Friends' Joey Spinoff Finally Airs Its Lost Episodes

The complete series of 'Joey,' the 'Friends' spinoff centered on Matt LeBlanc's beloved character, is now fully available to the public. The final eight episodes, which never aired on NBC after the show's cancellation in 2006, have been released on the 'Friends' YouTube channel. This marks the first time fans can watch the entire run of the 2004 sitcom, providing a definitive conclusion to Joey Tribbiani's acting adventures in Hollywood.

The series followed Joey as he relocated to Los Angeles to advance his acting career, reuniting with his sister Gina and nephew Michael. Despite a strong debut viewership of 18.6 million for its pilot, the show struggled to maintain audience interest throughout its two seasons. Critics, including 'Friends' executive producer Kevin S. Bright, later attributed the spinoff's failure to a shift in Joey's characterization, which they felt made him less appealing.

Bright specifically noted that the character, once a reliable friend and womanizer on 'Friends,' became a "pathetic, mopey character" unable to secure work or romantic interests in his own series. This shift, he believed, alienated viewers, though his concerns were reportedly not heeded during the show's production. Now, fans can judge the full arc of 'Joey' for themselves.