• Air date: 16 Sep '96 25 episodes
      The third season of Friends, an American situation comedy created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, premiered on NBC on September 19, 1996. It is usually regarded as some of the series's finest work. Friends was produced by Bright/Kauffman/Crane Productions, in association with Warner Bros. Television. The season contains 25 episodes and concluded airing on May 15, 1997.
  • List of Episodes (25)
    • 1. The One with the Princess Leia Fantasy

      16 Sep '96
      Ross reveals a fantasy to Rachel involving a certain "Star Wars" character. Monica suffers from insomnia after her breakup with Richard. And Chandler, back together with Janice, wants Joey to bond with her.
    • 2. The One Where No One's Ready

      26 Sep '96
      Ross is in a hurry to get everyone dressed for an important banquet at the museum but no one is co-operating. Chandler and Joey fight over who gets to sit in a comfortable chair. Monica acts goofy over a message on the answering machine from Richard. Rachel can't decide what to wear and Phoebe (the only one ready on time) gets a spot on her dress. When Ross gets so upset that no one is ready that he yells at Rachel. She is so upset that she decides to not go. Ross apologizes and is ready to
    • 3. The One with the Jam

      03 Oct '96
      Phoebe dates a man who thinks he's stalking her twin sister. Ross and Rachel give Chandler "boyfriend" lessons. Monica uses her free time after breaking up with Richard to make jam and considers insemination through a sperm bank.
    • 4. The One With the Metaphorical Tunnel

      10 Oct '96
      Phoebe pretends to be Joey's agent and has some success in getting him auditions. Ultimately, however, she is unable to deal with the rejection that comes with acting, and quits. Ross is upset when Ben brings a Barbie doll on his weekend visit. He spends the time trying to get him to give up the doll and eventually replaces it with a G.I. Joe. When Carol and Susan come to pick up Ben, Monica tells them that Ross used to dress in his mother's clothes and play tea party. Chandler is advancing in
    • 5. The One with Frank, Jr.

      17 Oct '96
      Phoebe's half-brother visits and she offers to give him a massage, but they have trouble bonding. Joey attempts to build an entertainment center. Ross is challenged to name the five celebrities he'd like to sleep with most.
    • 6. The One with the Flashback

      31 Oct '96
      When Janice asks the gang if any of them have ever slept together, the friends flash back to a time three years before.
    • 7. The One With The Race Car Bed

      07 Nov '96
      When Monica buys a new bed from Janice's soon-to-be-ex-husband, "The Mattress King", the wrong one is delivered. Rachel's attempts to have her father and Ross bond fail, until she stops trying. Joey gets a job teaching a soap opera acting class.
    • 8. The One With The Giant Poking Device

      14 Nov '96
      When Chandler is about to buy Janice an expensive gift, Joey tells him that he saw Janice kissing her ex-husband. Chandler confronts Janice and she admits that she is confused about what she should do and can't chose between the two men. After much soul-searching and some advice from Joey, Chandler realizes he has to let her go back and try to make things work with her husband. While Rachel is babysitting Ben, Monica accidentally bumps his head into a post. The girls attempt to hide the bump u
    • 9. The One with the Football

      21 Nov '96
      Emotions become the feast of the day when the gang plays a game of touch football on Thanksgiving as Joey and Chandler argue over who gets to date a model and Ross and Monica argue over winning in a case of sibling rivalry.
    • 10. The One Where Rachel Quits

      12 Dec '96
      Rachel makes a rash decision after Gunther tells her she needs to be retrained. Phoebe tries to help Joey when he gets a job selling Christmas trees. And Ross accidentally breaks a girl's leg and tries to make it up to her.
    • 11. The One Where Chandler Can't Remember Which Sister

      09 Jan '97
      Ross is suspicious about Rachel's possible job offer from a good-looking stranger. And a drunken Chandler fools around with one of Joey's sisters, but can't remember which one.
    • 12. The One With All The Jealousy

      16 Jan '97
      Ross becomes jealous when he thinks he catches Rachel's new coworker whispering sweet nothings in her ear. After Joey lies on his resume, he is forced to teach a very hard dance to an entire Broadway cast. And Monica dates a busboy who hates Americans.
    • 13. The One Where Monica And Richard Are Just Friends

      30 Jan '97
      Monica's willpower is tested when she runs into Richard at the video store. Joey agrees to read Little Women while Rachel agrees to read The Shining. And Phoebe's athletic date has a problem with short shorts.
    • 14. The One with Phoebe's Ex-Partner

      06 Feb '97
      Phoebe's ex singing partner Leslie plays at Central Perk. Leslie left the duo and Phoebe is still mad but Leslie wants them to play together again. Ross is delighted to hear that Mark quit his job. Chandler meets Ginger and goes out with her. Joey used to date Ginger but accidentally threw her artificial leg into a fire and ran away. Phoebe and Leslie are back together playing music. Ross goes to a fashion seminar with Rachel so she won't go with Mark. They fight because Ross was so bored he fel
    • 15. The One Where Ross And Rachel Take A Break (1)

      13 Feb '97
      Ross seeks solace at a party after a bitter fight with Rachel and ends up in the arms of another woman. Phoebe dates a diplomat who needs an interpreter to communicate with her. And Chandler and Joey ponder a ménage a trois with a woman who seems hot for both of them.
    • 16. The One The Morning After (2)

      20 Feb '97
      Ross tries to prevent Rachel from learning that he slept with Chloe, the copy store employee. When she finds out anyway and they go back to her apartment and have a fight, the other four friends are trapped in Monica's bedroom, forced to listen in as Rachel decides to break up with Ross.
    • 17. The One Without The Ski Trip

      06 Mar '97
      Ross and Rachel compete to spend time with their other friends. When a lonely Ross is excluded from Rachel's ski trip with her pals, he visits Carol. Meanwhile, Chandler starts smoking again.
    • 18. The One With The Hypnosis Tape

      13 Mar '97
      A desperate Monica agrees to a date with one of her restaurant customers, who turns out to be very, very well-off. Phoebe's half-brother visits and announces he is getting married to a much, much older woman. And Chandler uses a hypnosis tape to quit smoking, with surprising results.
    • 19. The One With The Tiny T-Shirt

      27 Mar '97
      Rachel goes on her first date after splitting from Ross...and it's with Mark. Joey develops a crush on his costar in his new play. And Monica continues to date Pete, even though she is still not attracted to him.
    • 20. The One With The Dollhouse

      10 Apr '97
      Rachel regrets making a date for Chandler and her boss, Joanna. Joey's interest in Kate intensifies after they sleep together. And Monica's aunt dies, leaving her an antique dollhouse, with which Monica doesn't want Phoebe to play with.
    • 21. The One With A Chick And A Duck

      17 Apr '97
      Monica considers a dream job in Pete's new restaurant, but Phoebe fears there is more to the deal. Joey and Chandler adopt a baby chick and a duck. And Ross misses a panel for the Discovery Channel to help Rachel, who may have a broken rib.
    • 22. The One With The Screamer

      24 Apr '97
      At the premiere of Joey's big play; Ross alone concludes that Rachel's date is insane. Joey falls in love with Kate, but she gets a big job in Los Angeles and takes it. And poor Phoebe is on hold for days with a company she needs to talk to before her phone warranty expires.
    • 23. The One With Ross's Thing

      01 May '97
      Afflicted with a mysterious skin condition on his butt, Ross seeks advice from Phoebe's herbalist. Phoebe can't decide whether to date a sensitive, muscular fireman or a sensitive, muscular schoolteacher. And Monica can't decide about Pete when she thinks he is going to propose.
    • 24. The One With The Ultimate Fighting Champion

      08 May '97
      To Monica's horror, Pete plans to be in an ultimate fight, and when he can't win but won't give up, she must decide her future with him. Chandler has a problem when his new boss is slaphappy. Phoebe sets Ross up on a date with a woman who used to be bald.
    • 25. The One At The Beach

      15 May '97
      The gang goes to the beach. In search of her father, Phoebe meets a family friend with links to her family's past, who may know more than she's letting on. Ross discovers that Rachel still loves him, and must choose between sex-crazy, but bald, Bonnie and Rachel, the love of his life. After the gang plays strip poker, Joey winds up sleeping naked on the beach. And Chandler wonders why Monica doesn't think he's serious after he asks her if she would ever go out with him.