Janine is to dance in Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve. Joey goes with her, hoping to get a (early) New Year's kiss. Monica and Ross come along as well due to being huge fans of the show. Rachel, Phoebe and Chandler try to get an early peek at the presents Monica got for them.
Tropes:
- Christmas Episode: The episode takes place around Christmas, with one plot being half the friends attending the filming of New Year's Rockin' Eve. Meanwhile, the other half is preoccupied with peeking at their Christmas presents.
- Going Commando: One of the girls dancing on the platform apparently isn't wearing any underwear. Monica asks the stage manager if she'd have a better chance of getting on camera if she did the same.
- My New Gift Is Lame:
- When Monica thinks Rachel, Phoebe and Chandler have peeked at their presents, even though they haven't, she reveals that she got a water purifier for Chandler. To say that he is disappointed is an understatement.
- Rachel and Phoebe also go through this when they find what turns out to be Chandler's presents for them. He insists that the "A-Z" bookmarks are a good present but Rachel clearly doesn't agree.
- New Year's Kiss: Joey is hoping that he can kiss Janine while filming the countdown in New Year's Rockin Eve. He doesn't get to because the director yells cut at the end of the countdown. Later when they get back to their apartment, Janine gives him a proper countdown and New Year's kiss.
- Noodle Incident: Chandler nervously asks if Rachel and Phoebe ever looked in the back of his closet for presents "Because that's where Joey gave me some stuff to store that I've never seen before in my life".
- Potty Failure: Invoked. When a dancer tells Joey he's going to go out with Janine, Joey throws water at his pants to make it seem like he peed himself.Guy: Hey! What're you, in second grade?
Joey: Hey, you're the one wetting his pants. - Present Peeking: Rachel and Phoebe look all over Monica's apartment for the presents she got for them. Chandler tries to stop them, then joins them, then again gets them to stop because he'd rather see the look on Monica's face when he's surprised by his gifts.
- Sucks at Dancing: Monica and Ross' ridiculous routine isn't going to win them any contests.
- The Tape Knew You Would Say That: While looking for Monica's presents, Chandler, Rachel and Phoebe find a large bag under the couch. Instead of presents, however, there is only a note.Rachel: [reading Monica's note] "Dear losers: do you really think I would hide presents under the couch? P.S.: Chandler, I knew they'd break you."
Phoebe: Uh-oh. I think she may be on to us.
