TMC
05-22-2022, 01:05 AM
https://www.looper.com/870508/why-even-friends-director-and-producer-had-a-problem-with-joey/
Kevin Bright doesn't think Joey handled the lead character properly
Despite helping turn "Friends" into a TV staple, Kevin Bright couldn't do the same as an executive producer and director on "Joey." (https://web.archive.org/web/20061031125210/http://www.jumptheshark.com/j/joey.htm) In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter (https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/friends-reunion-cast-reveals-creators-interview-1234959624/), he explained that a part of the problem was that he didn't buy into the story the off-shoot was attempting to tell. "That storyline did not do service to the character. Joey should have come out to Hollywood and had the time of his life," Bright claimed, explaining that his vision for the show would've come across more like "Entourage" and implying that NBC butchered "Joey" (https://web.archive.org/web/20140407134705/http://forums.televisionwithoutpity.com/topic/3116547-joey-how-you-doin/?view=getnewpost) from the start.
Speaking on NBC's supposed interference, Bright said, "That's not the way 'Friends' came together, I can tell you that." It's also worth noting that as "Friends" wrapped up, a Joey Tribbiani solo series wasn't even on anyone's radar. Rather, as Bright revealed to Metro.co.uk (https://metro.co.uk/2018/10/02/friends-producer-reveals-joey-wasnt-first-choice-for-spin-off-series-he-wasnt-even-second-or-third-7998161/), a show focused on Rachel Green first came up in conversation, but Jennifer Aniston's burgeoning film career put that hope to bed. Bright and his colleagues also considered a title about Monica Geller (Courteney Cox) and Chandler Bing, though their respective actors had no interest in sticking with their "Friends" roles any longer.
"Joey" will go down as a failed experiment no matter how you look at it and based on his comments alone, Kevin Bright isn't surprised in the slightest. One can only wonder if the other proposed "Friends" successor shows would've fared better or if they would've faded into obscurity too.
Kevin Bright doesn't think Joey handled the lead character properly
Despite helping turn "Friends" into a TV staple, Kevin Bright couldn't do the same as an executive producer and director on "Joey." (https://web.archive.org/web/20061031125210/http://www.jumptheshark.com/j/joey.htm) In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter (https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/friends-reunion-cast-reveals-creators-interview-1234959624/), he explained that a part of the problem was that he didn't buy into the story the off-shoot was attempting to tell. "That storyline did not do service to the character. Joey should have come out to Hollywood and had the time of his life," Bright claimed, explaining that his vision for the show would've come across more like "Entourage" and implying that NBC butchered "Joey" (https://web.archive.org/web/20140407134705/http://forums.televisionwithoutpity.com/topic/3116547-joey-how-you-doin/?view=getnewpost) from the start.
Speaking on NBC's supposed interference, Bright said, "That's not the way 'Friends' came together, I can tell you that." It's also worth noting that as "Friends" wrapped up, a Joey Tribbiani solo series wasn't even on anyone's radar. Rather, as Bright revealed to Metro.co.uk (https://metro.co.uk/2018/10/02/friends-producer-reveals-joey-wasnt-first-choice-for-spin-off-series-he-wasnt-even-second-or-third-7998161/), a show focused on Rachel Green first came up in conversation, but Jennifer Aniston's burgeoning film career put that hope to bed. Bright and his colleagues also considered a title about Monica Geller (Courteney Cox) and Chandler Bing, though their respective actors had no interest in sticking with their "Friends" roles any longer.
"Joey" will go down as a failed experiment no matter how you look at it and based on his comments alone, Kevin Bright isn't surprised in the slightest. One can only wonder if the other proposed "Friends" successor shows would've fared better or if they would've faded into obscurity too.