There are big changes coming to Kevin Can Wait in season two. Actress Erinn Hayes has been dropped by the CBS TV show and Leah Remini has been promoted to series regular for season two.
Hayes played Donna Gable, the wife of Kevin James’ character Kevin Gable, on the family comedy. Meanwhile, Remini, who co-starred with James on the long-running CBS sitcom The King of Queens, appeared as a guest star on the season one finale of Kevin Can Wait.
According to TVLine, Kevin Can Wait is going in a new creative direction for season two. While it’s unclear what that means, what we do know is that fans will be seeing a lot more of Remini’s character, Vanessa Cellucci, in season two.
But is this a good idea? Remini’s guest appearance did garner some buzz but Kevin Can Wait saw some big losses in the ratings throughout season one. It earned a 1.61 rating in the 18-49 demo and 7.63 million viewers, making it CBS‘ top-rated new series in the demo for the 2016-2017 season. However, the sitcom started the season with a 2.58 rating and 11.08 million viewers but hit a low of a 1.05 rating with 5.90 in April. The show being reworked is likely a reaction to those declines.
Should the show be rocking the boat this early? What do you think? Are the cast changes a good idea?
The wife was not a good match for Kevin. Show was missing something. Hopefully Leah will bring it. V
Yes Kevin and Erin was not a good combination. I do agree the the wife could have been taken off in a better way,it would have been good to maybe end her with an accident and Leah was there for comfort which lead to them getting together. I love Kings and Queens and they compliment each other.
Wont be watching show again.
l have stopped watching as well. I don’t like the change and maybe the rating will reflect that.
Miss the wife!!!
She was a good opposite to Kevin
My family and few of my friends not watching now
I’ve watched two sessions of the new Kevin can wait and I think it’s much better with Leah Remini on it. I wasn’t sure last season because I had almost quit watching it, but the first two shows of this season were very good and I will continue to watch it now.
The producers need to find a way to bring back Erin (it has been done before; anyone remember the original Dallas?). The chemistry that Kevin and Leah had on The King of Queens is gone. Kevin Can Wait is awful now. The producers should have kept Errin.
Without Erinn, we are OUT. She became the real sleeper character on the show and for us, out-eclipsed everyone else… maybe on a par with Kevin but OMG, maybe not (so: above). We watched the first epi last night sans Erinn and it was AWFUL. Nothing any remaining cast member did could save it. It was that (Season 1) whole TEAM that made the show. Making this huge change now is a total mistake and the Director/Producer will learn that… this season we predict. It’s a shame because, once destroyed, the great usually never returns. Too little, too late. SHAME!
I don’t think it’s a good idea, especially when they didn’t give an explanation, aside from ‘it’s been a year’ since she died. I liked the chemistry with Erinn much better than with Leah Remini. Kevin and Leah together come across as tired to me. They ran their course together. JMHO
I would much rather have seen them bring back Jerry Stiller!!!
They’ve really ruined the show. Two new weird looking/acting kids, Leah Rimini looking like she just stepped out of the plastic surgeons office and no Erinn Hayes who was just great!
Please please bring back Erinn Hayes the new show is terrible without her Kevin and her just clicked they fed of each other. Leah Rimini isn’t adding anything to the show, she really doesn’t fit in.
Adding Leah Rimini to the cast is fine, but I think killing off the Mom was a big mistake – especially in the cold manner it was handled. The family dynamic worked last season, but now it just feels weird.
I enjoyed Kevin Can Wait, but there is so much to watch these days to make a big change like this makes me move on and watch something else. Its low what they did to Erinn.
I never understood “chemistry” between actors till King of Queens. I’m glad for the change. I would have watched it either way because I love Kevin James, but I think he and Leah Remini are perfect together.
I liked Erinn, but not Leah . She is always soooo bitchy