Friends’ laugh track often prompts viewers to laugh even when a scene isn’t that funny, but one of David Schwimmer’s most underrated moments as Ross Geller lands perfectly without it. It’s hard to imagine anyone not considering Ross one of the best characters on the show, given his endless hilarious moments. Across all 10 seasons, he consistently delivers laughs, though some jokes are slightly weakened by a mistimed laugh track.
Of course, Schwimmer’s performance shines because he was part of one of TV’s greatest ensembles. The chemistry among the Friends cast allowed them to nail comedic timing again and again. While the show included dramatic and even emotional storylines, it’s ultimately remembered for its humor. Yet, one of Ross’ funniest moments often goes overlooked and truly deserves more recognition.
Ross Geller’s “Watching TV” Moment Is Criminally Underrated
In Friends season 5, episode 17, “The One with Rachel’s Inadvertent Kiss,” Ross has just moved into his new apartment across the street. One of the episode’s funniest running gags shows Schwimmer’s character performing a series of physical antics, all visible to his friends from Monica’s apartment. Many of these bits are classics—like pretending to walk down the stairs only to vanish—but Ross’ “watching TV” act stands out.
Joey (Matt LeBlanc) notices Ross doing his “watching TV bit,” and it first seems like he’s genuinely engrossed in the show. Joey’s misunderstanding initially shifts the joke toward his character, but it soon becomes clear that Ross is tricking everyone across the street—and his TV isn’t even on. The layered humor is such a clever triple bluff that it had me laughing out loud the first time I saw it, and it still does. It’s even funnier knowing Ross likely never revealed the prank, since that would have ruined it. The laugh track barely reacts—but thankfully, it doesn’t need to.
Ross’ Scenes Are Hilarious Even Without the Laugh Track
Some Friends characters, like Matthew Perry’s Chandler, rely heavily on deliberately awkward jokes. Take away the laugh track, and those moments can feel a bit uncomfortable—still funny in context, but the timing feels different. Ross, on the other hand, delivers humor that stands on its own. His scenes often work perfectly without a laugh track, but for entirely different reasons, proving that his comedy is both subtle and timeless.
