The Complete 46-Episode Guide To The 'Joey' TV Series: Tracking Down The 8 Unaired Episodes

Contents

The legacy of *Friends* is undeniable, but its direct spin-off, *Joey*, remains a fascinating, often-overlooked footnote in television history. Despite the star power of Matt LeBlanc reprising his iconic role as the lovable but dim-witted actor Joey Tribbiani, the show only lasted two short seasons. As of late 2025, a new wave of interest is focused on the complete episode count, particularly the eight installments that were never broadcast on NBC in the United States, offering a compelling look at the show's intended finale.

The series, which premiered on September 9, 2004, followed Joey's move from New York City to Hollywood, Los Angeles, to pursue his acting career full-time. He moves in with his highly intelligent, 20-year-old nephew, Michael Tribbiani (played by Paulo Costanzo), and navigates the new landscape with the help of his tough-as-nails sister and hairdresser, Gina Tribbiani (Drea de Matteo). The show's two-season run produced a total of 46 episodes, many of which are now being rediscovered by fans eager to see the full story.

The Star and Creative Team: A Brief Biography of Matt LeBlanc and the Creators

The success of *Joey* hinged entirely on the popularity of its lead actor and the creative minds behind the original mega-hit, *Friends*.

  • Matt LeBlanc (Joey Tribbiani): Born July 25, 1967, in Newton, Massachusetts. LeBlanc rose to global fame playing Joey Tribbiani on *Friends* for ten seasons (1994–2004). His portrayal earned him three Primetime Emmy Award nominations. After *Joey*’s cancellation, he returned to critical acclaim by playing a fictionalized version of himself in the Showtime/BBC comedy *Episodes* (2011–2017), for which he won a Golden Globe Award.
  • Drea de Matteo (Gina Tribbiani): Born January 19, 1972, in Queens, New York. Best known for her Emmy-winning role as Adriana La Cerva on *The Sopranos*. Her casting as Joey's tough, protective older sister, Gina, was intended to add a new dynamic to the spin-off's ensemble cast.
  • Andrea Anders (Alexis "Alex" Garrett): Born May 10, 1975, in Madison, Wisconsin. She played Alex, Joey's neighbor and eventual landlord/love interest, a character designed to fill the void of the female leads from *Friends*.
  • Paulo Costanzo (Michael Tribbiani): Born September 21, 1978, in Brampton, Ontario, Canada. He played Joey's nephew, a Caltech-educated genius who provided a much-needed intellectual foil to Joey's antics.
  • Creators & Executive Producers: The series was created by Scott Silveri and Shana Goldberg-Meehan, both of whom were longtime writers and executive producers on *Friends*. They were joined by veteran director and producer Kevin S. Bright, who directed over 60 episodes of *Friends*, ensuring a direct creative lineage.

The Full Episode Rundown: Season 1 and the Network's High Hopes

The first season of *Joey* premiered to massive ratings, benefiting from the immediate goodwill and audience of the *Friends* finale. The premiere episode, "Pilot," drew over 18.6 million viewers. The season established Joey's new life in Los Angeles, his relationship with Gina and Michael, and his professional struggles as an actor in Hollywood. The main storyline revolved around Joey trying to get a role in a new drama series titled *Deep Space*. Season 1 consisted of 24 episodes, all of which were aired by NBC.

Season 1 (2004–2005): The Initial Move to Hollywood (24 Episodes)

The pattern established in the first season was to title almost every episode with the format "Joey and the..." This structure helped cement the focus on Joey's personal adventures and misinterpretations of the world around him, a core element of his character.

  • 1.01: Pilot (September 9, 2004)
  • 1.02: Joey and the Student (September 16, 2004)
  • 1.03: Joey and the Party (September 23, 2004)
  • 1.04: Joey and the Book Club (September 30, 2004)
  • 1.05: Joey and the Perfect Storm (October 7, 2004)
  • 1.06: Joey and the Nemesis (October 14, 2004)
  • 1.07: Joey and the Neighbor (October 21, 2004)
  • 1.08: Joey and the Road Trip (November 4, 2004)
  • 1.09: Joey and the Plot Twist (November 11, 2004)
  • 1.10: Joey and the Big Audition (November 18, 2004)
  • 1.11: Joey and the Christmas Party (December 2, 2004)
  • 1.12: Joey and the Stuntman (December 9, 2004)
  • 1.13: Joey and the Taste Test (January 6, 2005)
  • 1.14: Joey and the Premiere (January 13, 2005)
  • 1.15: Joey and the Assistant (January 20, 2005)
  • 1.16: Joey and the Truth (February 3, 2005)
  • 1.17: Joey and the Valentine's Day Date (February 10, 2005)
  • 1.18: Joey and the Matchmaker (February 17, 2005)
  • 1.19: Joey and the Interrogation (February 24, 2005)
  • 1.20: Joey and the Wrong Name (March 17, 2005)
  • 1.21: Joey and the Cat Fight (April 21, 2005)
  • 1.22: Joey and the Cougar (May 2, 2005)
  • 1.23: Joey and the Sex Tape (May 9, 2005)
  • 1.24: Joey and the Breakup (May 16, 2005)

The Untold Story: Why *Joey* Was Canceled and the 8 Unaired Episodes

Despite a strong start, ratings for *Joey* plummeted during Season 1 and continued to decline in Season 2. The show struggled to find its own identity outside the shadow of *Friends*. Many critics and fans cited a lack of chemistry among the new ensemble cast, and a sense that the writers had exaggerated Joey Tribbiani’s dim-wittedness, effectively abandoning the character development he had undergone over ten years on the original show.

NBC, desperate to save the series, moved its time slot multiple times during the second season, but this only confused the remaining audience. The network officially pulled the plug in March 2006, leaving eight episodes from Season 2 unaired in the United States.

These eight "lost" episodes, however, were released internationally and later included on the complete series DVD box sets. The recent availability of these installments has sparked renewed interest, as they provide a definitive, albeit rushed, conclusion to Joey's Hollywood journey and his relationship with Alex.

Season 2 (2005–2006): The Final Chapter (22 Episodes Total)

Season 2 saw Joey's movie career take off, leading to new challenges and the introduction of his agent, Bobbie Morganstern (Jennifer Coolidge), as a series regular. The season tried to focus more on the core relationship between Joey and Alex, adding a romantic tension that was largely absent in Season 1.

Aired Episodes (14 Episodes)

  • 2.01: Joey and the Big Break (Part 1) (September 22, 2005)
  • 2.02: Joey and the Big Break (Part 2) (September 22, 2005)
  • 2.03: Joey and the Spanking (September 29, 2005)
  • 2.04: Joey and the Stunt Kid (October 6, 2005)
  • 2.05: Joey and the House Party (October 13, 2005)
  • 2.06: Joey and the Zoid (October 20, 2005)
  • 2.07: Joey and the Tonight Show (November 3, 2005)
  • 2.08: Joey and the Poker (November 10, 2005)
  • 2.09: Joey and the Fall Ball (November 17, 2005)
  • 2.10: Joey and the Caboose (December 8, 2005)
  • 2.11: Joey and the Snowball Fight (December 15, 2005)
  • 2.12: Joey and the Critic (January 15, 2006) – *One of the last episodes to air before the initial cancellation announcement.*
  • 2.13: Joey and the Actor's Studio (March 7, 2006)
  • 2.14: Joey and the Stand-in (March 7, 2006)

The 8 Unaired Episodes (Released Internationally/DVD Only)

These final eight episodes complete the narrative arc of the series, providing closure for fans who were left hanging by the abrupt cancellation. They delve deeper into the relationships between Joey, Alex, and Gina, and show Joey's final attempts to balance his career with his personal life in California.

  • 2.15: Joey and the Cousin
  • 2.16: Joey and the Moving In – *Focuses on the shifting living arrangements and relationships among the main characters.*
  • 2.17: Joey and the Wrong Kiss
  • 2.18: Joey and the New Cereal
  • 2.19: Joey and the Dad – *A key episode exploring Joey’s relationship with his father, a rare event in the Friends universe.*
  • 2.20: Joey and the Party for Alex
  • 2.21: Joey and the Big Move
  • 2.22: Joey and the Finale – *The official series finale episode, which provides a conclusion to Joey's story in Hollywood, showing him and Alex finally getting together.*

The Enduring Topical Authority of the *Friends* Spin-Off

While *Joey* didn't achieve the longevity of its predecessor, its 46 episodes are a critical piece of the *Friends* legacy and a fascinating case study in spin-off television. The show's failure is often attributed to the pressure of following one of the greatest sitcoms of all time, making it nearly impossible to capture the same magic. The absence of the six core cast members and the move from the familiar New York setting to the glitz of Hollywood proved too great a hurdle for the new ensemble to clear.

Today, the complete *Joey* series—including the crucial eight unaired episodes—is available to stream or purchase, allowing dedicated fans to finally watch the full, intended narrative. The show serves as a nostalgic bridge for many, offering one final look at the beloved character of Joey Tribbiani before Matt LeBlanc moved on to his successful self-parody series, *Episodes*. The complete 46-episode run, now fully accessible, is a must-watch for anyone who wants a comprehensive understanding of the entire *Friends* universe and the final chapter of one of its most cherished characters.

The Complete 46-Episode Guide to the 'Joey' TV Series: Tracking Down the 8 Unaired Episodes
joey tv series episodes
joey tv series episodes

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