Since the premiere of season two of Kevin Can Wait, viewers and curious parties have been waiting to know how the show would handle the death of Erinn Hayes character, Donna, on the show and if it would get more than its passing mention from the premiere. It would seem like the moment has passed at this point, but Kevin James has addressed the decision to remove Hayes and kill off her character on the show.
According to a chat with the New York Daily News, James went into detail about the original plans for the series and his feelings about the reaction of fans to the decision to kill off Hayes’ character and how the show announced the news:
“I get that people are like ‘Whoa, why would you do this?’ But it really felt like a thing like this was needed for this show to drive forward,” James said. Now, I have to deal with my daughter in a different way, and she’s gonna go to college, or one’s getting married, or the holidays. And it deals with things in a different, weightier way.”
As James explains, the show was initially supposed to be a single father and now the show seems to be getting back to that, though this time with the cloud of this death hanging over top of the show. And as the King Of Queens star explains, the decision to remove Hayes and bring back Remini is nothing but the show running out stories to tell with Kevin and his wife:
“The plot of the show didn’t have enough drive,” James said. “If we got through a second season, I wouldn’t see us getting through a third one. We were literally just running out of ideas.”
James also adds that the energy when Remini guest starred on the show was undeniable with the fans, cast, and crew, with the star asking, “How can we get her here full-time.” The reactions to the premiere were mixed, especially in the two moments where Hayes’ death was mentioned. Some targeted Leah Remini due to her addition to the cast and she denied that while defending the show and supporting Hayes in her future projects.
(Via New York Daily News)
