The Unfulfilled Potential of a Friends Spinoff
There are numerous examples of popular TV shows that have successfully spawned spinoffs. For instance, Breaking Bad gave rise to Better Call Saul, All in the Family led to The Jeffersons, and Young Sheldon emerged from The Big Bang Theory. However, one of the most iconic sitcoms of all time, Friends, only inspired a single spinoff—Joey—which ultimately failed. It turns out that the reason for this was largely due to a simple “no” from Jennifer Aniston.
The Original Plan: A Rachel Spinoff
Joey, starring Matt LeBlanc, premiered four months after Friends’ final episode in 2004. But according to executive producer Kevin Bright, it wasn’t always going to be about Joey Tribbiani. Initially, the idea was to create a spinoff centered around Rachel Green, played by Jennifer Aniston. Bright revealed:
“At first it was the obvious choices of who they wanted to do a series with and Jennifer was up there first, but she wanted to do movies, and she wasn't interested in television.”
This decision had significant implications. If Rachel’s story had continued, David Schwimmer would likely have been involved as well, given the romantic resolution between Ross and Rachel in the finale. However, it’s possible that Rachel could have taken a job in Paris, with Ross taking care of their daughter, Emma, back in the U.S. This remains an intriguing “what if” scenario.
Other Possible Spinoff Ideas
Even after Aniston declined the offer, there were other ideas considered before settling on Joey. Bright mentioned the possibility of a spinoff featuring Monica and Chandler, played by Courteney Cox and Matthew Perry. However, both actors reportedly had no interest in revisiting their roles.
“We like the idea of a Monica and Chandler series, but everyone at the end, strangely enough, while they were grateful for doing the show, they didn't want to play those parts anymore.”
After years of portraying these characters, it’s understandable that the cast might have felt ready for new challenges. In the end, the focus shifted to Matt LeBlanc’s character, Joey Tribbiani, who had the most open-ended future in the original series.
Why Joey Was Chosen
LeBlanc himself seemed to be the most logical choice for a spinoff. Unlike other characters, Joey’s storyline wasn’t fully resolved in Friends’ finale. While Ross and Rachel reunited, Monica and Chandler had unexpected twins, and Phoebe and Mike planned to start a family, Joey’s future remained uncertain.
Bright explained:
“Matt loved Joey, and he didn't mind playing Joey.”
Despite this, the enthusiasm for the project appeared to be lacking. This may have contributed to the eventual failure of Joey, which ran for two seasons and 46 episodes before being canceled by NBC.
The Legacy of Joey
Joey received mixed reviews from critics and fans. One of the most notable criticisms was that none of the other Friends stars made appearances in the spinoff. This was especially disappointing for long-time fans, who had grown accustomed to seeing the entire group together.
Since the Friends reunion special in 2021, the six main actors have not shared the stage again. This has left many wondering what could have been if a different spinoff had been created instead.
Could a Rachel Spinoff Have Been Successful?
It’s impossible to know whether a Rachel-centric spinoff would have been more successful than Joey. However, it’s clear that the opportunity was missed when Aniston declined the role. Fans can only speculate about what might have happened if things had gone differently.
For now, the best way to revisit the world of Friends is through streaming services like HBO Max. Additionally, the first two episodes of Joey are available to stream on YouTube, offering a glimpse into what could have been.
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