A Fine How-You-Doin': NBC Orders 'Friends' Spinoff 'Joey' - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

WilCap · 07-24-2003, 09:20 PM

LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) - So it turns out that only five of the six "Friends" are leaving at the end of the 2003-04 season.

NBC made it official Thursday (July 24) that Matt LeBlanc will star in a spinoff of "Friends" in 2004-05. The new show, "Joey," will fill the 8 p.m. ET Thursday spot that "Friends" is vacating after its final season.

Jeff Zucker, president of NBC Entertainment, isn't saying anything yet about the premise of "Joey" for fear of revealing plot elements that will play out in "Friends" this season. His only comment on either show's storyline Thursday at the TV Critics Association press tour was that "there are quite a few surprises in store."

The decision to base a spinoff on LeBlanc's character came out of Joey's growth over the years from a fairly standard sitcom dumb guy to the emotional center of the series. "You never would have predicted it at the beginning ... but Joey has emerged as the character America roots for and loves," Zucker says.
LeBlanc has also Emmy nominations for playing Joey the past two seasons. His deal for "Joey" also includes commitments to star in two feature films for Warner Bros., which is also producing the series.

Kevin Bright, one of the architects of "Friends," and current executive producers Shana Goldberg-Meehan and Scott Silveri will serve as executive producers of "Joey." "Friends" creators Marta Kauffman and David Crane won't be involved, but Zucker says the spinoff has their blessing.

Zucker wants the new show to follow the model of "Frasier," in which the creators of "Cheers" gave their okay to one of their writers, Casey Angell-Lee, to create a spinoff.

"Joey" has a 22-episode commitment from the network. Zucker says placing it in the "Friends" spot in fall 2004 will "goes a long way" toward NBC keeping its leadership position on Thursday nights.

"There are no guarantees in this business ... but we feel confident that we've amassed the right team" to build "Joey," Zucker says. "All the stars are lined up."

07-24-2003, 09:20 PM	#1
WilCap Friends Fanatic Senior Member Join Date: Jan 12, 2003 Location: Mississippi Posts: 1,388	A Fine How-You-Doin': NBC Orders 'Friends' Spinoff 'Joey' LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) - So it turns out that only five of the six "Friends" are leaving at the end of the 2003-04 season. NBC made it official Thursday (July 24) that Matt LeBlanc will star in a spinoff of "Friends" in 2004-05. The new show, "Joey," will fill the 8 p.m. ET Thursday spot that "Friends" is vacating after its final season. Jeff Zucker, president of NBC Entertainment, isn't saying anything yet about the premise of "Joey" for fear of revealing plot elements that will play out in "Friends" this season. His only comment on either show's storyline Thursday at the TV Critics Association press tour was that "there are quite a few surprises in store." The decision to base a spinoff on LeBlanc's character came out of Joey's growth over the years from a fairly standard sitcom dumb guy to the emotional center of the series. "You never would have predicted it at the beginning ... but Joey has emerged as the character America roots for and loves," Zucker says. LeBlanc has also Emmy nominations for playing Joey the past two seasons. His deal for "Joey" also includes commitments to star in two feature films for Warner Bros., which is also producing the series. Kevin Bright, one of the architects of "Friends," and current executive producers Shana Goldberg-Meehan and Scott Silveri will serve as executive producers of "Joey." "Friends" creators Marta Kauffman and David Crane won't be involved, but Zucker says the spinoff has their blessing. Zucker wants the new show to follow the model of "Frasier," in which the creators of "Cheers" gave their okay to one of their writers, Casey Angell-Lee, to create a spinoff. "Joey" has a 22-episode commitment from the network. Zucker says placing it in the "Friends" spot in fall 2004 will "goes a long way" toward NBC keeping its leadership position on Thursday nights. "There are no guarantees in this business ... but we feel confident that we've amassed the right team" to build "Joey," Zucker says. "All the stars are lined up."