As the world prepares to celebrate the turn of the millennium, Friends delivers one of its most memorable episodes.
"The Routine," which aired on December 16, 1999, follows Chandler, Phoebe, and Rachel as they try to find Monica's hidden Christmas gift to ensure they can surpass her in their current division.
However, the highlight of season six was when Monica, Ross, Joey and his new roommate Jeanne LeCroix (played by model Elle Macpherson) attended the Dick Clark New Year's Rockin' Eve taping.
To secure a spot on the dance podium and secure their appearance on the Rock 'n' Roll Eve special, Monica and Ross try to impress producers by performing a "routine" they choreographed together in eighth grade .
While Monica and Ross seemed happy with the daunting number, not everyone saw their vision. "Make sure you get this, Dick is going to want it in the b-roll show," one producer joked of the show.
In this episode, Monica and Ross try to recreate the routine's original ending, with Monica dramatically catching Ross. "I can't do this," Monica screamed, then gave way to Ross.
history of convention
Fans may be surprised to learn that the famous Friends moves were choreographed by Hollywood professionals.
Choreographer and Pussycat Dolls founder Robin Antin revealed in a 2019 interview with Vanity Fair that she was hired to create an "extremely silly" dance for the Season 6 episode.
“ This was the dance Monica and Ross were going to do on New Year’s Rockin’ Eve ,” Antin recalled. "They described me as goofy, funny, trying too hard, going too far, really dancing and just thinking they were the best ever."
The legacy of routine
Monica and Ross' daily activities have repercussions far beyond the initial broadcast. In 2021, Courteney Cox (aka Monica) recreated the dance with singer Ed Sheeran on Instagram.
"Just dancing with friends," Cox wrote in the caption, along with the hashtag "ReRoutine."
Cox also revealed in 2021 that "The Routine" remains one of her favorite "Friends " episodes.
