The King Of Queens Wraps It Up

[Family Ties Forever!]

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'
The King' wraps it up
By DAVE MASON
May 10, 2007

It's time for the final war of words, the biggest moment of truth and the Incredible Hulk on "The King of Queens."
The CBS comedy has had some of the best dramatic moments on TV as it fearlessly depicts the ups and downs of marriage. During the series finale at 9 p.m. EDT Monday (May 14), Doug and Carmen Heffernan (Kevin James and Leah Remini) are trying to put their marriage back together. Their hopes seem to depend on whether they can adopt a baby in China, but as the episode shows, that baby might not be enough.

Viewers won't know whether their marriage is safe until the final minutes, and the ending involves a surprise.

The episode brilliantly blends drama and comedy with some well-written conversations and hilarious scenes. Not to be missed is some wrestling involving Doug.

The entire cast gets some time to shine. Victor Williams, for example, stands out as Deacon Palmer as he tries to counsel the troubled Doug.

And the Incredible Hulk shows up! Lou Ferrigno, who played the big bad green guy in the 1970s series starring Bill Bixby, has played himself on the show, and he has some fun moments.

Most of all, the finale wraps up the question of what marriage means to Doug and Carrie.

Other TV sitcoms have considered their characters' future. "Will & Grace" did a fine job by jumping decades ahead in the final episode. "Frasier" ended with a question about whether Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer) chose his new love or his new job.

So it' not surprising that the finale for "The King" deals with the Heffernans' marriage, as well as a secondary story about Arthur Spooner's (Jerry Stiller) wedding to Ava St. Clair (Lainie Kazan). Arthur, Carrie's father, has been in living in the Heffernans' basement.

Much of the show's success is due to the chemistry between James and Remini.

Several years ago they told me that, off-camera, they're good friends who are completely honest with each other.

The striking part of that interview, which took place near the sets in a Sony Studios sound stage in Culver City, a Los Angeles suburb, was how James and Remini would finish each other's comments. They sounded and acted like a married couple, and that genuineness is why "The King" has lasted nine seasons.

The stars have had the help of a great supporting cast. Stiller made Arthur hilarious but distinct from his previous character, George's dad on "Seinfeld." James and Remini said Stiller would surprise them by adding a twist to a scene during the filming before a studio audience. The cast and the audience loved it.

Stiller, who has a long history on stage and TV and is the father of movie star Ben Stiller, remains one of the best comics on TV. He can be funny by being angry and flustered or by being low-key. He shows his range in Monday's finale, and a special treat is seeing Stiller perform with his real-life wife, Anne Meara, who plays Veronica. They have performed together ever since they first met. It would be great if they ended up on another sitcom.

It's sad to see "The King of Queens" leave the air. But unlike "7th Heaven" and "Gilmore Girls," both which are ending after running out of good stories, "The King of Queens" is leaving while it's still worthy of its crown. And it'll live indefinitely in syndicated reruns.

Long live "The King."

(Contact Dave Mason of the Ventura County Star in California at here

Copyright 2007, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.

Carmen? I guess that's supposed to be a type-o.

[basement_artie]

Well, the day is here. Less than 12 hours and it's over.

Everyone enjoy the show!!!

[TryN2BGood]

I wouldn't miss it for anything!! still sad though

[AB]

I'll be watching too, sure hate to see it end.

[globalspot28]

depressing...