On "Friends", what was Ross and Monica's favorite TV show growing up?

On "Friends," Ross and Monica's favorite TV show growing up was Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve.

The show is a long-running American New Year's Eve television special built around musical performances, celebrity appearances, and the countdown to midnight. Dick Clark hosted it for decades, making his name closely associated with the broadcast.

In the "Friends" episode "The One with the Routine," Ross and Monica attend a taping of the program and perform a highly rehearsed dance they created as children. Their routine, which they call "The Routine," becomes one of the episode's most memorable comic moments. The scene also connects their childhood obsession with the show to their adult competitiveness.

A common mix-up is confusing the program with the Times Square ball drop itself. The ball drop is part of the New Year's Eve broadcast tradition, while Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve is the television special presenting the wider celebration. Ryan Seacrest later became the program's prominent host, but Dick Clark remains central to its identity.