Monica discovers unauthorized charges on her credit card and realizes the thief is living the life she desires, including taking tap dancing lessons. With Rachel and Phoebe’s support, they befriend the thief at the dance class. To avoid suspicion, Monica introduces herself as “Monana.” The four become close, and Monica embraces a more carefree lifestyle. When the thief is caught, Monica visits her in jail, revealing her stolen credit card. She thanks the thief for inspiring her and resolves to live life to the fullest, rather than just wishing for it.
Ross faces challenges with his monkey, Marcel, who reaches sexual maturity and exhibits mating behaviors. Unable to care for Marcel, Ross seeks a zoo placement. After several failed attempts, Marcel finds a home at the San Diego Zoo, and Ross bids him farewell with his friends.
Joey’s agent suggests he adopt a new stage name for broader appeal. Chandler jokingly suggests “Joseph Stalin,” leading to a failed audition due to the dictator’s notoriety. Joey later auditions as “Holden McGroin,” possibly falling for another prank.
Did you know ?!
• In the uncut DVD version of the episode, the opening scene is different. Monica is having lunch with her mother and asks her not to talk about her career, love life and that she is doing fine. Monica insists on paying for lunch and hands the waiter her credit card, who returns to say that it’s been declined. Judy then gleefully pulls out her credit card to pay.
• When Monica tells Fake Monica her name is Dutch, Fake Monica says: “Mag ik deze dans van u?” It is one of the few instances in which Dutch is used correctly in an American motion picture (as it is commonly substituted with German). Translated to English the line is: “Can I have this dance with you?”
• When Ross is dropping off Marcel at the airport, he’s wearing a banana pin on his lapel.
• When the program returns from commercial, Ross has just told Joey and Chandler that he has to give away Marcel. The three guys are shown on the couch mimicking the famous “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil” statue often portrayed by three monkeys.
• During the end credits when Joey is auditioning for Mercutio, the three people casting in the audience are Kevin Bright, Marta Kauffman, and David Crane, the executive producers for Friends. This is their first appearance in a Friends episode.
• Fake Monica spoils the ending of Dead Poets Society (1989).
• In this episode they talk about two Robin Williams movies Mrs. Doubtfire and Dead Poets Society. On the wall of the dance studio there is a poster of La Cage aux Folles. Less than a year later The Birdcage, a remake of La Cage aux Folles, was released staring Robin Williams.
• During the tap class, Monica laments that she is an uncomfortable and unnatural dancer. Actress Courteney Cox got her Hollywood break after being cast as a fan pulled onstage to dance with Bruce Springsteen in concert for the music video of his song “Dancing in the Dark.”
• Mrs. Doubtfire (1993) and Dead Poets Society (1989) are mentioned in this episode, which both starred Robin Williams, who had an uncredited cameo in The One with the Ultimate Fighting Champion (1997).
• When Ross is talking about putting Marcel in a zoo he mentions the San Diego Zoo. David Schwimmer’s character Melman the Giraffe in Madagascar (2005) is frequently heard mentioning that he thinks they are in the San Diego Zoo
• Ross discusses Marcel to Dr Baldharar played by Harry Shearer, who voiced many characters on The Simpsons (1989). In season 2 episode 12, The One After the Superbowl Part 1, Ross talks about Marcel with a zoo keeper played by Dan Castellaneta who also voices a number of characters in The Simpsons (1989) including main character Homer. Hank Azaria who plays David who is in seasons 1, 7 & 9 also voices many Simpsons characters.
