Friends: 10 Hilarious '90s Jokes No One Will Get Today
The show Friends may have remained incredibly popular over the years, remaining very relevant in many ways, that isn't the case for everything. Of course, as the world develops and moves on, the show does become dated and while there are some serious issues that come up because of that, there are other, more lighthearted moments that also don't age well.
Because the show started in the'90s, a lot of the jokes in the first five seasons especially are based around things that were in pop culture at that time. While some aspects of that have stayed relevant, that isn't the case for everything, which is why there are certain great jokes that people simply no longer understand.
10 The Disposable Cameras
Chandler and Monica's wedding is a fantastic time in the show, but when Chandler thinks that he's lost all of the cameras, he and Ross frantically take pictures at somebody else's wedding, pretending it's his. In the end, Monica finds all the cameras, but this is something a lot of people simply won't understand.
Disposable cameras used to be a big deal and were the accessible way of taking pictures of different memories, such as at a wedding. However, nowadays with mobile devices and fancy cameras storing thousands of images on an SD card, this would never be a problem.
9 Portable CD Players
Portable CD players are just something that younger viewers simply cannot remember, as this was a very '90s product. Rachel suggests that Phoebe should get Monica and Chandler one as an engagement present, which is a funny moment from the show.
It's a great one-off comment and it doesn't make much sense at the moment. However, nowadays with iPods and music on the phone, the idea of having to carry something to put CDs into is just mindboggling to younger viewers, with this being a true '90s moment.
8 The Demi Moore Haircut
At the time, Demi Moore was a real hit and someone that audiences loved. People found her incredibly attractive, with her haircut attracting a lot of press, which is why Monica wants to get a haircut to be just like her, which Phoebe attempts to do.
Things don't go to plan for the haircut, and seeing the really bad aftermath is something that fans still enjoy. However, audiences nowadays have no idea what the haircut she's going for actually is in the first place, which does hurt the joke.
7 A Hickey From A Blowfish
When it's Ross's birthday in season two of the show, the group is excited about going to see Hootie And The Blowfish. Sadly half the group doesn't go as they can't afford it and refuse to take the tickets out of pity, however, Chandler, Monica, and Ross still enjoy the concert.
Nowadays, they're a group that most people haven't heard of, but back then they were popular. Things result in them partying with the band and Monica gets a hickey from a member of the band, which is a funny moment, playing off the popularity that they once had.
6 Frankie Says Relax
While this song was released in the '80s, the way things were written for this joke was that Ross was reflecting on something he once loved. His shrunken Frankie Says Relax shirt is a hilarious gag from the show as he desperately tries to make it fit.
For most people, this was a funny throwback to something that they remembered in the past. However, people watching this nowadays don't quite understand that gag, and instead find it funny simply because the shirt doesn't fit, rather than the quote printed on.
5 The Claw
Arcade machines are starting to make a comeback in some niche markets, with bars and gaming centers being created. However, for the most part, arcade games are a big thing of the past, which young gamers are no longer interested in, with console games being far more popular.
Because of this, a lot of viewers won't understand the addictive nature of these games and the scoreboards which leads to Chandler's claw. It's one of the funniest moments in the series, but sadly one that a lot of people may not quite understand.
4 Her Leaf Blower Picked Up
Technology has brought a lot of great things in the time period between Friends first airing and today, and a big one of those is the rise in mobile devices. People are constantly able to be reached, and that wasn't always the case with an answering machine being needed at points.
This comes up as a joke in Friends when Chandler talks about reaching someone's machine, Joey questions if he means an answering machine. Chandler jokes that her leaf blower machine picked, mocking Joey in what is a funny moment, but the fact answer machines are no longer common would lead to this going over people's heads.
3 VHS Moments
Nowadays, the idea of a DVD is something that isn't common anymore, let alone a VHS. There are several moments where the group looks back at past moments via a videotape, looking at moments that they've done in the past which is often a lot of fun, with the grainy footage making for some great moments.
However, they are something that a lot of people are growing up now unfamiliar with. Old family moments are more likely to be found on YouTube than anything else, which is something that a lot of younger audience members likely don't understand anymore.
2 Ross Can
The Police and Sting, in general, were a huge deal when Friends was a show, but nowadays they're no longer relevant names that younger viewers know about. Therefore the episode where Phoebe tries to make Ross get tickets for Sting's concert is something that people probably won't appreciate.
Ross works hard to get tickets and throughout the episode, both Ross and Phoebe end up quoting Police lyrics to each other in some really funny moments. However, nowadays, those moments just wouldn't connect in the same manner, which is a shame.
1 Ross's Beeper
The episode where Carol goes into childbirth sees Ross gain a beeper, which was a popular piece of technology in the '90s. He uses this so she can contact him at any point when the baby is coming, however, throughout the episode it becomes a running gag that he gets calls about offering a 'service' for people.
His number is 55-JIMBO, and he happily tells others they want 55-JUMBO. It's a funny gag but nowadays it's one that would go over people's heads. Beepers are no longer necessary in this world, and that is why this joke isn't understood as much.