VERSUS // the guest star: seinfeld vs friends

For this versus I'm putting the focus on the guest star rather than similarity in the plot line. Let's change it up a bit, why not? I had a couple of choices in actors when it came to this sitcom. Jon Lovitz, Kristin Davis. I was originally going to go with Maggie Wheeler but then I realized that where Janice is one of my favorite characters ever from Friends there is no way that it wouldn't win. So I went a little less biased and chose Christine Taylor.

She was on both shows the same year (1997). In Seinfeld S08E14 The Van Buren Boys she played Ellen, Jerry's "boring" date. A few weeks later during Friends S03E24 The One With The Ultimate Fighting Champion she played Phoebe's friend Bonnie that used to be bald, now is not, and she went on a date with Ross. She was also seen in S03E25 The One At The Beach and S04E01 The One With The Jellyfish.



Plot

Focusing on the Christine's character, in Seinfeld she is first seen on a first date with Jerry. When he asks if she would like some dessert she tells him that she probably should have a piece of cake because it is her birthday. First date, she picked the day. They have a few more dates and when they run into two of her acquaintances they "thank" Jerry for taking her out, just because. She checks her messages, doesn't have any. Kramer and George dub her to be boring. Of course, Jerry's parents like her which should be the tip off. After that their relationship is no more.

With Friends there were three total episodes of her story arc. Phoebe asked Rachel if she could set Ross up with her friend Bonnie, the bald one. Rachel agrees but then regrets it when she realizes that Bonnie no longer bald, but fun and beautiful and has a full head of hair. Ross and Bonnie hit it off, so when the whole group goes on a little vacation to the beach she tags along. She's super outgoing and likes to take risks and Rachel easily convinces her that she should go bald again as a ploy to get back with Ross. It totally works and Bonnie awkwardly leaves the beach house and the relationship.


Characters



Ellen vs Bonnie - The Christine Taylor. I don't like Bonnie. I said it. She seems nice and okay but also really annoying and hard to please. I don't think we would get along (and no this isn't because of Ross and Rachel though obviously Team Rachel). I like Ellen, she doesn't deserve the talk about her she receives.



Jerry vs Ross - The date. Jerry. Okay so Ross likes Bonnie, and that's great but obviously not enough to like her bald. The second that happens he's done. Jerry on the other hand is kind of always on the fence and even though we don't actually see the break up, he just ends it when he realizes he's done instead of playing along. Good man.

Breakdown
The personality - Bonnie has a lot more of it, she should probably share some with Ellen, but I am in Seinfeld's corner for this. She seems honestly like a sweet person and I feel really bad she keeps getting called "boring" and "loser". She's just polite.
The relationship - Friends definitely gave the relationship more of a shot, we got to see her character in a few different situations so I'll will go with them.
The friends - I would say Friends again here, even with Rachel plotting against her, Bonnie seems to be more well-received all around.

Seinfeld is the winner here and I truly thought it would be Friends especially with three episodes dedicated to the character. Guess you can't win 'em all.