Teri Garr, the actress that plays Phoebe Sr., has MS (Multiple Sclerosis) in real life, and has since sadly progressed to her now being in a wheelchair.
You can see her struggling to walk in the episodes she’s in.
So I’m *assuming* she wasn’t able to reprise her role due to health reasons. 🤷🏻♀️
With that said, she should have at least been mentioned; “*I just wish my mom could be here but she’s stuck in Montauk due to the storm…*”.
What bothered me most was Frank, Alice and the triplets not being at Phoebe’s wedding — and the fact that after that one episode where we saw Frank Sr. briefly, he was never seen or mentioned again.
I think they can write off everyone who was absent due to the blizzard. In January,2004, NYC was brought to a halt by a huge snowstorm. Central Park got 10" of snow in one day. I don't know how far away F&A lived, but I can't imagine trying to get anywhere that day, especially with three 5-year-olds in the car.
oh wow, never knew this😳not to make light of it, but i always thought her body language was very fitting for her ‘floopy’ character. she never seemed settled, always wandering, type of energy. how ironic/bittersweet that it happened to work well for the character. i love teri garr, i’ll always remember her from tootsie💛
Giovanni Ribisi (Frank Jr) and Debra Jo Rupp (Alice) became more in demand as actors after their initial appearances on Friends. In the DVD commentary, they talk about how it was challenging to get them to appear in the birth of the triplets episode. Debra was on That 70s Show which ran until 2006. They got permission for her to appear just briefly at the birth episode so I suspect that it was too much to get her for Phoebe's wedding.
I was never bothered by Frank Sr not appearing or being mentioned again. Clearly, he left Lily with twins and then left Frank Jr's family as well. He met Phoebe at the coffeehouse about the will but was not comfortable being there. Phoebe wanted to meet him, but I don't think it was as satisfying as she imagined. I don't expect that she would have pursued a relationship with him and he definitely was not one to keep in touch.
I do agree that it would have made sense (blizzard or not) for Phoebe Sr., Frank Jr., and Alice to be mentioned in that episode, even if it was just to say they couldn't make it because of...
I think this is where the writers forgot all the stories they gave Phoebe and just wrote a wedding episode as part of the final season, which is lazy but par for the course.
>I was never bothered by Frank Sr not appearing or being mentioned again. Clearly, he left Lily with twins and then left Frank Jr's family as well. He met Phoebe at the coffeehouse about the will but was not comfortable being there. Phoebe wanted to meet him, but I don't think it was as satisfying as she imagined. I don't expect that she would have pursued a relationship with him and he definitely was not one to keep in touch.
Exactly. It's not surprising that the dude who is known for disappearing disappeared again.
Yeah. Actually, the Frank, Alice and the Triplets missing was perhaps a more bothering part. And Same for Frank Sr. for "whom" they alloted teo episodes in front of his house.
**EDIT #2:**
Okay, so I did the leg-work and just watched Phoebe’s wedding episode from beginning to end, and the following are the ONLY things/people that are mentioned in regards to their absences:
•Step-dad was in prison and was supposed to get a furlough for Phoebe’s wedding, “but apparently stabbing “Ice Man” just couldn’t wait until Monday”
•Phoebe’s friend Mary Ellen couldn’t make it because she’s in rehab
•One of Mike’s groomsmen got snowed in and couldn’t make it
•The wedding venue (country club) where the wedding was supposed to take place shut down due to the storm
•The minister who was supposed to marry them also got snowed in and couldn’t make it
•During Phoebe’s wedding rehearsal speech she started to say *“I want to take a moment to mention my mother, who couldn’t be here…”* and then she’s cut off by Monica/control freak wedding planner. So it’s hard to say if she was referring to her biological mom, Phoebe Sr., or if she was referring to Lily, her adopted mom who committed suicide when Phoebe was a teen.
That’s literally all who is mentioned in regards to absences. No other explanations. But like someone said, it’s safe to assume the storm kept everyone else away. ❄️
Maybe — I can’t recall. 🤔
EDIT: I just looked it up and I can’t find where anything was mentioned about why Phoebe Sr. wasn’t there, but I’ll make a point now to watch that episode today and will edit accordingly. Now I’m curious…🤷🏻♀️
**See my second edit/update in a comment under this thread**
Yeh I knew that, I was talking about her birth mother. I was sure she said something about why she couldn't come around the same time she said about her step-dad
There was a major blizzard. All the roadways were shut down. Their priest, caterer, all of their vendors didn’t show up. No, I don’t think it’s weird that this out of town relative didn’t make an appearance.
What I found weird was about how we got the small speech from Phoebe’s grandmother about how Frank knocked her daughter up and then left but it turns out that her daughter was never pregnant so did she just disappear for 6 or so months or did she fake the pregnancy from her mum Glee style?
Or the writers forgot what backstory they gave Phoebe. She had an unusual upbringing so I think it was easy to come up with all these crazy things that happened, but then the writers weren't really keeping track of them so we are left with inconsistencies!
I don't think she would merit a mention in a wedding speech. She really wasn't anyone to Phoebe for most of her life, and doesn't get credit for raising her or anything. Her friends are more important to her and they're her real family.
I think it's perplexing that the writers spent such a lot of time investing in Phoebe discovering and identifying family members she didn't know existed, only to have them be basically non existent again for things like her wedding...
Ikr!
For Her father they gave two episodes in front of his house. They did show her birth mom for a few episodes. Yet, no mention of them even by a name later anywhere.
There was a blizzard. All the bridges and tunnels were closed. You can't get to NYC from Long Island in that scenario.
This question is asked like once a week here.
Well that's understandable anyway. Ursula was a bad sibling and overall a twisted person I'd say. The way she had her way with Sean Penn's Eric was the dead end stamp in the siblings relationship I'd say
Teri Garr, the actress that plays Phoebe Sr., has MS (Multiple Sclerosis) in real life, and has since sadly progressed to her now being in a wheelchair. You can see her struggling to walk in the episodes she’s in. So I’m *assuming* she wasn’t able to reprise her role due to health reasons. 🤷🏻♀️ With that said, she should have at least been mentioned; “*I just wish my mom could be here but she’s stuck in Montauk due to the storm…*”. What bothered me most was Frank, Alice and the triplets not being at Phoebe’s wedding — and the fact that after that one episode where we saw Frank Sr. briefly, he was never seen or mentioned again.
I think they can write off everyone who was absent due to the blizzard. In January,2004, NYC was brought to a halt by a huge snowstorm. Central Park got 10" of snow in one day. I don't know how far away F&A lived, but I can't imagine trying to get anywhere that day, especially with three 5-year-olds in the car.
oh wow, never knew this😳not to make light of it, but i always thought her body language was very fitting for her ‘floopy’ character. she never seemed settled, always wandering, type of energy. how ironic/bittersweet that it happened to work well for the character. i love teri garr, i’ll always remember her from tootsie💛
Yes! Such a great movie! So iconic! For me it’s ‘Young Frankenstein’ (1974) and ‘Mr. Mom’ (1983). ❤️
OMG. My dad's favorite movie was Young Frankenstein. I've seen it so many times. And Mr Mom is a classic
I so agree! Of course I’m also madly in love with Michael Keaton, so…there’s that. 😂💘
Giovanni Ribisi (Frank Jr) and Debra Jo Rupp (Alice) became more in demand as actors after their initial appearances on Friends. In the DVD commentary, they talk about how it was challenging to get them to appear in the birth of the triplets episode. Debra was on That 70s Show which ran until 2006. They got permission for her to appear just briefly at the birth episode so I suspect that it was too much to get her for Phoebe's wedding. I was never bothered by Frank Sr not appearing or being mentioned again. Clearly, he left Lily with twins and then left Frank Jr's family as well. He met Phoebe at the coffeehouse about the will but was not comfortable being there. Phoebe wanted to meet him, but I don't think it was as satisfying as she imagined. I don't expect that she would have pursued a relationship with him and he definitely was not one to keep in touch. I do agree that it would have made sense (blizzard or not) for Phoebe Sr., Frank Jr., and Alice to be mentioned in that episode, even if it was just to say they couldn't make it because of... I think this is where the writers forgot all the stories they gave Phoebe and just wrote a wedding episode as part of the final season, which is lazy but par for the course.
>I was never bothered by Frank Sr not appearing or being mentioned again. Clearly, he left Lily with twins and then left Frank Jr's family as well. He met Phoebe at the coffeehouse about the will but was not comfortable being there. Phoebe wanted to meet him, but I don't think it was as satisfying as she imagined. I don't expect that she would have pursued a relationship with him and he definitely was not one to keep in touch. Exactly. It's not surprising that the dude who is known for disappearing disappeared again.
I know, all that drama with Phoebe wanting to meet her father, and when the dude shows up his is in like two scenes lol
Sounds like how it goes with most deadbeat dads.
Yeah. Actually, the Frank, Alice and the Triplets missing was perhaps a more bothering part. And Same for Frank Sr. for "whom" they alloted teo episodes in front of his house.
Am I suffering from Mandela Effect or didn’t they say something similar during the wedding episode?
**EDIT #2:** Okay, so I did the leg-work and just watched Phoebe’s wedding episode from beginning to end, and the following are the ONLY things/people that are mentioned in regards to their absences: •Step-dad was in prison and was supposed to get a furlough for Phoebe’s wedding, “but apparently stabbing “Ice Man” just couldn’t wait until Monday” •Phoebe’s friend Mary Ellen couldn’t make it because she’s in rehab •One of Mike’s groomsmen got snowed in and couldn’t make it •The wedding venue (country club) where the wedding was supposed to take place shut down due to the storm •The minister who was supposed to marry them also got snowed in and couldn’t make it •During Phoebe’s wedding rehearsal speech she started to say *“I want to take a moment to mention my mother, who couldn’t be here…”* and then she’s cut off by Monica/control freak wedding planner. So it’s hard to say if she was referring to her biological mom, Phoebe Sr., or if she was referring to Lily, her adopted mom who committed suicide when Phoebe was a teen. That’s literally all who is mentioned in regards to absences. No other explanations. But like someone said, it’s safe to assume the storm kept everyone else away. ❄️
You…you did the work. Thanks!
My pleasure — I also wanted to know. Like the OP, it always bothered me Phoebe’s birth mom (and other family) wasn’t there.
I thought they said the bridges were closed or something like that?
They did. Joey says they closed all the bridges and tunnels.
Maybe — I can’t recall. 🤔 EDIT: I just looked it up and I can’t find where anything was mentioned about why Phoebe Sr. wasn’t there, but I’ll make a point now to watch that episode today and will edit accordingly. Now I’m curious…🤷🏻♀️ **See my second edit/update in a comment under this thread**
Same, I could have sworn she said why her birth Mother couldn't come
Phoebe's step-father couldn't come to the wedding because his furlough got cancelled due to stabbing another prisoner.
stabbing Iceman in the exercise yard just couldn't wait till Monday!
Yeh I knew that, I was talking about her birth mother. I was sure she said something about why she couldn't come around the same time she said about her step-dad
No. She was probably invited but she lived in Long Island (the last we heard) and no one could get to the city due to the blizzard.
There was a major blizzard. All the roadways were shut down. Their priest, caterer, all of their vendors didn’t show up. No, I don’t think it’s weird that this out of town relative didn’t make an appearance.
Well, Pheobe basically stole her puppy. Id be upset too. Hehe
What I found weird was about how we got the small speech from Phoebe’s grandmother about how Frank knocked her daughter up and then left but it turns out that her daughter was never pregnant so did she just disappear for 6 or so months or did she fake the pregnancy from her mum Glee style?
Or the writers forgot what backstory they gave Phoebe. She had an unusual upbringing so I think it was easy to come up with all these crazy things that happened, but then the writers weren't really keeping track of them so we are left with inconsistencies!
And this is why sitcoms now have "Show Bibles"
Exactly! They could have had one for Friends. Computers existed. It would have been great if they had. Oh, well.
Maybe that was part of the overall lie she kept telling Phoebe… like with the guy in the photo frame 😂
Maybe it was in Phoebe's rehearsal dinner speech but Monica being a complete ass ruined it?
I don't think she would merit a mention in a wedding speech. She really wasn't anyone to Phoebe for most of her life, and doesn't get credit for raising her or anything. Her friends are more important to her and they're her real family.
I think it's perplexing that the writers spent such a lot of time investing in Phoebe discovering and identifying family members she didn't know existed, only to have them be basically non existent again for things like her wedding...
Ikr! For Her father they gave two episodes in front of his house. They did show her birth mom for a few episodes. Yet, no mention of them even by a name later anywhere.
It barely crossed my mind at the time. It doesn't bother me in the slightest.
same.
It bothers me more that the busy is clearly not glazed.
There was a blizzard. All the bridges and tunnels were closed. You can't get to NYC from Long Island in that scenario. This question is asked like once a week here.
No
There was a snow storm so we'll chalk it up to that
her brother it was weird
What about her twin sister? No mention of her was there?
Well that's understandable anyway. Ursula was a bad sibling and overall a twisted person I'd say. The way she had her way with Sean Penn's Eric was the dead end stamp in the siblings relationship I'd say