What was Chandler Bing’s job in Friends?
No Rachel, he wasn’t a “transponster”
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Of all the many long-running jokes in Friends, one of the most memorable was the characters’ consistent confusion over exactly what it is that Chandler Bing, played by Matthew Perry, does for a living.
This uncertainty came to a dramatic head in the fourth season episode “The One with the Embryos”, when Rachel and Monica lost their apartment in a high-stakes quiz because they couldn’t say what Chandler did for a living.
“Oh gosh, it has something to do with numbers…” Rachel stumbles, before noting that he carries a briefcase to work.
As the pressure mounts, Monica offers: “It’s, um ... it has something to do with transponding!”
“Oh, oh, oh!” says Rachel. “Oh, he’s a transpons—a transponster!”
As Monica points out, not only is that not Chandler’s job — it’s not even a real word.
So what did Chandler Bing actually do all day? The answer was kept deliberately vague for much of the show’s 10-year run, but it was eventually revealed that he worked in the field of “statistical analysis and data reconfiguration”.
He later quits that job to start a new, less well-paid career as an advertising copywriter. In the ninth season episode “Where Rachel Goes Back to Work”, Chandler contemplates a return to his old workplace. “I’ll just get my old job back,” he tells Monica.
“No, I want you to have a job that you love,” Monica says. “Not statistical analysis and data reconfiguration.”
To which a bemused Chandler can only reply: “I quit, and you learn what I do?”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments