Friends‘ infamous spinoff series Joey, starring Matt LeBlanc, has finally dropped on streaming for the first time, two decades after first airing. Co-created by Friends writers Scott Silveri and Shana Goldberg-Meehan, Joey debuted on NBC in September 2004, around four months after the finale of Friends. It followed Joey Tribbiani, one of the core characters of Friends, as he moves to Hollywood in search of work after his TV show is canceled. Joey had 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, Joey will finally be available to stream, but not through any of the expected platforms. The first two episodes of Joey have dropped on YouTube and can be found on the official Friends YouTube channel. This presents a unique opportunity for fans of both sitcoms to revisit Joey, 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 of Joey below:
What This Means For Joey’s Chances Of Streaming Success
The Series Could Find A New Lease Of Life
Joey was 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 that viewers from all over the world will be able to watch the two episodes free of charge, and this could see a spike in viewership.
The Friends reunion in 2021, Matthew Perry’s sad passing, and LeBlanc’s Golden Globe success with Episodes have reinvigorated interest in Friends, and Joey will certainly benefit from this.
Whilst it is unclear if the Friends YouTube 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 reasons why Joey as a show failed, with the absence of the rest of the Friends cast being notable, and a strong lack of chemistry between LeBlanc and his supporting cast. However, almost twenty years later, there is a feeling that Joey deserves 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 that Joey was 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 fact Joey had inconsistencies compared with Friends didn’t help matters, but a lot has changed. The Friends reunion in 2021, Matthew Perry’s sad passing, and LeBlanc’s Golden Globe success with Episodes have reinvigorated interest in Friends, and Joey will 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.
Source: YouTube/Friends