THE KING OF QUEENS Sitcom about a husband and wife as they explore the challenges of love, life, family and marriage. 207 episodes of 30 minutes duration. CBS. 1998-2007.

Stand-up comic Kevin James found sitcom success with this long-running domestic comedy about a delivery driver, his wife and her father. James played Doug Heffernan who worked for the International Parcel Service and lived in the New York burrow of Queens with Carrie (Leah Remini), who also worked as a legal secretary in Manhattan. Also living under the same roof with the Heffernans was Carrie’s elderly dad, Arthur Spooner (played by veteran comic and former Seinfeld regular Jerry Stiller), whose eccentric ways complicate Doug and Carrie’s lives. At IPS, Doug’s best friend was Deacon Palmer (Victor Williams), a settled family man with two kids whose idyllic marriage to wife Kelly (Merrin Dungey) eventually ended in divorce. Doug and Carrie had their own problems, as they tried to better themselves (Doug usually botched up promising ideas).

Kevin James started his career in the comedy clubs doing stand-up and later appeared on various variety and talk shows. He happened to have a friend in high places–fellow comic Ray Romano–and James appeared in several early episodes of Romano’s sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond. In 1998, CBS premiered King Of Queens, which was influenced by Jackie Gleason’s Honeymooners. Romano also made guest appearances as his Ray Barone character on “Queens.” Others who appeared on the series included former Incredible Hulk star Lou Ferringo as Doug and Carrie’s neighbor (he played himself) and Ricki Lake as Doug’s sister Stephanie. A number of guest stars stopped by in Queens, including Burt Reynolds, Adam Sandler, and Ben Stiller (Jerry’s son).

The King of Queens was one of the first modern comedies to depict an overweight husband and a hot wife–“inspiring” such comedies as According to Jim. But “King” was more popular than its rival, thanks in part to the fact it was simply a funnier show. Also helping was CBS’ slotting of the show on its strong Monday comedy lineup.

The final episode showed Doug and Carrie splitting over a series of disagreements, but getting back together to adopt a Chinese baby–only to find Carrie had finally become pregnant, and the couple having the children they had long wanted. (Arthur briefly found happiness in marriage, but viewers learn in the end the union “didn’t work out.”)

The King of Queens theme song for much of its run was “Baby All My Life I Will Be Driving Home To You” by Billy Vera.