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Brian Damage · 08-28-2005, 09:51 PM

In a desperate attempt to salvagze their ratings-starved "Friends" spinoff, as it prepares to face the most-talked-about new comedy of the fall -- Chris Rock's "Everybody Hates Chris" -- the producers of "Joey" have given Matt LeBlanc's character an actual friend of color.

Miguel Nunez Jr. has been allowed into the exclusive, all-white "Friends" club, playing an actor who becomes Joey Tribbiani's new . . . well, friend.

"We missed that camaraderie he had with Chandler and Ross. . . . We needed a best friend for him," executive producer Kevin Bright told trade papers, referring to the white guys Joey palled around with on "Friends."

The first season's focus on Joey's family -- specifically, his skanky sister and her smothering and borderline-obsessive relationship with her young-adult son -- were "too narrow," Bright said.

Not to mention creepy.

Also gone is the apartment Joey shared with this nephew. This season, Joey becomes a big acting success, gets a lead role in a summer flick, ditches the apartment (and, hopefully, the nephew) and buys a house.
The role of the show's most talented thespian (Jennifer Coolidge, who plays Joey's agent) is being beefed up; Coolidge will appear in every episode this season.

Drea de Matteo's sister-of-Joey character begins working at the agency, which hopefully means fewer of those Oedipal scenes where she coos over her son.
And Nunez, who starred in the 2002 flick "Juwanna Mann," will be added to the cast, playing an actor who thinks he's better than he is.

TJL · 08-28-2005, 09:58 PM

Skanky sister?

That's a little harsh.

Johnny S · 08-28-2005, 10:08 PM

Sounds Good. But, I didn't think they would ever let Joey become really sucsessful.

seven_to_shea · 08-29-2005, 05:21 AM

That article was spot-on. The Gina/Michael relationship was unconvincing/bad taste and it's a good thing Coolidge is getting more time.

No mention of Alex's role this season...

adisodes106 · 08-29-2005, 08:01 PM

Alex isn't going anywhere. It's clear she has a huge storyline where she falls for Joey. I really like where this show is going.

At first I didn't like the whole Joey-Alex thing cause it just doesn't seem right. And I thought about that all summer long that it was a bad idea.

Then I saw the taping and it was all handled so "Joey-ish". Joey has other things going on in his life...his acting career getting big, his new best friend, from what I read, he's getting a new house? And plus the whole Alex thing...let's see how the writers juggle this. I'm very interested.

TJL · 08-29-2005, 08:26 PM

I hope they make a smooth transition into all these story changes. I really don't want to see them try to explain Michael's leaving, the new guy, and the new set all within the season premiere.

TJL · 08-29-2005, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barwars

Michael is leaving?

I meant that Michael is leaving Joey's place and moving into his own apartment.

adisodes106 · 08-30-2005, 01:44 AM

They don't speak of Joey moving out in the premiere. The second to last scene in part 2 is where Joey finds out he lands the part. Most of the scenes with Joey and Zach is work related (where they meet, stealing the dog, back at Joey's apartment where they talk about what they have done etc.) The scene in the bar is where you kind of get the feeling they're going to be friends for a long time.

Rachel3118 · 09-02-2005, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TJL

Skanky sister?

That's a little harsh.

Yah, I thought so too. They also really seemed to focus on the race of the actors in the article. The too narrow part seemed to be an acurate description though.

savy333 · 09-10-2005, 01:41 AM

The fact that Bobbie (Jennifer Coolidge) is going to be in every episode is so exciting!!!! She is the best part of Joey! Everytime she is in a scene she litterally has me rolling on the floor. I just hope they don't tone her character down since she will be getting more airtime. Her insanity is the best part of the show!

08-28-2005, 09:51 PM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	Washington Post In a desperate attempt to salvagze their ratings-starved "Friends" spinoff, as it prepares to face the most-talked-about new comedy of the fall -- Chris Rock's "Everybody Hates Chris" -- the producers of "Joey" have given Matt LeBlanc's character an actual friend of color. Miguel Nunez Jr. has been allowed into the exclusive, all-white "Friends" club, playing an actor who becomes Joey Tribbiani's new . . . well, friend. "We missed that camaraderie he had with Chandler and Ross. . . . We needed a best friend for him," executive producer Kevin Bright told trade papers, referring to the white guys Joey palled around with on "Friends." The first season's focus on Joey's family -- specifically, his skanky sister and her smothering and borderline-obsessive relationship with her young-adult son -- were "too narrow," Bright said. Not to mention creepy. Also gone is the apartment Joey shared with this nephew. This season, Joey becomes a big acting success, gets a lead role in a summer flick, ditches the apartment (and, hopefully, the nephew) and buys a house. The role of the show's most talented thespian (Jennifer Coolidge, who plays Joey's agent) is being beefed up; Coolidge will appear in every episode this season. Drea de Matteo's sister-of-Joey character begins working at the agency, which hopefully means fewer of those Oedipal scenes where she coos over her son. And Nunez, who starred in the 2002 flick "Juwanna Mann," will be added to the cast, playing an actor who thinks he's better than he is.
	__________________ The Key to the Kingdom of Heaven: John 3:3 *Money Doesn't Buy Happiness...But I'd Rather Cry in My Private Jet*

08-28-2005, 09:58 PM	#2
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,591	Skanky sister? That's a little harsh.
	__________________ "I think I'll stroll up to the front to see how the shooting's going..." - Capt. Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce Read my blogs! http://centralparkamisguide.com/ http://dvdcriticscorner.com Visit me on Facebook!http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=641138880 Hey, I do the tweet thing too! http://twitter.com/TomLevier My shop of handmade items! http://www.etsy.com/shop/ColdGarageCreations

08-28-2005, 10:08 PM	#3
Johnny S Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 15, 2005 Location: My Own Personal Hell! Posts: 1,009	Sounds Good. But, I didn't think they would ever let Joey become really sucsessful.
	__________________ RIP Eddie Guerrero 1967-2005 He Lied, He Cheated, He Stole... And We Loved Him For It. Viva La Raza Homes!!! Thank You Eddie, We'll All Miss You! Vicki, Shaul, Sherilyn, & Kaylie Marie, I Am So Sorry For Your Loss. My TV DVD Collection *Upcoming TV DVD's:* Charmed S4 NewsRadio S3 Three's Company S6, 7 & 8 She Spies S1 Simple Life S3 Full House S3 Everybody Loves Raymond S6 Seinfeld S7, 8 & 9

09-10-2005, 01:41 AM	#10
savy333 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Nov 05, 2002 Posts: 221	The fact that Bobbie (Jennifer Coolidge) is going to be in every episode is so exciting!!!! She is the best part of Joey! Everytime she is in a scene she litterally has me rolling on the floor. I just hope they don't tone her character down since she will be getting more airtime. Her insanity is the best part of the show!
	__________________ -Chris

08-29-2005, 05:21 AM	#4
seven_to_shea Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Sep 13, 2003 Posts: 173	That article was spot-on. The Gina/Michael relationship was unconvincing/bad taste and it's a good thing Coolidge is getting more time. No mention of Alex's role this season...

08-29-2005, 08:01 PM	#5
adisodes106 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Dec 06, 2004 Location: new york Posts: 14	Alex isn't going anywhere. It's clear she has a huge storyline where she falls for Joey. I really like where this show is going. At first I didn't like the whole Joey-Alex thing cause it just doesn't seem right. And I thought about that all summer long that it was a bad idea. Then I saw the taping and it was all handled so "Joey-ish". Joey has other things going on in his life...his acting career getting big, his new best friend, from what I read, he's getting a new house? And plus the whole Alex thing...let's see how the writers juggle this. I'm very interested.

08-29-2005, 08:26 PM	#6
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,591	I hope they make a smooth transition into all these story changes. I really don't want to see them try to explain Michael's leaving, the new guy, and the new set all within the season premiere.

08-30-2005, 01:44 AM	#8
adisodes106 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Dec 06, 2004 Location: new york Posts: 14	They don't speak of Joey moving out in the premiere. The second to last scene in part 2 is where Joey finds out he lands the part. Most of the scenes with Joey and Zach is work related (where they meet, stealing the dog, back at Joey's apartment where they talk about what they have done etc.) The scene in the bar is where you kind of get the feeling they're going to be friends for a long time.