Friends fans just discovering major character had ‘secret’ cameo-Ruth Lawes-Entertainment – Metro

Friends fans are somehow just discovering a significant character made a brief appearance in the show previously (Picture: J. Delvalle/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images)

A new generation of Friends fans are discovering that a major character previously appeared in the 90s sitcom.

Actor Giovanni Ribisi, 50, was an extra on the show before being cast as Phoebe’s (Lisa Kudrow) half-brother Frank Jr.

Some eagle-eyed viewers on Reddit have just noticed he briefly crops up as ‘Condom Guy’ in season two episode six in 1995.

In it, he accidentally drops a condom in Phoebe’s guitar case and runs back to retrieve it after she’s forced to perform outside on the street instead of Central Perk.

The following year and in the same season, Giovanni returns as Frank Jr, who later asks Phoebe to be his and his wife Alice’s (Debra Jo Rupp) surrogate, and she accepts, giving birth to triplets.

On Reddit, user MoonliteLea said they had been re-watching Friends and only just clocked Giovanni’s earlier part.

Giovanni’s first appearance in Friends was ‘Condom Guy’ (Picture: Warner Bros)

His character accidentally drops a condom in Phoebe’s case (Picture: Warner Bros)

JackyVeronica commented: ‘OMG! It’s like a cameo.’

Secure-Researcher850 said: ‘I noticed this immediately first time watching that’s a good Easter egg by the show.’

Some fans were debating if Condom Guy was actually Frank Jr, with Affectionate_You5647 saying: ‘I like to think it’s the same character too bc it’s funnier than way and very on brand for Phoebe and her family.’

Boris-_-Badenove added: ‘Same exact mannerisms. No real reason it can’t be him. Them saying it isn’t makes no sense.’

Giovanni is best known as Phoebe’s half-brother Frank (Picture: Paul Drinkwater/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images)

Friends bosses liked Giovanni so gave him a meatier role (Picture: Araya Doheny/Getty Images for SAG-AFTRA Foundation)

Others have claimed Giovanni’s character dropping a condom was also foreshadowing Phoebe’s pregnancy.

However, Friends writer Betsy Borns previously cleared up that theory – and said it was not intentional at all.

She told Refinery29: ‘He was an actor that was used by the executive producers before.

‘They liked him, so they decided to use him more because they liked working with him.

Phoebe agrees to be Frank and his wife Alice’s surrogate (Picture: J. Delvalle/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images)

Fans enjoy putting their Easter Egg sleuthing skills to the test – and are constantly uncovering hidden gems despite the show ending more than 20 years ago.

Among them is a nod to Jennifer Aniston’s heritage in the season seven finale, The One With Chandler and Monica’s Wedding,

During the episode, Jennifer’s character Rachel is tasked with finding a replacement minister after Chandler (Matthew Perry) and Monica’s (Courteney Cox) wedding starts going tits up.

She manages to find one at a Greek Orthodox wedding, celebrating the union of the Anastassakis and Papasifakis families.

Turns out Anastassakis is a nod to Jennifer – as it’s her original family name.

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