The CBS comedy will kill off Kevin's wife Donna, who is played by Erinn Hayes, as the actress has been let go.
- August 2, 2017
AceShowbiz -
"Kevin Can Wait" will kill off Kevin's wife Donna in season 2. CBS Senior Exec VP of Programming, Thom Sherman, shared the tidbit during the network's portion of the Television Critics Association's summer press tour on Tuesday, August 1 when asked how the show would handle the absence of leading lady Erinn Hayes, who was dismissed over the summer.
"The character will have passed away," Sherman revealed, adding that season 2 would begin with a time jump. CBS entertainment president Kelly Kahl chimed in, "It will be addressed tastefully and set up as a way of moving forward. I'm not sure we can make that hilarious. It will be something that will have taken place in the past."
As to why Hayes was released from her role, Kahl said it was because Kevin James and his former "King of Queens" co-star Leah Remini showed a great chemistry when she guest starred in season 1. "Erinn did a great job," Kahl said, but "when everyone collectively saw how Kevin and Leah worked together in the last few episodes there was an undeniable spark there. It wasn't a test run. It was stunt casting that was meant to pump a little something into the show and it turned out really well."
Remini will return in season 2 as a series regular, reprising her role as a tough, wise-cracking police officer named Vanessa Cellucci who used to work with Kevin.
"Kevin Can Wait" season 2 premieres Monday, September 25 at 9/8c on CBS.
