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140 out of 179 people found the following review useful: Stop Comparing Joey to Friends, 14 February 2005 Author: Steevi from Durley, England
Did people keep comparing Frasier to Cheers? Of course not. It was a completely different show. I saw the first two episodes last night and was impressed. I like Gina and Michael and I especially like his agent, Bobbie, played with gusto but the ever talented Jennifer Coolidge.Out of all the characters, Joey stands the best chance of making it alone and I really think people need to let the show move through the natural teething problems that it will have. It's NOT Friends, just the same as Mork and Mindy was NOT Happy Days. To compare the two is asinine. Will it be better than Friends, who knows. Remember that Friends had it's own teething problems in the early days and was not necessarily the greatest show on the planet. Star Trek: The Next Generation was absolutely lousy in the first season. That moved on to spawn one of TV's greatest shows. Hell, The Simpsons was not great in it's first season. However, a show will never work if all people can say is "This is not Friends"!!! Give it a chance. It's worked for Angel from "Buffy"!
102 out of 121 people found the following review useful: Too much of a good thing?, 9 February 2005 Author: AxelJeff from Los Angeles
The problem with "Joey" so far? The minds behind the show seem to have forgotten why we, as viewers, were so taken by Joey Tribbiani on "Friends." As an idiotic buffoon, he was primarily a great comedic foil for the other characters, especially Chandler, and occasionally would have a solid storyline showcasing that side of him.But it was the episodes showing that his heart was bigger than his brain -- like the one where he took Rachel out on a dinner date -- that gave Joey real depth and gave viewers a real reason to love the character.In either case, though, Joey was just 1/6th of the equation, and the character was only asked to carry 6-10 minutes of any given episode, at the most.Here, they're trying to make Joey carry the entire 24 minutes because, as it stands now, the supporting characters aren't compelling enough to warrant strong independent story lines of their own. And we haven't seen enough of the scenes that show Joey's heart.It's not a problem that can't be fixed. I think they need to lay off some of the more stereotypical character jokes (Joey dumb, nephew smart, sister tough and oversexed) and put them in situations that are funny, but also make us care more about them. As it stands now, you could almost write the script with adjectives instead of character names, because the characters' natures so rarely change.Personally, I'd love to see an episode where the supporting cast gets together to plan a surprise birthday party for Joey, with everybody having their own ideas of what to do, but ultimately we find out that none of them really knows Joey as well as they think they do. Something like that would be a great learning and growing experience for the show, its writers, and its characters.But hey, that's just my opinion.
106 out of 131 people found the following review useful: A maturing show in many ways, 4 January 2005 Author: henben from Stockholm, Sweden
First off - this is NOT Friends, it will never BE Friends, it SHOULD never be Friends. These simple facts are probably also what most people have against Joey. I don't. I think it's 'Joeys' strength. Joey is a character we've come to love and respect during those past ten years, now that he's 'come into his own' a lot of the plot centers around him and only around him. This is of course the biggest change from that previous show, it is also absolutely necessary. For 'Joey' to work the character has to evolve, Joey himself has to mature and no longer only be the grown-up kid he has been. He is no longer the comic-relief guy who amazes us with his juvenile ways and amazing stupidity. He simply HAS to grow up. And grow up he will. To be honest, I too was skeptical after watching the pilot. But after I got over the facts that I already described in the first sentence of this comment, I just sat back and heartily laughed at the comedy displayed. Just remember these simple things - Michael isn't Ross. Alex isn't Monica, Gina isn't Rachel. Joey isn't Friends, Joey is Joey - and he's growing up. Be happy that you can laugh about it with him.
78 out of 107 people found the following review useful: Better than expected - good enough but no "FRIENDS," obviously, 27 February 2005 Author: MovieAddict2009 from UK
"Joey" is better than I thought it would be but still not a great show like "Friends." The main problem is that they took the show's dumbest character, Joey, and have turned him into the lead of a major sitcom.Joey and Chandler were my favorite characters on "Friends" and their subplots allowed the show to take on a new humorous edge, so that the "main plot" (almost always focused around Rachel and Ross) could be spliced with scenes involving Joey and Chandler.Their chemistry is what made the show so great, but having just Joey in a show is a bit of a problem since, well, to be honest...he's stupid. I.e. he is so stupid that it's hard for us to imagine him succeeding at anything.The problem with this is that in "Joey" they change his character very much. He's smarter, a bit different. Still dumb, but not as dumb. And I just felt like I was watching an entirely new person. It wasn't Joey. It was Matt LeBlanc saying funny things every now and then.To be fair the show is watchable and entertaining. It has some good jokes. But it's a bit too obvious. The lines are too explosive and, yes, unrealistic. Every line of dialogue has a witty comeback remark, or is a setup for a joke.Like when Joey says he's too old to go to bars any more. "Plus, I have a problem telling if they're gay bars or not. By the way, if Ramone calls, I am not here!" It's too sudden, too obvious. Instead of feeling as if Joey's just stupid and innocent (as he was in "Friends"), I felt as if here he was really stretching to be obvious and make people laugh, which is actually a pretty big problem.Overall, a good show, but you can tell just by the opening credits that it's in a whole other world apart from "Friends."
40 out of 55 people found the following review useful: Joey - Friends = ?, 1 March 2005 Author: scrotumsforhandbags (scrotumsforhandbags@hotmail.com) from United Kingdom
What the guys at NBC have done is take the most laugh-out-loud character from friends and tried to give him his own character. Lets not forget that in Friends he had 5 other main characters to fall back on and countless others. A lot of whats happened in Joey has been a reflection to what happened in the earlier seasons of Frasier. 1) A big move to a new city 2) Previously unseen family members crawl out of the woodwork 3) A new unavailable love interest.It is obvious to me that the writers have looked to Seattles finest for inspiration, but i don't think so far that they've looked hard enough. When Frasier left Boston he had a change of direction in career which gave us the often hilarious radio phone-ins, the double act with Ros and a score of other brilliant minor characters (Bulldog, Kenny etc.) Joey on the other hand has the same life more or less just without Chandler and the others. Sequences of Joey on set which once took about 5 minutes of a Friends episodes these now are the basis for whole episodes. His contemporaries extend to his sister, nephew and neighbour and occasionally his agent(played by a horrifically over-the-top Jennifer Coolidge) this means he is continually conversing with the same few characters which can draw repetition.I only refer to Frasier so much as it it the benchmark for all spin-offs as it became arguably better than the original show Cheers. And for Joey to carry on it needs to flesh out its characters and its story.However i find no fault in the enthusiastic acting from the regular cast. Joey is the same lovable fool and Drea Di Matteo is brilliant in her role as Gina. Although i criticised the show quite heavily i enjoy every episode and really wish that Joey will be around for a long while. I just know how fickle audiences are and don't want joey to fall into the category of shows that could have done great but got cancelled.Sean
40 out of 59 people found the following review useful: Better than I thought, 16 September 2004 Author: babytoes from new jersey
I started watching "Friends" several years into the series, so when the show ended and "Joey" was announced, I thought I would give it a try. I was glad I did.California is the perfect setting for Matt LeBlanc's clueless Joey, and Paolo Costanzo plays his nerdy nephew, trying to learn to be the suave ladies man from his Uncle Joey, to a T. I look forward to seeing how this show develops.The weakest link is Drea de Matteo's character, Gina Tribbiani. Although Ms. de Matteo does an admirable job, her character is too abrasive and annoying to become endearing. She almost makes me long for Janice. Hopefully, Gina will mellow a little bit, or better yet, take a few steps back and allow Joey and Michael to shine.
44 out of 67 people found the following review useful: Joey is a lifesaver, 9 April 2005 Author: robman_09 from United States
I was obsessed with FRIENDS. I counted down the hours until the next show would come on. I've seen every episode and own every DVD. When the last episode premiered I almost cried myself to death. When Joey came on I felt like the show was reincarnating. I had to watch it so I could keep FRIENDS in my heart. I did and it was great. I now love the show. I think Joey in LA is a great idea, and Paulo as the nerdy nephew trying to be a lad's man is brilliance. I like Gina a lot. But I think her character needs to chill out a little. You know, I love the whole-Jerk strong women but I think it needs to slow down a bit. Also I would say they need to get going with something. Someone has to meet someone. It just seems as if the show is going nowhere. Every episode there's a new girl. (I know thats what Joey's all about but still.) At least with Friends You had the same boyfriend/girlfriend on/off thing going. Monica/Richard, Rosa/Rachel. The show has perfect chemistry, and I think it could go far, but only if the writer's stay on their game.
29 out of 44 people found the following review useful: Starts a bit weak, but there seems to light ahead, 2 February 2005 Author: Stuart from England
OK, if your like me, and your a fan of Friends, you might be expecting something similar in Joey. When the Pilot was released I was lucky to find a copy of it some time before the series started, and to be honest, I was not to happy. The jokes in the first few episodes about Joey tended to be a bit unfunny, with most of the jokes being aimed at Joey's sexual habits or his stupidity or Drea De Matteo's Breats.Many of the jokes are similar to Friends, yet these just didn't feel right. However, having seen the first 10/11 Episodes now, the show seems to be finding its feet. In fairness to the show, the casting is great, with each of the actors being well placed in who they are.It seems quite strange that none of the Friends cast has made cameos yet, although I have noticed that a number of episodes have been directed by David Schwimmer.Despite being about its title character, Joey, I cant help but feel that some of the episodes should have some emphasis should be on the other characters similar to how 'Frasier' does this with their characters, with sub plots that happen over the episodes.All in all, its been a rocky start to Joey, and although its getting better, I still feel as if it should get funnier, as compared to other sitcoms, the jokes do not come so thick and fast. Whether this series will last as long as friends is yet to be seen, but on the whole, this is turning out to be an enjoyable series, if not as great as others.........Yet.
52 out of 93 people found the following review useful: Joey, the best thing since Friends, 3 May 2005 Author: Grant from Australia
If you loved Friends you have to watch Joey. You probably had a favourite friend and for me that was Joey and Chandler. So when i first heard of a Joey spin off i actually started wishing Friends would end so i could see a full 20mins each week of just Joey. Well the wait is over, after watching the first 22 episodes i just cant get enough. Each week Joey is there relaxing in LA doing his thing, picking up women, dumb as dog s**t but funny as hell. Alex, the cute neighbour quickly becomes friendly with Joey and she really is something. Hotter than Rachel but so so sweet and innocent looking, everything about her makes her hot. The weird mother son relationship between Gina and Michael is sometimes disturbing but also funny. I would love to see Chandler drop in one day but don't want him to bring Monica along because well she just got annoying in the end. Joey is just the same but we see more of him, what is there to hate about that? Its just the best show ever. Here's to another decade!
33 out of 62 people found the following review useful: Unique, 17 August 2005 Author: Luciana Puiu (mazdrunka@yahoo.com) from Romania
Matt LeBlanc has a unique way of acting. He has a charm that can't just be passed over. You can hardly imagine that he could be in some other way in the real life. :) His character fits him so well, that you can't just think about him as being a... let's say, serious person. He's gorgeous. Drea de Matteo is also unique in her way, of protecting her 'boy' and seeing things. Although she is sometimes annoying for the two, she always succeeds in being loved by them. She plays very well the role of the protecting mother. Even if she's kind of insane sometimes. Paulo Costanzo also acts very very well. I liked him first in "Road Trip". He's very smart but he never had a girlfriend, although he looks very well. They all fit very well in that family. Good choice, producers!!!! It's really cool!!!!! We want more!
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