It’s January 28, 1996. The Dallas Cowboys just beat the Pittsburgh Steelers. Instead of shutting off the TV, roughly 52.9 million people stayed tuned to NBC. They weren't waiting for the news. They were waiting for Friends season 2 episode 12, better known as "The One After the Superbowl."
Honestly, it's hard to overstate how big of a deal this was. Sitcoms didn't usually get the post-Super Bowl slot. It was a space reserved for high-octane dramas or prestige premieres. But NBC swung for the fences. They didn't just give us a normal episode; they gave us a double-length spectacle packed with more cameos than a modern Marvel movie. You've got Julia Roberts, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Brooke Shields, and Chris Isaak all crammed into an hour of television.
Was it the best episode of Friends ever? Probably not. Hardcore fans often argue it felt a bit "hollow" compared to the tight, character-driven scripts of the first season. But in terms of cultural impact, Friends season 2 episode 12 changed the trajectory of the show forever. It turned a hit sitcom into a global juggernaut.
The Julia Roberts Connection and the "Vandal" of Central Perk
The biggest draw was undeniably Julia Roberts. At the time, she was the biggest movie star on the planet. Getting her to do TV was unheard of. Legend has it—and by legend, I mean actual interviews with the producers—that Matthew Perry reached out to her personally. She reportedly told him she’d only do the show if he wrote her a paper on quantum physics. He did. He faxed it to her.
In the episode, she plays Susie Moss, a childhood classmate of Chandler. The "Susie Underpants" storyline is classic Friends cringe. She spends the whole episode flirting with him, only to lure him into a bathroom, steal his clothes, and leave him wearing nothing but her underwear in a public stall. It was revenge for a fourth-grade prank. Cold-blooded. Brilliant.
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Then you have Jean-Claude Van Damme. He plays himself, which is kinda hilarious because he’s portrayed as this incredibly arrogant action star on a movie set in New York. The plot involving Monica and Rachel fighting over him? It’s arguably the weakest part of the hour. It felt a little out of character for them to get that catty over a guy they barely knew, but hey, it was the 90s. The spectacle was the point.
Why the Brooke Shields Subplot Actually Worked
While everyone remembers the big movie stars, Brooke Shields actually steals the show in Friends season 2 episode 12. She plays Erika Ford, a woman who is deeply, dangerously convinced that Joey is actually his character, Dr. Drake Ramoray.
This was a pivot for Shields. Before this, she was the "pretty girl" from The Blue Lagoon. Here, she was unhinged. She licks Joey’s hand at dinner. She laughs maniacally. It’s a masterclass in comedic timing that actually led to her getting her own sitcom, Suddenly Susan.
Most people forget that this episode was actually a "Part 1." Because it was a double episode, the pacing is weird. You have Ross going to the San Diego Zoo to find Marcel (his monkey), which leads to a weirdly cinematic subplot involving a secret animal fighting ring—or so he thinks. It turns out Marcel is just a movie star now. It’s a bit absurd, even for Friends standards.
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The Production Pressure Nobody Talks About
Creating Friends season 2 episode 12 was a logistical nightmare. The showrunners, Marta Kauffman and David Crane, have spoken about how much pressure NBC put on them. The network wanted the "biggest episode ever."
They had to film on location more than usual. They had to coordinate the schedules of four A-list guest stars. They had to make sure the humor landed for people who had never seen the show before—the casual football crowd—while still satisfying the weekly viewers.
- The episode cost a fortune.
- The cameos weren't just for show; they were strategic marketing.
- It holds the record for the highest-rated Super Bowl lead-out episode of all time.
If you watch it back now, you can feel the "bigness" of it. The sets look a little more expensive. The lighting is slightly different. It’s the moment Friends stopped being a show about six people in a coffee house and started being a brand.
Breaking Down the "Marcel" Problem
Let’s be real: the monkey subplot was polarizing. By the middle of season 2, the writers realized that having a live animal on set was a pain. Monkeys don't hit their marks. They aren't particularly funny after the first three episodes. Friends season 2 episode 12 served as a high-profile way to bring that storyline back to the forefront before eventually phasing it out.
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The scene where the gang finds Marcel on the set of Outbreak 2: The Virus Takes Manhattan is pure meta-commentary. It’s the show acknowledging its own absurdity. When the "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" starts playing and the monkey recognizes the song? It’s cheesy. It’s sentimental. It’s exactly what mid-90s TV thrived on.
The Legacy of the Superbowl Episode
Why does Friends season 2 episode 12 still matter? It’s a time capsule. It represents the peak of the "Must See TV" era. You see Chris Isaak playing "Smelly Cat" with Phoebe, and you realize that the show had the power to make anything cool.
It also marked a shift in how celebrities viewed guest spots. After this, everyone wanted to be on Friends. It paved the way for Brad Pitt, Bruce Willis, and Reese Witherspoon in later seasons.
What You Should Do Next
If you’re a fan or a student of TV history, don't just watch the highlights. Go back and watch the full hour-long cut. Notice how the writers balanced six main characters and four massive guest stars.
- Pay attention to the B-plots. The way Joey handles his stalker is a great example of his character's "dumb but kind" essence.
- Watch the chemistry between Matthew Perry and Julia Roberts. Knowing they were dating in real life during the shoot adds a whole layer of genuine energy to their scenes.
- Compare the "movie set" scenes to actual behind-the-scenes footage of the era. The depiction of 90s filmmaking is surprisingly accurate in its chaotic vibe.
The episode isn't perfect, but it's essential. It’s the moment the show's DNA changed from a small-scale comedy to a global phenomenon.