In a major surprise for fans of the iconic sitcom F.R.I.E.N.D.S, the makers of the series' spinoff Joey have finally released eight unaired episodes from the 2004 NBC show, nearly two decades after the show was pulled off air.
The show featured Matt LeBlanc in the lead as the beloved Joey Tribbiani from F.R.I.E.N.D.S and followed the naive and witty character's life as he embarks on a journey to Hollywood to pursue his acting career. When in Los Angeles, Joey reunites with his high-strung sister, Gina and his 20-year-old nephew Michael. The eight episodes are now available to watch on the show's YouTube channel, along with the other 38 episodes.
The aforementioned eight episodes were never aired in the US, after which the spinoff was cancelled in 2006. Apart from LeBlanc, the series also starred Drea de Matteo, Paulo Costanzo, Jennifer Coolidge and Andrea Anders.
Created by Shana Goldberg-Meehan and Scott Silveri, Joey was met with promising ratings upon release, amassing over 18.6 million viewers. But the show's viewership died down through the remainder of Season 1 and Season 2. While it returned to the network in March 2006, it was once again pulled after one airing.
F.R.I.E.N.D.S executive producer and director Kevin S Bright, while reflecting on the spin-off's failure, said, "On F.R.I.E.N.D.S, Joey was a womaniser, but we enjoyed his exploits. He was a solid friend, a guy you knew you could count on. Joey was deconstructed to be a guy who couldn't get a job, couldn't ask a girl out. He became a pathetic, mopey character. I felt he was moving in the wrong direction, but I was not heard."
F.R.I.E.N.D.S ran for ten seasons from 1994 to 2004 and was widely popular among viewers with new generations continuing to discover and discuss the sitcom. The series finale aired on May 6, 2004, and was watched by around 52.5 million American viewers, making it the fifth-most-watched series finale in television history. Created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, the ensemble cast starred Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matthew Perry and David Schwimmer. The cast members returned for a reunion special titled Friends: The Reunion, which premierd on HBO Max in 2021.
