Matt LeBlanc, star of top-rated comedy "Friends", will return in his own spin-off series when the 10-year-old show ends its run next year.
The new programme, to be called "Joey" and starring LeBlanc in his popular character Joey Tribbiani, is scheduled to be shown in the United States from autumn 2004, on the same night, Thursday, as "Friends".
"NBC's wonderful relationship with such a once-in-a-decade series as 'Friends' will continue," NBC programming head Jeff Zucker said in a statement on Thursday.
"Friends" tells of the day-to-day lives of six 30-somethings in New York City. Since its debut it has been one of NBC's best-performing programmes and is currently the number one comedy in the United States, averaging 21.8 million viewers weekly, according to Nielsen Media Research.
In recent seasons, LeBlanc's Joey has been involved in a story line that had him falling in love with Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) who had a baby with another of the "friends", Ross (David Schwimmer).
LeBlanc has been twice nominated for an Emmy award, the U.S. TV industry's top honours.
The new programme, to be called "Joey" and starring LeBlanc in his popular character Joey Tribbiani, is scheduled to be shown in the United States from autumn 2004, on the same night, Thursday, as "Friends".
"NBC's wonderful relationship with such a once-in-a-decade series as 'Friends' will continue," NBC programming head Jeff Zucker said in a statement on Thursday.
"Friends" tells of the day-to-day lives of six 30-somethings in New York City. Since its debut it has been one of NBC's best-performing programmes and is currently the number one comedy in the United States, averaging 21.8 million viewers weekly, according to Nielsen Media Research.
In recent seasons, LeBlanc's Joey has been involved in a story line that had him falling in love with Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) who had a baby with another of the "friends", Ross (David Schwimmer).
LeBlanc has been twice nominated for an Emmy award, the U.S. TV industry's top honours.
