Saying Goodbye to TV's Longtime Heavyweight
The Series that Revolutionized Television is Coming to an End - Final Episode Shrouded in Secrecy
LONDONDERRY - It's hard to believe the best series currently on television is coming to an end. It's hard to believe that a series, so fresh and so riveting to this day, debuted way back in the late 1990s. It's hard to believe so many people are saying it's time.
A few months back I had a mix of emotions when the final season was officially announced with a limited schedule of episodes. I understand the reasoning behind going out on top, and I know the cast wants to try new things, but I hoped there was a chance we could see a full decade of the series' namesake taking charge of his family. My hopes were whacked.
So it will be hard to see the final episode with the big guy driving home through the New York area for the last time, with that unforgettable theme music playing over that famous montage of everyday life. And it will be even harder to say, "Goodbye Doug Heffernan."
Bluh-Eh-Wahhh!? Tony?!?
No, not The King of Jersey - The King of Queens. The series finale airs tonight and I will be there, in front of my tv (flipping between Alexander Hamilton on American Experience), to witness pop-culture history in the making.
TKOQ is the second-best sitcom of all-time after Seinfeld. And although the gap between the two is larger than the gap between the biting power of a Tabby and Jaguar, I think that still counts for something. Like Seinfeld, it had great recurring characters (Patton Oswalt as Spence!) anchored by a strong main cast. The plot lines were often absurdist, sometimes surreal, and the show never took itself too seriously.
TKOQ admittedly had one Don't Make Me Redundant moment regarding a miscarriage. But my theory is the network wanted Doug and Carrie (Leah Remini was pregnant at the time) to have a baby, the writers did not, there was a behind-the-scenes battle, the writers won and wrote out the baby. It's been easy laughs ever since. Furthermore, even the great Seinfeld (note: Jerry Stiller plays the same character in both series) could not have gotten out of that one. I believe at the time Seinfeld even got a lot of flack for the whole Susan dying storyline. Babies = not funny. Babies dying = impossible to make funny.
The King of Queens - more like the King of Laughs!!! Farewell King!
Monday (May 14, 2007)
China Syndrome Parts 1 and 2
Special one-hour series finale! Monday, May 14th at 8pm ct
Arthur's (Jerry Stiller) wedding ceremony has everyone buzzing, but Doug (Kevin James) is down in the dumps until a surprise from Carrie (Leah Remini) has the Heffernan's considering a life-changing leap of faith. When Ava St. Clair (guest star Lainie Kazan) comes down with a sudden case of cold feet, will Spence's (Patton Oswalt) mom Veronica (guest star Anne Meara) become the next in line to fill the shoes of Mrs. Spooner? Story by: Michael J. Weithorn Directed by: Rob Schiller
4 comments:
Actually, based on the commercials, I think there were like 22 "Don't Make Me Redundant" moments this season, but I haven't watched any of the new episodes yet.
That's too bad our old boss from Hollywood video is going to end his show.
Any idea what his plans for the future are?
Yeah, truth be told - the main appeal of this show to me is the bizarro alternate universe scenario of what if Ross and my sister were married and lived in the largest borough of NYC. Kind of like you and GW = Jerry & George.
The person responsible for me watching King of Queens more than I ever would've, Patton Oswalt nonwithstanding--would be Mij.
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