With the celebratory tumult surrounding Friends: The Reunion on HBO Max, fans were treated to a warm spectacle including cast anecdotes, behind-the-scenes stories, and insight into the making of one of America's most beloved sitcoms. Amidst the merriment of all six friends being back together, one star's reaction caught fans' attention, particularly from the Emerald Isle; Matt LeBlanc.
Firmly present in the camaraderie but often seen with his arms folded across his barrel chest as though in careful scrutiny, "Joey" seemed amused at the proceedings around him, and offered more than a few caustic remarks as the reunion proceeded. With his sarcastic asides, posture, and his vaguely aloof air, the Land of Saints and Scholars dubbed him the "Irish uncle".
How You Doin'?
Friends is endlessly quotable, and certain pieces of dialogue from the series have embedded themselves into the pop culture zeitgeist of countries around the world. One of the most ubiquitous lines from the series is Joey's ultra-cool, "How you doin'?", complete with a lopsided smirk and cocked eyebrow.
Irish Twitter took it a step further, applying a broad brushstroke of colloquial lexicon, until the more polysyllabic phrase, "How you gettin' on?" was born. Unfortunately for Joey, he didn't get on that well and was the only one of the characters who didn't have a solid wrap-up after the series ended.
What Will You Do With That Arts Degree?
With his arms wreathed across his chest and a knowing smile splitting his face, Leblanc is every uncle at every family function, leaning into a recent grad's face and asking in earnest what they'll be doing with a degree they've already deemed worthless. Leave it to an Irish Uncle to say exactly what's on his mind.
It's assumed that if it's a degree in the arts, the graduate will already be boarding a sinking ship, and the question is a bit of a back-handed compliment, implying that the only thing an art degree is good for is teaching other students how to get one. The second question - what their second job would be? Joey had to have several jobs to make ends meet, especially considering his acting career never stabilized.
Weddings Are The Best
Though Joey often seemed like the most simple-minded of the group he, like Phoebe, often had a playful personality that bellied a deeper intellect. He often had a unique insight into the world around him, however colored it might have been by his offbeat humor and womanizing ways.
At the reunion, Leblanc was seen as being somewhat of an old sage, a figure of particular wisdom at a residents bar (think hotel bar) and perhaps a font of insight, especially after he's had a few pints. A listener may have had to have a few pints as well to discern the meaning behind his advice.
A Heart Of Gold
According to some fans, LeBlanc personifies a very particular type of man, perhaps from a bygone era of rugged sensitivity, who might not open up emotionally until they've had a few pints, and then will suddenly become effusive and insightful.
A family-oriented mindset, gift of gab, and zest for life might describe an Irish Uncle or just Joey, who on the series would do anything for his friends, and according to Twitter might just defend the honor of their gay relative.
Fixing The PC
With his wise-cracks, steady smile, and whimsical answers to probing questions, LeBlanc channeled someone who seemed to enjoy living life in the moment. His trick to vitality seemed to be remaining young at heart, including getting one over on those around him.
Sometimes Irish Uncles take the form of Irish Dads and can be just as distrusting, skeptical, and suspicious of potential new of the family, like a daughter's boyfriend. Still, they'll give them the benefit of the doubt, especially if they can coach them from the sidelines.
Dad On Christmas
It wasn't uncommon over the course of the reunion for the cast to marvel at their own impact, even though most of them knew at the time the series was filmed they were part of something special. Leblanc had an idea that Friends was going to be successful based on the chemistry of the actors and the cleverness of the script.
Often times the actor looked just like a dad on Christmas, happy to be part of the merry-making, unperturbed by the fact that he had no idea what gifts were in which boxes, and who they were addressed to. Being part of the fun seemed his only concern.
Ask The Boss
While Joey definitely tried to come off as a confident lady's man on Friends, he was incredibly caring and sensitive when it came to the plights of Rachel, Phoebe, and Monica. When Courtney Cox was overcome with emotion during the reunion, he thought nothing of dabbing her eyes with a tissue.
It's not surprising that LeBlanc channeled "Ask The Boss" energy, given the fact that he's been known for being nothing but deferential and respectful on the set of the show. Despite how much of a roving Casanova Joey wanted to be, he could never overcome his selfless side.
All Those Holes
An Irish Uncle might, upon seeing a younger family member in ripped jeans, wonder why they would spend money to buy an article of clothing that was damaged on purpose during manufacturing. Irish Uncle's aren't about anything new, trendy, or outside what makes them comfortable, preferring to wear a stripey going-out shirt and their hair fashioned to a point.
Filmmaker John Butler broke down exactly what about Leblanc's appearance channeled an Irish Uncle; "The wet-look hair, like Matt had, with the little fin in front. They love a wet fin. You’ll see a boot-cut jean, with those tan shoes that kind of slightly go up at the toe. Because it does get to that thing of, how do you dress after a certain point in your life, if you work in an office, and you’re not comfortable with ambiguity, and you’re a straight man?"
Time To Rock & Roll
As Butler went on to say in the same interview, Leblanc was always known as a hot young actor in his day, but he's emerging into a different category now, where he's being revered as someone compelling even as he's coming across as curmudgeonly.
Butler acknowledges this is because, since Irish Uncles never do anything too risky or too alternative to their normal, safe, and reliable existence holding up the pool table at the pub for thirty years, they're attractive. They're considered stable and even a little annoying, ready and willing with kitsch phrases like "ready to rock and roll".
The Recital
At times during the reunion Leblanc came across as more than a little unimpressed, arms folded as though he was ing judgment, even as his peers laughed at jokes being told around him. Apparently, this gave off shades of Irish Uncle as well, as they're not all smiles and gentle ribbing.
According to some Twitter s, an Irish Uncle can also be quite merciless in their scrutiny, known for appraising young family with stern eyes and furrowed brows. In general though, like LeBlanc, they aren't in this mood for long, and quickly revert to bad puns and corny limericks.