The line comes from Friends, the NBC sitcom that premiered in 1994, where Joey Tribbiani, played by Matt LeBlanc, used 'How you doin?' as his go-to pickup line. Joey was not the first character to say it in the show's early seasons, but his repeated, confident delivery made it his trademark. As Friends reruns, clips and memes spread online, the phrase moved beyond the show into everyday jokes and reaction videos. Its lasting appeal is simple familiarity: a few words instantly signal flirtation, confidence and a knowing nod to 90s television.