The One with the Fake Monica

Season 1, Episode 21, Aired
EDIT

Episode Summary

When Monica's credit card is stolen, she, along with Phoebe and Rachel, decide to catch the thief. Joey enlists his friends to help him come up with a less ethnic-sounding stage name. And when Ross finds out that Marcel has reached sexual maturity and needs to be with other monkeys, he tries to get him accepted into the Harvard of zoos.moreless
8.4
out of 10
EPISODE RATING: Great
313 votes
  • Your Rating: 10
    "Perfect"
  • Your Rating: 9.5
    "Superb"
  • Your Rating: 9
    "Superb"
  • Your Rating: 8.5
    "Great"
  • Your Rating: 8
    "Great"
  • Your Rating: 7.5
    "Good"
  • Your Rating: 7
    "Good"
  • Your Rating: 6.5
    "Fair"
  • Your Rating: 6
    "Fair"
  • Your Rating: 5.5
    "Mediocre"
  • Your Rating: 5
    "Mediocre"
  • Your Rating: 4.5
    "Poor"
  • Your Rating: 4
    "Poor"
  • Your Rating: 3.5
    "Bad"
  • Your Rating: 3
    "Bad"
  • Your Rating: 2.5
    "Terrible"
  • Your Rating: 2
    "Terrible"
  • Your Rating: 1.5
    "Abysmal"
  • Your Rating: 1
    "Abysmal"
Rate It

Watch Online

TBS
Subscription
Amazon
Buy
iTunes
Buy

Cast & Crew

See All EDIT

Fan Episode Reviews (14)

See All

  • One of the worst episodes of Friends. Some of the clip episodes are better than this!

    5.9
    "Mediocre"
    By SHUCKLEMAN, May 25, 2011 Report Abuse
    Well, this episode isn't actually 'bad', but it's not very good for Friends's standards, but I guess this was season 1.

    Monica's storyline was the worst. It was a creative and intelligent plot, and gave Monica a bit of character development, but seriously, who would discover that someone has stolen their credit card and decide to take tap-dancing lessons with them? The tap-dancing class was the funniest part of the girls' storyline though.

    Joey's storyline was fairly funny. The names were good, and him not knowing who Stallin was almost like seeing the season 5-10 Joey, which is only a good thing of course.

    Ross's storyline was also funny at one or two parts. His farewell to his monkey was done relatively well and I thought the animal-circus guy was very funny.

    Overall, I think only 60% of the episode is worth watching, so I've given it a '6'.moreless

    DO YOU AGREE?

    0 1

  • Awesome.

    9.0
    "Superb"
    By Sarah_LOST, Oct 12, 2010 Report Abuse
    When Monica's credit card is stolen, she, along with Phoebe and Rachel, decides to catch the thief, but Monica begins a friendship with her. Joey enlists his friends to help him come up with a less ethnic-sounding stage name. And when Ross finds out that Marcel has reached sexual maturity and needs to be with other monkeys, he tries to get him accepted into the "Harvard of zoos", with an emotional goodbye. I have never really enjoyed this episode mostly because of the person who plays the fake monica, she really annoys me, however I'm still going to give it a nine because no episode from Friends can actually be rated under a nine in my personal opinion. Some funny jokes in this episode which helps it out.moreless

    DO YOU AGREE?

    0 1

  • OKish

    7.5
    "Good"
    By efc91, Jul 31, 2009 Report Abuse
    When Monica's credit card is stolen, she, along with Phoebe and Rachel, decide to catch the thief. Joey enlists his friends to help him come up with a less ethnic-sounding stage name. And when Ross finds out that Marcel has reached sexual maturity and needs to be with other monkeys, he tries to get him accepted into the Harvard of zoos. A quick slump in quality in season one of the show but this was better than the episode it followed. The stage name joke was funny Chandler was great telling Joey to call himself Stalin. I give it a 7.5 out of 10.moreless

    DO YOU AGREE?

    0 0

  • Goodbye Marcel.

    8.5
    "Great"
    By Canogaparkcindy, May 17, 2009 Report Abuse
    Gosh, I think this episode was downright sad. Seeing Marcel leave the show after trying so hard to get him back, it would seem like it was just a whole waste of time in "The One When The Monkey Gets Away" But I guess that is the sad part about it. Seeing Marcel in that cage, that was so sad. The Monica plot line was definitely strange. I like all the tap dancing scenes. Poor Fake Monica had to go to prison. Well now Monana is going to do something with her life. (No that was not a typo) Joey picking a stage name, eh.moreless

    DO YOU AGREE?

    0 0

  • Monica's Credit Card Is Stolen, She Tries To Find The Thief, Joey Gets The Gang To Think Of A New Stage Name, Ross Has To Give His Monkey Up.

    10
    "Perfect"
    By xCeeCeex2007, Apr 16, 2008 Report Abuse
    When Monica Discovers Her Credit Card Is Stolen, She Tries To Track Down The Thief, It Turns Out It Is A Dutch Woman, Who Is The 'Fake Monica'.
    Joey Gets The Gang To Think Of A New Stage Name For Him, He Wants To Be Called Joseph Stalin. Ross Finds Out He Has To Give His Monkey Up Because It Is Reaching Sexual Maturity, He Tries To Get The Monkey Into A Top Zoo.
    The Fake Monica Storyline Was Great, So Funny How Monica Complains That The Other Monica Spent Her Money, And Doesn't Have Her Mother! Ross Giving Marcel Up Was Sad.moreless

    DO YOU AGREE?

    0 0
 

Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

See All

  • Trivia

    ADD TRIVIA
    • Goof: When Monica is on the phone with the credit card company, the antenna on the phone is only partially extended. However, when she hangs up and goes to put the phone down, the antenna is fully extended. Edit
    • Trivia: The three casting directors at the end of this episode are really Kevin Bright, Marta Kauffman, and David Crane. Edit
    • Trivia: In the dance class, when the real Monica meets the fake Monica, Monica says to her she's Dutch. When they're about to dance Fake Monica asks Monica: "Mag ik deze dans van u?", which is Dutch for, "May I have this dance?". Edit

  • Notes

    ADD NOTES
    • International Episode Title: Czech Republic: Falešná Monica (Fake Monica) Edit
    • Since the first episode was officially released as "The Pilot," this is the first episode with Monica's name in the title of the episode. Edit
    • Music: "You're a Big Boy Now" by The Lovin' Spoonful Edit

  • Quotes

    ADD QUOTES
    • Rachel: (To Monica, about her new carefree lifestyle) Well, you ladies aren't the only ones living the dream. I get to go pour coffee for people I don't know. Don't wait up. Edit
    • Teacher: Okay people. Now everyone grab a partner. Phoebe: Okay. (Playing the pointing game) "And my dead mother said you are it." I'm with Rachel. Edit
    • Monica: (On the phone) Hi. Yes. This is Monica Geller. Um, I believe I'm taking some classes with you and I was wondering if you could tell me what they were. Edit

  • Allusions

    ADD ALLUSIONS
    • Actor: (Dramatically) Oh, that I were a glove upon that hand, that I might... touch thy cheek... Casting Director No. 1: That's fine, thank you. Casting Director No. 2: Next. (Joey walks onstage) Joey: Hi, uh, I'll be reading for the role of Mercutio. Casting Director No. 2: Name? Joey: Holden McGroin. In the tag scene Joey is auditioning for the famous play Romeo & Juliet, written by William Shakespeare. Edit
    • Fake Monica: You know what? I used to be just like you. Then one day, I saw a movie that changed my life. Did you ever see Dead Poets Society? Monica: Uh huh! Fake Monica: I thought that movie was so incredibly... boring! I mean, that thing at the end where the kid kills himself because he can't be in the play?! What was that? It's like kid, wait a year year, leave home, do some community theater! I walked out of there and I thought, "That's two hours of my life that I'm never getting back." And that thought scared me more than all the other crap that I was afraid to do. Monica: Wow! Then I would definitely not recommend Mrs. Doubtfire! Dead Poets Society, an Academy Award-winning film starring Robin Williams, is about professor John Keating who inspires his students to love life and poetry. Mrs. Doubtfire, an Academy Award-winning film starring Robin Williams and Sally Field, is about a father posing as a female nanny in order to spend more time with his children. Edit
    • Joey: You know there already is a Joseph Stalin? Joseph Stalin was the leader and dictator of the Communist party during World War II. His actions to become a superpower caused the deaths of millions of his own people. Edit

Show Forums

See All
Last Activity
Replies

Watch Friends Full Episodes

See All

Related Shows

Season 1 Episodes

See All
Ep 24
The One Where Rachel Finds...
Ep 23
The One with the Birth
Ep 22
The One with the Ick Factor
Ep 21
The One with the Fake Monica
Ep 20
The One with the Evil Orth...
Ep 19
The One Where the Monkey G...
Ep 18
The One with All the Poker
Ep 17
The One with Two Parts (2)
Ep 16
The One with Two Parts (1)
Ep 15
The One with the Stoned Guy
Ep 14
The One with the Candy Hearts
Ep 13
The One with the Boobies
Ep 12
The One with the Dozen Las...
Ep 11
The One with Mrs. Bing
Ep 10
The One with the Monkey
Ep 9
The One Where Underdog Get...
Ep 8
The One Where Nana Dies Twice
Ep 7
The One with the Blackout
Ep 6
The One with the Butt
Ep 5
The One with the East Germ...
Ep 4
The One with George Stepha...
Ep 3
The One with the Thumb
Ep 2
The One with the Sonogram ...
Ep 1
The One Where Monica Gets ...

Contributors

Become a contributor
More
Less

TV Listings

Full Listings
BROWSE | Shows | Videos | News | Listings | Forums | People | Photos | TV.com Blog

CBS Entertainment | About TV.com | About CBS Interactive | Jobs | Advertise

© 2012 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. | Privacy Policy | Ad Choice | Terms of Use