Joey Minus Friends
It was announced late last week that Matt LeBlanc has signed on to do a spin-off of Friends.
Friends’ Matt LeBlanc has just inked a deal that will feature his character "Joey" in a spin-off series starting in the fall of 2004. A network executive said, "Matt’s lovable character Joey Tribbiani has come into his own in recent years on the series and Joey’s progression will continue as he emerges more on his own – we know everyone will be rooting for him." Yeah, we’ll root for him, but that doesn’t mean it will be a successful leap! Kelsey Grammer pulled it off with Frasier, but can "Joey" stand on his own without his "friends?"
With the successful 10-year run of Friends coming to an end this year, the network was scrambling for a comedic replacement. Enter Joey, the new half-hour spin-off that will replace Friends Thursday night 8pm prime slot. LeBlanc was the only friend approached about a spin-off, and he seems to be the fan favorite. According to LeBlanc’s publicist/lawyer, "Matt is thrilled. Over the last couple of seasons, Joey has grown into such a rich character. LeBlanc’s arrangement with Warner Bros and the network is a complex deal of unprecedented proportion and includes, among other elements, a significant ownership position." Translation: Matt LeBlanc is getting even richer than he already is.
Also included in his deal with NBC and producer Warner Bros. is a two-picture movie deal with Warner Bros. Hopefully these movies will be better than some of his past movie choices, which include Ed and Lost in Space. The fan buzz about Joey has been all positive - so far. The chat room buzz is that "Joey" is the fan favorite and he is the only one that could handle a show alone. It "sounds" like a great idea, but it will be a tough sell, even with Friends executive producers Kevin Bright, Scott Silveri and Shana Goldberg-Meehan to oversee the spin-off.
With the successful 10-year run of Friends coming to an end this year, the network was scrambling for a comedic replacement. Enter Joey, the new half-hour spin-off that will replace Friends Thursday night 8pm prime slot. LeBlanc was the only friend approached about a spin-off, and he seems to be the fan favorite. According to LeBlanc’s publicist/lawyer, "Matt is thrilled. Over the last couple of seasons, Joey has grown into such a rich character. LeBlanc’s arrangement with Warner Bros and the network is a complex deal of unprecedented proportion and includes, among other elements, a significant ownership position." Translation: Matt LeBlanc is getting even richer than he already is.
Also included in his deal with NBC and producer Warner Bros. is a two-picture movie deal with Warner Bros. Hopefully these movies will be better than some of his past movie choices, which include Ed and Lost in Space. The fan buzz about Joey has been all positive - so far. The chat room buzz is that "Joey" is the fan favorite and he is the only one that could handle a show alone. It "sounds" like a great idea, but it will be a tough sell, even with Friends executive producers Kevin Bright, Scott Silveri and Shana Goldberg-Meehan to oversee the spin-off.
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