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The Movie: A show that I recently discovered in syndication (because the show's CBS home is just not a place I often tread while channel surfing), "King of Queens" remains above forgettable due to the show's writing and acting - which often throws out enough good-natured one-liners and inspired situations to keep the laughs coming. The core idea is nothing terribly original: Doug Heffernan (Kevin James) is a delivery driver (read: UPS) who is happily married to Carrie (Leah Remini). In the opening episode, Carrie's father Arthur (Jerry Stiller) loses his wife, then proceeds to lose his house in an accident. Although a retirement home is an option, Doug knows that Arthur's destination is his basement, which is where Doug planned his dream room, complete with new big-screen TV. The show's acting is also another terrific aspect of the show. Although some critics fired at the fact that the overweight James wouldn't realistically attract a looker like Remini, the two do share a really warm chemistry that makes them a believable couple. Jerry Stiller is also terrific in a supporting role, throwing in an energetic and surprisingly edgy comedic presence into an otherwise somewhat straightforward show. The supporting actors (such as stand-up Patton Oswald) also manage to create enjoyable, realistic characters. The sixth season opens with "Doug Less", which sees Doug having lost weight and gained a jealous Carrie. However, the tables turn when Doug takes her to what he thinks is their old favorite getaway spot and finds that the woman who accompanied him on his last visit to the place wasn't Carrie. The two find that they have extra time to work out the situation when they get stuck in the woods after Doug loses the canoe. Other highlights this season include: "King Pong" (Arthur buys a ping pong table and becomes obsessed), "Nocturnal Omission" (Doug's friend Deacon meets a gorgeous stewardess, but Doug forgets to tell Deacon that his wife wants to get back with him); "Affidavit Justice" (Doug joins the softball team at Carrie's office, but then pretends to be a lawyer when another firm offers to hire him for $150K), "American Idle" (Carrie gets fired and Doug becomes upset when she turns into a couch potato); "Doogie Houser" (the mystery of why Carrie makes all the big decisions is solved when Doug remembers what happened ten years ago); "Cheap Saks" (Carrie befriends a woman that Doug dumped in order to get a discount), "Trash Talker" (Carrie and Deacon become friends with Doug's arch enemy from junior high) and "Precedent Nixin'" (A Florida vacation becomes a nightmare when Doug, Carrie and the Palmers stay at "Motel Hell"). Season 6 126. 6- 1 1 Oct 03 Doug Less (1) 127. 6- 2 1 Oct 03 Doug Less (2) 128. 6- 3 8 Oct 03 King Pong 129. 6- 4 15 Oct 03 Dreading Vows 130. 6- 5 22 Oct 03 Nocturnal Omission 131. 6- 6 29 Oct 03 Affidavit Justice 132. 6- 7 12 Nov 03 Secret Garden 133. 6- 8 19 Nov 03 Eggsit Strategy 134. 6- 9 26 Nov 03 Thanks Man 135. 6-10 3 Dec 03 American Idle 136. 6-11 17 Dec 03 Santa Claustrophobia 137. 6-12 7 Jan 04 Dougie Houser 138. 6-13 14 Jan 04 Frigid Heirs 139. 6-14 11 Feb 04 Switch Sitters 140. 6-15 11 Feb 04 Cheap Saks 141. 6-16 18 Feb 04 Damned Yanky 142. 6-17 25 Feb 04 Multiple Plots 143. 6-18 3 Mar 04 Trash Talker 144. 6-19 17 Mar 04 Precedent Nixin' 145. 6-20 24 Mar 04 Foe: Pa 146. 6-21 7 Apr 04 Tank Heaven 147. 6-22 5 May 04 Alter Ego 148. 6-23 12 May 04 Icky Shuffle 149. 6-24 19 May 04 Awful Bigamy The DVD VIDEO: "King of Queens" is presented here in 1.33:1 full-frame by Sony Pictures Home Video. The presentation quality is about as the same as you'll find on the prior season set. Sharpness and detail are not remarkable, but the picture at least maintains a pleasing level of definition that is fine for a TV series. Still, some minor faults appear at times, such as some mild shimmering and slight traces of pixelation. No edge enhancement or other problems are spotted. Colors appear bright and well-saturated throughout, with no concerns to speak of. SOUND: The show's Dolby 2.0 soundtrack provides a crisp, clear score, as well as a laugh track that's not terribly intrusive. Dialogue generally seemed crisp and clear. EXTRAS: Nothing but promos for other titles from the studio. Final Thoughts: I've never followed "King of Queens" to closely during its broadcast run so far, but catching up with the show on DVD has been a lot of fun. The DVD set again is skimpy on extras, but audio/video quality is fine. Recommended for fans. |