Showtime’s TV series Episodes is about a British husband-and-wife comedy writing team who go to Hollywood to try to remake their hit British TV series in the US. They’re forced to cast Matt LeBlanc (Joey of Friends) in the lead role. LeBlanc plays a fictionalized, grotesque version of himself who’s in it just for the money. Remember, LeBlanc and the cast of Friends broke TV history by negotiating as a group to get $1 million an episode back in 2002…setting the stage for a generous 2014 payday for the cast of The Big Bang Theory.
LeBlanc has been nominated six times for an Emmy—three for his role as Joey Tribbiani, the other three as the fictionalized version of himself on Episodes. But he’s gone 0 for 6. TV critic Matthew Gilbert of The Boston Globe predicts this will be the year LeBlanc wins. And Indiewire thinks the show deserves one, too. “Episodes is actually one of the best ensemble comedies on television, despite being sold as a one-man show.” Episodes is nominated for Outstanding Writing and Outstanding Director for a Comedy Series.
