Although the final eight episodes were never broadcast by NBC after cancellation, they were released in various international markets before Warner Bros. finally released them on the official Friends YouTube channel in 2025.

The pilot episode was distributed as a screener to test audiences and industry members, but it leaked online, giving it a much wider critical review than intended before broadcast.

Ashley Scott originally played the character of Allison in the unaired pilot, but she was replaced by Andrea Anders, and the character's name was changed to Alex.

Several actors reprised or echoed Friends connections: Jennifer Coolidge previously appeared as Amanda in a Friends episode, Adam Goldberg had played Eddie (who moved in with Chandler) in Friends, and Christina Ricci took over the role of Mary-Therese from Mimi Lieber, who had originated it in Friends.

Robert Costanzo reprised his role as Joey's father, Joey Tribbiani Sr., from the first season of Friends, making him the only actor besides Matt LeBlanc to play the same character in both shows.

David Schwimmer, who played Ross Geller and directed episodes of Friends, returned to direct two episodes of Joey.

Friends producers Marta Kauffman and David Crane were not interested in developing the spin-off, though fellow Friends executive producer Kevin S. Bright agreed to join Joey creators Scott Silveri and Shana Goldberg-Meehan as executive producer.

Executive producer Kevin S. Bright criticized the collaboration between NBC executives, the studio, and other producers, saying Joey's womanizing but reliable Friends persona was 'deconstructed' into a pathetic, mopey character moving in the wrong creative direction.

Shortly after the series ended, co-stars Andrea Anders and Matt LeBlanc began a real-life relationship that lasted nine years.