The King of Queens: CBS Prepares to Say Goodbye
The longest running sitcom currently on network TV, The King of Queens, returns tonight with the first of its final seven episodes. The series is finishing its ninth year on television and is scheduled to say goodbye on Monday May 14, 2007 with a double episode.
The King of Queens centers around Queens, N.Y. blue-collar couple Doug and Carrie Heffernan who share their humble home with Carrie’s eccentric father, Arthur. Doug’s only refuge from Arthur is the bits of time he can spend alone with Carrie or with his TV sports-watching buddies Deacon, Spence and Danny. Queens stars Kevin James as well as Leah Remini, Gary Valentine, Patton Oswalt, Victor Williams and Jerry Stiller.
The Kevin James sitcom has long been a staple of CBS’ primetime schedule. Some viewers were dismayed to find it strangely missing from the Fall 2006 schedule but CBS maintained that the sitcom would return by early 2007. Fans were pleasantly surprised when the series returned earlier than expected on December 6th and began its ninth season. That joy was quickly tempered when loyal viewers realized that it would be a short season.
Queens has been on the air since September 21, 1998. The show’s popularity has waned in recent years and, as often happens, the cost to produce the show has risen. Kevin James reportedly got into a salary dispute in 2005 and CBS agreed to pay him an estimated $500,000 per episode for the 2005-2006 season. The network agreed to a ninth season, albeit a shorter one made up of only 13 episodes (versus the regular 22). Fans that knew of the situation were hopeful that an agreement would be reached to produce a full season if the ratings were strong enough.
Though Queens started the season with almost 10 million viewers, it apparently wasn’t enough for CBS to want to change its plans. In late 2006, CBS decided to break up the abbreviated Queens season — running six new episodes in December/January and then airing the final seven starting tonight — replacing the seven episode run of freshman series Rules of Engagement. CBS Entertainment President Nina Tasslet said at the time, “These scheduling moves enable us to program more original episodes of comedy in targeted time periods for the remainder of the season. It also provides an opportunity to give The King of Queens a proper send-off in a high profile time period in the Monday night block it helped build.”
Cast and crew alike are staying hush-hush on the story details but we do know that the final episodes will tie up a lot of storylines, give us some resolutions, and reference a lot of past events from the series’ 200+ episode history. Though there are a lot of heartaches and surprises ahead (as you can tell from the network promos), the series will conclude with a happy ending.
The final episode was taped on March 15, 2007 with many friends and family members in attendance, including Ray Romano and his wife. By all reports, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. At the following night’s wrap party, Williams shared, “Last night I felt the strongest sense of pride I’ve ever felt in my life. Nine years on a sitcom is such a tremendous accomplishment in such a difficult business. Everyone on the show has much to be proud of.”
Remini commented on how difficult it is to say farewell, “It’s really hard. One of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do, you know, to say goodbye to some people that I’ve been working with for 9 years. It’s very hard.” No doubt loyal viewers can sympathize. Stay tuned! 
September 9th, 2008 at 5:51 pm
i think kevin james and leah remini are hillarious and both real life spouses
stefania de la cruz and angelo pagan are also funny .
COREY
January 2nd, 2008 at 1:58 pm
I have been a true fan sense day one. I have all of the D.V.D.’s from One through Nine I have, my family hook on the show now. The King of Queens you donot no how much I am going to miss that show.Everyone seems like family to me now.Please say yes to my question, how could I buy the bedroom set, Doug and Carrie had on the set of the show.That set I really really love it and so does my husband,Maurice. my Email starts off with queenelane,that’s how much I love that show it is the best,there will be no more like it so sad the show help me through my Chemo Iam really going to miss it alot (smile). I watch my d.v.d.’s everyday and night for real itis like the best ever. LOVE ALWAYS Queenelane
August 1st, 2007 at 11:24 pm
I watch about 2 episodes every day of my life.
July 6th, 2007 at 3:08 pm
all our entire household LOVES the KOQ. They were real. Especially Carrie. I imagine that thats the way she is in real life. We also loved when she was pregnant (in real life) & she had her reality show. she is true. Arthur was great, always enjoyed seeing him also on Seinfeld. Doug was funny & he was not your average physique husband.
June 16th, 2007 at 2:08 pm
The last show was excellent although some parts of the storyline was a bit rushed. All in all a really great way of ending the show! King of Queens was one of the few shows I really cared to watch but funny Kevin James and equally funny (and a real hottie!) Leah Remini really made this show worthwhile - sprinkled with hilarious old man Stiller! I hope to see them all again in new roles soon! I miss the show already….
June 13th, 2007 at 9:18 am
NOTHING ON TV IS MORE HILARIOUS THAN THE HEFFERNANS.THERE GOES MY EVENING LAUGH BOX.FAREWELL TO ONE OF THE BEST THINGS TO HAPPEN TO CBS.
June 5th, 2007 at 12:15 am
I will miss Doug@Carrie, Doug@Carrie, Doug@Carrie. Thanks for nine years brought some of the funniest momments on tv
May 31st, 2007 at 7:49 pm
hi the song that played during the montage is “milk and honey”
by million billion
if all of you guys want to chat with KOQ and leah remini and kevin james fans go to kevinjames.org and sign up to the message board click (fan signup)
May 28th, 2007 at 7:37 pm
I missed the series finale and I’m a huge fan!!! If and when are you planning to repeat it???
May 15th, 2007 at 4:15 pm
does anyone know what the song was that played on the series finale while they recapped moments from previous seasons?
May 15th, 2007 at 3:07 pm
this is the only tv show that i like… please dont let it end… can you give it like 2 more seasons? please? ill miss the show
May 15th, 2007 at 1:17 pm
Does anyone know the title and/or artist of the song that played during the montage at the end of King of Queens finale last night? I really liked it and cannot seem to find it.
May 15th, 2007 at 12:52 pm
Best sitcom ever!!! I am going to miss it. Boo CBS boo!!!