"The King of Queens," starring KEVIN JAMES and LEAH REMINI, is the little sitcom that could. Without ever becoming the huge hit that "Friends" or "Everybody Loves Raymond" was, it developed a loyal fanbase that kept it on the air, so much so that tonight it celebrates its 200th episode, at 9:30 p.m. on CBS. It is the first of seven new episodes that will take the series to its finale in May.
ET catches up with delightful duo Kevin and Leah as they approach their bittersweet end with tears -- and comfort food!
Having found success together with such films as 'Happy Gilmore' and 'Big Daddy,' it only makes sense that ADAM SANDLER and director DENNIS DUGAN are re-teaming for Columbia Pictures' new movie, 'You Don't Mess with the Zohan.'
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Sandler will play a Mossad agent who fakes his death so he can pursue his dream of becoming a hairstylist in New York City. Fellow comic actor ROB SCHNEIDER has already signed on to portray an East Yistannen cab driver.
There's new blood among the funny men this year as CHARLIE SHEEN ("Two and a Half Men"), KEVIN JAMES ("King of Queens") and STEVE CARELL ("The Office") are all nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for the very first time. Rounding out the contenders are two-time winner TONY SHALHOUB ("Monk," 2005, 2003) and LARRY DAVID ("Curb Your Enthusiasm").
"Kevin James is the big surprise in the comedy actor race," says Emmy® expert TOM O'NEIL, who shares his expertise with ET and also on the Web site theenvelope.com. "In Kevin's episode, he installs a stripper pole in his bedroom to spice up his marriage, and when his wife can't get the actions down, he shows her how it is done. It is hilarious."
CHARLIE SHEEN ("Two and a Half Men"), KEVIN JAMES ("King of Queens") and STEVE CARELL ("The Office") are all nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for the very first time. Rounding out the contenders are two-time winner TONY SHALHOUB ("Monk," 2005, 2003) and LARRY DAVID ("Curb Your Enthusiasm").
"Kevin James is the big surprise in the comedy actor race," says Emmy® expert TOM O'NEIL, who shares his expertise with ET and also on the Web site theenvelope.com. "In Kevin's episode, he installs a stripper pole in his bedroom to spice up his marriage, and when his wife can't get the actions down, he shows her how it is done. It is hilarious."
As the No. 1 network, CBS doesn't have many fixes to make to its fall schedule, but there are a few timeslots where new programs will be added, with JAMES WOODS, STANLEY TUCCI, SKEET ULRICH, RAY LIOTTA, VIRGINIA MADSEN and JOE PANTOLIANO adding their star power in several new shows.
Woods is set to headline the legal hour-long series "Shark," also starring JERI RYAN. Pantoliano, who was "The Handler" in 2003, returns to CBS in "Waterfront," playing a not on the up-and-up mayor (mid-season); Ulrich stars in the apocalyptic drama "Jericho;" and Madsen and Liotta play career criminals in "Smith."
It's tit for tat when KIRSTIE ALLEY guest stars as herself on tonight's episode of "The King of Queens," playing a client of Carrie Heffernan (LEAH REMINI). Fans of the "Fat Actress" star will recall that Leah appeared on an episode of Kirstie's Showtime show -- also as herself -- and the subject then was also a weighty one!
On the "Apartment Complex" episode, Kirstie drops by the real estate development office where Carrie is an assistant and makes Carrie eat all the fattening food Kirstie can no longer consume, such as donuts with sprinkles!
KEVIN JAMES and LEAH REMINI are back to work on the seventh season of "The King of Queens," moving back to Monday nights when it premieres on Sept. 19, and it has become quite the family-oriented set. Leah's 13-month-old daughter SOFIA is a frequent visitor and Kevin's wife STEFFIANA DE LA CRUZ is expecting their first child next month.
Leah tells MARY HART, who makes her first visit to the set, that things were not so wonderful right after she gave birth. She went through something similar to BROOKE SHEILDS, whose depression left her suicidal and distant from her daughter, so much so it became the subject of her book Down Came the Rain: My Journey Through Postpartum Depression.
Smooth operator WILL SMITH is setting his sights on the romantic comedy genre as a "date doctor" with all the right moves -- except when it comes to his personal life!
"You've got to educate yourself," Will tells our own KEVIN FRAZIER about deciphering the opposite sex. "You see, I am Hitch. I spend hours and hours a day reading stuff and trying to understand what women think and what they feel, because I want to be the best. I want your woman to love me," he says with a hearty laugh.
Smooth operator WILL SMITH is setting his sights on the romantic comedy genre as a "date doctor" with all the right moves -- except when it comes to his personal life! Tonight on ET, we have your first look behind the scenes of 'Hitch,' in theaters Feb. 11 (just in time for Valentine's Day!)
"You've got to educate yourself," Will tells our own KEVIN FRAZIER about deciphering the opposite sex. "You see, I am Hitch. I spend hours and hours a day reading stuff and trying to understand what women think and what they feel, because I want to be the best. I want your woman to love me," he says with a hearty laugh.
Comedy kings RAY ROMANO and KEVIN JAMES, of the hit CBS show and "Everybody Loves Raymond" spinoff "King of Queens," are teaming up for the big-screen laffer "Grilled." Tonight on ET, our JANN CARL visits the set of the hilarious film to "grill" the stars with the tough questions!
ET is at the AMA's! The "2009 American Music Awards" are underway and we have all the red-hot red-carpet arrival pics, including Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban, Rihanna, Adam Lambert and more!