How Matt LeBlanc’s New Sitcom Pokes Fun at His Friends Legacy

Friends castmates have been trying—with varying degrees of success—to distance themselves from the NBC sitcom that made them famous. LeBlanc himself has had a pretty decent run playing a comedically exaggerated version of himself for five seasons on Showtime’s Episodes. But while that show may have earned him four Emmy nominations and a Golden Globe win (more awards recognition than he ever got at NBC), the recent fervor over the so-called Friends reunion proves that he’ll likely never put Joey Tribbiani behind him. But a potential new sitcom for CBS seems intent on doing just that. Or is it a coincidence that the former Friends star’s latest project is called, emphatically, I’m Not Your Friend?

Deadline reports that the new sitcom—which would come with a 13-episode guarantee—may host its own mini Friends reunion. LeBlanc’s interest in the project has attracted the attention of legendary TV director James Burrows. Burrows directed 15 episodes of Friends—including the pilot—and is the reason the cast recently re-united for NBC.

The new comedy comes from That ’70s Show writers Jeff and Jackie Filgo and sounds like fairly standard family sitcom fare. LeBlanc will be Mr. Mom-ing it as a contractor who has to grapple with raising his kids when his wife goes back to work. Not necessarily the kind of thing we ever thought we’d see Joey take on. If all goes according to plan, I’m Not Your Friend would premiere in fall of 2016.

Hot on the heels of the recent surprising news that LeBlanc would take over co-hosting duties on BBC’s Top Gear, this CBS move seems to confirm the rumors that Showtime’s Episodes is coming to an end. Though no official finale date has been announced, it would be pretty impossible for LeBlanc to handle starring in three shows simultaneously. Though, if anyone can multi-task, it’s Joey.