Why Kevin Can Wait Replaced Erinn Hayes With Leah Remini, According To CBS
When it comes to big TV shows making big casting changes behind the scenes, CBS has had its share of headline-worthy instances in the past couple of years, though usually with dramas like NCIS and Criminal Minds. Most recently, Kevin James' sitcom Kevin Can Wait has gotten attention for the shocking decision to replace lead Erinn Hayes with former King of Queens star Leah Remini ahead of Season 2's production start. Here's how CBS Entertainment President Kelly Kahl explained the reasoning behind the big switch-up.
Kelly Kahl's explanation is assumedly meant to placate Kevin Can Wait audience members by saying that there was no inclination to push Erinn Hayes out the door by bringing Lean Remini in for her then-guest spots, but the way it's worded still doesn't exactly make the situation sound completely two-sided. Good intentions or not, as soon as Remini and Kevin James reconnected on the set, everyone apparently made the mental switch to try and bring her on board for a more permanent basis. Well, everyone meaning "Kevin, the studios and the network," and presumably not Hayes herself.
This explanation was given by Kelly Kahl and other CBS execs during this year's TCA summer press event (via THR), where it was also unveiled that Erinn Hayes' Donna would be killed off the show, as opposed to having her absence be explained in a different way, and that Season 2's debut will mark a time jump within the narrative. Confirming that Hayes also wasn't in the conversation chain about how Donna's death would be handled, Kahl did mention that her death at least won't be handled comedically.
Considering Erinn Hayes has lined up a new gig already, and hasn't kicked up any dust over the Kevin Can Wait casting change-up, it's entirely possible that this mini-controversy will mostly be swept under the sitcom living room rug by the time Season 2 starts up. After all, nostalgia is a powerful thing, and seeing Kevin James and Leah Remini back together again could not only qualm any complaints, but it could also draw more viewers to Kevin Can Wait's sophomore season than its first one. We'll be paying attention to those numbers.
Kevin Can Wait fans will get to see exactly what the show is doing with Donna's character, or the memory of her, when Season 2 premieres on Monday, September 22, at 9:00 p.m. To see everything else that's hitting the small screen both before and after that, check out our summer premiere schedule and our fall TV schedule.
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Nick is a Cajun Country native and an Assistant Managing Editor with a focus on TV and features. His humble origin story with CinemaBlend began all the way back in the pre-streaming era, circa 2009, as a freelancing DVD reviewer and TV recapper. Nick leapfrogged over to the small screen to cover more and more television news and interviews, eventually taking over the section for the current era and covering topics like Yellowstone, The Walking Dead and horror. Born in Louisiana and currently living in Texas — Who Dat Nation over America’s Team all day, all night — Nick spent several years in the hospitality industry, and also worked as a 911 operator. If you ever happened to hear his music or read his comics/short stories, you have his sympathy.