'F.R.I.E.N.D.S' spin-off 'Joey' finally releases unaired episodes on YouTube
What's the story
The final eight episodes of Joey, the short-lived F.R.I.E.N.D.S spin-off series that aired from 2004-2006, have been released on the F.R.I.E.N.D.S YouTube channel. The show starred Matt LeBlanc as the iconic character Joey Tribbiani and was canceled in 2006 during its second season, and the final few episodes never aired in the US. The newly released episodes join the previously available 38 installments from the complete series.
Show synopsis
'Joey' followed the character's Hollywood journey
Joey, created by F.R.I.E.N.D.S producers Shana Goldberg-Meehan and Scott Silveri, revolved around Tribbiani's Hollywood adventures. The official description states that he "leaves New York for Hollywood in order to take his acting career to the next level." In Los Angeles, he reconnects with his "high-strung sister Gina (Drea de Matteo)" and "Michael (Paulo Costanzo), his 20-year-old genius nephew." The show also starred Jennifer Coolidge and Andrea Anders.
Show decline
'Joey' struggled to maintain initial viewership success
Despite a promising start with 18.6 million viewers for its pilot episode, Joey's popularity quickly waned in the subsequent seasons. After the show's cancellation, F.R.I.E.N.D.S executive producer and director Kevin S. Bright shared his views on why the spin-off failed to attract an audience. He told The Age in 2006 that Tribbiani's character was "deconstructed" from a womanizer who was a solid friend into someone who couldn't get a job or ask a girl out.