TOW: Five Steaks and an Eggplant

Rachel, Phoebe, and Joey: learn that everyone in the group owes $62 for Ross' birthday celebration, including concert tickets, a gift, and a cake. Rachel, Phoebe, and Joey get upset because they really don't have that kind of money, but Ross, Chandler, and Monica never seem to take that into consideration. It bothers Rachel, Phoebe, and Joey that the others just assume they have enough money to go out to dinner and do expensive stuff. They all go out to celebrate Monica's new job, but Rachel, Phoebe, and Joey can't afford much on the menu. They share their issues after Ross divides the bill five ways, expecting Rachel, Phoebe, and Joey to pay over thirty bucks for their tiny meals. Rachel, Phoebe, and Joey tell the others of their money issues and how they feel uncomfortable. When Monica brings home raw ingredients for a dinner for six and six concert tickets for Hootie and the Blowfish, Rachel, Phoebe, and Joey are not pleased. Now they feel like charity cases. Rachel, Phoebe, and Joey decide not to go to the concert. They're furious when they learn that the others got to party with the band.

Chandler, Ross, and Monica: don't have problems with money because they all have well paying jobs. They never take money into consideration when deciding how to spend their time. Chandler and Monica seem to have a large hand in planning Ross' party, including the concert tickets. Monica is made head lunch chef and head of purchasing at the restaurant and wants everyone to go out and celebrate. She, Ross, and Chandler order huge, expensive entrees, while the others barely eat anything. They really don't get Joey, Rachel, and Phoebe's point-of-view, but they try to be understanding. They come up with a plan to make dinner with the five steaks and eggplant that Monica brings home from the restaurant and they buy six concert tickets for the gang. When the others decide not to go, Monica, Chandler, and Ross still attend. They decide to leave because it's not the same without the other three, but then the concert starts. Monica runs into a guy, Stevie Fisher (Chris Young), she used to babysit. He's now the band's lawyer and gets Chandler, Ross, and Monica backstage. They get to party with Hootie and the Blowfish and Monica makes out with one of the Blowfish.

Chandler: is screening his calls when he a woman, Jade (Brittney Powell), calls for someone named Bob. Jade sounds hot, so Chandler picks up, pretending to be Bob. Chandler sets up a date for Jade and Bob, and plans on hooking up with Jade after Bob stands her up. Ross tries to talk him out of it, but Chandler goes through with it. He and Jade start dating. The day of the concert, Chandler and Jade have sex. Chandler's telling Ross about it when the phone rings; it's Jade for Bob. She still wants to hook up with Bob and says the sex with Chandler wasn't very good.

Monica: changes meat vendors at the restaurant after she's made head of purchasing. The new meat vendor gives her the five steaks (I'm not sure where the eggplant is from). After the concert, Monica gets a page from the restaurant. She calls and learns that the management of the restaurant view the five steaks as a kickback. Monica is fired.

• I find the dance Ross and Chandler do, when Chandler pretends to be Bob, a little creepy.

• This is Jade:
  

Jade's legs are on the new James Bond poster.

• Man, remember Hootie and the Blowfish? That was, like, way back in the day.
  

• I'm not a huge fan of this episode. I don't think it's very funny and not a lot happens. It's mostly the gang arguing about money. I find it boring.

• Rachel apparently slept with Stevie Fisher's dad. Scandalous.
  

• I'm so apathetic about the Five Steaks and an Eggplant. I have nothing else to say about it. I keep going over my notes and trying to muster up something to say, but all I got is, "meh."
• Oh, well Julie's out of town. Ross pines.
  

Oh. My. God.

"Spanish midgets...Spanish midgets wrestling....Julie. Ok, yes, I see how you got there." -Chandler, after Ross whimpers about missing Julie.

"Having a phone has finally paid off." -Chandler, having made a date with Jade.

"Well, when you do, just let me know. I'll be right there on the edge of my seat." -the waiter, waiting for them to order.

"Anything else?"
"Yes, how 'bout a verse of 'Killing Me Softly'?" -the Waiter, and Chandler.

"So, the Ebola virus. That's gotta suck, huh?" -Chandler, trying to ease the tension at dinner.

"So, uh, how was he?"
"Eh."
"Eh?" -Chandler as Bob and Jade, about sleeping with Chandler.

"No, I just--I fell down."
"On someone's lips?" -Monica and Rachel, about Monica's hickey.

"That would be the work of a Blowfish." -Monica, explaining her hickey.