8.1/1010,682 votes#1 - Pilot
Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 9/22/1994
An introduction to the gang. After Rachel leaves her fiancé at the altar, she moves in with Monica and finds that independence is not so easy, particularly without Daddy's credit cards.
Director: James Burrows
Writer: David Crane, Marta Kauffman
7.9/108,281 votes#2 - The One with the Sonogram at the End
Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 9/29/1994
Ross's lesbian ex-wife, Carol, is pregnant with his child, and he doesn't like her choice of last name for the baby. Rachel finds out that her ex-fiancé went on what would have been their honeymoon with her maid of honor.
Director: James Burrows
Writer: David Crane, Marta Kauffman
8.0/107,800 votes#3 - The One with the Thumb
Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 10/6/1994
Monica finds it difficult to break up with her latest boyfriend whom everyone likes; Chandler is reunited with his beloved cigarettes; Phoebe receives a large sum of money.
Director: James Burrows
Writer: N/A
7.9/107,564 votes#4 - The One with George Stephanopoulos
Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 10/13/1994
While the men attend a hockey game and end up at a hospital, a delivery man accidentally brings a pizza meant for George Stephanopoulos, who lives across the street from the girls; they decide to peek at the former White House advisor with their binoculars.
Director: James Burrows
Writer: Alexa Junge
8.3/107,568 votes#5 - The One with the East German Laundry Detergent
Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 10/20/1994
While Chandler and Phoebe decide to break up with their significant others on the same night, Ross helps Rachel do laundry and considers the evening a first date. Joey has Monica pose as his new girlfriend, because he wants to get back with the girl he just dumped.
Director: Pamela Fryman
Writer: Jeff Greenstein, Jeff Strauss
8.0/107,179 votes#6 - The One with the Butt
Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 10/27/1994
Joey gets his big film break when he's hired to be Al Pacino's stunt butt. Ross tries to be less conservative and Chandler thinks his fantasies have come true when he has an affair with a married woman.
Director: Arlene Sanford
Writer: Adam Chase, Ira Ungerleider
8.9/108,988 votes#7 - The One with the Blackout
Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 11/3/1994
A power outage leaves Chandler stranded in an ATM vestibule with Victoria's Secret model Jill Goodacre, whom he desperately tries to impress, Ross tries to ask Rachel out on a date, and Joey learns that Monica used to be infatuated with him.
Director: James Burrows
Writer: Jeff Astrof, Mike Sikowitz
7.9/107,040 votes#8 - The One Where Nana Dies Twice
Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 11/10/1994
Monica and Ross mourn the death of their grandmother with a little help from the gang, and Monica and her mom come to an unspoken understanding about the relationship between mothers and daughters. Meanwhile, Chandler is irritated by office speculation that he is gay.
Director: James Burrows
Writer: David Crane, Marta Kauffman
8.1/106,816 votes#9 - The One Where Underdog Gets Away
Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 11/17/1994
Monica's first Thanksgiving dinner for the gang goes horribly wrong when they all run to the rooftop to see the runaway Underdog balloon from the parade.
Director: James Burrows
Writer: Jeff Greenstein, Jeff Strauss
7.9/106,824 votes#10 - The One with the Monkey
Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 12/15/1994
The gang makes--then breaks--a pact to celebrate New Year's Eve without dates. Ross compensates for his loneliness by getting a roommate, a monkey named Marcel.
Director: Peter Bonerz
Writer: Adam Chase, Ira Ungerleider
8.0/106,735 votes#11 - The One with Mrs. Bing
Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 1/5/1995
Chandler's romance-novelist mother comes to New York to visit him, and Joey catches her and Ross kissing.
Director: James Burrows
Writer: Alexa Junge
8.0/106,606 votes#12 - The One with the Dozen Lasagnas
Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 1/12/1995
Everyone knows the sex of Ross's baby, except for Ross, who doesn't want to find out until it's born. Monica gives Paolo one of the dozen lasagnas she made for her aunt, who doesn't want them anymore because they've got meat in them.
Director: Paul Lazarus
Writer: Adam Chase, Ira Ungerleider, Jeff Astrof, Mike Sikowitz
8.5/107,052 votes#13 - The One with the Boobies
Season 1 Episode 13 - Aired 1/19/1995
Chandler accidentally sees Rachel wandering around topless after her shower, so Rachel tries to even the score. And no one can stand Phoebe's new boyfriend, an irritating guy named Roger.
Director: Alan Myerson
Writer: Alexa Junge
8.1/106,489 votes#14 - The One with the Candy Hearts
Season 1 Episode 14 - Aired 2/9/1995
Ross's first date in nine years is on Valentine's Day with a beautiful neighbor. Susan and Carol, also out on a romantic date; end up at the same restaurant. Joey sets Chandler up on a blind date. And Phoebe, Rachel and Monica decide to spend the holiday building a boyfriend bonfire in their apartment.
Director: James Burrows
Writer: Bill Lawrence
8.1/106,548 votes#15 - The One with the Stoned Guy
Season 1 Episode 15 - Aired 2/16/1995
Monica cooks a gourmet meal for a restaurateur looking for a new chef but, unfortunately, he's stoned. After working as a data processing permanent temp for five years, Chandler gets promoted. And Ross has a date with a beautiful colleague.
Director: Alan Myerson
Writer: Jeff Greenstein
8.0/106,438 votes#16 - The One with Two Parts (1)
Season 1 Episode 16 - Aired 2/23/1995
Joey falls for Phoebe's twin sister, Ursula, making Phoebe feel neglected. Ross has doubts about parenthood when he attends Lamaze classes with Carol and Susan. Meanwhile, Chandler finds himself between a rock and a hard place, when he is told to fire an employee he is attracted to.
Director: Michael Lembeck
Writer: David Crane, Marta Kauffman
8.3/106,571 votes#17 - The One with Two Parts (2)
Season 1 Episode 17 - Aired 2/23/1995
When Rachel sprains her ankle and has no insurance, she cajoles Monica into trading identities so she can use Monica's coverage. When Phoebe's twin sister, Ursula, breaks Joey's heart, Phoebe tries to fix it.
Director: Michael Lembeck
Writer: David Crane, Marta Kauffman
8.7/107,214 votes#18 - The One with All the Poker
Season 1 Episode 18 - Aired 3/2/1995
Tired of being referred to by customers as "Excuse me" Rachel interviews for a job as an assistant buyer at Saks Fifth Avenue. She also sees another side of the usually docile Ross when the girls face the boys during a not-so-friendly game of poker.
Director: James Burrows
Writer: Jeff Astrof, Mike Sikowitz
7.9/106,282 votes#19 - The One Where the Monkey Gets Away
Season 1 Episode 19 - Aired 3/9/1995
The gang searches frantically for Marcel, who slipped out of the apartment while Rachel was baby-sitting him. Just as it looks as though Rachel and Ross might actually spend a romantic evening together, her ex-fiancé barges in and declares his love for her.
Director: Peter Bonerz
Writer: N/A
7.7/106,269 votes#20 - The One with the Evil Orthodontist
Season 1 Episode 20 - Aired 4/6/1995
Rachel and Barry start dating again, which is kind of awkward since he's now engaged to Mindy, who wants Rachel to be her maid of honor. Meanwhile, Chandler goes nuts when a woman he likes won't return his phone calls.
Director: Peter Bonerz
Writer: N/A
7.6/106,315 votes#21 - The One with the Fake Monica
Season 1 Episode 21 - Aired 4/27/1995
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 Ross finds out that Marcel has reached sexual maturity and needs to be with other monkeys.
Director: Gail Mancuso
Writer: Adam Chase
8.1/106,255 votes#22 - The One with the Ick Factor
Season 1 Episode 22 - Aired 5/4/1995
After losing his virginity to her, Monica's boyfriend reveals that he's a high school senior. When Phoebe temps as Chandler's secretary, she finds out a secret.
Director: Robby Benson
Writer: Alexa Junge
8.6/106,647 votes#23 - The One with the Birth
Season 1 Episode 23 - Aired 5/11/1995
As Monica's biological clock ticks away like a time bomb, Carol goes into labor. Ross, Susan and Phoebe end up getting locked in a closet just as Carol's about to give birth to the baby. And Rachel flirts with an OB/GYN.
Director: James Burrows
Writer: Jeff Greenstein, David Crane, Marta Kauffman
8.7/107,020 votes#24 - The One Where Rachel Finds Out
Season 1 Episode 24 - Aired 5/18/1995
Joey's new girlfriend wants to go to bed with him but he can't, yet. During Rachel's birthday party, Chandler accidentally lets it slip that Ross is in love with her. However, Ross is on his way to China and Rachel can't decide whether she wants to be more than friends with Ross.
Director: Kevin S. Bright
Writer: Chris Brown
The Best Episodes of Friends Season 1
Every episode of Friends Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Friends Season 1!
Six young people from New York City, on their own and struggling to survive in the real world, find the companionship, comfort and support they...
Genre:Comedy
Network:NBC
Season 1 Ratings Summary
"Pilot" is the best rated episode of "Friends" season 1. It scored 8.1/10 based on 10682 votes. Directed by James Burrows and written by David Crane, Marta Kauffman, it aired on 9/22/1994. This episode is rated 0.2 points higher than the second-best, "The One with the Sonogram at the End".