James Michael Tyler played one of the most beloved secondary characters on the hit sitcom Friends for 10 years. He lost his battle with cancer on October 24, leaving a Gunther-shaped hole in all our hearts.
Tyler’s blunt (read: hilarious) facial impressions, dry sense of humour and quick quips (that often left funny-man Matthew Perry in splits) made him a fan-favourite. My Kolkata pays homage to the talented actor and looks back at some of Gunther’s most rib-tickling moments:
“What, is this some kind of snake or something?”
Gunther’s unrequited love for Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) often led him to go above and beyond for the uptown girl, resulting in several funny instances. The funniest of the lot was his purchase of Mrs Whiskerson, Rachel’s gnarly pet, without having a clear understanding of what he was purchasing. Gunther’s question to Ross, “What is this some kind of snake or something?”, in all seriousness, after his $1,500 purchase, is one of Tyler’s standout moments on the sitcom.
“Yes, that’s what I drive… I saved up for 350 years”
Gunther roasted the gang on several occasions. Be it Joey (Matt LeBlanc) for his frequent foolishness, Chandler (Matthew Perry) for his commitment issues or Ross (David Schwimmer) for simply being Ross. However, his sarcastic response, “Yes, that’s what I drive. I make four bucks an hour so I’ve saved up for 350 years” to Joey asking him whether the keys to a high-end Porsche belonged to him, is the most memorable! Joey’s ridiculous assumption begged for an equally ridiculous response, and Gunther obliged.
“Hey Rachel, would you want to go to a movie with me sometime… as my lover?”
If Gunther’s outspoken remarks tickle your funny bone, his thoughts will blow your mind. The inner monologue of him mustering up the courage to ask Rachel out on a date, leaves everyone rolling on the floor laughing. Gunther’s attempt to cement in the non-platonic relationship he seeks by adding ‘...as my lover’ to the end of every question, is uproarious. His neurotic response to Mark (Steven Eckholdt) stealing his thunder ties the scene together beautifully, making for a fantastic watch.
“Ezel!”
One word, a million laughs. Gunther’s conversation with Ross in Dutch is a prime example of his comic aura. He spots the perfect opportunity for him to ridicule his nemesis, as Ross attempts to learn a language that he’s already mastered. While his jokes in this particular sequence carry a certain level of immaturity, his comical expressions and hilarious lines more than make up for it. This scene is arguably one of the finest exchanges on the sitcom and proves that when Tyler delivers a line, he delivers it well.
“Put the mouse back in the house”
When Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow) and the boys — Joey, Chandler and Ross — struggle to tell Robert (Markus Flanagan) that his attire is slightly more revealing than required, Gunther saves the day with his legendary humour. “Hey, buddy. This is a family place. Put the mouse back in the house,” is all Robert needed to take note and adjust. Recently, Tyler shared that this was one of his favourite lines on the show. “I love that line! I thought it was brilliant,” said Tyler.
“Rachel, I love you… I don’t know if this changes your plans”
Possibly one of the most heart-warming moments of Gunther’s storyline, his final lines to Rachel shed light on a completely different Gunther — a bold Gunther! Rachel’s heartfelt response, revealing that she loves him back (ahem, Ross exists) and will think of him every time she steps into a cafe or sees a man with “hair brighter than the sun”, makes for the perfect end to Gunther’s one-sided love affair.
