Joey, played by Matt le Blanc, is understood to have been the only 'Friends' character to be offered a spin-off show by the network.
Announcing the news, which will, in the vein of another NBC spin-off 'Frasier', will simply be called 'Joey', NBC president Jerry Zucker said the new show would have a "few surprises" in store, and could even see the character move to Los Angeles from New York.
Speaking at the Television Critics Association yesterday, Zucker said: "You probably would never have predicted this when it began, but over the evolution of that show, Joey has emerged as the character that America roots for and loves."
Le Blanc's character has risen in profile in the last two series after he was involved in a storyline in which he fell in love with Rachel, played by Jennifer Aniston, who had Ross's baby.
In the final episode of the current ninth series, the two were seen to finally get together after Joey's girlfriend went off with Ross, played by David Schwimmer. Le Blanc, who also starred in the movie 'Lost in Space', has twice been nominated for an Emmy Award, the top US TV accolade.
'Joey' is set to run in autumn 2004 and will take over the Thursday night 8pm slot, currently occupied by 'Friends'. The new show will have the same executive production team -- Kevin Bright, Scott Silveri and Shana Goldberg-Meehan -- as its predecessor.
'Friends' creators Marta Kauffman and David Crane will not be involved, although they have given the project their blessing.
'Friends' began in 1994 and has made global celebrities of its six stars, who also include Courtney Cox Arquette, Matthew Perry and Lisa Kudrow. The show replaced 'Seinfield' as NBC's most popular comedy.
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