What Happened to Matt LeBlanc’s Arm in Season 3 of Friends? A Tale of Slings, Chairs, and Accidental Comedy
Remember that iconic scene in Monica’s apartment where Joey is sporting a sling? Chandler, ever the sarcastic one, remarks, “Well, I didn’t think the doctor would believe it just fell out of socket.” That quip, however, wasn’t just a throwaway line. It’s a cheeky reference to a real-life incident that happened to Matt LeBlanc on set, a mishap that led to some creative writing and a memorable storyline for Joey.
So, what exactly happened? Well, picture this: a bustling set, a tense scene, and a good old-fashioned chair fight between Joey and Chandler. Matt LeBlanc, channeling his inner Joey, was in the middle of a stunt – a leap over the coffee table, which seemed simple enough, right? Wrong. The universe, it seems, had other plans. LeBlanc, in his own words, “went to jump over the coffee table and somehow tripped.” His legs went up in the air, and in a flash, his shoulder popped out of its socket. Oopsie!
Now, you might think, “Well, that’s not very funny.” But here’s where the magic of “Friends” kicks in. Instead of shutting down production and giving LeBlanc a week off, the writers, bless their comedic hearts, decided to weave this real-life accident into the narrative.
In the episode that followed the fateful “One Where No One’s Ready,” titled “The One with the Jam,” we find Joey sporting a sling, and Chandler makes that oh-so-funny comment. The writers even came up with the scene where Joey, in a fit of bouncing, falls off his bed, further justifying his arm being in a sling. So, essentially, LeBlanc’s dislocated shoulder became a plot device, and we, the viewers, were none the wiser!
This little “accident” is a testament to the genius of the “Friends” writers. They took an unexpected situation and turned it into an opportunity to add another layer of humor to the show. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the best comedies are born out of the most unexpected circumstances. And who would have thought a dislocated shoulder could be so hilarious?
But hold on, let’s rewind for a second. Why was LeBlanc even leaping over a coffee table in the first place? Well, the scene called for Joey to make a dramatic entrance, and according to LeBlanc, he was attempting a “sight gag,” which, in layman’s terms, basically means a funny and visually appealing stunt. However, the sight gag went awry, and LeBlanc ended up needing medical attention.
LeBlanc has spoken about the incident with a good dose of humor, recalling how his shoulder “felt like it was coming out of his ass.” Talk about a painful experience!
The whole ordeal could have been a major setback for the production, but the writers, in a display of pure comedic brilliance, embraced the unexpected and turned it into a hilarious and memorable storyline.
So, the next time you see Joey sporting a sling in “The One With the Jam,” remember that this was no ordinary prop. It was a tangible symbol of a real-life accident that turned into a comedic masterpiece. And that’s just one of the many reasons why “Friends” continues to be a beloved and hilarious show, even years after its finale.
