I was watching a Friends rerun last night (as one does), and noticed in "The One With All the Resolutions" that Monica was using one honker of a camera. And I thought to myself, "Yeahhh, that's not a thing anymore." Which is when I realized: Friends is filled with places, objects, and experiences that just don't happen these days. Get ready to have your mind blown ...or at least feel a smidge older than you did five seconds ago.
1Using Enormous Cameras for Everyday Photos
Episode seen: "The One With All the Resolutions," season 5
No more bulky equipment, blinding flash, and tedious trips to the drugstore to develop the film. Not when I've got a cell phone and Instagram on the ready.
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2This Impression of a 19-Year-Old
Episode seen: "The One With Monica's Thunder," season 7
These days Joey'd be wearing a blank white T-shirt, no boxers showing (thank god), some leather wrist bracelets, and possibly sporting long hair. Yes, I'm thinking of Harry Styles. He's 19, right? Close enough.
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3That Moment When the Most Embarrassing Message Ever Becomes Your Answering Machine Recording
Episode seen: "The One Where No One's Ready," season 3
While Ross panics about his friends slowly getting dressed for his big gala, Monica hacks into Richard's answering machine and leaves a mortifying message ("I don't know, maybe I'm on my period or something") ... which then becomes his outgoing recording. Thank god for cell phones, amiright?
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4Ordering Something From a Paper Catalog
Episode seen: "The One With the Tea Leaves," season 8
Still love me some Pottery Barn, but the idea of picking up the phone to purchase something makes me want to break things. #TheStruggleIsReal.
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5Putting Disposable Cameras Out on Wedding Tables
Episode seen: "The One With Monica and Chandler's Wedding," season 7
OK, maybe you'll do this if you're going for a nostalgic hit. But come on, there's way too much work involved for that. Just come up with a wedding hashtag and stream on social media.
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6Looking Things Up in an Actual Encyclopedia
Episode seen: "The One With Rachel's Phone Number," season 9
Hello, Internet (on cell phones).
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7Getting Excited About Free Porn on the TV
Episode seen: "The One With the Free Porn," season 4
Again, Internet.
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8Meeting Someone at the Airport Gate
Episode seen: "The One With Ross' New Girlfriend," season 2
Such a sweet gesture of the past; trying to do this now would get you arrested — or worse. Instead, you get the anticlimactic greeting at baggage claim. Or you'll just see them at home because, well, Uber.
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9Recording Things on a Huge Camcorder
Episode seen: "The One With the Prom Video," season 2
Thanks to cell phones, nobody has homemade videos anymore. Which is a major bummer, seeing as this video is how Rachel realized Ross was her lobster.
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10Going to See Hootie and the Blowfish
Episode seen: "The One With Five Steaks and an Eggplant," season 2
Now you go see Darius Rucker. Who sings country.
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11Discovering Your Friends' Secret Relationship Because You Picked Up a Landline
Episode seen: "The One With All the Resolutions," season 5
Sure, you can still pick up a landline if you live in the middle of nowhere and there's not enough cell phone reception to let you get rid of it. But Friendswas set in New York City ... so obviously Monica and Chandler would be having their dirty phone conversations on their cells. Actually, they wouldn't even be talking — they'd be sexting. Which, again, would be a major bummer, since Rachel's discovery led to the "they don't know we know they know we know" debate in "The One Where Everybody Finds Out."
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12Tricking Your Friend Into Thinking Someone Else Was on the Phone
Episode seen: "The One Where Estelle Dies," season 10
Phoebe makes Joey feel better about firing Estelle by pretending to be Estelle ... which she has to do, because now Estelle is dead (yikes). Sorry, Phoebes, but you'd never get away with this now, thanks to caller ID.
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13Having Your Lesbian Ex-Wife Page You Because Your Baby Is on the Way
Episode seen: "The One With the Birth," season 1
Ross had a pager for his baby notifications, and another one for when he had a work emergency (because, you know, dinosaurs might come back to life or something). Oh, the beauty of cell phones.
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14Calling Your Friend From a Pay Phone
Episode seen: "The One Where Chandler Crosses the Line," season 4
Do pay phones even work anymore?
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15Having Your Phone Line Tied Up Because You're Stuck on Hold
Episode seen: "The One With the Screamer," season 3
First there were multiple phone lines for your landline, and now there are cell phones. What a wonderful world.
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16Sending Out Your Résumé Through Snail Mail
Episode seen: "The One With All the Poker," season 1
I think any résumé that came in through snail mail today would be automatically thrown away ... if it ever even made it in front of the hiring manager. And you definitely wouldn't be sent a request letter for an interview, like the one Rachel got from Saks Fifth Avenue.
NBC
17Running Into Your Ex at the Video Store
Episode seen: "The One Where Monica and Richard Are Just Friends,"season 3
R.I.P., Blockbuster. Love you long time, Netflix.
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