Editing Friends (section)

== Spin-off ==
{{Main|Joey (TV series)}}
[[File:Matt LeBlanc 2010.jpg|thumb|upright|LeBlanc hoped that by having his own show, ''[[Joey (TV series)|Joey]]'', "probably the least evolved character" on ''Friends'' would become more developed.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.nydailynews.com/2004-09-05/entertainment/18270318_1_shana-goldberg-meehan-matt-leblanc-joey-tribbiani |title=Matt LeBlanc's ''Joey'' goes West to seek fame & fortune |access-date=January 4, 2009 |author=Endrst, James |date=September 5, 2004 |work=[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112150426/http://articles.nydailynews.com/2004-09-05/entertainment/18270318_1_shana-goldberg-meehan-matt-leblanc-joey-tribbiani |archive-date=January 12, 2012 }}</ref>]]

After the series finale in 2004, LeBlanc signed on for the spin-off series, ''[[Joey (TV series)|Joey]]'', following Joey's move to Los Angeles to pursue his acting career. Kauffman and Crane were not interested in the spin-off, although Bright agreed to executive produce the series with [[Scott Silveri]] and [[Shana Goldberg-Meehan]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2003-07-23-joey_x.htm |title=NBC has sitcom plans for ''Friends'' pal Joey |access-date=December 30, 2008 |author=Levin, Gary |date=July 24, 2003 |work=USA Today |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090124143800/http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2003-07-23-joey_x.htm |archive-date=January 24, 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref> NBC heavily promoted ''Joey'' and gave it ''Friends''<nowiki>'</nowiki> Thursday 8:00 pm timeslot.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/TV/09/10/joey.debut/ |title=''Joey'' finds new friends on NBC |access-date=January 4, 2009 |date=September 10, 2004 |work=CNN|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090122070106/http://edition.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/TV/09/10/joey.debut/ |archive-date=January 22, 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www2.jsonline.com/enter/tvradio/jul04/242989.asp |title=''Joey'' co-star looking for sitcom laughs |access-date=January 4, 2009 |author=Weintraub, Joanne |date=July 11, 2004 |newspaper=[[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060209060112/http://www.jsonline.com/enter/tvradio/jul04/242989.asp |archive-date=February 9, 2006 }}</ref>

The pilot was watched by 18.6 million American viewers,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A13051-2004Sep10.html |title=''Joey'' & ''The Apprentice'': Downright Unfriendly |access-date=December 30, 2008 |author=de Moraes, Lisa |date=September 11, 2004 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111134349/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A13051-2004Sep10.html |archive-date=November 11, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> but ratings continually decreased throughout the series's two seasons, averaging 10.2 million viewers in the first season and 7.1 million in the second.<ref name="friendsjoeystuff" /> The final broadcast episode on March 7, 2006, was watched by 7.09 million viewers;<ref>{{cite web|publisher=[[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] Medianet|date=March 21, 2006|url=http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=032106_05|title= Weekly Program Rankings|access-date=December 30, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090120204556/http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=032106_05|archive-date=January 20, 2009}}</ref> NBC cancelled the series on May 15, 2006, after two seasons, leaving eight episodes unaired.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/15/AR2006051500555.html |title=NBC Betting on Aaron Sorkin's New Drama |access-date=December 30, 2008 |author=Bauder, David |date=May 15, 2006 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111134417/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/15/AR2006051500555.html |archive-date=November 11, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> Bright blamed the collaboration between NBC executives, the studio and other producers for quickly ruining the series:<ref name="friendsjoeystuff">{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/tv--radio/friendly-art-of-funny/2006/12/05/1165080950967.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap2 |title=Friendly art of funny |access-date=December 30, 2008 |author=Ryan, Suzanne C. |date=December 7, 2006 |work=[[The Age]] |location=Melbourne, Australia |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090825080619/http://www.theage.com.au/news/tv--radio/friendly-art-of-funny/2006/12/05/1165080950967.html?page=fullpage |archive-date=August 25, 2009 }}</ref>

{{blockquote|On ''Friends'', Joey was a womanizer, but we enjoyed his exploits. He was a solid friend, a guy you knew you could count on. Joey was deconstructed to be a guy who couldn't get a job, couldn't ask a girl out. He became a pathetic, mopey character. I felt he was moving in the wrong direction, but I was not heard. |Kevin S. Bright on the reason for ''Joey''{{'}}s cancellation.<ref name="friendsjoeystuff" />}}