Friendly return for LeBlanc

Matt LeBlanc began life after Friends last night, the question is "how's he doin?"

12:37 10 September 2004

Matt LeBlanc began life after Friends last night, the question is "how's he doin?"

Pretty well, if most of the reviews of his new show Joey are to be believed.

The new series sees the loveable buffoon that is Joey Tribbiani start his new life in Los Angeles as he tries to move into the movies.

LeBlanc commented: "This is a whole new show . . . No one involved is really regarding it as a spin-off."

Joey's new life sees him living with his sister Gina, played by Drea de Matteo - who used to play Adriana, Christopher's fiancee on The Sopranos.

Gina, then played by KJ Steinberg, made a brief appearance on Friends - in the episode The One Where Chandler Can't Remember Which Sister.

Joey and Gina share their LA apartment with Gina's 20-year-old son Michael - who she had aged 14.

Michael, played by Paulo Costanzo, has been warmly welcomed by critics as an intelligent counterpoint to the ever-hungry Joey. He literally is a rocket scientist.

Other people introduced to the new cast last night are his agent Bobbie and married-but-hot neighbour Alex.

Reviewers Stateside said of the series' debut that it is decent, if not excellent, but had high praise for De Matteo and Costanzo.

Question marks remain, however, as to how audiences will take to a character they loved in small doses having most of an episode to himself.