Friends' infamous spinoff seriesJoey, starring Matt LeBlanc, has finally dropped on streaming for the first time, two decades after first airing. Co-created byFriendswriters Scott Silveri and Shana Goldberg-Meehan,Joeydebuted on NBC in September 2004, around four months after thefinale ofFriends. It followed Joey Tribbiani, one of the core characters ofFriends, as he moves to Hollywood in search of work after his TV show is canceled.Joeyhad an ensemble cast of supporting actors including Drea de Matteo, Paulo Costanzo, and Jennifer Coolidge, and ran for two seasons before being canceled in May 2006.
Now, for the first time ever,Joeywill finally be available to stream, but not through any of the expected platforms. The first two episodes ofJoeyhave dropped onYouTubeand can be found on the officialFriendsYouTube channel. This presents a unique opportunity for fans of both sitcoms to revisitJoey, a messy and often misunderstood show that was pulled before it really had the chance to become something. Check out the YouTube link to the pilot episode ofJoeybelow:
What This Means For Joey’s Chances Of Streaming Success
The Series Could Find A New Lease Of Life
Joeywas a show that many believed never got a fair run on network television, and the opportunity to revisit it (or even to discover it for the first time) is something that might get the show a lot of traction on YouTube. One of the factors that could help the show find new success is the fact that YouTube is free and does not require a subscription, meaning thatviewers from all over the world will be able to watch the two episodes free of charge, and this could see a spike in viewership.
TheFriendsreunion in 2021, Matthew Perry’s sad passing, and LeBlanc’s Golden Globe success withEpisodeshave reinvigorated interest inFriends, andJoeywill certainly benefit from this.
Whilst it is unclear if theFriendsYouTube channel is planning on dropping any more episodes of the short-lived spinoff, there is a good chance that high viewing figures would inspire that decision. There are many reasonswhyJoeyas a show failed, with the absence of the rest of theFriendscast being notable, and a strong lack of chemistry between LeBlanc and his supporting cast. However, almost twenty years later, there is a feeling thatJoeydeserves a second chance and a fresh perspective, and this could help to drive the viewership of the show in a big way.
Our Take On Joey’s Streaming Home
A Lot Has Changed Since The Show Flopped First Time Around
It would be fair to say thatJoeywas a disaster in its initial run on NBC, and the network quietly canceled after airing just over half of season 2’s 22 episodes. The factJoeyhad inconsistencies compared withFriendsdidn’t help matters, but a lot has changed.
TheFriendsreunion in 2021, Matthew Perry’s sad passing, and LeBlanc’s Golden Globe success withEpisodeshave reinvigorated interest inFriends, andJoeywill certainly benefit from this. For fans of the show, or those discovering it for the first time,YouTube gives a great entry point for viewers.
