The pilot episode was released in screener form for test audiences and members of the entertainment industry to preview the show and drum up business. The screener was subsequently leaked on the Internet and thus has received a much wider critical review process than initially conceived.[1] There were few differences between the unaired pilot and the version that was aired. Ashley Scott played the role of Allison in the unaired pilot[2], she was replaced by Andrea Anders and the character name changed to Alex.
Despite middling ratings in its first season (2004-2005), especially as compared to Friends, the sitcom was renewed for a second season (2005-2006). This was in part because Matt Le Blanc's contract with the network specified he would be paid for two seasons worth of episodes for the show, whether they were made or not. During its second season, ratings fell 82%. In the second season, Joey became a bigger star. Miguel A. Núñez Jr. was also added to the show as a series regular. He played Joey's best friend. Also, Jennifer Coolidge had a more prominent role.
The show was pulled from its Thursday-night timeslot in December 2005, and NBC returned the show in a new timeslot (Tuesdays at 8pm) on March 7, 2006. Now in competition with American Idol, the ratings were even lower; Joey was the lowest rated primetime program of the week for NBC [1]. The network pulled the series after the first Tuesday airing and its cancellation was announced on May 15, 2006. The remaining episodes have never been aired by NBC, but have been shown on various other networks around the world.