"Friends" Spinning Off Joey? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TJ · 01-22-2003, 07:17 PM

"Friends" Spinning Off Joey?
Tuesday January 21 8:45 PM ET

By Bridget Byrne

Could it be--Joey Tribbiani up for a leading role?

The hopeless thespian played by Matt LeBlanc may soon be the star of his own sitcom, now that his Friends will definitely disband at the end of its 10th season in May 2004.

According to Daily Variety, NBC suits came up with the idea of a spinoff last fall and suggested it to LeBlanc's agents and Warner Bros. TV, which produces the sitcom. But talks fizzled out once all six friends--Rachel, Ross, Monica, Chandler and Phoebe, along with Joey--agreed to do one more season. Apparently, NBC didn't want to be perceived as playing favorites, something that could have hindered negotiations with the famously tight sextet.

Now that NBC programming boss Jeff Zucker has finally conceded that the upcoming 18-episode fall season would be the finale ("Even I acknowledge that...the door is not open after that," he told TV critics last week), and with the end in sight for another Peacock sitcom stalwart, Frasier, it seems the network hopes keeping at least one friend around would help compensate for the expected huge ratings loss.

But despite the Variety postulating, a post-Friends spinoff for LeBlanc is nothing more than speculation. There is no information on whether talks have resumed and/or what kind of money would be offered to LeBlanc and the Friends creators who dreamed up Joey if they buy the idea. It's not even clear whether LeBlanc would want the gig. His non-Friends big-screen career has so far been something of a dud--he starred opposite a chimpanzee in the baseball comedy Ed, got Lost in Space and was a soldier in drag in All The Queen's Men. He was also upstaged by the flashy chicks in Charlie's Angels, but will be seen again in the sequel. So he might prefer to stick to the small screen.

In any case, "insiders" tell Variety LeBlanc wouldn't want any Joey-themed show to air before the Friends finale, so even if he did sign on that would still leave the network with the problem of how to fill the Thursday night time slot for the entire 2003 season.

On Tuesday, NBC flat out denied the Variety article. "There's no legitimacy to this story," said Rebecca Marks, the net's senior v.p. of publicity.

Whether there's any future legitimacy remains to be seen. Meanwhile, Joey keeps going to auditions. In the February 13 episode of Friends, entitled "The One with the Mugging," the ever hopeful actor will try out for a Broadway show, in which the leading man is played by guest star Jeff Goldblum.

http://tv.yahoo.com/news/eo/20030121/104321070000.html

MagicDust1488 · 02-06-2003, 09:53 AM

So, Matt LeBlanc probably won't sign on to the spin-off. I think that he should because he is not that famous when it comes to the big screen.

Brian Damage · 02-06-2003, 02:38 PM

None of the Friends are all that successful on the silver screen. I think a Joey spinoff would be a good idea.

Nanny Fine · 02-07-2003, 01:44 AM

Actually Aniston has had a decent amount of success and I think that both Cox and Kudrow have been mildly (but not break out) successful. Aniston had a huge hit with The Good Girl (did anyone see it? GREAT movie) and Kudrow has the Analyze This thing...Cox "Scream" and Ace Ventura. The guys not so much. Perry was super in The Whole Nine Yards ~ my favorite guy FRIENDS movie.

~LadyJess~ · 02-07-2003, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Will and Grace Rox
Perry was super in The Whole Nine Yards ~ my favorite guy FRIENDS movie.

I agree, I love that movie!

AnaheimPMWitch · 02-08-2003, 01:22 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ILoveLucyfan4eva

I agree, I love that movie!

I enjoyed that to

but My Fave Matt Perry Movie is Three to Tango

Sammy M. Malone · 02-08-2003, 09:15 PM

I think he should because its inevitible(sp) that we'd get guest appearances from the rest of the cast.

The only 2 people from the cast with truly promising careers after friends is Perry & Aniston.. Then kudrow, cox, leblanc, and then schwimmer...

Classic FOL Fanatic · 02-09-2003, 02:04 AM

I think I've heard about this. I certainly wouldn't mind if they spun him off.

MagicDust1488 · 03-11-2003, 08:17 PM

Has David Schwimmer been in any movies?

AnaheimPMWitch · 03-11-2003, 11:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MagicDust1488
Has David Schwimmer been in any movies?

I believe he has been but I dont think they were any good

~LadyJess~ · 03-12-2003, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MagicDust1488
Has David Schwimmer been in any movies?

The only ones that come to mind are "The Pallbearer," and I think he was in, "Six Days, Seven Nights."

Samsgirl xo · 03-13-2003, 12:47 PM

i just hope they dont ruin it if they spin off joey... because how much more situations can you have with joey if hes suspose to not know whats going on at times

Sitcomwriter · 03-13-2003, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ILoveLucyfan4eva

The only ones that come to mind are "The Pallbearer," and I think he was in, "Six Days, Seven Nights."

Don't forget "Kissing a Fool"

01-22-2003, 07:17 PM	#1
TJ Site Owner Administrator Forum Star Join Date: Feb 03, 2000 Location: Marietta, GA Posts: 10,683	"Friends" Spinning Off Joey? "Friends" Spinning Off Joey? Tuesday January 21 8:45 PM ET By Bridget Byrne Could it be--Joey Tribbiani up for a leading role? The hopeless thespian played by Matt LeBlanc may soon be the star of his own sitcom, now that his Friends will definitely disband at the end of its 10th season in May 2004. According to Daily Variety, NBC suits came up with the idea of a spinoff last fall and suggested it to LeBlanc's agents and Warner Bros. TV, which produces the sitcom. But talks fizzled out once all six friends--Rachel, Ross, Monica, Chandler and Phoebe, along with Joey--agreed to do one more season. Apparently, NBC didn't want to be perceived as playing favorites, something that could have hindered negotiations with the famously tight sextet. Now that NBC programming boss Jeff Zucker has finally conceded that the upcoming 18-episode fall season would be the finale ("Even I acknowledge that...the door is not open after that," he told TV critics last week), and with the end in sight for another Peacock sitcom stalwart, Frasier, it seems the network hopes keeping at least one friend around would help compensate for the expected huge ratings loss. But despite the Variety postulating, a post-Friends spinoff for LeBlanc is nothing more than speculation. There is no information on whether talks have resumed and/or what kind of money would be offered to LeBlanc and the Friends creators who dreamed up Joey if they buy the idea. It's not even clear whether LeBlanc would want the gig. His non-Friends big-screen career has so far been something of a dud--he starred opposite a chimpanzee in the baseball comedy Ed, got Lost in Space and was a soldier in drag in All The Queen's Men. He was also upstaged by the flashy chicks in Charlie's Angels, but will be seen again in the sequel. So he might prefer to stick to the small screen. In any case, "insiders" tell Variety LeBlanc wouldn't want any Joey-themed show to air before the Friends finale, so even if he did sign on that would still leave the network with the problem of how to fill the Thursday night time slot for the entire 2003 season. On Tuesday, NBC flat out denied the Variety article. "There's no legitimacy to this story," said Rebecca Marks, the net's senior v.p. of publicity. Whether there's any future legitimacy remains to be seen. Meanwhile, Joey keeps going to auditions. In the February 13 episode of Friends, entitled "The One with the Mugging," the ever hopeful actor will try out for a Broadway show, in which the leading man is played by guest star Jeff Goldblum. http://tv.yahoo.com/news/eo/20030121/104321070000.html

02-06-2003, 02:38 PM	#3
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	None of the Friends are all that successful on the silver screen. I think a Joey spinoff would be a good idea.
	__________________ The Key to the Kingdom of Heaven: John 3:3 *Money Doesn't Buy Happiness...But I'd Rather Cry in My Private Jet*

02-07-2003, 01:44 AM	#4
Nanny Fine Justine and Holden.. Senior Member Join Date: Jan 01, 2003 Location: Watching The Ellen Degeneres Show and luvin' it Posts: 2,852	Actually Aniston has had a decent amount of success and I think that both Cox and Kudrow have been mildly (but not break out) successful. Aniston had a huge hit with The Good Girl (did anyone see it? GREAT movie) and Kudrow has the Analyze This thing...Cox "Scream" and Ace Ventura. The guys not so much. Perry was super in The Whole Nine Yards ~ my favorite guy FRIENDS movie.
	__________________ * How it all came down to this, only the Devil knows. Retail Rodeo is at the corner on my left. The motel is down the road to my right. I close my eyes and try to peer into the future. On my left, I saw days upon days of lipstick and ticking clocks, dirty looks and quiet whisperings. And burning secrets that just won't ever die away. And on my right, what could I picture? The blue sky, the desert earth, stretching out into the eerie infinity. A beautiful never-ending nothing. ~Justine, "The Good Girl" * Bush for President!

02-08-2003, 09:15 PM	#7
Sammy M. Malone Matthew Perry Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 13, 2002 Location: Have Goofy Dreams! Posts: 453	I think he should because its inevitible(sp) that we'd get guest appearances from the rest of the cast. The only 2 people from the cast with truly promising careers after friends is Perry & Aniston.. Then kudrow, cox, leblanc, and then schwimmer...
	__________________ <center>http://www.boomspeed.com/cheerschick/sigbn1.gif http://www.boomspeed.com/cheerschick/sigbn2.gif

02-09-2003, 02:04 AM	#8
Classic FOL Fanatic Member Senior Member Join Date: Nov 12, 2002 Location: Eastland... Posts: 1,359	I think I've heard about this. I certainly wouldn't mind if they spun him off.
	__________________ The Facts of Life are all about you! Jo: You are what you are and that's good enough for me. Blair: I've just had another one of my brilliant ideas! Tootie: We are in trouble! Natalie: She's a breath of fresh air isn't she?

02-06-2003, 09:53 AM	#2
MagicDust1488 David Boreanaz-Angel Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 05, 2002 Posts: 234	So, Matt LeBlanc probably won't sign on to the spin-off. I think that he should because he is not that famous when it comes to the big screen.

03-11-2003, 08:17 PM	#9
MagicDust1488 David Boreanaz-Angel Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 05, 2002 Posts: 234	Has David Schwimmer been in any movies?

03-13-2003, 12:47 PM	#12
Samsgirl xo I luv my hitachi vcr Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 14, 2002 Posts: 761	i just hope they dont ruin it if they spin off joey... because how much more situations can you have with joey if hes suspose to not know whats going on at times