Surprise, surprise! Another article about Friends from yours truly. By this point, it’s clear to you that I am a huge fan and avid viewer of the show, but what may not be so obvious is that my favorite Friends character is Joey Tribiani. As such, I decided I would write an article that highlight the 10 instances Joey proved himself to be the best friend in the group. Here they are:
1. He wouldn’t watch Phoebe when he thought she was in porn
OK, in my opinion, this is one of the funniest episodes out there. After the friends find out that Phoebe might be involved in pornography, they go to a video store to gather a few tapes of hers. All of the friends sit around the couch to watch the video, with the exception of Joey, claiming he feels that it wouldn’t be right to watch his friend in such film. I mean, come on, how can you not love him for this?
2. He kept Monica and Chandler’s relationship a secret
If I’m being completely honest, I was pretty mad that Monica and Chandler asked Joey to keep such a massive secret from the rest of the group, but even though they did, he made a promise to them that it would remain a secret. I’m sure we can all agree, a secret like this was tempting to share with other members of the group, but Joey’s loyalty won-out.
3. He was willing to give up Rachel for Ross’s friendship
Throughout the entire series, Rachel Green was the woman that every man wanted. When Joey finally got the chance to be with her, he fell completely head over heels for her, and still told Ross that he was willing to give her up if it meant maintaining their friendship. That’s right, he would give up Rachel Green for Ross Geller… Tell me that’s not the greatest friend you could ever have.
4. He forgave Chandler after kissing Kathy
Joey may have asked Chandler to sit in a box and think about what he had done after kissing his girlfriend, Kathy, but even so, he forgave him and supported their relationship. Not many friends would be so forgiving, and then beyond that, be willing to accept that their best friend and ex-girlfriend were going to enter into a relationship with one another. True friendship right there.
5. He gave Emma Hugsy
A combination of the most adorable gesture Joey has committed and the most sacrificial. When Emma is still a young girl and Rachel and Joey are living together, Joey offers to give-up his beloved stuffed animal, Hugsy, to Emma because he knows that she loves him so much. I don’t know about the rest of you, but it would take A LOT for me to give up my beloved stuffed animals, so I give Joey major credit here.
6. He held Phoebe after David left for Minsk, and forgave her for ditching him
When Phoebe and Joey were scheduled to get dinner together, Phoebe rushed out in the middle of the meal to tell Joey that she was going to meet David. Initially, Joey was upset by her disappearance, but once he saw Phoebe’s disappointment at David leaving her, he instantly forgave her. In the end, he wrapped Phoebe up in a hug and told her everything was going to be OK. And let me just say, Phoebe was not the only one crying during this scene.
7. He was willing to marry Rachel when he found out she was pregnant
When Joey learned about Rachel’s pregnancy, the very first thing he did was offer-up his services to be her husband. It bothered him greatly that she would be a single mother, and although there are plenty of men who would never in a million years consider being a partner to someone who isn’t carrying their child, Joey is different.
8. He invited the other friends to his rooftop party
Initially, Joey tried to keep his Days of Our Livesparty secret, but when Rachel and the other friends found out about it, he invited them all despite the fact that they were most likely going to embarrass him. In doing so, he accepted that while he may have sacrificed his reputation on the show, his friends could be included and that was more important.
9. He always apologized first
No matter what the situation or who was involved, Joey always seemed to be the friend that apologized first. It is true that he rarely was the one to make a big mistake or be the problematic force in any of the friends fights, but even so, he always acknowledged when he was wrong, and took the first step.
10. He chose Monica and Chandler over Janine
I’ll be honest, there was a period of time when I thought Janine was going to be the woman that Joey ended up with. He was absolutely crazy about her, and they seemed perfect for one another. Yet, the moment Janine told Joey that it was either her, or his friendship with Monica and Chandler, Joey couldn’t have pushed her out the door fast enough. He chose his friends over this amazing woman, because, well, that’s just the kind of friend he is.
I don’t know about the rest of you, but I am fortunate to say that I have a few friends in my life who remind me of Joey in many ways, and for those of you that don’t, I suggest you head out and start looking for some. They are the best friends anyone could ask for.
