The Undisputed King of Funny

Most of us have TV shows that we enjoy, from many different genres. We have go-to shows for our various moods; sit-coms often make us feel good when we need it most. For me, The King of Queens is easily my favorite sit-com, a frequent source of entertainment for me, as I own the first 5 seasons of the show on DVD and can watch it whenever I want. Owning seasons of a TV show gives you a special connection with that TV series, as you feel like you own a part of it, watching the episodes in chronological order. This helps give depth to the characters and makes you understand them better, seeing the evolution of their backstory.

TBS

The King of Queens is centered around a thirty-something, blue-collar couple from a middle-class neighborhood of Queens, New York. The husband, Doug Heffernan, is a delivery truck driver who enjoys overeating, watching sports and palling around with his quirky friends and acquaintances. He is a down-to-earth former jock who shies away from anything intellectual, cultural or boring. His wife, Carrie, by contrast, is a paralegal in an upscale Manhattan law firm. Despite being from a lower-class dysfunctional family, Carrie constantly strives to fit in with other white-collar professionals, including the attorneys whom she works for. These conflicting priorities of husband and wife lead to many funny exchanges, fueled by Doug's simple, blue-collar humor and Carrie's brazen sarcasm.

Kevin James' pointedly effective sense of humor and Leah Remini's chemistry with him instantly made the show a hit with me. The supporting characters - Jerry Stiller, Patton Oswalt, Victor Williams, Larry Romano and Gary Valentine - added very much to the cleverly funny, emotionally warm episodes created by the combination of James and Remini. The cast and familiar sets formed the basis of a warm, comfortable family atmosphere that made the characters likeable and, therefore, more funny.

TBS

The show was so successful that it appealed way beyond its blue-collar, working-class base. The humor created at Carrie's workplace - a high-end Manhattan law firm located in the Chrysler Building - draw in many white-collar viewers and intellectuals, who are also won over by James' pleasant excess of personality and gut-level humor. Kevin James presents comedic material that is based on everyday experiences, relatable to common people of all social classes and occupations.

The show aired between 1998 and 2007, reminding me of my high school and college years when I watch it; I started high school in 1998 and got my associate's degree from NCC in 2007. As the seasons progress, the social historian in me can see how life and culture has changed for everyday Americans ("common men and women") during the aforementioned period of time. The King of Queens takes you from dial-up Internet and the Dot-Com Boom to the tumultuous, but technologically advanced end of the 2000s.

Wikipedia

I first encountered King of Queens when I was employed as housekeeper at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Muhlenberg in 2012/2013. I watched re-runs of the show that were broadcast on TBS at the time, immediately preceding half-hour blocks of Seinfeld and The Big Bang Theory. King of Queens quickly became my favorite of these three shows, despite the fact that I am not a working-class, blue-collar guy. It is comfort food for the brain, as very little thought is required to follow it. This sit-com also comforted me during some difficult, stressful times that I've gone through in recent years, making daily life tolerable and happier. It is therapeutic for me.

When I am going through a stressful time in my life or have a bad day, I soothe my foul mood by treating myself to the comedic genius of Kevin James, who never ceases to invent new ways to make me laugh, often a full-throated laugh that starts in my belly and shakes me to the core, while I tear up. This precedes a mellow, happy feeling that chases away any feelings of melancholy, stress or depression. My late Italian grandmother, also a fan of the show, used to say that when a person is going through a rough time, they should "put a comedy on;" there is much truth in this!

Good comedy helps relax my mind and get me in the proper frame of mind for deep sleep. It's better than watching a horror movie right before bed, especially with the vivid nightmares I am noted for! Dreams are the dominion of the subconscious mind, but good comedy gives you mastery over it. When you are anxious and worried, it can be very hard to fall asleep, but sleeping is easy when you are relaxed and content. Viewing and consuming uplifting media puts us in such a state. Sit-coms such as The King of Queens fill this role.

You can check it out on Netflix or rent a few seasons from your public library, if it's available. I recommend giving it a try, even if sit-coms are not usually your thing. You may be pleasantly surprised! It is often fun to watch several episodes at a time, since they are only 30 minutes long and always leave you wanting more. The King of Queens will entertain you, relax you and satisfy you!