The One Where Nana Dies Twice

"The One Where Nana Dies Twice"

Season

1x08

Episode no.

8

Written by

Marta Kauffman
David Crane

Directed by

James Burrows

Original airdate

November 10, 1994

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"The One Where Nana Dies Twice" was the eighth episode of the first season of Friends which aired on NBC on November 10, 1994. Ross and Monica go to the bedside of their dying grandmother, who passes away and then momentarily returns to life before dying again. Chandler questions his sexual persona when a colleague wants to arrange a date for him with another guy.

Plot

Chandler is flattered to be offered a date by Shelly, a female work colleague, until he learns that his potential date is a man. Shocked, he debates with the guys how he could possibly give off a homosexual vibe. Monica gets a phone call from her father - her and Ross' grandmother Althea is in the last stages of life. The two rush to the hospital, where they wait for the inevitable with their parents and aunt, while they reminisce about Nana's habits, such as that of stealing Sweet'n'Low's from everywhere -- even the Geller's house.

When the nurse comes over, the siblings go to give Nana a goodbye kiss; when Ross leans in, she moves and almost kills the grandchildren with shock. The nurse rushes back in, stating how stuff like this "almost never happens", but the flatline beeps, confirming that Nana is now truly gone. Monica and Ross help prepare the funeral: the former picks out coffins with her father; while Ross helps his mom Judy and aunt pick out a dress for Nana, even though the funeral is closed-casket, as they want her to look "nice where she's going". The three debate about which shoes to choose, and while Ross reaches for another shoebox he gets showered in Nana's stolen sweeteners. On the way to the funeral, Chandler exclaims how everyone looks nice "all dressed up", and then realizes it's that kind of thing which makes him seem gay.

At the funeral, several small incidents happen: Ross falls in an open grave and is given painkillers by his mother Judy; Monica is picked on by her mother at the funeral when Judy advises Monica to start using night cream; Joey watches the Giants-Cowboys football game on a portable TV at the reception with the guys (including Ross and Monica's dad, Jack ); Ross gets loopy from all the painkillers at the reception and starts talking loosely to everyone, including Chandler (who's about to hook up with a girl) by telling him "if you [Chandler] want to be gay, be gay." The girl turns to her friend and confirms that her suspicions about Chandler being gay were right. Ross confesses his love to Rachel, who thinks he's just blabbing things under the effects of the painkillers, which finally take control over Ross and he ends up unconscious in Rachel's lap.

The guys keep reminiscing about Nana at the coffeehouse by browsing through photos of her, and some other photos, including little naked boy Ross. They also find a photo labelled "Me and the gang at Java Joe's" and remark that Nana must have been around their own age when the photo was taken. The friends remark that the people in the photo look like "a fun gang" and then look around at each other fondly.

Chandler keeps debating his sexual impression with colleagues, until he confides his thoughts with Lowell, who happens to be gay. Lowell assures him that he's not giving the gay vibe, but also tells him how he could have never gotten a Brian from payroll, as he's "out of his league". Chandler leaves the break room stating that he could get a Brian if he wanted to, greeting Brian on his way out. It is also mentioned that Chandler had a friend named Bernie Spellman.

Cast and Crew

Main Cast

Jennifer Aniston - Rachel Green
Courteney Cox - Monica Geller
Lisa Kudrow - Phoebe Buffay
Matt LeBlanc - Joey Tribbiani
Matthew Perry - Chandler Bing
David Schwimmer - Ross Geller

Supporting Cast

Christina Pickles - Judy Geller
Elinor Donahue - Aunt Lillian
Nancy Cassaro - Shelly
Stuart Fratkin - Lowell
Elliott Gould - Jack Geller
Carolyn Lowery - Andrea
Marilyn Tokuda - Nana's Nurse
David Sobl - Brian

Crew

Directed By:
James Burrows

Written By:
Marta Kauffman & David Crane

Trivia

General

This is the first time that Chandler is picked upon for his gay innuendo, a recurring gag in the show.
One of the original names for the coffeehouse was "Java Joe's". This idea was later reused in this episode, on the picture of Ross and Monica's Nana and her own friends, where Nana wrote, "Me and the gang at Java Joe's."
In the uncut DVD version of the episode, there is a scene of Monica picking up a coffin for her Nana with Jack.
Joey states that he didn't think Chandler was gay when he first met him, however in "The One With The Flashback" (S3E6), when Joey first moves in, he says "I'm fine with the whole gay thing.", although this could be in attempt to protect Chandler's feelings.
In this episode Joey reveals he is possibly an Atheist, since he doesn't believe in the Afterlife.
Although Phoebe's job as a massage therapist still hasn't been mentioned, we see her checking out Ross's back spasms after he falls.
"The Rachel" haircut makes its debut in this episode. It was an often imitated hairstyle for the next couple of years. Jennifer Aniston said her hairdo was created by accident when her friend cut her hair with a razor.
Christina Pickles received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for her work in this episode.
While walking through the cemetary, Chandler mentions that Joey's overcoat sounds a lot like Brett Musburger, who is an anchor on ESPN.

Goofs

When Nana is supposedly dead, you can see her breathing and her arm moves slightly.
Rachel states that when she first met Chandler she thought he might be gay until he spent Phoebe's entire birthday party talking to her breasts. However, it is later revealed in "The One With All The Thanksgivings" (S5E8) and "The One Where The Stripper Cries" (S10E11) that Rachel has known Chandler since he was in college so wouldn't have met him for the first time at Phoebe's birthday party.
- Although, it is possible that since they only had a few encounters prior Rachel didn't really remember him.
When Ross falls in the open grave, there is a lot of mud visible on his knees when he rolls over on to his back. When the camera angle changes to the reactions of his friends and then back to him in the grave, there is no mud at all on his knees.
When Ross is helping choose a dress and shoes for Nana to wear, he is behind the chest of drawers in the cupboard. He looks in a shoebox and finds lots of pink Sweet'n Low packets, then pulls down another box and lots of packets fall down on him. However, it is obvious that someone is above him showering the packets down, as they are coming from directly above him, not from on top of the door.
When Phoebe say 'what a great day' she starts to put her hand to her face, then in the next shot, her sunglasses have jumped to her hand.
When Joey shows Chandler the TV in his pocket, at first he takes it out and is holding it in one hand. In the next shot, he is holding it in both hands.
Just before the group of guys at the funeral shout about the football, there is a glass of wine next to Monica's mother which is about 1/3 full. After a brief cut away, the next shot shows the glass is almost empty.
When Ross and Monica are visiting their Nana, Ross has his hand on Monica's shoulder. In the next shot it is gone.
In the deleted scene included in the uncut DVD version of the episode, when Monica is reading about the cheap casket, in the shot from behind her there is obviously a sticky-note that has been placed in the brochure.
When Monica and Ross meet up with their parents at the hospital, a boom mic is visible at the top of the screen.
When the scene cuts from Joey and Jack watching the game to several people watching the game, a boom mic is visible at the top of the screen and the camera tilts slightly.

Memorable Quotes

Monica: "Do you think, things would have been better if you'd just told her the truth?" Judy: "No. I think some things are better left unsaid."
Chandler: "I could get a Brian. If i wanted to get a Brian, I could get a Brian." [Brian enters the pantry] "Hey Brian."