If you grew up in the ’90s or know anything about American sitcoms, you’ve heard of Friends—the era-defining comedy that ruled TV. But what about Joey, the short-lived spin-off starring Matt LeBlanc’s lovable goofball, Joey Tribbiani? As someone who’s never watched Friends, I took on the bizarre task of binge-watching the eight unaired Joey episodes that recently leaked online. And wow—it’s bad.
What Is ‘Joey’? (And Why Did It Fail?)
After Friends ended in 2004, NBC tried to keep the magic alive with Joey, following the character’s move to LA to chase acting fame. Missing? The rest of the Friends gang. The show limped through two seasons before cancellation—with eight Season 2 episodes shelved… until now.
A ‘Friends’ Virgin Reviews ‘Joey’
With zero nostalgia for Joey’s “How you doin’?” charm, I wanted to see if the show could stand alone. Verdict? Absolutely not.
From the first unaired episode, Joey’s flaws are glaring. The humor feels stale, leaning on tired jokes and Joey’s obliviousness—which, without the Friends cast to play off, is just annoying. Supporting characters (his sister Gina and nephew Michael) try, but weak writing drags them down.
Why ‘Joey’ Is a Trainwreck
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Joey Isn’t Funny Alone
His dumb-guy schtick worked in Friends thanks to Chandler’s sarcasm and Ross’s awkwardness. Here? It’s repetitive. Example: An entire episode revolves around him mishearing “mentor” as “man-tour.” Painful. -
The Side Characters Are Wasted
Gina is a shrill stereotype; Michael’s just there to sigh at Joey. Zero depth or chemistry. -
Cringey Pop-Culture References
A Pirates of the Caribbean parody feels dated even for 2006. Jokes are telegraphed miles ahead—no wit, no surprise. -
No Emotional Core
Friends mixed humor with heart. Joey tries fake-sentimental moments (like bonding with Michael), but they fall flat.
The Unaired Episodes: Anything Salvageable?
Highlights (or lowlights) from the unaired batch:
– “Joey and the Party” – A disastrous birthday bash.
– “Joey and the Wedding” – Unfunny matrimony mishaps.
– “Joey and the Book Club” – He fakes reading Moby Dick. A decent premise, ruined by lazy jokes.
None improve the show. If anything, they prove NBC was right to cancel it.
Final Verdict: A Spin-Off Disaster
Joey is a masterclass in how not to make a spin-off. Removing Friends’ ensemble, setting, and chemistry left a hollow, unfunny mess. Even as a standalone sitcom, it’s forgettable.
Should Friends fans watch? Only for morbid curiosity. Newcomers? Run. These episodes deserved to stay buried.
Rating: 1/10 – Save yourself. Watch Friends (or literally anything else) instead.
