Matt LeBlanc on Episodes and life after Friends

Actor opens up about his experiences following his 10 year stint as Joey.

BEVERLY HILLS:

After becoming a household name as one of the six lead characters in NBC’s hit sitcom Friends, actor Matt LeBlanc has found an unconventional way to carve out a new chapter in his career — playing a nastier version of himself on TV.

LeBlanc, 46, who spent a decade playing the dim-witted but lovable Joey Tribbiani on Friends, has found a new lease of life on television playing the reckless and rude character of Matt LeBlanc on Showtime’s Episodes, a role that has already won him a Golden Globe award.

Here’s what LeBlanc has to say about his roles, both past and present

What do you enjoy the most about playing a version of yourself in Episodes?

It’s actually quite fun to play  [what is] basically the public’s perception of the celebrity. So it’s not accurately me at all. Sometimes it’s right on the money, and sometimes its way off base. I’ve really stuck to my guns about not differentiating which is which, because a lot of people ask me how similar am I to Matt LeBlanc in the show, and I think that, to me, is relevant.

Have you drawn inspiration from any real celebrities in Hollywood for the character of Matt LeBlanc in Episodes?

Yes, there’s probably a dash of Charlie Sheen in there, if you’re trying to think of some of the zaniest behaviour you’ve heard of.

We still see a lot of camaraderie between the Friends cast, often doing guest spots on each other’s projects. Will you reunite with any of them in the future of Episodes?

I don’t know. It’ll always be great to work with them. It’d be a different kind of guest spot for them to do this because they would have to play themselves, a version of themselves that they’re comfortable with.

After Friends, you were the lead in its spin-off Joey that was cancelled. What did you take from that?

We were supposed to fill the shoes of Friends, same time slot, same network... It’s almost insurmountable odds. It’s really quite a bit of pressure and it could never replace Friends. It was perceived as this watered-down continuation of Friends, and it wasn’t the same so it was never going to stand up. In that sense, it never stood a chance.

After Friends and Joey, you stepped away for a few years. What were you able to reflect on during your time away?

The things I did think about in terms of my career were the mistakes I felt that had been made on Joey, and things I saw, mistakes being made right in front of me and I could have put my foot down and didn’t. I think I learned from that, I’m not the smartest guy in the room but I’ve been around for a while now and I do have an opinion that I believe in, and from that point on, I will [now] voice my opinions and interject.

It must have been good to get that perspective?

Stepping back and looking on it, I think what I came away with was that work is not the most important part of life. At 46. Nice. Maybe I am Joey!

Published in The Express Tribune, January 11^th, 2014.

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