Joey's Top 10 Hilarious Reactions on Friends

Article Overview

Joey's reactions to shocking events are often filled with humor and cluelessness, endearing him to viewers.

Joey's forgetfulness is a recurring theme throughout

Friends

Joey often relies on Chandler to help him out of tricky situations. Despite his dim-witted persona, he can be serious and caring, especially when it comes to his friends and the things he values.

Joey Tribbiani, from the popular TV show Friends, is widely adored as an iconic character. His popularity stems from his expressive reactions to news and events in the show, ranging from dramatic and forgetful to horrified and deadpan serious.

Portrayed by Matt LeBlanc, Joey is known as the lovable, dim-witted member of the group, with a passion for food and women. He often takes longer to comprehend what's happening, requiring help and time from his friends. Fans of the show have come to associate these moments with Joey's character, as he consistently provides the most memorable reactions throughout the show's 10-year run.

10. When He Nearly Forgets His Passport for London

Season 4, Episode 23: The One With Ross' Wedding, Part 1

Throughout the series Friends, Joey consistently demonstrates his tendency to forget important things, whether it's starting a new job or participating in the Thanksgiving Day parade with the Days of Our Lives cast. Chandler often steps in to remind his forgetful roommate about essential matters. In a particular season 4 episode, the two friends are getting ready to travel to London for Ross' wedding to Emily when Chandler inquires about Joey's passport.

What makes this reaction humorous is

Joey tells Chandler that his passport is in his drawer, forgetting that he needs to fly across the Atlantic for the wedding. Rather than say it out loud, Chandler gives Joey a moment to figure it out; when Joey does, he rushes to grab his passport, with Chandler remarking "There it is." This shows that Chandler has grown used to Joey's forgetfulness, but also shows that Chandler watches out for his best friend and makes sure he doesn't get into too difficult situations.

Related

Friends: 10 Memes That Perfectly Sum Up Joey and Chandler's Friendship

Joey and Chandler had a real bond in Friends, but fortunately, one that's funny enough to be memed about.

9. When He Finds a Videotape of Monica

Season 9, Episode 7: The One With Ross' Inappropriate Song

Joey's love for women is evident through his numerous girlfriends, but in this season 9 episode, it becomes apparent that even he has his limits. Monica attempts to advise Joey on investing his money by purchasing her ex-boyfriend Richard's apartment. When he and Chandler visit the apartment, they accidentally stumble upon a tape labeled 'Monica' in Richard's video collection.

At first, Joey is excited at the possibility of it being a sex tape, but it takes him a while to grasp the situation. Chandler encourages him to "Get there faster!", and they are horrified to realize that Richard may own an erotic tape of Monica. Although Monica assures them later that it's not her in the tape, it's another comical moment where Joey needs Chandler's help to understand.

8. His "Gracious" Defeat at the Soapy Awards

Season 7, Episode 18: The One With Joey's Award

Joey's acting career has seen its share of challenges, but in the seventh season, he experiences a major breakthrough when he receives a nomination for a prestigious Soapy Award. Rachel advises him to be ready for the possibility of not winning and coaches him on how to graciously accept defeat. Despite his preparations, Joey remains confident that he will emerge victorious.

Joey's reaction at the award ceremony was far from gracious. Instead of maintaining composure as he practiced, he lost his temper, pounding his fist on the table and venting to Rachel about the unfairness of it all. This display revealed Joey's bitterness at losing out on awards, especially in his acting career. To make matters worse, the entire audience witnessed his outburst as it was captured on camera, leaving him powerless to remedy the situation once he realized what had happened.

7. Learning About Condoms

Season 8, Episode 3: The One Where Rachel Tells...

In this episode of season 8, Ross finally discovers that he is the father of Rachel's unborn baby, despite using a condom. Ross reacts poorly to the news and calls the company to file a complaint, upsetting Rachel. Later, he confides in Joey and Phoebe, explaining that he found out condoms are only about 97% effective. Joey's response to this revelation is a dark "What?"

This is a complete departure from Joey's usual freak-out response to news. Instead of his typical dramatic reaction, he responds with a serious, deadpan demeanor. It's interesting to note that Joey takes women and sex much more seriously than anything else, as evidenced by his thorough examination of condom instructions.

6. When the Duck Eats Ross' Wedding Ring

Season 4, Episode 22: The One With the Worst Best Man Ever

Joey is fulfilling his role as Ross' best man at his wedding to Emily, only to realize that he has misplaced the wedding ring after the stag night in season 4, episode 22. Following a lengthy discussion, he, Ross, and Chandler come to the conclusion that the duck has accidentally ingested the ring. They are forced to quickly rush the duck to the vet in an attempt to retrieve the ring.

While at the vet, Joey is the most concerned of the three about the duck's well-being and worries that it might not survive the procedure. He fears that something might go wrong and reminisces with Chandler and Ross about the good times they've shared with their feathered friend. Joey's fear and concern for the duck demonstrate how much the bird means to him, so he is later very relieved to learn that the duck is going to be fine.

Related

Friends: 10 Best Moments With The Chick & The Duck

The Chick and the Duck were the beloved pets of Chandler and Joey on Friends, and they left a big impact on the show with their greatest scenes.

5. When He Reads Little Women For the First Time

Season 3, Episode 13: The One Where Monica and Richard Are Just Friends

Joey's reading habits are quite specific - he only reads books that have been turned into movies starring Jack Nicholson, and he has a unique way of dealing with scary moments by putting the books in the freezer. In a particular season 3 episode, Joey and Rachel decide to swap books, with Rachel diving into The Shining and Joey delving into Little Women. Unfortunately, Joey inadvertently spoils the ending of The Shining for Rachel, prompting her to retaliate by revealing Beth's death in Little Women. This revelation deeply upsets Joey, leading Rachel to backtrack in order to spare his feelings.

4. "Joey Doesn't Share Food!"

In this episode, Joey demonstrates a childlike innocence and sense of wonder as he delves into the pages of Little Women for the very first time. His friends take on the role of protecting his innocence, resorting to lying about the book in order to encourage him to continue reading. Rachel also ensures his innocence is preserved by comforting him when he encounters the distressing part of Beth's illness in the story - ultimately they make the decision to put the book in the freezer together.

Season 10, Episode 9: The One With the Birth Mother

Joey's love for food surpasses his interest in women, evident when Phoebe arranges a date with her friend Sarah. He's unwilling to share his food with her, refusing to see her again as she breaks his 'golden commandment'. Ironically, Joey later goes against his belief when he shamelessly takes some of Sarah's dessert after refusing to share his own dinner. This shows his willingness to act like a hypocrite when it comes to his beliefs about food.

3. When God Broke Their Deal About Getting Old

Season 7, Episode 14: The One Where They All Turn Thirty

The idea of growing old is universally disliked, and Joey is no exception. In season 7, Rachel is unhappy about turning 30, and Joey tries to cheer her up, only to be reminded of his own fear of aging. He inadvertently ruined Chandler's birthday by expressing his fear of growing old and questioning God's intentions. Joey's reaction reflects his fear of both aging and the inevitable changes in life. In his spin-off series, he reflects on his attempts to keep everything the same, only to realize that everyone eventually moved on and grew up. This dramatic reaction serves as a representation of the general fear of life evolving and the resistance to change.

2. Finding Out Ross Is The Father of Rachel's Baby

Season 8, Episode 2: The One With the Red Sweater

As season 8 kicked off, the father of Rachel's baby remained a mystery to all. The only hint to his identity was a red sweater - a clue that was eventually claimed by Ross in what is considered one of Friends' top episodes. Joey takes a moment to process the news, and when he does, he, along with Monica and Phoebe, is left stunned.

1. When He Finds Out About Chandler and Monica

Joey's reaction is considered one of the most unforgettable moments in the history of the show. Initially composed and collected, Joey's eyes widen in disbelief as he grasps the situation. The abrupt shift from composure to shock in a split second is what makes it truly worthy of a Friends meme.

Season 5, Episode 5: The One With the Kips

During Ross' failed wedding in London in season 4, Chandler and Monica unexpectedly hook up. They eventually become a couple and get married. Initially, they kept quiet, but one by one everyone found out about their relationship, with Joey being the first. Joey pieces together the similarities between Chandler's and Monica's "work events" and discovers their secret when he finds Monica's lost eyelash curler in Chandler's hotel room.

Surprisingly quick in comparison to his usual slow pace of understanding, Joey experiences the swiftest realization of Chandler and Monica's relationship throughout the show. Despite his initial shock, he eventually expresses his genuine happiness for the couple while being obliged to keep their secret. This episode highlights Joey's unexpected intelligence when he puts his mind to it. Chandler and Monica's relationship becomes one of the most beloved pairings in the show, and Joey holds the distinction of being the first to know, making his reaction one of the most memorable moments in Friends.

Friends seasons 1-10 are available to stream on Max.

Editor's P/S

As a hard fan of the TV show Friends, I find Joey Tribbiani to be one of the most entertaining and lovable characters. His hilarious reactions to various situations are a major highlight of the show. From his passport mishap to his discovery of Monica's tape, Joey's reactions are always spot-on and leave me in stitches. His cluelessness and forgetfulness add to his charm, making him a fan favorite.

Joey's friendship with Chandler is another aspect that makes him so endearing. Chandler often has to help Joey out of tricky situations, and their dynamic is both heartwarming and hilarious. Joey's loyalty and caring nature towards his friends are also admirable qualities that make him a well-rounded character. Overall, Joey Tribbiani is a fantastic character who brings joy and laughter to the show Friends, and I am a huge fan of his comedic genius.