The One In Vegas (1)friends : Season 5 Episode 23 -

Following Matthew Perry's passing in 2023, guest actress Lisa Cash revealed that Chandler was originally scripted to cheat on Monica with her character after their fight. Perry famously convinced the writers to scrap the storyline, feeling fans would never forgive Chandler.

is the first half of the hour-long Season 5 finale of Friends , which originally aired on May 20, 1999. Directed by Kevin S. Bright and written by Andrew Reich and Ted Cohen , the episode follows the gang as they travel to Las Vegas to surprise Joey on his movie set. Plot Summary

After an awkward encounter where Ross thinks a naked Rachel is inviting him over, the two engage in a "war of public humiliation" on the flight. This culminates in Ross drawing a permanent-ink beard and mustache on Rachel’s face while she sleeps. The One in Vegas (1)Friends : Season 5 Episode 23

The Central Perk set was completely dismantled to build the elaborate Caesars Palace casino set for these episodes.

The group arrives in Vegas only to discover that Joey’s "big break" film has lost its funding. To make ends meet, he is working as a gladiator at Caesars Palace. Following Matthew Perry's passing in 2023, guest actress

The episode ends on a cliffhanger, leading directly into , where Ross and Rachel’s drunken antics result in an unexpected wedding. The One In Vegas, Part 1 | Friends Central | Fandom

Notable guest appearances include Thomas Lennon as the hand twin and Todd Glass as a passenger on the plane. Directed by Kevin S

The trip is also a celebration of their first anniversary. However, tension arises when Chandler discovers Monica had lunch with her ex, Richard, which leads to a major argument.