The King of Queens will reign once more.
The cast of the CBS comedy, which ran for nine seasons (1998-2007), is reuniting for a virtual table read in honor of late star Jerry Stiller, per actress Leah Remini. It will benefit Henry Street Settlement, which “opens doors of opportunity for Lower East Side residents and other New Yorkers through social services, arts, and health care programs.”
Originally debuting in September 1998, The King of Queens starred Kevin James and Remini as Doug and Carrie Heffernan, a respective delivery truck driver and legal secretary living in Rego Park, Queens. Their lives are thrown into disarray when Carrie’s father Arthur (Stiller) moves into their basement after accidentally burning down his house.
Despite Stiller’s passing, many actors from the series, including Victor Williams, Patton Oswalt, Nicole Sullivan and Rachel Dratch, are expected to reprise their roles. No word, however, if a certain gridiron guest star will be mentioned.
Football follies routinely played a role on The King of Queens, and, with the local New York Jets going through a period of relative prosperity, the two sides often intersected.
The Queens setting and James’ real-life NFL fanhood, made the Jets a frequent referencing point. Doug, Carrie, Arthur, and those they encounter are frequently seen adorning Jets gear. Arthur’s arrival in the first episode, in fact, coincides with a big Jets game, as Doug is forced to move his big-screen TV.
In honor of KOQ’s announcement, Jets X-Factor looks back at James and the Jets’ finest collaborations …
The Rock (S1, E5)
This early episode reveals that Doug proposed to Carrie at a Jets game in the nosebleed section of the Meadowlands. When they sell the valuable engagement ring, lured the promises of a hot tub and satellite television, they try and fail to recapture the magic with the new ring in the same seats.
Road Rayge (S1, E9)
Ray Romano, James’ fellow New York native and Jets fan, appears in four episodes of the series as Ray Barone, his eponymous character Everybody Loves Raymond.
On the first of these occasions, Ray befriends Doug after inadvertently causing his driver’s license to be suspended. To make up for it, Ray invites Doug to come to a Jets game with him and his brother Robert (Brad Garrett).
However, when Ray encourages Doug to drive them home, their fun is busted by NYPD officer Robert, who has Doug’s license suspended for another week.
Ovary Action (S4, E12)
A Christmas visit from Doug’s Florida-based parents complicates matters in more ways than one. Immediately upon the elder Heffernans’ arrival, Doug’s father Joe (Dakin Matthews) chastises his son for not hanging a Miami Dolphins ornament sent from the Sunshine State on his Christmas tree.
An annoyed Doug stands his ground and insists he will not hang the ornament of an AFC East rival on his tree (“I’m not going to cancel my Jets ornament for the freaking Dolphins!”).
Joe subtly tries to remove the ornament, even when Carrie stops the two from debating “the true meaning of Christmas”, but is stopped by his wife Janet (Jenny O’Hara).
Holy Mackerel (S5, E3)
After a run-in with the priest from their local parish at a fish market, Doug promises to attend church more often, much to Carrie’s chagrin. When their first excursion coincides with Carrie getting a raise at work, Doug is outraged to discover that her prayers continue to focus on trivial matters, like a new pair of shoes going on sale.
Doug’s hypocrisy lands him in trouble shortly after, as Carrie catches him praying for a Jets victory. Despite Doug’s denial (“I was praying for them to cover the spread!”), his prayer is answered when Vinny Testaverde finds Laveranues Coles for a 98-yard score as time expires.
Humbled, Doug merely tells Carrie “we tell no one of this.”
Secret Garden (S6, E7)
Eager to purchase a new grill, Doug tells Carrie about a new model with personalized grates that allow its user to burn a logo into the meat. Alas, Carrie is unswayed by the idea of putting a Knicks, Jets, or Islanders emblem into his steaks.
Later, after Doug’s cousin Danny (Gary Valentine) botches a landscaping job for Carrie’s gynecologist, the Heffernans and their friends the Palmers desperately try to undo the damage while the doctor is out of town.
Already outraged by the situation, Doug loses his cool further when he discovers the doctor has the very grill he desired … with New England Patriots grates (“That is so wrong!”).
The King of Queens is currently available to stream on Peacock.
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags.
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