Friday, September 30, 2016

"No Irish Need Apply": The Negative Portrayal of Irishness in "Friends"



The One with Russ
Season 2 | Episode 10

Fun Bobby: [pulls out a flask] Whattaya say we make these, uh, coffees Irish?

[Phoebe and Rachel look uncomfortable.]

Phoebe: Um, cake.

 Rachel: Yeah, we're gonna... we're gonna get some cake. [Phoebe and Rachel go to counter.]

Monica: You know what? It seems like you've been making an awful lot of stuff Irish lately.

Fun Bobby: Well, I would make them Belgian, but the waffles are hard to get into that flask.


The One Where Ross Meets Elizabeth's Dad
Season 6 | Episode 21

Paul: (laughs then checking his watch) 1 minute 50 seconds.

Ross: Okay, okay, a joke, a joke—lighten the mood. Umm, two guys go into a bar. One of them is Irish.

Paul: I’m Irish.

Ross: And the Irish guy wins the joke!



The One With Rachel's Big Kiss
Season 7 | Episode 20

Joey: I don’t know. Just uh, just tell ‘em it was a mix-up with the invitations, or—No-no-no! Blame it on the post office. They hate the post office. And the Irish! But I don’t think you can blame it on them, so… (He dials the phone and hands it to Monica.)

Monica: (on phone) Hello? (Listens) Yeah, hi! Mrs. Tribbiani? (Listens) Hi, this is Monica Geller. (Listens) Yeah I’m just calling to say that Chandler and I uh, really hope you can make it to the wedding. Yeah, apparently a bunch of invitations that we sent weren’t delivered. Umm, I guess there was some screw up at the damn post office! (Joey nods his approval.) (Listens) T-Tell me about it! (Listens) Yeah, yeah, the US Post Office? No, more like US lost office! (Listens) What, are they Irish?! (Joey gives her a thumbs up.)