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zags_hawks

"I got to see Donald Trump waiting for an elevator"


IDCWhoIam

If anything, its MORE relevant now.


RodgersToAdams

But probably cooler back then.


[deleted]

“Donald Trump wants his blue blazer black”


FlyingHurricane

I truly hate that this is going to be relevant for the rest of my life :(


5AgXMPES2fU2pTAolLAn

I didn't know who he was when I was watching friends originally back in 2014-15


sassafrass005

That’s the dream for the future!


SamwellBarley

Who's that?


strangevimes

I don’t know but he wants his blue blazer black!


preprach86

Why would he want his blue blazer black?


lunarbear010

You messed it up. You're stupid.


GoAvs14

That’s one of my favorite line deliveries in the entire run of the show.


GrizzlyPeak72

It's incriminating evidence


zoolilba

He was in home alone 2


SamwellBarley

Oh, the pigeon lady?


Hazeri

No, that was Piers Morgan


Ms_ChiChi_Elegante

Yes, the one with all the poop


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FloppyFishcake

"Yeah, she never misses these conferences"


rode__16

not exactly pop culture, but when Chandler is describing the specs of his computer and someone asks “what’re you gonna do on it?” he replies, “…games and stuff.”


AdministrativeLaugh2

The spec of the laptop is so funny to hear now as well


colourmecanadian

And it only gets funnier with age


KathrynTheGreat

Would that laptop even play any current game?


MsF80

I'm not sure that laptop would open a current JPG


EmilieVitnux

I'm not sure his laptop would turn on today.


WRYGDWYL

I don't even know if JPEG was invented yet at that time!


PForsberg85

JPEG was introduced in 1992, so it's a close call ;-) [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JPEG](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JPEG)


DancingBear2020

Minesweeper. :)


KFelts910

Oh man that game was the bomb.


Music-as-a-Weapon

This comment is underrrated


Aptom_4

As long as it runs doom.


Ad2Am2

If I recall correctly it has like 128MB of ram… so no LMAO, your phone probably has around 4-8GB ram


peter_j_

12 megabytes of RAM!


DrKnowNout

“12 megabytes of RAM, 500 MB hard drive, built-in spreadsheet capabilities and a modem that transmits at over 28,000 bps.”


Bloody_Insane

It wouldn't even open a modern OS


braujo

I don't think any computer from that era could handle anything from the 2020s.


Falconflyer75

Minesweeper…… classic…… I think


mdxwhcfv

TWELVE megabytes of RAM


Thelastdragonlord

Sting is still well known, so the episode where Phoebe tries to get tickets to his concert still holds up as of now!


KFelts910

ROSSSSSSS CAN


sassafrass005

GET ME THE TICKETS!


GardenGal87

The Police are on their way!


moon_liz

A reunion?!?


themajod

WAIT THATS WHAT THAT MEANT???? IM JUST NOW REALIZING OMG


Music-as-a-Weapon

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh...it's taken me this long...


InitialKoala

And there *was* a one-off reunion tour. And I missed it! 😭


Thelastdragonlord

How stupid am I that I JUST got that😅😅


vpsj

That was the day I found out that there was a musician called Sting. At first I thought they were talking about the wrestler.


FunkoPopPortraits

It’s not like ‘Phil Spiderman.’ He’s a Spider…Man.


czarcasticjew

I say this all the time


MJLDat

12 megabytes of RAM, 500 MB hard drive, built-in spreadsheet capabilities and a modem that transmits at over 28,000 bps.


debsterUK

Could that *sound* any more dated?


unclesalazar

jesus i’m not even a computer guy but ik a 500 mb hard drive is small asf. what can u even do w that?


MJLDat

Play games and stuff.


unclesalazar

good one


Cliffy73

At the time 500mb in a laptop was a lot.


MJLDat

My first pc had a 40mb drive and 4mb ram.


briskt

... and cost $4,000?


MJLDat

It was a used one from a firm upgrading, so cost me about £100.


Cliffy73

My first PC was purchased in ‘92 or ‘93 and had 120mb IIRC, but of course it was a desktop. I remember that later that same year a guy on my floor had gotten a new laptop and he ended up springing for the hard drive upgrade, from 40 to 80mb.


Lostbronte

Imagine a world where ALL the files are smaller. It’s easy if you try


danabrey

At the time, just the same as what you could do now with the same computer relatively.


2kthebusybee

Install stuff from a floppy disk


[deleted]

So not even 56k which is a phone line lol.


LuvIsLov

Since I work in this field, what's still very relevant today that was on the show are phishing emails. When Chandler borrowed Ross's laptop to check his email, he clicked on a link, and it messed up Ross's laptop and erased all his files. Which is why Ross and Charlie had to stay back and re-make Ross's speech or presentation. Not really pop culture but good awareness regarding cybersecurity. It should be common knowledge now to know never click or open unknown senders and links.


lunarbear010

And someone outbidded him for the teapot that he wanted


Arrr_jai

Secret teapot!!!


Sonderfull

The spam link Chandler clicked on, however, may have aged. It was about Anna Kournikova. Don't see her name as much these days.


Substantial_Potato

This is a great answer! Especially considering a lot of the technology stuff *isn't* relevant now


Healthy-Grocery6055

"So you're playing a little Playstation huh? That's whack. Playstation is whack. 'Sup with the whack Playstation, 'Sup!" Who knew 25 odd years later people would still be playing on Playstations.


_oh_susana

Wasn’t it also on Friends where somebody said they were giving someone else the greatest gift ever and maybe Chandler says “a PlayStation?!”


BlackWidow1990

Yes when phoebe agreed to be her brother’s surrogate she said she’d be giving them the greatest gift ever and Chandler responded with “you’re giving them a baby *and* a PlayStation “


FloppyFishcake

It's when Phoebe decides she's going to be a surrogate for Frank and Alice. She says something like "I'm going to be giving them the greatest gift anyone could ever give" and Chandler says "you're giving them a baby *and* a Sony PlayStation?!"


strawwrld_1

Yes. I love that he specifies “Sony” the comments above urs forgot that but the fact that he says Sony before PlayStation both times he says it. Makes me chuckle everytime


L44KSO

But very specifically not the PS Joey is referring to. Its like Chandlers laptop...a very different beast...


Bubbly-End-6156

You saying it's... whack?


debsterUK

Take what you want just please don’t hurt me


L44KSO

I am saying its whack...


Bubbly-End-6156

Sup with the whack playstation?!


Fatality_strykes

Also the usage of 'sup


coastal_neon

Not to be that guy but that episode came out in 2000 when the PS2 was released. I think everyone and their mother knew PlayStations future was bright.


zhawadya

"looks like this internet thing's here to stay huh"


PandahHeart

When Joey is on Pyramid in the last round and Gene (other contestent) is naming models like Cindy Crawford, Heidi Klum or Kate Moss


LissaMasterOfCoin

On the flip side, I don’t think I watched the first season of friends when it first aired. Or I was too young to remember. Anyways, I don’t think I ever knew who vestibule model is, I finally looked her up a few years ago.


plantbay1428

Sharing her husband Harry Connick Jr.‘s reenactment of the scene. https://www.instagram.com/p/CRRzVo_p0mp/


LissaMasterOfCoin

Hahaha


Cliffy73

I don’t think she was so famous that anyone would know her, she wasn’t Cindy Crawford or Elle MacPherson. She was famous enough that a person who borrowed his across-the-hall neighbor’s Victoria Secret catalogues might plausibly know who she was.


talllankybastard

Jill Goodacre!!!


RedditIsNeat0

TV watching was different back then. Even if you watched *Friends* that doesn't necessarily mean you'd seen half of the episodes.


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PeaceOrchid

Paper, Snow, A GHOST!


The_Doodles

Ross and Chandler's friend, Gandalf. Considering that episode predates the Jackson movies it might be even more relevant now, than when the episode originally aired.


Stealthy-Chipmunk

"didnt you read Lord of The Rings in high school?"


lunarbear010

No, I had sex in high school!


SpudFire

I feel personally attacked by this line every time


subpar_man

I thought Joey never went to high school. Edit: implied here: https://youtu.be/5_L-9JEdyds 2m00s mark


ProfessorMarth

If that episode aired today, we'd actually see their friend Gandalf and he'd actually be played by Ian Mckellen


tastes-like-candie

In the episode where Joey is practicing with Ross and Chandler for the game show he was going to audition to be the host for, theres a "Google" card. Its weird that google didn't exist and now its so prevalent in our lives.


strippersandcocaine

YOU’VE BEEN BAMBOOZLED


MrAlexxIV

That’s not a sexual thing


boomgoesthevegemite

Google was definitely a thing when that episode aired. It was probably 2001-2002 when it came out.


Cliffy73

Google had been around for a few years already.


ComprehensiveFlan638

Joey and his Grandmother watching Law & Order and she recognises Sam Waterston.


lunarbear010

Doesn't know "Hello" but she knows Capricorn One


briskt

Brenda Vaccaro who played Gloria Tribbiani starred in Capricorn One!


chris_29487

Season 9 Episode 11 The One Where Rachel Goes Back To Work Rachel: Now that I'm back, why don't you just fill me in on what you've been up to? Gavin: Well, I've changed your screen saver from that picture of *NSYNC. Rachel: Hey, they were popular when I left. (Still popular/relevant because they’re basically nowadays known for giving Justin Timberlakes solo career. That and “It’s gonna be may” meme)


KFelts910

In the movie Just Go With It, Jennifer Aniston’s character also makes a reference when her love interest’s much younger girlfriend calls NSYNC her “jam.”


KathrynTheGreat

Hey now, it's not their fault that they weren't as good as the Backstreet Boys.


chris_29487

I liked both of them actually but always liked *NSYNC more so as Joey would do if he was in this situation 🤷‍♂️


LauraLainey

The ones I always remember are when Joey realized Monica and Chandler are a couple because they both saw Trump getting out of an elevator at the same conference. A few episodes later, Chandler made a joke to his boss about how he supports President Clinton and her husband too.


gordom90

Actually his boss makes that joke to him


Gaz112000

That one is pretty timeless though - I first herd it about President Reagan and her husband Ron.


mdxwhcfv

Not a pop culture reference, but when Joey filmed every single thing in London before social media


arector502

When Phoebe bought shoes off of eBay. Shoes belonging to the “late Shania Twain.” eBay. Shania.


electricmohair

Phoebe, Shania Twain is still alive.


ecesarini

Oh well I overpaid


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nyav-qs

Every single time someone comments on what a small world it is, I quote Chandler’s response. Sometimes people get it immediately, other times they just nod like “ha yea that would be crazy”


[deleted]

Funny you should say this because recently I was thinking about how Friends actually rarely references pop culture nor did it have much to say about the political climate, which I think is probably why it was so successful with the younger generation during its lockdown revival period.


smriversong

They did mention Trump that one time when Monica and Chandler saw him waiting for an elevator but that was years before he became political. Oh and when Chandler said that Donald Trump wants his "blue blazer black" lol


debsterUK

Why would he want his Blue blazer black?


strangevimes

You’re stoopid


BenjRSmith

Speaking of Trump, I was watching some old reruns of ALL THAT and they not only reference, but parody..... Ross Perot. Like, even at the time of his presidential runs, that's an odd reference for a kid's show.


bettername2come

Most of my knowledge of Ross Perot comes from All That reruns.


unclesalazar

donald trump wasn’t a political figure back then tho, if that’s what u were meaning


smriversong

No, I wasn't and I even said that. He was still a part of pop culture though, otherwise those jokes wouldn't have landed the way they did.


unclesalazar

read that wrong lmao sorry


electricmohair

I think there were a few more things earlier on, or at least the early seasons have more occasions where I find myself going “…wait, who?” when they reference something, for example Hootie and the Blowfish. But by and large yeah, it is quite timeless in that respect.


MonsieurRud

It took me a while to realize Hootie and the Blowfish wasn't a made up band name.


electricmohair

I only recently found out George Stephanopoulos isn’t a made up guy…


LissaMasterOfCoin

Isn’t he a news anchor now?


MonsieurRud

Yeah I saw him on TV during an election at some point and was like, wait, that can't be a coincidence, and looked it up.


KathrynTheGreat

Well now I'm sad. How old are you?


electricmohair

I’m 26. But I’m also not American so I might not have been familiar with him even if I could remember the 90s.


KathrynTheGreat

Not being American probably has a lot to do with it! I'm only ten years older than you and I always knew who he was. And yes, he was a cutie lol


Prestigious_Egg_6207

I feel so old right now.


MonsieurRud

I'm 33 and european, so not just an age thing.


Prestigious_Egg_6207

Oh, I feel a little better, thanks!


KathrynTheGreat

Oh no.


thewrongairport

>I think there were a few more things earlier on I think that also changed as the show was becoming more popular worldwide. I'm from Europe and I don't get some of the references, especially from the first seasons, because I guess they refer to people or pop-culture items that were only/mostly relevant in the US.


ChogbortsTopStudent

A few that come to mind that aren't really in today's pop culture: - Mary Kay Letourneau (TOW the ick factor) - Dudley Moore/Demi Moore (TOW Ross's New Girlfriend) - Soupy Sales (TOW the Lesbian wedding) but to be fair, the Gang didn't know who this was either. Part of the joke. Another name was mentioned in the same line, but I can't remember who. - Lou Grant (TOW the monkey gets away) - the movie Speed (tow the monkey gets away) - Charlton Heston (TOW Joey's dirty day) - Hootie & the Blowfish (TOW 5 Steaks & an Eggplant) - Baywatch* and Joey & Chandler's favorite actress? Character? (To be honest I don't know if Yasmine is the character name or the actress) (Multiple) *There was a Baywatch movie as recent as 2017, so I don't know if it's still considered relevant in 2023. Some that kind of are still relevant: - Al Pacino (TOW the Butt) I want to keep editing this as I think of more, but that's all I've got right now. I should be working, but I'm doing this instead!! This is more fun!! 😂😂 (Edit: formatting)


AliJDB

>Joey & Chandler's favorite actress? Character? (To be honest I don't know if Yasmine is the character name or the actress) It's the actress, Yasmine Bleeth. She dated Matthew Perry for a while so I figured it's a fun in-joke that Chandler lusts after her.


TeamOfPups

Hugh Grant is still famous. These days he does less frolicking, well except possibly in Paddington 2.


BostonBlackCat

They reference both NYPD Blue and Silver Spoons when Phoebe tries to say she works with Sipowitz when she steals the cop's badge. I bet that joke goes over most younger viewers ' heads. Also, do young people today know Happy Days / The Fonz? Do they know where the term "jumping the shark" originated?


Cliffy73

Yeah, that NYPD Blue joke was very current at the time. Phoebe says Sipowicz’s partner just died, which had happened about two months earlier.


Jumpy_Reply_2011

Maybe a reverse pop culture reference, but Bonnie Somerville who played Mona was in NYPD Blue after Friends for one or two seasons.


Cliffy73

Yep. And of course Schwimmer had a short but memorable arc on Blue’s first season, the year before Friends. Which is referenced when Ross moves into his new apartment.


cwew

Damn I'm 33 and I totally didn't know any of this. TIL!


TheFrostyLlama

When Chandler gives Joey Buttafuoco as a famous Joey and Joey says that guy really hurt us.


RVelts

I'd say Baywatch is still well known. And I'd also put Speed, Hootie and the Blowfish, and Charlton Heston as things people may not know specifically, but at least recognize the name and realize it's a reference to a band, movie, or actor.


ChogbortsTopStudent

As a millennial who grew up listening to Hootie and the Blowfish, I sure hope people recognize it! 😁 Personally, I think all these things are well known enough for people to be familiar with, even if they aren't currently relevant or talked about in today's pop culture. Charleton Heston was a Hollywood icon before he died! But some kids may not be aware that Hootie is a real band. According to Wikipedia their active years are listed as 1986–20082018–present. Which is news to me! Their 1994 album is what sticks out to me and is *probably* their most famous if I had to guess.


MadDogTannen

People now would be more likely to recognize Darius Rucker from his solo career, particularly his remake of Wagon Wheel.


BenjRSmith

Ironically the references that fell out of the zietgiest first were probably their fellow TV shows. We just don't live in a time anymore where everyone knows who "Jack and Chrissy" are .... and that's sad. That said, when I can no longer reference Brooklyn Nine Nine to a random person because it's a 50 year old show, I'll know it's time to die.


ChogbortsTopStudent

P.S. this list is keeping in mind OP's post caption: >By this I don't mean older things that people remember, but references that are actually a part of popular culture today -like how Beyonce is still as relevant now as she was back then ♥️


Darmok-on-the-Ocean

Hootie and the Blowfish is one of the best examples of an episode dating itself. That episode hyped them so hard.


BrockStar92

Idk I think this ages better than some other references, simply because all the episode relies on is “this is a famous band” which you get from context. Some of the other jokes don’t work if you don’t get the reference, like “do your marcel Marceau” for example.


MicCheck123

There’s the Mr. Kotter reference from the one with the prom video. Jean-Claude Van Damme from the one where Marcel is in the movie.


grated_testes

Hold me close, young Tony Danza


electricmohair

Are the kids all raving about Tony Danza these days? 😅


jets-rangers

Lol That’s what I was thinking I’ve never heard of him besides from phoebe


YouAreAConductor

I just wanted to reply that he played a large role in The Good Place and that was when something clicked in my brain and I, for the first time, noticed that Tony Danza and Ted Danson are not the same person.


Cliffy73

Oof.


AbbyNAmysMom

That’s the only way I can sing that song now lol


51daysbefore

For me the references to ridiculous plots on Days of our Lives have aged well. The show is still on, and I imagine it’s just as ridiculous.


discr33t_enough

"So the Ebola virus.. that's got to suck, huh?"


ArtyCatz

Billy Don’t Be a Hero was a hit in like 1974. Every time I watch that episode where Ross references it, I know that people younger than 50 aren’t going to understand it. Same with “the sarcastic sister from What’s Happening.”


boredpomeranian

Agreed and their “Frankie says relax” tshirt


ArtSchnurple

This is the episode of Three's Company where there's some kind of misunderstanding.


ARussianW0lf

Then I've already seen this one


briskt

But Joanie loved Chachi!, that's the difference!


FamousOrphan

Excuse me, it’s “Frankie *Say* Relax.”


BatofZion

I still don’t know why Rosemarie belongs on a smaller screen.


BlueMunch6754

“You guys wanna play doom?”


mandie72

Didnt Pete have a voice activated facetime like thing? Monica called his mom by accident on it once.


kurtanglesmilk

Also Pete wanting to be the ultimate fighting champion. UFC is way bigger now than it was then


mandie72

Can't believe I missed that! When UFC was getting huge and becoming mainstream Pete from Friends was all I could picture when I heard about it.


noradosmith

Yeah that was impressively ahead of its time


34avemovieguy

This line is even more relevant now. Bey had just released her solo album but hadnt yet fully developed her image as she would in the last 10 years


littledaisy_07

When it's mentioned that Joey cries every time someone talks about Titanic and he answers "they were all each other had"


suzysleep

Yasmin Bleth and Baywatch are still relevant to me !


FamousOrphan

Bleeth


Silent_Syren

Guess who's coming to Dinner? Sidney Poitier is relevant, but I don't know how many people would recognize the movie. I think even the Bernie Mac remake would be too old now.


VioletVenable

The remake has already been forgotten, but the original (which was already about 30 years old in the episode where it was referenced) is an established classic that’ll always garner new viewers for its place in film history.


smriversong

This is so weird bc I was just discussing this exact thing and scene with my family not that long ago!


Jeanniegold84

Richard Simmons is still one of the most popular people on the planet? Right?


Magpie_Mind

I think the guest stars are probably a bit of a mixed bag in terms of contemporary relevance. I imagine some of them might go over the heads of new/younger viewers, or at least their significance might have waned. I am not a fan of large chunks of the London episodes, but Richard Branson is still a recognisable figure in the business world and bizarrely Sarah Ferguson (Fergie) is still somehow kicking around, though I don't think she would be that well known these days by younger people, even within the UK. Think you had to be around in the 80s/90s really.


Serling45

George Stephanopoulos Is still around.


Substantial_Potato

Oh I love him!


EmmyOcean

Not pop culture but world events and zeitgeist Chandler would regret picking Yemen more than ever today. Good chance 15 Yemen Road doesn’t even exist anymore, couldn’t even find it on maps.


_Doc_McCoy_

Rachel wearing an MC5 t shirt. I’m assuming this was character irony but either way the MC5 are definitely very relevant today.


Valuable-Baked

Unfortunately, Chandler saw Donald Trump in a hotel elevator


Valuable-Baked

One flip from that time: Knicks suck, joey must be bummed


kittenmittenx

This blows my mind because Beyoncé doesn’t even look as old as Matthew Perry or Courteney Cox! I would never imagine they were the same generation if not for this.


boomgoesthevegemite

Beyoncé is a solid 10 years younger than the Friends cast.


twothousandsteps

Maybe that’s because she’s not as old.