Kevin can wait - The King of Queens (1998) Discussion

[–] JosephASpadaro 7 years ago

Check the Message Board for Kevin Can Wait.

There are "mixed" reviews.

But, it seems to me, most people are not happy with the show.

Remember, they are probably all King of Queens fans. And, thus, they have high expectations. And the new show would have very big shoes to fill.

In other words, it's hard to follow or live up to a great show such as The King of Queens.

Probably impossible to do so.

reply

[–] houstonhacker 7 years ago

I tried to view KCW objectively and separate from KoQ. KoQ was a looong time ago and I haven't cared for anything Kevin James has done since so there was no bias.

Kevin Can Wait just isn't funny or entertaining, imo. It feels like a typical, standard, safe, boring, bland, blah sitcom that was a Tim Allen/Jim Belushi reject.

Maybe they'll drop a few worthless characters (youngest 2 kids, British guy, friends, Gary Valentine, wife), retool it and make it better next season. If not, it's another "Joey". 2 and done.

reply

[–] JosephASpadaro 7 years ago

I tried to view KCW objectively and separate from KoQ.

You may do that, yes. But, I suspect that most others do not.

reply

[–] PaulWard27 7 years ago

If they drop all those characters, it just leaves Kevin and his eldest daughter, both would be single if his wife and her boyfriend are written out.

reply

[–] houstonhacker 7 years ago

awesome

reply

[–] Liz01219 7 years ago

I like the show, but it isn't the King Of Queens for sure.

The fictional story actually takes place in my hometown.
So I love seeing references about the town.

IMO, they picked the wrong actress to be his wife.
I'm not expecting Leah Remini, but I just don't feel there isn't enough chemistry.

Maybe the actress playing his wife never did comedy before.
She was in a show "City of Hope" which I've never seen but that was a drama.

reply

[–] JosephASpadaro 7 years ago

I like the show, but it isn't the King Of Queens for sure.

I have only watched the show perhaps two times.

It wasn't God-awful.

But, it left me feeling "blah".

Like: "That's it?"

It definitely is not The King of Queens.

But, it also could not be expected to be that, either.

There's definitely something lacking in this one.

It's just not all that funny.

It's OK. And simply "ok".

If there is nothing else to watch at the moment.

reply

[–] PaulWard27 7 years ago

The show is utter bobbins.

reply

[–] JosephASpadaro 7 years ago

The show is utter bobbins.

Are you from the UK?

reply

[–] PaulWard27 7 years ago

Yes, why do you ask?

reply

[–] JosephASpadaro 7 years ago

Yes, why do you ask?

"Utter bobbins" is certainly not a USA phrase. I assume it's a UK phrase.

reply

[–] bookman7772000 7 years ago

I love how James said that Leah and Jerry won't be appearing anytime soon, because he doesn't want it to seem like a retread of "Queens", yet he gets his brother, also on "Queens", for a recurring role.

reply

[–] houstonhacker 7 years ago

a retread of "Queens" would have been much better.

Jerry is damn near 90 so hopefully he won't how up. I can see Holly and Patton showing up for sure. Also the guy who played the priest and Mr. O'Boyle. And of course Mookie will show up soon.

reply

[–] apenoape 7 years ago

No, disrespect to his brother because he is quite funny, but he doesn't have a job unless James gives him one. He just seems to vacay til Kevin gets a new movie or now a sitcom and then it's back to work. So, I'm not surprised he is right there with him. Actually, it's not a bad set up. As long as brother is working, he is working. Family looking after family.

reply

[–] tiffanykk2002 7 years ago

To be honest, KoQ is one of my fav shows of all time. But the early episodes weren't all that great. Kevin can Wait seems to feature a less spry Doug Heffernan with a less talented supporting cast. Since the show seems to borrow heavily from KoQ, it can be funny here and there though.

reply

[–] LAtvGuy 7 years ago

I recently watched "The Bob Newhart Show" series. Right after, I started watching "Newhart", having not seen it in many years. It was difficult getting through the first season of "Newhart" because some of the supporting characters didn't seem to fit. Bob pretty much payed the same character in both.

It reminds me of KCW... "Newhart" got significantly better after some minor character tweaks. Hopefully viewers and CBS give KCW a chance to find its footing.

reply

[–] bookman7772000 7 years ago

The actress playing his wife, Erina Heyes, isn't bad. But frankly, I think James could have picked better:

Jamie Gertz
Courtney Thorne-Smith
Megyn Price
Molly Shannon

The chemistry between James and Heyes just isn't there.

reply

[–] DanaShelbyChancey 7 years ago

Kevin Can Wait isn't the worst thing I have ever seen, but I started watching 2 episodes 2 different times, and didn't finish either.

I knoww this is terrible for a fan, but I adore King of Queens, and I love Kevin in his movies. But when it is a sitcom, I don't want to see anyone else as the wife except Leah. Bad of me I know but I just don't take to the new wife, or the daughter and her boyfriend.

Sure I know Kevin isn't playing Doug Heffernan in the new show.

Gee Woodle, Space Kadoodle!

reply

[–] JosephASpadaro 7 years ago

That's the irony ... or the paradox of sorts.

Kevin James (and the rest) did a great job on The King of Queens. So much so that anything subsequent is destined to fail and/or to disappoint.

Perhaps he is destined to be "type cast" as Doug?

Perhaps his destiny is to be a "one trick pony"?

Again, it's ironic and somewhat paradoxical.

reply

[–] Slaterson14 7 years ago

King of queens seems as if it was so good because of the writing more than Kevin James, sure some of it is based on his comedy but Im starting to think the subtle and clever comedy from that show had nothing to do with him and the "Fatty like cake" BS is his idea of funny. If he was the creative force behind the writing of KOQ it would of been nothing but fat jokes which IMO is when its at its least funny. Its telling that all his movies are terrible as well. Having Frank Costanza right at the end of seinfeld on your show doesn't hurt either considering hes one of the funniest sitcom characters Ive ever seen. Kevin James should disappear or take a risk and do a gritty movie, although since it seems like Sandler is his mentor I bet all he cares about is $ and has no qualms about appearing in garbage to get it.

reply

[–] JosephASpadaro 7 years ago

You have a good working theory. And you make some good points.

However ...

The group of writers from Kevin Can Wait is the same group of writers from The King of Queens. No?

As such, doesn't that fact disprove your theory?

Also, during the tenure of The King of Queens, different writers came and went. No?

So, again, doesn't that fact also disprove your theory?

You do have a good working theory about how good the writers were and how "mediocre" Kevin James was.

It just seems that your theory cannot hold, given the facts I presented above.

reply

[–] Slaterson14 7 years ago

I just checked the credits and Rock Rueben is the only name to appear in both and the creators of king of qeens and KCW are listed as different people so yeah what you tried to troll me and point out is not true. Kevin James sucks on his own and this show was good because it was a combo of a good cast (minus ugly leah reimini) and pretty good comedic writing when it didn't involve fat jokes. Writing teams take more than one guy so have rock rueben carried over from K0Q doesn't mean much if the rest of the team is gone.

reply

[–] JosephASpadaro 7 years ago

... so yeah what you tried to troll me and point out is not true.

"Troll me" ... ?

What does that mean, exactly?

reply

[–] apenoape 7 years ago

It means you gave your opinion on what you believed was wrong with his theories and he didn't like it. People always cry "troll" in those situations instead of just disagreeing and expanding on their argument. He actually did wind up doing that, but again, he didn't like your response so you became a troll. That is a word I wish would go away in the social media world...it's silly and unnecessary.

reply

[–] JosephASpadaro 7 years ago

It means you gave your opinion on what you believed was wrong with his theories and he didn't like it. People always cry "troll" in those situations instead of just disagreeing and expanding on their argument. He actually did wind up doing that, but again, he didn't like your response so you became a troll. That is a word I wish would go away in the social media world...it's silly and unnecessary.

Thanks.

Yes, I agree 100%.

The "art" of debate, logic, and argumentation is certainly a lost art in today's world.

People get offended at the slightest little thing. Like, for example, someone disagreeing with them! Heaven forbid!

And that's a shame.

Because that is exactly what Internet Message Boards and Opinion Boards (like this one) are for.

reply

[–] joycbeyda 7 years ago

I feel the same

reply

[–] Ar_mp15 7 years ago

I've watched a few and I didn't like any of them

reply

[–] bookman7772000 7 years ago

Slaterson14 may be on to something, as far as James taking a risk. Maybe instead of another sitcom he could have tried a drama series...in the serious moments of "Queens", such as when he's showing support towards Carrie after she announced she was pregnant, he was very good. Jerry Lewis once said that you can't succeed at comedy without being a great actor first. James just doesn't seem to be the type of actor willing to take chances with his career, which is of course his right, but it also makes for lousy movies and a lousy sitcom.

reply

[–] JosephASpadaro 7 years ago

Yes, but ...

James is a "stand up comic", not an "actor" per se ...

That's a big difference.

reply