Watching the first episode of “Joey” is like bumping into an old
college friend. It’s a pleasant way to spend a half-hour, with plenty of laughs amid
good company.
But after it’s over you don’t feel the need to get together again.
“Joey,” premiering tonight on NBC at 8 p.m., is certainly not the disaster many
media people had feared heading into the May upfront.
The problem with the “Friends” spinoff is that it lacks any real
reason for going forward. It plays like one-sixth of the inevitable “Friends”
reunion show. You half expect episode two to focus on Ross and Rachel.
The pilot features strong acting, but it does not set a course for its main
character in the tradition of the most successful spinoffs (“Frasier,”
“Maude,” even “Melrose Place”).
There’s no main conflict. When the most compelling plot point is a
20-year-old struggling over how to tell mom he’s moving out, well, episode two could
be snooze city.
The premise: Joey has moved to Los Angeles from New York to pursue an acting
career. There he reunites with sassy sister Gina (Drea de Matteo) and her son,
smart-but-socially awkward Michael (Paulo Costanzo). Joey gets a pad in what looks like a
swinging ‘70s complex, complete with a married hottie neighbor and communal hot tub.
So we have the basic characters. Now they need some sort of motivation, an
ingredient not immediately apparent in the pilot.
If the producers address this challenge as the weeks go on, they could have a
solid show on their hands. If, however, they fail to advance the plotting beyond where
Joey’s character left off on “Friends” (lunkhead actor who can really charm
the ladies), this show will be putting in an emergency phone call to Jennifer Aniston real
soon. Quality of show (on a scale of 10): 7
Matt LeBlanc plays the dimwit perfectly, and that’s actually not easy to
do. He sells the amusing opening scene perfectly. Joey jumps into a taxi at what we assume
is LAX, explaining to the cabbie why he’s moved here to LA and what he hopes to
accomplish.
Finally the cabbie jarringly asks, “So what are you doing in
Dallas?” LeBlanc’s face flashes through the Joey expressions we’ve grown to
love: surprise, followed by understanding, followed by … d’oh! He got off the
plane a bit too early. “There was a layover in Dallas,” he exclaims.
De Matteo toughens up her New Yawk “Sopranos” schtick to play Gina,
who’s believably protective of her son while also bragging that having him so young
freed her up to enjoy life in her 30s. “You rarely hear the argument for teen
pregnancy,” deadpans Joey.
Joey has never been stupid. He’s just slow. The writers seem to
understand this in episode one, which leads to most of the good jokes.
Much has been made of the married neighbor who catches Joey’s attention,
originally played by Ashley Scott. Scott was replaced after critics who saw last
spring’s pilot scorched her. The part then went to Andrea Anders. Too big a deal was
made over this.
The Alex character is bland, yes, but what writers should be more concerned
about is putting Joey in line for an affair. People love Joey because, though he’s a
horndog, he’s always been sweet and moral. Compromising those morals could anger
fans, and it’s hard to believe that after falling in love with Rachel, Joey would
waste more amore on the dull Alex.
There needs to be some sort of building romantic subplot, but it
shouldn’t be this one.
Positioning (on a scale of 10): 8
This is the only spot on the schedule where “Joey” could
succeed. “Friends” fans are drawn by rote to the couch at 8 p.m. Thursday. True,
“Joey” will face increased competition from “The O.C.,” but it’s
getting a two-month head start on that show.
And anyone who chooses “Survivor” over “Joey” probably
wasn’t watching “Friends” to begin with. This is one of the only protected
spots on the once-mighty NBC schedule. If “Joey” can’t draw 15 million fans
here each week here, the show wouldn't succeed anywhere.
Cache, or the “Arrested Development” factor (on a scale
of 10): 7
LeBlanc’s three consecutive Emmy nominations made him the hottest TV
property in the “Friends” cast, and several former “Friends” producers
make the move with him.
De Matteo, already adored by critics, has the brassiness to break out. NBC
has made this show its crown sitcom before it premiered, and perhaps the
second-most-valuable show on the network behind “The Apprentice.”
Still, many dismissed “Joey" the moment it was announced. And
though the pilot received a resounding “It doesn’t suck” at the upfronts,
that’s hardly a great review. It could build cachet with clever writing, but it also
stands to lose a lot if first-week numbers disappoint.
Overall (on a scale of 30): 22.
“Joey” is no “Joanie Loves Chachi,” the infamously bad
"Happy Days" spinoff, but it’s not “Frasier,” either. The show
should last safely through the spring. But unless the plodding plotting is remedied,
“Joey” will be just another out-of-work actor come next September.
Read past fall show reviews:
WB's "Blue Collar TV"
NBC's "Father of the Pride"
NBC's "Hawaii"
The Media Life Meter
Rating
fall’s new shows |
| |
“Joey” (NBC) |
Avg. for all 2004-’05 shows |
Quality of show (on a scale of 10) –
Grading the writing, acting, premise and creativity of the show. Is it any good? |
7 |
5 |
Positioning (on a scale of 10) – Does the
show have a tough time slot or a compatible lead-in? Is the subject matter appropriate to
the network on which it airs?
|
8 |
4.2 |
Cache, or the “Arrested Development”
factor (on a scale of 10) – Examining the reviews, the star power and the
prestige the network gets for the project. “Arrested,” for example, has high
cache for being well reviewed and intelligent, even though its ratings aren’t great. |
7 |
4.2 |
TOTAL |
22 |
13.4 |
Probability
of Survival |
|
30-27 |
Odds are this
show will make it to next season. |
26-22 |
Odds are this
show will make it through this season. |
21-15 |
Show may not
survive the season. |
15-9 |
Show will be
canceled sometime this season. |
8 or lower |
Catch it while
you can – this show may not make it to four episodes. |
| Source: Media Life |
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