Joey Reviewed

We don’t normally spend a lot of time watching TV here at the Blend News Network, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t people who do. Those people are Tripolie, who moderates the aptly named “Boob Tube” forum on the Cinema Blend Message Board (A place that has recently become filled with inexplicable references to food). Tripolie managed to get an advance look at the pilot for the upcoming sitcom Joey. I’m told this is based on a popular show called “Friends” in which people who are friendly with each other hang out, sometimes they have a monkey, sometimes not. Will the spinoff be any good? Here’s Tripolie with his review of the upcoming TV series “Joey”:

Joey – Pilot Episode

Reviewed by Tripolie

Grade: B

We all know the scenario by now: NBC has lost a hit show, Zucker better replace or he'll be replaced.

Incase you missed the finale episode of “Friends”, Joey Tribbiani (Matt Leblanc) has decided to push his career forward by moving to Hollywood. Lucky for him (and horny teenager viewers), his sister Gina (Drea de Matteo) and her new boobs, live there too. She is also living there with her 20 year old son Michael (Paulo Costanzo) who is a genius; hard to believe, I know.

The sour note in this cast is Joey's next door neighbor played by Ashley Scott. She was originally meant to become a love interest, but as of now the character is being reconceived and recast. Her blonde bimbo act, accompanied by a dead end subplot composed entirely of pointless flirting was going nowhere. I'm not sure who’s worse off, critics for having to witness her performance or Scott for having to act with Paul Walker in her next film, Into the Blue.

Most of the jokes focus on Joey's stupidity, Gina's new boobs, and Michael‘s intelligence. Just like in “Friends” though, rather than becoming tired out stereotypes, most of the jokes hit and the sitcom works.

The one problem this show is going to have is in distancing itself from “Friends”. The creators, Shana Goldberg-Meehan and Scott Silveri, insist that this series will stand on its own without having to draw from its predecessor. “Joey” is funny and the characters are easily likeable, but with all the “Friends” name dropping in the pilot, it’s hard to see where they’re working to distance themselves from their predecessor.

Ultimately, there is no need to create distance because afterall, “Joey” is a spin-off and a potentially good one at that.