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‘Joey’ to replace ‘Friends’ next fall
MUMBAI: Fans of Friends star Joey have reason to cheer and jig the Friends way. Friends may be packing up for now but Joey is staying – in a Friends spin-off called Joey.
With the comedy sitcom Friends closing it’s last season by next May, NBC wants to redeem its Thursday nights with another comedy that’ll cull back the audience it has lost to CBS.
Moving on without Friends
NBC has confirmed plans of debuting the much-speculated series Joey next fall. So come September 2004, Joey (Matt LeBlanc) will be moving from New York to Los Angeles to pursue his acting career.
Though none of the other Friends cast members will be in the new series, NBC hasn’t ruled out possible guest appearances a la cameos by former Cheers stars Ted Danson and Woody Harrelson on Frasier.
Longtime Friends writer-producers Scott Silveri and Shana Goldberg-Meehan have been signed up for writing Joey. They are also expected to executive-produce the series alongside director and executive producer Kevin Bright.
Joey – over to LA
But why Joey? LeBlanc, has been the obvious choice after top candidate Jennifer Aniston expressed zero interest in continuing with a Rachel spin-off. Recently nominated for his second consecutive Emmy, LeBlanc has also spiralled high on popularity charts of late.
The spin-off is being pegged at a cost of around $ 2 million an episode, which is expensive by new-sitcom standards but way short of the $ 10 million that NBC is shelling out for the final year of Friends.
This also means a significant pay hit for LeBlanc from the $ 1 million per episode that he’s making on the final season of Friends. Though, he won’t be a producer as with other star-driven series, he’s expected to chip in for the casting and earn a greater share of the show’s profits if it is successful.
The idea of coming up with a spin-off reportedly stemmed from the success of Frasier that was spawned from Cheers. However, for every Frasier, there are several M*A*S*Hes that quickly faded.
The big question now is whether banking on Joey will take NBC laughing to the bank or not.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
