by in
The King of Queens is one of those shows I can put on anytime and still enjoy, even if I’ve already seen the episode a dozen times. It wasn’t trying to reinvent television or be some groundbreaking comedy. It was just genuinely funny, relatable, and had a cast that worked incredibly well together.
Kevin James and Leah Remini were perfect as Doug and Carrie. What I always liked about them was that their marriage actually felt believable. They loved each other, but they also annoyed the hell out of each other. They argued over money, food, family, friends, Doug being lazy, Carrie losing her temper, and all the stupid little things couples fight about. Neither one was portrayed as the perfect spouse, and that’s a big part of what made the show work.
Then you have Jerry Stiller as Arthur, who was absolutely hilarious. Arthur could turn the most normal situation into complete chaos. Some of the funniest moments in the entire series are just Arthur screaming about something completely ridiculous while Doug stands there wondering what is happening. Jerry Stiller’s delivery was one of a kind.
The supporting characters deserve a lot of credit too. Deacon, Spence, Danny, Holly and the rest of the group made the show feel like an actual circle of friends and family instead of characters who only existed when the story needed them. Doug and Deacon especially had a friendship that felt natural.
Another thing I appreciate is how simple the show was. There weren’t huge dramatic storylines every week. Sometimes the entire episode was basically Doug trying to hide something stupid from Carrie, Carrie finding out, and everything blowing up in his face. Somehow they could take a tiny everyday problem and stretch it into 20 minutes of genuinely funny television.
It also captured that late ’90s and early 2000s sitcom era really well. Watching it now has a certain comfort and nostalgia to it. No social media, no smartphones controlling everyone’s lives, just people hanging out, arguing, eating too much food and getting themselves into ridiculous situations.
Was every episode amazing? Of course not. After nine seasons there are going to be some weaker ones, and sometimes Doug could be unbelievably selfish or Carrie could be ridiculously mean. But honestly, that was also part of their charm. These weren’t perfect people. They were flawed, stubborn and sometimes completely unreasonable.
That’s probably why The King of Queens has held up so well for me. It doesn’t need some complicated story or deep message. It’s funny, comfortable television with great chemistry and characters you actually enjoy spending time with.
I can randomly catch an episode and end up watching three or four more.
Definitely one of my favorite sitcoms from that era, and one of the easiest shows to rewatch.
