Update: Leah Remini Joins "Kevin Can Wait", Erinn Hayes to be Killed Off

[JamesG]

"King of Queens" Reunion! Leah Remini Joins "Kevin Can Wait" for 2-Part Finale
by Michael Ausiello
March 24, 2017


CBS is reviving "King of Queens" by way of "Kevin Can Wait".

Leah Remini will reunite with onetime TV hubby Kevin James when she guest-stars in his eponymous CBS comedy’s two-part season finale, the network announced on Friday.



The plot of the arc finds James’ character agreeing to come out of retirement briefly to reprise his undercover assignment in an ongoing police investigation where he and fellow cop Vanessa Cellucci (Remini) will, once again, pose as husband and wife.

"Kevin Can Wait‘s" two-part Season 1 climax airs Monday, May 1 and Monday, May 8 (both at 8/8c).

http://tvline.com/2017/03/24/king-of...wait-season-1/

[Chocolate Moose]

Oh, boy !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[AB]

Looking forward to seeing this.

[JamesG]

"Kevin Can Wait's" Erinn Hayes Spills the Beans on the Season Finale's "King of Queens" Reunion
by Liam Mathews
April 27, 2017


"Kevin Can Wait", Kevin James' post-King of Queens return to TV, has used its star's clout to land A-list guest stars in its first season, including Adam Sandler, Ray Romano and Billy Joel.

But none are more notable than the one showing up in the season finale: Leah Remini, who played Kevin James' wife for nine seasons on "The King of Queens".





In "Sting of Queens," the two-part season finale, former cop Kevin Gable (James) agrees to temporarily come out of retirement to finish an undercover assignment with Officer Vanessa Cellucci (Remini) where they pose as husband and wife. The thing is, they were professional rivals, so old disagreements are going to pop back up and jeopardize the mission.

It's a real treat for "King of Queens" fans to see James and Remini together again, but what about Donna (Erinn Hayes), James' wife on Kevin Can Wait? Was she jealous?

Not at all, says Hayes. Vanessa and Donna have a friendly relationship and in fact share similar grievances about their often less-than-satisfactory husband.





How about Hayes herself? Has their any behind-the-scenes tension between the first and second wives? Once again, the answer is nope. Remini was lovely.

"I walked into my dressing room and there was a beautiful bouquet of white roses with a card that said, 'it takes a lot of security for the new wife to welcome the old wife. Thanks for having me. From Leah, First Wives Club' or something like that," says Hayes. "It was very sweet."





Elsewhere in the episode, big things are happening with the rest of the family. Donna is up for a promotion, Kendra (Taylor Spreitler) gets accepted to law school, and Chale (Ryan Cartwright) gets a lucrative new job. All of these things are setting up big changes to come in Season 2. Kendra and Chale's wedding will also be addressed in some way in Season 2, Hayes says.

Beyond that, though, Hayes won't know what else is coming up next season until she goes back to work in August. She has an idea of what she'd like to see more of in Season 2, though.

"It was so refreshing to see Leah come on and get a funny lady on there. I would love to see some more big, brash female guest stars," says Hayes. "Like a Rachel Dratch or an Amy Sedaris. Somebody that can go toe-to-toe with Kevin or that I could have fun scenes with."





She also has her crew of LA comedy friends like Michaela Watkins, as well as her former "Childrens Hospital" co-star Malin Akerman, who films "Billions" on Long Island not far from "Kevin Can Wait's" studio.

"We were trying to get her for something [in Season 1], but it wasn't the right role," says Hayes. "If we can get the timing to work out, she's very high on the list of people we want to come on the show, we just have to write something great for her."

http://www.tvguide.com/news/kevin-ca...w-erinn-hayes/

[JamesG]

[JamesG]

Leah Remini Returning to "Kevin Can Wait" as Series Regular in Season 2
by Michael Ausiello
June 2, 2017


Leah Remini is staying put on CBS’ "Kevin Can Wait".

After guest-starring in the comedy’s two-part Season 1 finale last month, Kevin James’ former "King of Queens" leading lady will be rejoining him on the sitcom this fall as a full-fledged series regular, the network announced on Friday.

Remini will reprise her role as tough, wise-cracking police officer Vanessa Cellucci. Season 2 launches Monday, Sept. 25 at 9/8c.

http://tvline.com/2017/06/02/kevin-c...eries-regular/

[Adamantium]

This is kind of weird. I'm not upset by it, though. I think it's great they'll be working together again full-time. But it would be like if Suzanne Pleshette joined the cast for the second season of Newhart, and worked alongside Mary Frann.

[Dr. Thong]

Originally Posted by Adamantium

This is kind of weird. I'm not upset by it, though. I think it's great they'll be working together again full-time. But it would be like if Suzanne Pleshette joined the cast for the second season of Newhart, and worked alongside Mary Frann.

I agree.

It's one thing to have her as recurring guest star, but another entirely to have her on as a regular. I wonder how Kevin's TV wife feels about this.

[Torgo]

Originally Posted by Adamantium

This is kind of weird. I'm not upset by it, though. I think it's great they'll be working together again full-time. But it would be like if Suzanne Pleshette joined the cast for the second season of Newhart, and worked alongside Mary Frann.

Except in the case of Kevin Can Wait, the new wife is unfunny...

[Samme]

I don't know how this is gonna work out, but at least they're trying. This show needs help. I can't watch it enough to judge the new wife, but she can't be any worse than Mary Frann. She was the worst. Well, Hope Lange was terrible on the second Dick Van Dyke sitcom. It's a tough business and they gotta go with what works. The supporting cast is bad and it was looking like Kevin was doing that to keep the spotlight.

[WilliamHBonney]

Originally Posted by Dr. Thong

I agree.

It's one thing to have her as recurring guest star, but another entirely to have her on as a regular. I wonder how Kevin's TV wife feels about this.

Based on how the ratings dropped from the beginning of s1 to end of s1 probably just happy to still have a gig.

[JamesG]

Erinn Hayes Exiting "Kevin Can Wait" Amid Season 2 Creative Reset
by Ryan Schwartz
June 3, 2017


"Kevin Can Wait" is consciously uncoupling its central duo. Erinn Hayes, who portrayed Kevin James’ wife Donna in Season 1 of the CBS sitcom, will not be returning for Season 2, TVLine has learned exclusively.

The news comes just one day after the network announced that James’ former "King of Queens" co-star, Leah Remini, will join the show as a full-fledged series regular following a buzzed-about guest stint at the end of Season 1.

It is currently unknown how "Kevin Can Wait" will address Hayes’ absence, but a source confirms to TVLine that the sitcom is heading in a new creative direction in Season 2.

http://tvline.com/2017/06/03/kevin-c...eason-2-donna/

[Dale Key]

I gave Kevin Can Wait a generous six episode trial and saw no signs of improvement through the six episodes. It's tempting to try again with Leah though. Hopefully season 2's creative new direction will be watchable.

[HuntingtonM15]

Wow, this is interesting. I might actually have to try watching the show now.

[RetroTVNitekatt]

I give it 13 week...