Playing dad
AFTER film detours as a mall cop and a zookeeper, King Of Queens star Kevin James is returning to sitcoms with Kevin Can Wait, premiering in the United States in September.
Kevin takes James east of Queens as the new series will be the first studio- audience comedy to be taped ( and set on Long Island). It also marks James’ first TV portrayal of a dad.
The star of two Paul Blart: Mall Cop movies and other films after Queens ended its nine- season run in 2007 plays a retired police officer who plans to spend more time with his wife ( Erinn Hayes) and goes on various adventures with his buddies.
“I grew up with a lot of guys on Long Island who are police officers. These guys are in their 40s – they retire after 20 years of service, leaving time for go- karts, Mets games and raising children,” James said at the Television Critics Association press tour recently.
He said he wants the new show to be different from Queens’ Doug but with enough similarity to avoid alienating fans of the earlier series. “We’re making it different enough with the kids, the family and ( the) friends,” he said. “I’ve never played a dad in a sitcom before, so it’s going to be a lot of fun to work with kids.”
James said he would love to have Queens co- stars Leah Remini and Jerry Stiller as guests, but wants the new show to establish itself first. “Possibly down the road, for sure.”
But he was reminded of the earlier series the first time he stepped on the Kevin set.
“It felt weird walking back on the set. I went, ‘ Woo, it’s 1998 again’,” James said. “But as soon as the cast came on, they all have their own personalities and it takes on a completely different feel immediately. It felt different for me in a good and exciting way.”