Lost Episodes Found: Final Installments of ‘Joey‘ Arrive for US Fans After Two Decades
Nearly 20 years after its cancellation, US fans of teh Friends spin-off Joey can now view the show’s final eight episodes. The episodes, starring Matt LeBlanc reprising his role as Joey Tribbiani, have been released on the official Friends YouTube channel.
The 2004 NBC sitcom was cut short in 2006 after a decline in viewership, leaving American audiences without closure. while the series aired fully in some international markets, including the UK’s Channel 5 in 2007, US viewers were left with an incomplete first season and a handful of episodes from the second. Now, those missing installments are available to stream.
Joey followed Tribbiani as he relocated to Los Angeles to pursue acting opportunities, ironically landing a role in a sitcom that was also cancelled within the show’s narrative. The series initially drew 18.6 million viewers for its pilot, but ratings dwindled to an average of 10.2 million in its first season and 7.1 million in its second, leading to its removal from NBC’s Thursday night lineup – the same slot previously held by Friends.
Despite the show’s critical reception – it currently holds a 50% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, compared to Friends’ 78% – a dedicated fanbase has long sought access to the complete series.
“To the person that runs the Friends youtube channel, thank you,” one fan commented. “I never got a chance to watch this series and the fact that you kept with it is amazing.”
Another viewer shared, “the show, despite its critics, made me laugh on every episode and rewatching it now after all theses years was therapeutic.Farewell Joey, you have made an impact in my life and I will cherish it.”
The cast of Joey also included Jennifer Coolidge, Drea de Matteo, Paulo Costanzo, Miguel A. Núñez Jr., and Ben Falcone. The full playlist of episodes can be found on the friends YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7PQp2APUAPIWW_j4kWYiUQM3UR8g_yvk.
