Matt LeBlanc is back on TV with a new series on Showtime. Episodes stars Matt LeBlanc as Matt LeBlanc. The fictional Matt LeBlanc is cast in an American remake of a British series. Hilarity ensues. For LeBlanc, it was the first show that was worth interrupting his private time with family.

“There was a few network shows that came and went that crossed my desk that I said no to,” LeBlanc said at the Television Critics Association fall press tour. “I just took the time, 12 years [of Friends and Joey] every day was a lot. It was a great time but I wanted to take some time off and spend time with my daughter, just take some time away from the business. It’s nice to be back with writing I have a real faith in, with a cast that’s really talented.”

Episodes is a different type of comedy. Since his years as Joey Tribbiani, sitcoms have mostly faded away. Episodes represents the more current “single camera” show, shot like a movie on a closed set.

“It was a little different, this is single camera versus multi-camera. When the punchlines came up and you say the punchline and there’s no crowd laughing it’s a little unnerving. Besides that we had a great time and it shows.”

There are jokes at LeBlanc’s expense, but they also say he has an enormous penis. The truth is somewhere in between. “It’s not really myself I guess. It’s just a character that David [Crane] and Jeffrey [Klarik] wrote that happens to have the same name as me, pretty much. There are some similarities but for the most part it’s a fictitious character.”

Look for Episodes on Showtime.