emily's getting remarried. Rachel tries to get Monica to confess about Mondler.

Recipes, photos, and more at: http://handbagmarinara.com/blog/s05-e12-tow-chandlers-work-laugh

Signature Beverage: Nutter Butter http://handbagmarinara.com/blog/nutter-butter

00:05:00 - A deep dive on peanut butter!

Turning peanuts into diamonds! Geo-researchers making diamonds out of odd materials, including peanut butter

00:20:20 - A deep dive on the Louisiana Purchase!

00:33:20 - Elizabeth’s never seen You’ve Got Mail!

00:44:18 - Confrontation actually works!

00:48:25 - The Furby craze of 1999!

**Support our Season 5 charity: World Central Kitchen!** http://donate.wck.org/handbagmarinara

The gang all make New Year’s resolutions, with varying degrees of success. Ross’s resolution memorably crashes and burns when he straps on a very tight pair of leather pants. We also discuss: the joy of hearing the characters say our names, David Schwimmer’s phenomenal physical comedy, and the boiling point of brain.

Signature Beverage: Nutty New Year’s in the Big Apple http://handbagmarinara.com/blog/nutty-new-years-in-the-big-apple

00:00:45 - Should this entire episode be labeled #PrimeSchwimmer?

00:15:20 - Ross and Chandler say “Elizabeth” and it makes Elizabeth SO HAPPY

**Support our Season 5 charity: World Central Kitchen!** http://donate.wck.org/handbagmarinara

00:20:25 - Elizabeth’s “Anyone on the Avengers is on My Laminated List” streak is going strong, and most definitely includes Tom Hiddleston

Very Hot YouTube Clip of Tom Hiddleston doing accents while getting fitted for a suit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6YN5tDAVW4

00:28:00 - The fantastic physical comedy from David Schwimmer while Ross is in Elizabeth’s bathroom

00:35:15 - Did “She’d look good in a burlap sack” start with Marilyn Monroe? https://timeline.com/marilyn-monroe-wore-a-potato-sack-dress-after-being-insulted-b72647d54521

00:42:10 - Would Ross’s leather-pants fiasco be an automatic dealbreaker for you?

00:46:15 - Angry pants-slamming is a common occurrence in Elizabeth’s house, to this day

00:47:25 - Elizabeth’s deep-dive into the boiling point of brain

00:49:42 - Heather’s weekly plug for Sarasota

S05 E10 - TOW the Inappropriate Sister

Signature Beverage: Fireball!

Ross’s boredom from his forced sabbatical leads him to interfere with Joey’s free time, too. Rachel finally starts dating Danny, but his inappropriate interactions with his sister have her worried. Phoebe volunteers to take holiday donations, but quickly learns that people “don’t respect the bucket.” We also discuss: actors we can’t stand to watch, Elizabeth’s awkward encounter with a Disney celebrity, and Ross’s latest Codependency Red Alert!

**Support our Season 5 charity: World Central Kitchen!** http://donate.wck.org/handbagmarinara

00:07:05 - Heather insists that the only food that technically “expires” is baby food!

00:10:00 - Elizabeth schedules herself like a retired person, Heather schedules herself as if idling for a moment means certain death

00:20:45 - A little background about actress Talia Shire

00:21:30 - Elizabeth can’t do Sylvester Stallone

00:22:45 - Heather can’t do Elijah Wood

00:25:25 - A little background on actor Lee Arenberg

00:26:30 - Side story about an awkward encounter that Elizabeth had with a Once Upon a Time actor

00:30:54 - CODEPENDENCY RED ALERT!

00:36:15 - A little spackle lesson

00:41:45 - Danny and his sister are inappropriate simply because they’re being rude; everything else is icing on the inappropriate cake!

Ross’s rage over the loss of his Moist-Maker sandwich has some serious consequences. Monica and Chandler are getting sloppy about their secret romance, forcing Joey to take the blame for several embarrassing incidents. Phoebe invites Rachel to take a literature class at The New School, but Rachel doesn’t take the class seriously. We also discuss: fur collars, Joey’s terrible turtleneck, the recipe for the perfect Moist-Maker, and Oprah’s fantastic Vogue cover.

S05 E09 - TOW Ross’s Sandwich

Signature Beverage: Cotton Candy Martini http://handbagmarinara.com/blog/cotton-candy-martini

00:01:00 - YouTube video of raccoon and cotton candy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfbb4yRBH64

00:05:45 - Friendly’s Limited Edition Rockin’ Poppin’ Cotton Candy Ice Cream! https://www.instacart.com/products/21097466-friendly-s-ice-cream-premium-rockin-poppin-cotton-candy-1-5-qt

00:17:35 - Ross’s meltdown over his sandwich as an example of how the pandemic has broken all of us!

00:20:20 - A quick breakdown of The New School in NYC

00:25:20 - Monica’s terrible party outfit has mutated into a terrible turtleneck on Joey!

00:27:18 - How many throw pillows do you own?

00:35:10 - We make our Official Moist-Maker Plan

00:37:08 - Oprah on the October 1998 cover of Vogue

00:39:12 - We hatch the plans for the FRIENDS Book Club

**Support our Season 5 charity: World Central Kitchen!** http://donate.wck.org/handbagmarinara

S05 E08 - TOW All the Thanksgivings

After a delectable Thanksgiving meal, the gang sit around Monica and Rachel’s living room and reminisce about some of their least favorite Thanksgivings from the past. Chandler is reminded that he called Monica fat when they were younger, and Monica dons a giant turkey on her head to try to cheer him up. We also discuss thongs (both the underwear and footwear variety), the origins of Thanksgiving, the problematic jokes surrounding Fat Monica, and our first glimpse of sweet potato stuffed pumpkins.

Signature Beverage: Happy Thongsgiving: Tropical Fall Cocktail http://handbagmarinara.com/blog/happy-thongsgiving-tropical-fall-cocktail

00:06:45 - Everyone except Joey is wearing velvet!

00:10:30 - Thong Thoughts

00:16:55 - Phoebe’s Civil War Thanksgiving was a year too early

00:18:50 - Dan Aykroyd’s portrayal of Julia Child on SNL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSxv6IGBgFQ

00:34:20 - This episode is massively triggering for Elizabeth, as a Fat Woman

00:36:30 - Y’all, there are SWEET POTATO STUFFED PUMPKIN fixings on the counter!

**Support our Season 5 charity: World Central Kitchen!** http://donate.wck.org/handbagmarinara

00:49:30 - Why did Ross ring the doorbell at his own house?

00:56:10 - Nosfera-tool is back!

00:59:20 - A mysterious Magna-Doodle message

01:00:24 - The turkey dancing scene is what made Elizabeth think that when someone asks for space, what they REALLY want is for you to be cute and make them laugh!

01:04:24 - Does this count as Chandler’s first “I love you”?