Kevin Can Wait producers have taken a lot of heat for how they handled the firing of Erinn Hayes. The show was called out for first firing Hayes and then killing off her character, matriarch Donna Gable, to make room for new series regular Leah Remini. But now one of the actress’s former co-stars says the show is “funnier” with new leading lady, Remini. Actor Chris Roach, who plays Kevin’s pal Mott on the CBS sitcom, told Chanel Omari’s Star Shop that the chemistry Kevin James has with his longtime King of Queens co-star is undeniable.
“There were some changes over the summer,” Roach, told Omari of the show’s recasting, according to Us Weekly .
“Season 1, there was very good chemistry between Kevin and Erinn and I always heard, ‘Oh Kevin and Leah … the chemistry!’ I was like, ‘Ok, alright.’ Then when you see it, you’re like ‘ Oh, okay !’ She makes him funnier. I don’t know what it is. He’s very funny as it is, but when you add her to the mix [and] they start playing off each other, it’s really incredible.”
Kevin Can Wait has had mixed reviews since Hayes’ character was killed off over the summer, with some saying the show is now just a remake of The King Of Queens . In all fairness, Doug and Carrie Heffernan, The King of Queens couple that Kevin James and Leah Remini previously played for nine seasons, were married and had no kids (until the final moments of the series finale, when an adoption coincided with an unexpected pregnancy). On Kevin Can Wait , Kevin and Vanessa (Remini’s character) aren’t even a thing yet.
Still, Roach’s comments about James and Remini’s chemistry must sting for Hayes, who was caught “liking” tweets last week that called for fans to boycott Kevin Can Wait . Hayes later changed her tune, saying she didn’t care if people watched Kevin Can Wait or not, and she asked for the attacks against Leah Remini in her name to stop.
Chris Roach isn’t the only Kevin Can Wait star to comment on Kevin James’ amazing connection with his King of Queens co-star. James has raved about his reunion with his longtime co-star and even Leah Remini herself has spoken out, telling Entertainment Tonight working with Kevin James again after 10 years was “like riding a bike” and that chemistry like theirs just doesn’t go away.
Take a look at the videos below to compare Erinn Hayes’ chemistry with Kevin James’ to Leah Remini’s. Who do you think makes the better leading lady on Kevin Can Wait ?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0pP0Ph3z30
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKJX8Y1o4cw
Kevin Can Wait airs Mondays at 9 p.m. ET on CBS.
[Featured Image by David M. Russell/CBS]
