![kevin can wait kevin james erinn hayes]()
The INSIDER Summary:
The INSIDER Summary:- CBS sitcom "Kevin Can Wait" has a new female lead for the second season, Leah Remini.
- They killed off the wife from the first season, played by Erinn Hayes, and addressed her death in a time jump during the second season premiere.
- But fans did not like how quickly the show glossed over death.
"Kevin Can Wait" returned for its second season with one very big change — a new female lead.
In June, Erinn Hayes, the actress who played the wife of Kevin James' character on the CBS sitcom, announced that she wouldn't be returning to the show. In August, CBS confirmed that her character would be killed off before the new season and would be handled after a time jump. Leah Remini, James' former "King of Queens" costar and guest on the first season of "Kevin Can Wait," would take her spot as a series regular.
So it was no surprise to fans when Hayes didn't appear during Monday's premiere, but fans were disappointed with how her character's death was handled.
@KevinCanWaitCBS very disappointed with the way they handled the transition of Donna Gable. Terrible and lazy writing.
— Seth Duffey (@sethigmo) September 26, 2017
Horrible start to the season. @KevinCanWaitCBS BOOOOOOO. You just lost a fan.
— SusieQ (@SusanDraffen) September 26, 2017
#KevinCanWait"She died over a year ago." Lazy writing. Uncreative way to jump on this season's remake bandwagon. #weaktea
— Alyce Weikel (@AlyceWeikel) September 26, 2017
Well #KevinCanWait you really screwed up that season premiere. #awful
— Rhonda Gill (@MamaMcFunkiller) September 26, 2017
Wow they just kill her of like it’s nothing #KevinCanWaitpic.twitter.com/vwvdPzTIFj
— Eli Falcon (@EliJfalcon) September 26, 2017
#KevinCanWait very disappointed they got rid of Donna... I thought that she made the show. Not watching the show anymore..
— Becky Engle (@beckykeener47) September 26, 2017
Miss you @hayeslady! "She died over a year ago" That was lame af. @KevinCanWaitCBS#KevinCanWaitpic.twitter.com/nUnUOfiw1B
— Sylvia McCorkle M.S. (@mrsssmac) September 26, 2017
The show spent very little time on the wife's death and didn't even feature an explanation.
The opening of the show featured Kevin getting his kids ready for school when he opens a postcard addressed to his dead wife.
"It’s from your mom’s gym," he says before reading the postcard aloud.
It reads: "Haven’t seen you. We miss you."
His response? "You know what? So do I."
Then his older daughter, played by Taylor Spreitler, says, "Okay, you know what? Give me that. I will call them right now. It's been over a year since she died. They shouldn’t still be sending this."
Kevin appreciates the thought but then tells her to keep it for a coupon.
The only other mention for Hayes' character comes at the end of the episode when the oldest daughter quickly gets married after trying to secure a green card for her British boyfriend.
"We’re just missing one thing," Kevin says during a speech.
"I know," his daughter responds. "I wish Mom was here, too."
And that's her goodbye. No questions were answered about what happened except for the brief acknowledgment that she had been dead for over a year.
The show could explain more as the season continues, but for now, it wasn't enough for many fans.
"Kevin Can Wait" airs on CBS on Mondays.
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