Parents' Guide to

Kevin Can Wait

By Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 13+

James shines, but clichés bog down mundane sitcom.

TV CBS Comedy 2016
Kevin Can Wait Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

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age 13+

Based on 9 parent reviews

Kathy L.
Kathy L. Adult
October 13, 2017
age 18+
I loved King of Queens Leah Remini and Kevin James have good chemistry so I'm willing to give them a shot most definitely King of Queens was very funny very good and had good topics in it I hope I see the same in this
nuenjins
nuenjins Parent
September 30, 2017
age 12+

Was just OK, then horendous season 2 premier killed it.

Season one was alright with Kevins wife to balace out the comedy with jabs to counter Kevins typical bufoonery. SPOILER. Season 2 they killed the wife off and then played it off like the loss of a dead goldfish. To top it off they have Kevins old King Of Queens wife playing a surogate mother. The whole thing was tasteless and we won't be watching any more. Now it's just dumb and mindless ala' Kevins dead movie career.
See all 9 parent reviews

What's the Story?

KEVIN CAN WAIT stars Kevin James as recently retired police officer Kevin Gable anticipating living the good life of hanging out with his buddies and spending more time with his wife, Donna (Erinn Hayes), and their three kids now that his career is over. But life immediately throws him a series of curveballs, starting with his daughter Kendra's (Taylor Spreitler) announcement of her engagement and her plans to leave college to support her aspiring tech genius fiancé. Now Kevin must reassess his plans for his golden years.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (9):
Kids say (2):

James' impressive talents aren't enough to distinguish this sitcom that repackages setups all too familiar to anyone who's watched a family-centric comedy of late. A goofy, overgrown-kid husband; a long-suffering, hardworking wife; and kids whose problems always manage to reach a comfortable ending by the show's 30-minute time limit -- none of it is original enough to make this show a must-see.

Even so, there's a certain comfort to Kevin Can Wait that's reminiscent of a well-worn pair of jeans; you know exactly what to expect, and they're not going to get a lot of attention, but they're satisfying just the same. Especially for viewers who can relate to the characters' specific stage of midlife, there are some laughs -- and a few warm fuzzies -- in this otherwise mundane series.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how TV shows such as this one portray marriage and family life. Do the characters ever deal with real issues in a real way? How does the show's time constraints influence what we see them say and do under pressure and how problems get resolved?

  • What accounts for some celebrities' success? How has social media changed how we assign celebrity status? Have you seen Kevin James' other work? How does this show stand up to it?

  • Does this series make light of potentially serious scenarios? Where is the line between comedy and reality? Are you ever offended by comedy styles you see or hear? Is offensiveness something that should be considered, or should anything go in this genre?

TV Details

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