FRIENDS, one of the all-time greatest sitcoms, has left an imprint on popular culture that will never be erased. Every character in the popular Warner Bros. Studios series had a crucial role. Joey Tribbiani, played by the gifted Matt LeBlanc, is one of the memorable characters, often thought of as the prototypical dumb jock. However, the Ed star, 56, has once provided new perspectives on the complexity and finesse of Joey’s persona.
The portrayal of the characters, who were all fundamentally unique, but compatible, helped make the show successful. LeBlanc was nominated for three Primetime Emmys for his work on FRIENDS, but he did not agree with how Joey was perceived by the viewers. He argued that Joey was not dumb, though.
Matt LeBlanc Dispelled One of His FRIENDS Fans’ Misconception
By now, we should all be aware that FRIENDS is about more than just friendship; it is also about actual relationships, people, and archetypes. Joey Tribbiani, played by Matt Leblanc, was probably much more likable due to his propensity for womanizing. Most fans thought the character was stupid.
The Class of ’96 star believed Joey’s character has a little more depth despite our reluctance to see him as anything other than the ‘nice but dim’ one.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, LeBlanc discussed Joey’s appeal and the ways in which he was misconstrued.
“Joey was that guy everybody wanted to hang out with. Girls liked him. Guys liked him. For me, he was never ‘dumb’.”
He gave a more diplomatic assessment of Joey’s personality, saying that he was rather
“Always just incorrect – he had his own sort of parallel-universe stream of logic.”
The Top Gear co-host also stated that he never liked the notion of the sitcom receiving a comeback and that any such return would transform the program into something entirely “different”. To quote him:
“[The series was about] that time prior to [their lives starting] where they were each other’s emotional support system – that’s what that show was about. After that? It’s a different show.”
Matt LeBlanc Revealed The Oddest Thing That Happened To Him While Filming FRIENDS
In the 1990s, when FRIENDS mania was at its height, actor Matt LeBlanc revealed that one particular incident set the bar higher for weird intrusions on cast members’ privacy.
During a pre-recorded interview on The Kelly Clarkson Show, the actor, 56, spoke about the time he was shocked to see his house being filmed while he was inside it:
“I remember one time, it was during the week, I had been flipping channels and watching the news and for some reason, they had a split-screen on the TV, six quadrants. Each was a live shot of each one of our houses, like a helicopter shot. I was watching it and there was no information or news, it was just showing houses.”
Even so, the actor managed to capitalize on the peculiar situation in a very creative way:
“I remember looking closely at my house and thinking ‘F**k I need a new roof’. So the helicopter flies away and I get the ladder and I go up there.”
LeBlanc also talked about the show’s enduring appeal, claiming that the ability to “binge-watch something” has greatly increased the audience. He even reprised his role in the brief-lived spin-off Joey. He further added:
“It feels somehow just as relevant as it did back then. It’s funny because we’re all so much older now. You look on TV and you think ‘Look you’re so young!’ And you come back and you’re like ‘Jesus’.”
Despite having ended 19 years ago, the classic sitcom FRIENDS has never really lost any of its appeal. The ten seasons of Monica, Ross, Rachel, Joey, Phoebe, and Chandler’s adventures are still being discovered by new audiences.
FRIENDS is available to stream on Max, TBS, and FuboTV.
