Kevin James - One Trick Pony

[vitoscotti]

When koq was flyin' high I thought the sky would be the limit for Kevin James. He was brilliant on koq working with a terrific ensemble cast. Watched the first couple of his movies and they were blah ok. Kevin Can Wait was a train wreck. Seinfeld, Becker, koq were the last of the Mohicans for great sitcoms ala the classic tv era. He made a wise business move sticking it out with koq. His lack of comedic talent afterwards has been a big surprise. I know the koq cast was lightning in a bottle. He's the classic tv/movie star one trick pony.

[TMC]

I kind of suspected that Kevin James maybe as you suggest a "one trick pony", when on the second season of his later show Kevin Can Wait, he fired the actress who played his wife and brought Leah Remini back to be his female co-star. In effect, he wanted to make a reboot of King of Queens since that gave him his greatest success. Of course, viewers weren't buying it and Kevin Can Wait was cancelled after that second season.

[GregKurtz]

The same can be said for Jerry Stiller. Playing a PITA old man on Seinfeld and KOQ.

[Wawwie]

Originally Posted by GregKurtz

The same can be said for Jerry Stiller. Playing a PITA old man on Seinfeld and KOQ.

His character on King of Queens was much crazier.

[vitoscotti]

Originally Posted by GregKurtz

The same can be said for Jerry Stiller. Playing a PITA old man on Seinfeld and KOQ.

Maybe hack Ben Stiller can be compared to Kevin James. But Jerry Stiller? TV shows, stand-up, movies. Then he tops off his career with classic characters in KOQ and Seinfeld. Jerry Stiller is a legend. Kevin James masterminded bomb movies, and stinker "Kevin Can Wait". They shouldn't be mentioned in the same breadth.

[HuntingtonM15]

Originally Posted by vitoscotti

Maybe hack Ben Stiller can be compared to Kevin James. But Jerry Stiller? TV shows, stand-up, movies. Then he tops off his career with classic characters in KOQ and Seinfeld. Jerry Stiller is a legend. Kevin James masterminded bomb movies, and stinker "Kevin Can Wait". They shouldn't be mentioned in the same breadth.

I totally missed this thread, but I completely agree. Jerry Stiller was most definitely NOT a one-trick pony. That was such an ignorant comment.

[Chocolate Moose]

Jerry Stiller started in the 50s and he wasn't old then.

I think Kevin James is funny but yeah, his "reach" is limited. He's not going to do drama like Adam Sandler, I hope. Such a waste of talent.

[Duster76]

Originally Posted by TMC

I kind of suspected that Kevin James maybe as you suggest a "one trick pony", when on the second season of his later show Kevin Can Wait, he fired the actress who played his wife and brought Leah Remini back to be his female co-star. In effect, he wanted to make a reboot of King of Queens since that gave him his greatest success. Of course, viewers weren't buying it and Kevin Can Wait was cancelled after that second season.

I don't know if James is a one trick pony, his problem is trying to give his audience what they expect while at the same time successfully ageing his regular guy character.

With respect to "Kevin Can Wait", the show wasn't working in the first place, that's why the change was made. The show wouldn't have been renewed, there would have been no second season. This was his opportunity and he took it, it didn't work but it was I think a better show (certainly better than Man With A Plan).

[Duster76]

Originally Posted by Wawwie

His character on King of Queens was much crazier.

The series used the character that Jerry Stiller created in Seinfeld in a different way, so he had to be expanded upon.

With respect to the character of Frank Costanza, he was supposed to be a henpecked husband, contrasted against the impossible to get along with loud Estelle Costanza. Stiller, who replaced John Randolph in the part of Frank Costanza realized he would meet the same fate as John Randolph (fired) if the character wasn't reimagined. He suggested to the producers that the character be equally as loud and abrasive as Estelle. It worked, and the wild old man character was born and expanded upon for King of Queens.

[icecream]

Originally Posted by Duster76

The series used the character that Jerry Stiller created in Seinfeld in a different way, so he had to be expanded upon.

With respect to the character of Frank Costanza, he was supposed to be a henpecked husband, contrasted against the impossible to get along with loud Estelle Costanza. Stiller, who replaced John Randolph in the part of Frank Costanza realized he would meet the same fate as John Randolph (fired) if the character wasn't reimagined. He suggested to the producers that the character be equally as loud and abrasive as Estelle. It worked, and the wild old man character was born and expanded upon for King of Queens.

Was John Randolph fired before Seinfeld began? A lesser actor played Jerry's father for his first appearance before Barney Martin began, but I thought Jerry Stiller was always Frank from the start.

[Duster76]

Originally Posted by catsrule

Was John Randolph fired before Seinfeld began? A lesser actor played Jerry's father for his first appearance before Barney Martin began, but I thought Jerry Stiller was always Frank from the start.

No, actually the first episode Frank Costanza appeared in (The Handicap Spot) was shot and originally aired with Randolph in the Frank Costanza role. Once the role was recast the scenes were reshot with Stiller (that's the version that is part of the rerun package).

The role of Jerry's father featured Phil Burns as Jerry's dad in season 1, too much time had passed before the role was recast so the decision was made not to reshoot the scenes (it was a continuity issue).

[Steve1990]

Originally Posted by Wawwie

His character on King of Queens was much crazier.

His seinfeld character was a lot less caring.

[Mrgman]

Paul blart wasn't bad neither was grown ups

[Edward216]

Originally Posted by Chocolate Moose

Jerry Stiller started in the 50s and he wasn't old then.

I think Kevin James is funny but yeah, his "reach" is limited. He's not going to do drama like Adam Sandler, I hope. Such a waste of talent.

Give me a Kevin James movie over anything Adam Sandler's ever done any day! I really can't stand Adam Sandler! He's just stupid and not funny! And no I've never watched any movie that Kevin James has done with Adam Sandler.

Ed.