6. Ugly Naked Guy (Friends)
Like Gunther or Janice, Ugly Naked Guy was one of those brilliant peripheral characters in
Friends that fleshed out the world of this sitcom. But unlike the Rachel-fawning waiter at Central Perk or Chandler's shrill ex (OH MY GOD!!!), Ugly Naked Guy was a man who made his presence known by not being on screen. A source of much comment and amusement, our six friends would point out all the many happenings of the obese nudist living opposite the girl's apartment. Getting a thigh master (lovely image). Sitting on his cat, to which Joey exclaims mournfully "that poor cat never saw that big butt coming" and lighting a lot of candles which, everyone noted, was surely a hazard to all that exposed flesh. Ugly Naked Guy was never better than in season three. In the hilarious 'The One With The Flashback' a younger Phoebe comments that the Cute Naked Guy is starting to put on weight. And then two episodes later in 'The One With The Giant Poking Device', everything thinks he is dead, leading to the creation of a extremely large prodder that the group push through their window and across to his apartment to see if he really has gone. (He hasn't) Alas, his story ended in season five's 'The One Where Everyone Finds Out' as the large nudist neighbour decides to sublet his apartment and move on. A desperate Ross decides to go all out to get the apartment, finally deciding that if muffin bribes won't work, he'll just have to get naked too! In the Poking device and final episode, the Ugly Naked Guy did make fleeting appearances...but we never saw his face, only his (large naked back). But he certainly made his mark. Is it coincidence that the show went downhill a bit after he left? Probably. But then again...