Common Sense Media Review
"Friends" spin-off has cheap laughs; sexism, homophobia.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Joey
What's the Story?
In JOEY, Matt LeBlanc continues his Friends role of Joey Tribbiani, the naive friend who's a womanizer and has ups and downs in his acting career. He was better at romance than acting jobs, except here, things are reversed––he lands roles on a hit series and in a big action movie, but struggles to find love. Having left his friends behind in New York to search for fame in Hollywood, Joey is now surrounded by family members—nephew/roommate Michael (Paulo Costanzo), a brainy graduate student, and his mom, Joey's sister Gina (Drea de Matteo), a fierce hairdresser. Joey also has a good friend in the building, Alex (Andrea Anders), and a confident agent, Bobbie (Jennifer Coolidge). In his new home, Joey continues to make friends, meet women, and land parts without ever losing his childish guile.
Is It Any Good?
It might be easy to mistake this cheesy spin-off for a kid-friendly show, given its family-centered topics. But Joey frequently incorporates risqué humor that hasn't always aged well––such as Joey trying to prove to his friend's husband that he isn't gay, or dealing with his attraction to a 20-something actress who's playing his daughter in a production. But LeBlanc brings a lot of talent to the role, making this sitcom watchable. Fans of Friends might enjoy Joey, which was canceled after two seasons but could still make for a fun, quick viewing or rewatch.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Joey as a spin-off of the hugely popular sitcom Friends. Is Joey as entertaining to watch without his other "friends"? Are there any spin-off shows that you love? What do you love about them?
What does Gina and Michael's relationship say about single motherhood and non-nuclear families on television? What do you think works well in their relationship? And what could they improve?
How does the show explore major life changes? Have you ever left your comfort zone to pursue your dreams? Why is this important for personal growth? What are some potential pitfalls?
TV Details
- Premiere date : September 9, 2004
- Cast : Drea de Matteo , Matt LeBlanc , Paulo Costanzo
- Network : NBC
- Genre : Comedy
- TV rating :
- Award : Golden Globe - Golden Globe Award Nominee
- Last updated : August 8, 2025
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