The laugh track on all 10 seasons of Friends, but some moments are hurt by a laugh track that doesn't quite line up.

Of course, Schwimmer arguably couldn't have done what he did in Friends without being part of one of the best TV ensembles of all time. The chemistry that existed between every member of the main Friends cast allowed them all to zip through hilarious moments with perfect comic timing. While Friends also had several dramatic storylines, and even some downright sad ones, it's primarily ed for its sense of humor. However, one of Ross' best moments is often forgotten and deserves more love.

Ross Geller's "Watching TV" Bit Is A Criminally Underappreciated Friends Moment

Ross' TV prank was only ever for him, and I love that

Friends season 5, episode 17, "The One with Rachel's Inadvertent Kiss," shows Ross shortly after moving into his new apartment across the street. One of the best running gags in the episode is Schwimmer's character acting out a series of physical gags, so his friends can see from Monica's apartment. Most are classics, like pretending to walk downstairs and disappearing from sight, but Friends gives Ross a genuinely hilarious moment as he pretends to watch TV. Joey (Matt LeBlanc) points out Ross is doing his "watching TV bit," and it initially seems as though he is genuinely just watching TV.

It's made even funnier by the fact that Ross presumably never unveiled his ruse, as it would have ruined the prank altogether.

Joey's "mistake" initially makes the joke all about LeBlanc's character, but it's quickly revealed that Ross is actually duping everyone watching from across the street, and his TV set isn't even turned on. The joke is such a clever triple bluff that I bursting out with laughter when I first saw it, and I still do now. It's made even funnier by the fact that Ross presumably never unveiled his ruse, as it would have ruined the prank altogether. What breaks my heart is the fact that the laugh track barely titters, but it luckily doesn't need one.

Ross' Scenes Are Hilarious Even If You Remove The Laugh Track

Schwimmer's character doesn't need audience prompts to be funny

Certain Friends characters, like Matthew Perry's Chandler Bing, are primarily funny because of the intentionally bad jokes they tell. As such, when the laugh track is removed, those moments can make for some pretty uncomfortable viewing. This isn't to say those moments aren't funny in their original context, but it's interesting to see how the presence of a laugh track can transform them. By comparison, Ross' scenes often transcend the need for conventional comedy, and they work without a laugh track, but for very different reasons.

There are several Ross fan edits on YouTube that take some of David Schwimmer's best Friends performances and remove the laugh track, replacing it with alternative music and changing the feel of the moment. Even when Ross is reframed in this way, often as someone who is incredibly unhinged, I still find myself cracking up at the way Schwimmer delivers his lines and at the facial expressions he pulls. Similar edits have been made of other Friends characters, but they don't work quite as well.

Ross Was Always One Of Friends' Funniest Characters, Even When He Wasn't Trying To Be

It's easy to laugh at Ross because he's always down on his luck

Ross rarely makes jokes that are funny within the world of Friends. Instead, most of his funniest moments come from him acting neurotically and overreacting to things that other characters would take in their stride. The comedy in Ross' scenes largely stems from the audience laughing at his misfortune rather than something he has said or done in an attempt to be humorous.

Ross' hilarious misfortune and unique place within the Friends cast make him indispensable for so many reasons.

That said, when Ross is given an unencumbered chance to shine in a truly funny way, he never disappoints. The "Watching TV" bit from "The One with Rachel's Inadvertent Kiss" is a perfect example of one of these instances. If anything, it's set up brilliantly by a series of moments that also have the audience laughing at him instead of with him, as many of the gags up until the TV prank are only funny because they're not. Ross' hilarious misfortune and unique place within the Friends cast make him indispensable for so many reasons.