For nearly two decades, fans of Friends have wondered what became of the unaired episodes of Joey, the short-lived spin-off centered on Matt LeBlanc’s beloved character Joey Tribbiani. Now, after 19 long years, those “lost” episodes have finally resurfaced — but with one significant catch for international viewers.

When Joey premiered in 2004, NBC hoped it would be the perfect continuation of the Friends phenomenon. Joey Tribbiani, the goofy, big-hearted aspiring actor who spent 10 seasons chasing fame in New York, moved to Los Angeles in the spin-off for one last shot at stardom. The show added some notable names to the cast, including comedy legend Jennifer Coolidge and The Sopranos star Drea de Matteo, creating what looked, on paper, like a guaranteed hit.

And for a brief moment, it was. The series debuted to an enormous 18.6 million viewers, suggesting fans were eager to follow Joey’s next chapter. But the excitement didn’t last. Ratings rapidly declined, storylines struggled to click with audiences, and midway through its second season, NBC pulled the plug. Eight completed episodes never aired and were quietly shelved. Over time, Joey became the Friends universe’s forgotten footnote — an ambitious experiment fans rarely discussed.

So, where can you watch the “lost” episodes now?

At long last, the official Friends YouTube channel has released every episode of the series — both seasons, including the previously unaired season-two episodes — completely free to watch online. For hardcore fans curious about Joey’s unfinished Hollywood journey, this is the first time the full series has ever been made publicly accessible.

However, there’s a catch: the episodes currently appear to be available only to viewers in the United States. UK fans hoping to dive into a nostalgic Joey marathon will have to wait and see whether the release expands internationally. It’s unclear whether regional restrictions are temporary or will remain in place.

The spinoff had a short run between 2004 and 2006 (NBC)

In the meantime, British viewers do have one option — Joey season one is currently available for purchase on Prime Video, though the unreleased episodes are not included.

Matt LeBlanc, who has often been candid about the show’s struggles, previously reflected on why Joey failed to capture the magic of its predecessor. Speaking to Radio Times in 2015, he said he believed the show was “doomed from the start.”

“The writing and the jokes were OK but the conflict and the obstacles in the stories were not valid enough,” he explained.
“In Friends, Joey was always glass-is-half-full. In Joey, he was glass-half-empty. And that was sad. It was the same showrunner as Friends, and I think we should have taken a year off.”

Despite the disappointment, the actor didn’t walk away empty-handed — he reportedly earned $30 million (£22m) from the project, even though it lasted less than two seasons.

Joey was canned before the end of the second season due to low viewings (NBC)

As fans rediscover the series almost 20 years later, reactions have ranged from curiosity to renewed appreciation. Whether Joey will be re-evaluated with kinder eyes remains to be seen, but for the first time since 2006, viewers finally have the chance to judge the unaired episodes for themselves.

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Sources (LADbible, The Guardian, Radio Times, Metro)