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s01e01 Chandler: I'm in Las Vegas. I'm Liza Minelli

 

Why Chandler's dreaming he's Liza Minelli is funny?

The gang is sitting in the cafe and Chandler begins to tell his new dream slash story.

Chandler: I'm in Las Vegas. I'm Liza Minelli

Who is Liza Minelli? Is there more to the joke then it meets the eye?

Liza Minelli (1946) is an American actress, singer, dancer and choreographer. To say that Liza is a pretty big performance star would be an understatement. In 1990 Liza became one of just 21 people in the world who has won all four popular awards - Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony award. EGOT is an acronym for these people. So Liza Minelli's name would ring the bell for every American ear on the sitcom's audience. She is a gigantic star would be way more correct way to put it. At least by the beginning of Friends tv-show in 1994 she really was. 

Still, is the joke just about Chandler comparing himself to a grandiosely famous woman-performer? After reading a bit more on Liza Minelli, I saw one more pattern. 

Let's back up a little. Initially writers meant for Chandler to be even though slightly, but on the gay spectrum. Remember one of the first scenes in the first episode Chandler suddenly gives away his thoughts.

Chandler: Sometimes I wish I was a lesbian... Did I say that out loud?

So Liza Minelli joke is also a nod to the Chandler might be more gay, than he acknowledges direction. See Liza Minelli had a special persona and a style of performing that has gained her status as a gay icon. And Chandler's dreaming of performing in Las Vegas as Liza Minelli definitely felt quite gay to the rest of the friends at that time. Further on we will see many more jokes that come with "is he secretly gay?" theme for which Chandler stands front and center.

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And I'd love to hear your perspective on how this joke was supposed to work here in a comment section,


Katia

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