Ross tries to call Emily. Phoebe attempts to prove that there is such a thing as a selfless good deed. Joey is on a PBS telethon. Chandler finds out that he is the best sex Monica has ever had and lets that knowledge get to his head.
Tropes:
- Bridal Carry: Chandler carries Monica into the hallway when they go to his apartment to have sex. On the way out he accidentally bangs her head against the doorframe but they quickly agree to ignore it.
- Continuity Nod: Chandler tells Monica that if he is the best sex she's ever had, it is because she made him the best. Over half a season ago Monica did do just that: by showing Chandler a diagram of the seven female erogenous zones designed to significantly improve his sexual performance. He even notes how bad he was at sex right up until then, telling her "I was nothing before you. Call the other girls and ask. Which wouldn't take long."
- Didn't Think This Through: One thing Phoebe does to prove that selfless good deeds exist is by having a bee sting her, to "make it appear tough in front of its bee friends." Joey points out that bees die after they sting.
- Dramatic Irony: Unlike Rachel, Joey, Ross and Phoebe the viewer knows about "Mondler's" Secret Relationship - and also why they behave so awkwardly around each other.
- Dumbass Has a Point: Joey of all people remembers that honeybees die after they sting something. Also his dissertation about good deeds being inherently selfish as described in Good Feels Good below.
- Explain, Explain... Oh, Crap!: Phoebe has this reaction as she realizes her pledge got Joey on television, and thus ruined her plan to do a completely selfless good deed.Phoebe: Look, look, look, Joey's on TV! Isn't that great? My pledge got Joey on TV! Oh, that makes me feel so— oh no!
- Funny Background Event:
- During the telethon, Joey tries to switch places with someone that's been on camera. A fight erupts, as Gary Collins talks about the telethon's cause.
- When Joey and Phoebe are having a philosophical argument in the apartment Chandler looks incredibly annoyed and clearly wishes he'd rather be anywhere else
- Good Feels Good: Discussed. Joey insists that all good deeds are selfish because people only do them to feel better about themselves. Phoebe thinks it's too cynical and tries to prove him wrong. She donates a large amount to PBS (an organisation she hates) so that she feels bad about her good deed. However, she spoke with Joey who was a celebrity taking donators' calls on a TV fund-raiser, and Phoebe's contribution helped him to earn a spot in the broadcast which he really wanted. Phoebe is happy that she helped him, which ruins her plan.
- Happy Dance: After learning that Monica's secret boyfriend (a.k.a himself) is the best she has ever had Chandler gets a bit full of himself. This culminates in him hoping on top of Monica's coffee table and dancing noting that it's what he would do if he were Monica's secret boyfriend and just found out he was the best sex she’s ever had. Monica does a mocking version of the same dance when Chandler asks her later on why she doesn't want to have sex with him.
- Harmful to Minors: Played for laughs when Chandler comes home to find the Chick and the Duck watching Emeril Lagasse preparing a duck dinner. He reacts like a parent catching kids watching a violent movie.Chandler: How many times have I told you guys, you never watch the cooking channel?!
- Hypocritical Humor: When Chandler comes to Monica's apartment while Rachel's around he "causally" asks if her new secret boyfriend is better in bed then Richard. Rachel admonishes Chandler, then asks Monica if he is.
- Magic 8-Ball: When Ross is faced with either divorce or cutting Rachel out of his life he resorts to consulting an 8-ball. His friends think the idea is ludicrous (except for Phoebe), but they can't come up with anything better. When it keeps displaying the "ask again later" message Ross gets mad and assumes it's broken so Monica decides to test it.Monica: Will Chandler have sex tonight? (turns over the ball) "Don't count on it". Seems like it works to me.
- Making Love in All the Wrong Places: In the episode's stinger, Chandler and Monica are revealed to have had sex inside the storage closet of Central Perk, with first Chandler and then Monica leaving individually and siting down on the couch like nothing happened. In the extended scene on the DVD they then go back and do it again.Monica: Never done that before.
Chandler: Nope. - Name One: When Phoebe and Joey argue about selflessness:Phoebe: There are totally good deeds that are selfless.
Joey: Well, may I ask for one example?
Phoebe:Yeah, it's... You know there's... no you may not! - Noodle Incident: When Joey enters Monica's apartment in his tuxedo, Chandler leaps out of his chair yelling "VOMIT TUX! VOMIT TUX!". Monica starts to ask why but quickly decides she doesn't want to know and instead asks Joey why he's dressed up.
- Ready for Lovemaking: Rachel goes into Monica's room after knocking (and hearing a rather seductive "I've been waiting for you" in response) and comes out screaming a moment later. When Monica claims to have been taking a nap, Rachel replies that no one takes a nap "in that position", suggesting that Monica as she was getting ready for Chandler to arrive, seemingly in a suggestive position. This quickly forces Monica to come up with a story that she is seeing a guy at work and was waiting for him. When Chandler walks into the apartment with some champagne, which is now also currently occupied by Joey and Ross, he quickly makes up an excuse that his office has just got wrinkle-free fax paper and he's come over to celebrate.
- Secretly Selfish: Joey and Phoebe's subplot revolves around an argument they have. Joey posits that there is no such thing as a truly selfless good deed because the good deed doer always wants or expects something in return - even if it's nothing more than feeling good about doing good. Phoebe spends the episode trying to prove him wrong and failing every time; her good deeds are either rewarded in a way that makes her feel good or, in the case of letting a bee sting her to allow "him"note to look tough in front of the other bees, actually bad deeds (Joey tells Phoebe the bee probably died after stinging her).
- Sharp-Dressed Man: Joey shows up to the telethon wearing a tuxedo because he thought he was hosting. When he ends up taking the last pledge, Gary Collins compliments him on being so well-dressed.
- Smart Ball: Joey holds it. He proves his point in a philosophical discussion (although with a fellow Ditz) and above all knows that bees die after they sting you, something that vegetarian Granola Girl Phoebe totally forgot about.
- Still Believes in Santa: Phoebe (the kookiest of the titular friends) and Joey get into a debate about whether completely selfless good deeds exist or not, with Joey taking the side of them not existing. While making his point, he mentions "the deal with Santa Claus". Later, Phoebe follows up on that remark to make sure Joey meant that Santa Claus doesn't exist. After getting the confirmation, Phoebe spends a few moments staring wide-eyed into space.
- Telethon: Joey is asked to assist with a telethon. He thinks he has been invited to host and arrives in a tuxedo, but discovers that he is actually one of the volunteers assisting with answering the phones. During the broadcast he tries to draw attention by waving to the camera, only for the person sitting next to him to smack his hand away. He eventually takes a donation from Phoebe that gets them over the target amount and leads to the actual host coming over to thank him (and compliment him for dressing up).
