Doug and Carrie Heffernan are a loving blue-collar couple from Queens, New York, who share their humble home with her eccentric father Arthur. After a long day's work as a parcel deliveryman, Doug retreats to his home for ... more »some peace and quiet, which is often interrupted by Carrie's slightly bizarre father, for whom they hire Holly, a dog walker, to take him on walks so he's not cooped up in the house all day. Stars Kevin James, Leah Remini, Jerry Stiller, Victor Williams, Patton Oswalt, Larry Romano and Nicole Sullivan. Three disc set with all 25 episodes from the first season - including the pilot episode and bonus features!« less
"This is a value packed, well-priced, three disc DVD set that has the entire first season of this very funny show, including the pilot and two bonus shows for a total of twenty seven hilarious shows. Fans of Kevin James , Leah Remini, and Jerry Stiller will be in seventh heaven with this first season set. The show is sort of an updated "Honeymooners" and an absolute laugh riot. It is definitely a keeper and well worth having in one's collection. Kevin James plays the role of the role of the portly, but adorable, Doug Heffernan, an International Parcel Service delivery guy and husband to the earthy and sexy Carrie (Leah Remini), who clearly rules the roost. They live in a modest house in Queens, one of the outer boroughs of New York City. Carrie's father, the idiosyncratic Arthur Spooner (Jerry Stiller), for reasons made clear in the pilot episode, also joins their household. His living with them adds to the many comedic moments of this popular television series. There is a funny group of friends, odd neighbors, and other assorted characters that drift in and out of the Heffernans' daily lives, adding to the comedic zest of this comedy series about middle class life in one of the outer boroughs of New York City. The casting is perfect. The series is very funny with well-written scripts and excellent performances by its very talented cast. What more can a viewer ask for? This is an excellent, value laden, three disc DVD set, replete with a pilot episode commentary by Kevin James and the show's creator, Executive Producer Michael Weithorn. This DVD set also has a feature in which the cast of the series takes the viewer behind the scenes, as they look back on and reminisce about the show's first season. All in all, this is a value priced DVD with crisp, clear visuals and audio. It is absolutely one of my favorite comedies, and I am happy to have the entire first season. I look forward to getting the succeeding seasons, as they become available."
One of the Most Under-Estimated Hits
D. Mart | Mountain View, CA | 11/12/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"THE KING OF QUEENS is one of the funniest shows on television. It is also the most under-rated. Granted: the first few episodes are not very good, but the show quickly picks up later on in the season.KING OF QUEENS has been compared by some to THE HONEYMOONERS. While this show is a lot better, in my opinion, I can definately see the similarities: the humor is often executed in the same fashion; and Kerry's dad (Jerry Stiller) is kind of like a re-incarnated version of Art Carney :). The show may not be everyone's cup of tea. But the reason I like it so much is simply because, unlike most other sitcoms, it's well-written, well-acted (Kevin James is a very under-estimated comedic actor), and it doesn't ever try to be more than it is. So many other comedies seem to stretch for laughs (Whoopi, The Mullets, the final season of Spin City, A Minute with Stan Hooper, etc); and that's why they ultimately fail. Shows such as KING OF QUEENS, EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND, MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE, etc flow effortlessle; the jokes just seem natural. Much like THE COSBY SHOW and CHEERS (Both better shows, but that's really beside the point here), they're also realistic: unlike most other sitcoms, THE KING OF QUEENS mirrors our lives; the ups, the downs, the trials, and the tribulations. And all with a hilarious ending.This is why the show is an under-estimated hit."
Wow, The King of Queens Beat Newhart To DVD?!
Servo | Atlanta, GA USA | 09/24/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I didn't start watching "The King of Queens" right away. I knew it was from the producers of two my of all-time favorite sitcoms "Mr. Belvedere", and "Ned & Stacey", and yet I didn't get around to watching it until the end of the first season. Even then I only watched it because a TV buddy of mine kept urging me to check it out because he thought I might get into the show like I did with Ned & Stacey. It took a few episodes, but The King of Queens eventually grew on me, becoming my must-see Monday night comedy. In fact, it's the only comedy that I watch on CBS. Everybody loves Raymond, except me. For me, The King of Queens really was the King of CBS Monday night comedy. CBS, stupidly, moves the show to Wednesdays this season. But, I digress.
"The King" is Doug Heffernan, a hefty IPS parcel driver played with great comedic cluelessness by comedian Kevin James. James is hilarious with his dopey facial expressions and reactions. Doug lives in Queens with his wife Carrie, a legal secretary played with gusto by Leah Remini - who FINALLY found a sitcom that truly suits her spitfire talent. Doug's happy home is usurped by the presence of his father-in-law Arthur Spooner played by Jerry Stiller, who basically does what he did in Seinfeld, but somehow makes it still seem fresh in this show. I crack a smile at how he always greets Doug with "Douglas."
Doug & Carrie's marital dynamic is reminiscent of Ralph and Alice Kramden from The Honeymooners. Physicalities aside, the similarities are undeniable. Doug and Ralph are both hefty, hard-working, blue collar guys who both drive for a living, with schemes that always incite their wives. Alice and Carrie both have spitfire personalities, and are not afraid to speak their minds, and yet totally devoted to their husbands. Doug's friends Deacon Palmer (Victor Williams), Spence Olchin (Patton Oswalt), and cousin Danny Heffernan (Gary Valentine - Kevin James' real-life sibling) alternate as Ed Norton facsimilies.
The episodes themselves have a quirky charm that fans of Newhart and Ned & Stacey will appreciate. Given Ned & Stacey's premature demise, I didn't want to get attached to another Michael J. Weithorn show, because I didn't think it would last. That was five years ago, and the show is still on the air. With this DVD, I can now see all of those original episodes that I missed out on complete and uncut. And so can you. Long live The King of Queens!"
KING OF QUEENS - real comedy that makes you laugh everytime
Mark C | Southern New Hampshire USA | 11/29/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"In simple, this show is the best comedy on TV in many years. Fans of REAL comedy, TRUE comedy will enjoy this DVD and the show at first watch. The cast is entirely enjoyable and funny. Jerry Stiller needs no write up. You know him and his style. If you're a fan, you have no worries. Leah Rhemini and the assorted cast of friends on the show are all well played and sure to deliver laughs every week. Main charcter Doug Heffernan (Kevin James) maintains a classic style of comedy people love from Don Rickles, Chevy Chase and John Belushi. This is the close thing to the Honeymooners since... the Flinstones. Same thing. Everybody Loves Raymond has won the awards, but when it comes to laughs and truly funny comedy; there is no comparison. Raymond and Becker pale in relation. I like to think I know comedy very well. That being said, I have NEVER watched this show and not laughed a good amount of times. It's the only show I've followed for more than a couple of seasons. It's timeless comedy and it's run on the air for over 6 years is proof it's not going anywhere. (Hopefully CBS reads that) Enjoy. This is a terrific show to watch and own. Kevin James is the King of Queens and the King of Comedy. (I am not related to, nor work for Kevin James. No, I'm not a stalker either)"
Five star Three!
justanotionremix | Chester, Cheshire United Kingdom | 12/02/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Here in the UK we get The King Of Queens on one of the subscription channels, therefore it's potential audience is a fraction of what it could be. And for that reason it was by complete accident that I happend to stumble across it about 2 years ago, becoming hooked on it within weeks.Enough people have given reviews of the show itself, so I wanna concerntrate on the discs and packaging.The packaging is wonderful. The 3 discs being housed in a glossy, solid fold-out digi-pack, which is then housed in a fairly sturdy and also glossy slip case. Open the pack out and you're treated to a stylish computer generated image of the Heffernan's neighbourhood. The inside of the pack is similarly designed and includes a poutch containing a small but sweet 4 page episode symopsis. Each of the discs has a silk screen image of one of the 3 main characters of the show.The extras on disc 3 include an insightful commentary by series creator Michael Weithorn and THE man, Kevin James. This is especially interesting as it lifts the lid on some little known facts regarding the filming of the pilot and the casting of Jerry Stiller. We also have a half hour feature with interviews and behind the scenes shots of the show being made. Strangly the extras also include 2 bonus episodes from the next season...Regarding the quality of the audio and visuals, I have to say that I can only compare this region 1 release with the quality of the UK PAL transmissions, and I have to say that the DVDs beat the transmissions hands down. The audio is louder and clearer and the visuals are much more colourful and sharper.The ONLY thing I don't like about The King Of Queens season 1 is the absolutely dreadful title sequence. Thank God they dumped it and replaced it with something of much better quality!I really hope that this collection sells well and paves the way for the other seasons to be released on DVD.5 stars for 3 wonderful characters and an excellent TV comedy making it's debut on DVD!"