Surprise! ‘Joey’ Spinoff from ‘Friends’ Now Streaming for the First Time Ever!

by

Fans of the popular sitcom “Friends” transcend age groups. The show’s availability on streaming platforms has introduced a new crop of young viewers to NBC’s iconic Thursday night comedy and cultural phenomenon. However, this also means there are many fans who may not be aware or have never seen that a spin-off centered around Joey Tribbiani, titled “Joey,” existed. For those unaware younger fans, the opportunity to explore the brief series is now possible.

The television series “Joey,” where Matt LeBlanc’s character Joey reconnected with his sister and nephew, ran for just two seasons before NBC decided to cancel it, leaving eight unbroadcasted episodes behind. The show shifted LeBlanc’s Joey from New York to Los Angeles in a bid to advance his acting career; however, the transformation of Joey’s character was not well-received by viewers. Instead of portraying the charming, womanizing, and reliable friend we were accustomed to, the character in “Joey” appeared more pitiful – a downcast and melancholic man that failed to keep audiences hooked.

Why not take a break from reading and head straight to watching the first two episodes at your disposal in the section below? After all, they’re completely free! If you’d rather, you can also listen to more about our under-the-radar series, Episodes, before diving in.

The One About ‘Joey’, And The Meta-Analysis And Absurdist Comedy That Was ‘Episodes’

The TV show called “Joey” featured Drea de Mattea as Joey’s sister Gina, Paolo Costanzo as his nephew Michael, Andrea Anders portraying Joey’s love interest Alex, and Jennifer Coolidge in the part of Bobby, Joey’s talent agent. This series was developed by Scott Silveri and Shana Goldberg-Meehan, who had been executive producers and writers on “Friends” for quite some time. Although it didn’t gain massive popularity, this duo is now married and continue to enjoy successful careers in television, including the creation of the popular sitcom starring Minnie Driver, called “Speechless“.

Watch episode two of Joey below:

Discussing Joey always brings up the opportunity to talk about another comedy series where Matt LeBlanc played a role, called “Episodes”. This Showtime and BBC Two collaboration features Matt LeBlanc portraying a character that is a satire of himself.

In the role of an actor brought into a revamped American version of a famed British sitcom duo’s hit show, Matthew LeBlanc – best known for his part on “Friends” – transforms the program into a predictable mess (named “Pucks!”) that fails to capture the charm of its original. This, combined with the struggles of getting anything produced in Hollywood, leads to significant marital strain, adding humor to the storyline.

The television series was developed by David Crane, who co-created “Friends,” and his real-life writing partner Jeffrey Klarik. This production delved into not just the fame and societal impact of the iconic sitcom, but also the personal struggles experienced by its creators and cast members. Indeed, you’ll find several humorous references to Joey scattered throughout the show’s five seasons (broadcast from 2011 to 2017).

Contrary to Joey, Episodes was a hit among both critics and audiences, earning an 80% approval rating from critics and 90% from fans on Rotten Tomatoes. It even managed to secure some Emmy nominations (with LeBlanc taking home the award for best actor). Fortunately, you can stream this series in its entirety on Paramount+ with Showtime. So, it seems like you won’t have to decide between the two shows, right?

Deadline

Read More

2025-03-13 15:02