The One with the Screamer

Rachel's new boyfriend Tommy, a screamer only Ross sees.

"The One with the Screamer" is the twenty-second episode of the third season of Friends and the 70th episode overall. Directed by Peter Bonerz and written by Shana Goldberg-Meehan and Scott Silveri, it first aired on NBC on April 24, 1997.

Last updated 2026-10-23 from the source article.

Quick Facts

Starring

Jennifer Aniston
Courteney Cox
Lisa Kudrow
Matt LeBlanc
Matthew Perry
David Schwimmer

Showrunner

David Crane; Marta Kauffman

Episodes

Network

NBC

First aired

19 September 1996

Last aired

15 May 1997

Season number

Facts from the source article.

Background

Rachel dates Tommy (Ben Stiller), an aggressive bully who terrorizes anyone crossing him. Only Ross sees his bad behavior, and everyone else says he is just jealous over Rachel, until Tommy cannot hide his true self and the group sees it when he screams at the chick and the duck.

Joey and Kate part when she gets an acting job in Los Angeles. Using Monica's phone, Phoebe stays on hold for days waiting to speak to a company before her warranty expires, unaware it is not a toll-free "800" number.