When Friends wrapped in 2004, millions of viewers wondered what would become of Joey Tribbiani, the lovable, slightly clueless actor who could turn a sandwich into a punchline and still break hearts with his charming smile. NBC answered that question with Joey, a spinoff that followed him to Los Angeles, where he chased acting gigs, navigated family drama with his sister Gina, and tried to grow up.
On paper, Joey had all the makings of a hit. A fan-favorite character, a fresh setting, and plenty of room for new stories. In practice, though, the series struggled to capture the magic of its predecessor. Critics were torn, fan reception was lukewarm, and ratings steadily declined across its two seasons. By 2006, Joey was quietly canceled, leaving eight filmed episodes unaired in the U.S.
For years, those episodes became something of a curiosity. They were mentioned in fan forums, listed in episode guides, but were largely inaccessible. That changed recently when Warner Bros. surprised fans by uploading all eight “lost” episodes to the official Friends YouTube channel. Now, nearly two decades later, these episodes are nothing if not a time capsule. They’re not perfect, but they’re fascinating because they offer closure and remind us why Joey was beloved enough to warrant his own series in the first place.
With that in mind, here’s a ranking of all 8 newly unearthed episodes of the Friends spinoff, Joey.
8
“Joey and the Party for Alex” (S2E16)
In “Joey and the Party for Alex,” Joey decides to throw Alex a 30th birthday party while her boyfriend Dean is away, hoping the celebration will finally give him a chance to move their friendship into something more. The plan quickly unravels when Deal returns, not only crashing the party but revealing that he intends to propose to Alex. Joey, caught between his feelings and the reality of Alex’s relationship, tries to keep the night afloat. Zach’s chaotic party antics and Gina’s tattoo become the subplot, but the tension between Alex and Joey is always there.
Looking back now, the episode feels like one of the clearest markers of Joey’s growth beyond the carefree womanizer we knew on Friends. The humor lands well, but the real weight is in how the show finally acknowledges Joey’s hidden emotions. For fans, it is a fun addition to the story with its bittersweet mix of comedy and longing that defined much of the character’s arc in the spin-off. The jokes about turning 30 hit differently now, though.
7
“Joey and the Beard” (S2E18)
“Joey and the Beard” opens with Joey and Michael surveying a burnt-down house, only to discover that Jimmy has secretly been living there. Michael pushes Jimmy toward moving in with Gina. Meanwhile, Joey finds himself tangled in a very different mess named Edie, a famous actress who asks him to be her “beard.” Joey, of course, does not understand the term and hilariously misinterprets it as Edie struggling with men. Bobbie’s attempts to explain only make Joey’s confusion worse, leading to a string of classic Tribbiana misunderstandings.
What makes the episode enjoyable is how it plays with Joey’s trademark cluelessness without reducing him to a caricature. The “beard” misunderstanding is vintage Joey, because it’s just his innocence colliding with Hollywood realities. And it’s still funny here and there because it feels rooted in his character rather than forced. The subplot with Jimmy and Gina adds a family angle, reminding fans of Joey’s life outside the glamor of acting. Watching it now, the humor feels sharper because the cultural context of “beard” has aged into something more layered.
6
“Joey and the Holding Hands” (S2E21)
Joey and Alex’s relationship takes center stage in “Joey and the Holding Hands,” with their physical chemistry portrayed so intense that Joey literally has to bite himself to keep from screaming. But after Gina nudges him to pursue something deeper, Joey starts craving more than just passion. Meanwhile, Michael spirals into ridiculous antics for an online crush named “sexysteve87,” and Gina’s love life takes a turn when Jimmy proposes, only for Howard to awkwardly show up moments later.
The episode deserves attention because it is one of the rare times Joey openly wrestles with intimacy instead of surface-level attraction. Michael’s online desperation and Joey’s biting gag are moments that keep the narrative light, but the significance lies in the fact that Joey finally accepts that he wants emotional connection. For fans of Friends and Joey, it is funny and poignant to watch.
5
“Joey and the Actor’s Studio” (S2E20)
In “Joey and the Actor’s Studio,” Joey lands a coveted spot on Inside the Actor’s Studio as a guest. He hopes that the prestige will impress Alex and finally tip their relationship in his favor. But things spiral when Alex finds out that nearly every woman in the audience has a romantic history with Joey, which raises several doubts in her mind. Meanwhile, Jimmy considers proposing to Gina but hesitates due to finances. Joey and Jimmy sign up for medical experiments to raise money for a ring.
The episode specifically captures Joey’s duality, and his professional ambition clashes with his flawed past life. The humor is the same, with his obliviousness turning what should be a career highlight into a minefield of awkward revelations. Yet, beneath it all, we see Joey striving for respect in his craft, which is something fans rarely noticed in Friends.
4
“Joey and the Dad” (S2E15)
The first of all eight newly unearthed episodes of Joey, “Joey and the Dad,” finds Joey inviting his father, Joseph Tribbiani Sr., to the premiere of his latest movie, hoping to share his success. Instead, his dad shows little interest, dismisses Joey’s acting career, and leaves him deflated. The episode adds another wrinkle with Joey’s promotional billboard being overshadowed by Carmen Electra’s, which seeds jealousy and insecurity.
Looking back, the episode is one of the good ones because it digs into Joey’s family dynamics, something the original series touched only briefly. Seeing his father’s indifference explains Joey’s constant need for validation, both in his professional life and personal relationships. It’s also fascinating to see his vulnerability laid bare. Two decades later, the episode proves Joey tried to give the character depth beyond comic relief.
3
“Joey and the Big Move” (S2E17)
In “Joey and the Big Move,” Joey is thrilled to finally move into his dream house. But when he gets there, he finds it engulfed in flames, which forces him to bunk with Michael’s friends. The situation quickly worsens when Michael’s friends bombard Joey with endless questions about sex, while Michael wrestles with revealing to Jimmy that he’s his son. Joey accidentally spills the truth, leaving Michael to manage the fallout.
This one stands out because it blends Joey’s signature knack for blurting things out with a significant turning point in Michael’s arc. The house fire gag is pure Joey, but the real tension comes with Jimmy learning that he is Michael’s father. Overall, the humor of Joey being interrogated about his love life feels very much in line with his Friends persona, while the family subplot adds some seriousness to the slapstick of it all.
2
“Joey and the Wedding” (S2E22)
“Joey and the Wedding” is the official series finale, and it brings a mix of celebration and tension. Jimmy announces that he is marrying Gina and asks Joey to be his best man, which is something he is thrilled about until Jimmy warns him that women Alex’s age often expect marriage quickly. Joey, already confused about his feelings, is thrown off when Alex tells him she’s done with the idea of marriage altogether. Michael, assuming he should naturally be the best man, is the comic rival, while Gina’s wedding preparations bring the family together in a funny fashion.
The episode closes with Jimmy and Gina getting cold feet, and Joey caught between his loyalty to family and his unresolved romantic hopes. The finale is worth a watch for the way it wraps up Joey’s journey with humor and heart. Unlike Friends, where Joey’s romantic life was mostly played for laughs, here we see him confronting the reality of commitment and rejection. It feels like a snapshot of Joey at a crossroads. He is still funny and still flawed, but more complex than fans remember.
1
“Joey and the Critic” (S2E19)
“Joey and the Critic” finds the man fresh off the success of his movie. He decides it is time to take control of his career. With Bobbie securing him a three-picture deal, he launches his own production company, hilariously named “Yes I’m A Bird Productions.” Joey quickly learns that creative control comes with challenges, especially when he hires a development executive whose opinions clash with his own. Also, as he tries to balance artistic vision with his desire to cast “hooters to his liking,” the episode only gets funnier.
The episode shows Joey reaching for something bigger than just acting gigs. The humor is classic Joey, and his confusion about running a company is played to perfection. But for fans of the character, it’s interesting to see Joey trying to build something of his own, even if the execution is messy. The jokes about his production company name are still funny. And almost twenty years later, the episode feels like a reminder that Joey’s character had more potential than many gave him credit for.
- Release Date
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2004 – 2006-00-00
- Network
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NBC
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