An iconic sitcom of the 1990s, Friends continues to live on through memorable moments such as the infamous Monica turkey head scene. Debuting in 1994, Friends concerns the intermingled lives of six close friends who experience the ups and downs of adulthood together over the course of a decade on the air. Beloved for its witty sense of humor and sly lampooning of typical sitcom tropes, Friends bridged the gap between the 1990s and early 2000s and continues to be a popular series in the streaming era. Besides its memorable characters, it was the over-the-top moments that helped keep Friends fresh.

Comedy is ultimately a visual medium, and few sitcoms understood that principle as well as Friends, which frequently delivered iconic sight gags that eventually became memes after the show went off the air. Holidays have always been a big part of sitcoms, and the Friends Thanksgiving episodes were usually the highlight of every season which evoked hilarious fall memories. The Monica turkey head moment has grown far beyond the episode from which it came, and the humorous image of Courteney Cox with a large piece of poultry over her head actually accompanied an important moment in the show's history.

Monica Put A Turkey On Her Head To Cheer Chandler Up

The Monica turkey head incident came in Friends season 5, episode 8, "The One With All The Thanksgivings", and was the punctuation of a complicated series of events comprising the show's brilliant annual episode. The gang recalls terrible Thanksgivings they've had after Ross mentions his divorce and eviction has ruined the holiday. Monica and Chandler recount their experience in the '80s where Chandler's rude comment about Monica's weight eventually spurred her to stop overeating.

They also recalled another Thanksgiving in which an accident left Chandler short a toe, thanks to Monica's clumsiness. The flashback left Chandler feeling dejected after learning an off-hand comment was why he eventually lost a digit.

Seeing their relationship in jeopardy, Monica takes a page out of Joey's book and puts the turkey on her head, and adorns it with a fez and goofy sunglasses to entertain Chandler. The plan works, and to his surprise, Chandler blurts out that he loves her for the very first time. One of the most important Monica and Chandler Friends episodes, the Monica turkey head scene acted as a hilarious catalyst for the next stage in their relationship as the three little words changed everything.

Showcasing the series' brilliant writing, "The One With All The Thanksgivings" not only fleshed out each character's backstory but also pushed the overall narrative forward.

Courteney Cox Recreated The Monica Turkey Head Friends Scene

Recognizing the importance of the Monica turkey head scene from Friends, Courteney Cox took to Instagram to deliver a unique holiday treat that paid homage to the show that made her famous. In a video posted near the Thanksgiving holiday in 2020, Cox playful lamented the number of times she's been sent the iconic GIF of Monica with the turkey on her head and laced her video with a hilarious string of expletives in mock anger.

Then, acknowledging her place as a "symbol for Thanksgiving" Cox danced with an actual turkey on her head, complete with sunglasses and the Friends theme song playing in the background.

Cox's dedication when recreating the Monica turkey head scene was an obvious sign of her love and respect for the fans of Friends. Actors of her stature don't usually act that goofy on massive social media platforms, but it was clear that she wanted to give back near the holiday. Many Friends moments have become iconic pieces of internet lore, but Cox understood the long-lasting brilliance of her unforgettable Monica moment.