Blu-ray Review: THE KING OF QUEENS: THE COMPLETE SERIES (Reissue)

Home » Blu-ray Review: THE KING OF QUEENS: THE COMPLETE SERIES (Reissue)

Dec 08, 2024 Posted by Kyle Nolan in DVD/Blu-ray, Reviews | Comments

The sitcom The King of Queens ran for 9 seasons/207 episodes on CBS, from 1998-2007. It follows the adventures of Doug Heffernan (Kevin James), a delivery driver for the International Parcel Service (IPS), and his wife Carrie (Leah Remini), who works in Manhattan as a legal secretary. As the series opens, the couple has been married for three years, and living in Queens. Doug has finally completed setting up his man cave in the basement of their home, and is excited to be able to spend time there with his buddies. However, those plans are upended as Carries’ 76-year-old, opinionated father Arthur (Jerry Stiller) accidentally burns down his home, and is forced to move in.

The series follows the lives and relationship of Doug and Carrie, both at home and at their jobs. Doug is constantly coming up with elaborate schemes, most of which never pan out, and these often lead to some sort of argument between the couple. At the same time, Carrie is constantly looking for ways to inject more romance into their relationship—though these attempts often get derailed by Doug’s antics. The original pitch for the series was “a modern-day Honeymooners“, and that definitely feels true to form.

The supporting cast includes friends/family for both Doug and Carrie. Doug’s friend group include best friend/co-worker Deacon Palmer (Victor Williams); angsty, nerdy subway token booth clerk Spence Olchin (Patton Oswalt); former roommate/firefighter Richie Iannucci (Larry Romano); and rival-turned-friend/co-worker cousin Danny (Gary Valentine, James’ real-life brother). At the start of the series we are introduced to Carrie’s younger half-sister Sara (Lisa Rieffel). However, the character is pretty much written out of existence after the first 6 episodes of the series. Instead, Deacon’s wife Kelly (Merrin Dungey) becomes Carrie’s best friend. There are many new and recurring characters introduced throughout the series, but the fourth season adds Holly Shumpert (Nicole Sullivan) as a professional dog walker the Heffernans hire to help looks after and keep Arthur busy. Nicole Sullivan makes a really fun addition to the cast. Ray Romano also appears in four episodes playing his character of Ray Barone, though Kevin James’ similar crossover appearances on Everybody Loves Raymond are not included in this box set. Lou Ferrigno (The Incredible Hulk) also has a fun recurring role as himself, as the Heffermans’ next-door-neighbor.

I never really watched The King of Queens when it originally aired, but I found it to be a fun, enjoyable sitcom. It follows a familiar format, and still holds up decades later. I enjoyed the relationship between Doug and Carrie, which feels quite natural and grounded, despite some of Doug’s ridiculous antics. And it was nice to see Jerry Stiller in another role—though Arthur feels very reminiscent of Frank Costanza—Serenity Now!. I can see why this was a popular show back in the day, and I found it very easy to get sucked into watching episode after episode.

Mill Creek had previously released The King of Queens: The Complete Series on Blu-ray back in in 2019, but it must have gone out of print, because now they have reissued the box set. The contents appear to be identical to the previous release. The show’s nine season are split across 20 discs. These are split across two inch-thick HD keepcases, which are placed inside a sturdy cardboard slipcase.

The Blu-ray video presentation provides a generally decent picture. I experienced some black crush during some of the darker basement scenes in the Pilot episode, but didn’t see this in other episodes. However, I did find that the clarity and focus wavered during some episodes, from scene to scene. The audio track is only a 2.0 mix, and sometimes the laugh track is loud but never overpowers the dialogue. The laugh track felt natural, and not excessively enhanced like on some other shows. One disappointment is that the set does not offer any subtitles or closed captions.

The reissued Blu-ray release includes the same bonus material as Mill Creek’s previous release, which consists of audio commentaries on 2 episodes with co-writer/co-creator Michael Weithorn and star Kevin James, and about an hour of behind-the-scenes/retrospective featurettes with the cast/crew.

What’s Included:

Episodes: (4532 minutes)

All 9 seasons of the series on 20 discs:
- Season 1 (1998-99) – 25 episodes – 3 discs
  “Pilot”, “Fat City”, “Cello, Goodbye”, “Richie’s Song”, “Paternal Affairs”, “Head First”, “The Rock”, “Educating Doug”, “Road Rayge”, “Supermarket Story”, “Noel Cowards”, “Fixer Upper”, “Best Man”, “Dog Days”, “Crappy Birthday”, “S’Ain’t Valentine’s”, “Court Date”, “White Collar”, “Rayny Day”, “Train Wreck”, “Hungry Man”, “Time Share”, “Where’s Poppa”, “Art House”, “Maybe Baby”
- Season 2 (1999-00) – 25 episodes – 3 discs
  “Queasy Rider”, “Female Problems”, “Assaulted Nuts”, “Parent Trapped”, “Tube Stakes”, “Doug Out”, “Get Away”, “Dire Strayts”, “I, Candy”, “Roamin’ Holiday”, “Sparing Carrie”, “Net Prophets”, “Party Favor”, “Block Buster”, “Frozen Pop”, “Fair Game”, “Meet By-Product”, “The Shmenkmans”, “Surprise Artie”, “Wild Cards”, “Big Dougie”, “Soft Touch”, “Restaurant Row”, “Flower Power”, “Whine Country”
- Season 3 (2000-01) – 25 episodes – 3 discs
  “Do Rico”, “Roast Chicken”, “Fatty McButterpants”, “Class Struggle”, “Strike One”, “Strike Too”, “Strike Out”, “Dark Meet”, “Twisted Sitters”, “Work Related”, “Better Camera”, “Wedding Presence”, “Hi-Def Jam”, “Paint Misbehavin'”, “Deacon Blues”, “Horizontal Hold”, “Inner Tube”, “Papa Pill”, “Package Deal”, “Separation Anxiety”, “Departure Time”, “Swim Neighbors”, “S’no Job”, “Pregnant Pause (Part 1)”, “Pregnant Pause (Part 2)”
- Season 4 (2001-02) – 25 episodes – 2 discs
  “Walk, Man”, “Sight Gag”, “Mean Streak”, “Friender Bender”, “No Retreat”, “Ticker Treat”, “Lyin’ Hearted”, “Life Sentence”, “Veiled Threat”, “Oxy Moron”, “Depo Man”, “Ovary Action”, “Food Fight”, “Double Downer”, “Dougie Nights”, “No Orleans”, “Missing Links”, “Hero Worship”, “Screwed Driver”, “Lush Life”, “Bun Dummy”, “Patrons Ain’t”, “Eddie Money”, “Two Thirty”, “Shrink Wrap”
- Season 5 (2002-03) – 25 episodes – 2 discs
  “Arthur, Spooner”, “Window Pain”, “Holy Mackerel”, “Kirbed Enthusiasm”, “Mammary Lane”, “Business Affairs”, “Flame Resistant”, “Flash Photography”, “Connect Four”, “Loaner Car”, “Mentalo Case”, “Jung Frankenstein”, “Attention Deficit”, “Prints Charming”, “Animal Attraction”, “Golden Moldy”, “S’Poor House”, “Steve Moscow”, “Cowardly Lyin'”, “Driving Reign”, “Clothes Encounter”, “Queens’bro Bridge”, “Dog Shelter”, “Taste Buds”, “Bed Spread”
- Season 6 (2003-04) – 24 episodes – 2 discs
  “Doug Less (Part 1), “Doug Less (Part 2)”, “King Pong”, “Dreading Vows”, “Nocturnal Omission”, “Affidavit Justice”, “Secret Garden”, “Eggsit Strategy”, “Thanks, Man”, “American Idle”, “Santa Claustrophobia”, “Dougie Houser”, “Frigid Heirs”, “Switch Sitters”, “Cheap Saks”, “Damned Yanky”, “Multiple Plots”, “Trash Talker”, “Precedent Nixin'”, “Foe: Pa”, “Tank Heaven”, “Altar Ego”, “Icky Shuffle”, “Awful Bigamy”
- Season 7 (2004-05) – 22 episodes – 2 discs
  “Lost Vegas”, “Dugan Groupie”, “Furious Gorge”, “Entertainment Weakly”, “Name Dropper”, “Offtrack… Bedding”, “Silent Mite”, “Awed Couple”, “Cologne Ranger”, “Domestic Disturbance”, “Pour Judgment”, “Gym Neighbors”, “Gorilla Warfare”, “Hi, School”, “Deconstructing Carrie”, “Black List”, “Wish Boned”, “Van, Go”, “Ice Cubed”, “Catching Hell”, “Slippery Slope”, “Buy Curious”
- Season 8 (2005-06) – 23 episodes – 2 discs
  “Pole Lox”, “Vocal Discord”, “Consummate Professional”, “Like Hell”, “Sandwiched Out”, “Shear Torture”, “Inn Escapable”, “Move Doubt”, “G’Night Stalker”, “Raygin’ Bulls”, “Baker’s Doesn’t”, “Fresh Brood”, “Gambling N’Diction”, “Apartment Complex”, “Buggie Nights”, “Knee Jerk”, “Present Tense”, “Sold-Y Locks”, “Emotional Rollercoaster”, “Four Play”, “Hartford Wailer”, “Fight Schlub”, “Acting Out”
- Season 9 (2006-07) – 13 episodes – 1 disc
  “Mama Cast”, “Affair Trade”, “Moxie Moron”, “Major Disturbance”, “Ruff Goin'”, “Brace Yourself”, “Home Cheapo”, “Offensive Fowl”, “Mild Bunch”, “Manhattan Project”, “Single Spaced”, “China Syndrome (Part 1)”, “China Syndrome (Part 2)”
1080p / Widescreen 1.78:1
Audio: English 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio
Subtitles: None

Extras:
All of the same bonus material as the previous release.

Season One
- “Pilot” Audio Commentary (21:21)
  Co-Writer/Co-Creator Michael Weithorn and star Kevin James (“Doug Heffernan”) provide commentary on the pilot episode. They discuss discuss casting and the chemistry with Leah Remini, some of the changes made to the pilot, some of the things from the pilot that became mainstays and things that were ultimately scrapped later on, and more.
- Behind the Scenes (27:45)
  Recorded in 2003 as the show was heading into its sixth season, the cast and creator discuss the genesis of the series (pitched as a modern day Honeymooners), the network notes, moving the series to CBS, casting the series, the chemistry between the actors, the jokes, some of their favorite moments and guest stars, what makes the show work, and more. Includes behind-the-scenes footage, and interviews with producer/writer Michael J. Weithorn, and stars Kevin James, Leah Remini (“Carrie Heffernan”) & Jerry Stiller (“Arthur Spooner”). Presented in 4:3 full frame format.
- Laughs Montage (4:14)
  Montage of humorous clips from the season, presented in 4:3 full frame format.
Season Two
- “Net Prophets” Audio Commentary (22:28)
  Co-Writer/Co-Creator Michael Weithorn and star Kevin James return to discuss the second season’s Christmas episode, sharing their thoughts about the episode and sharing fun behind-the-scenes stories about the episode.
Season Nine
- Series Retrospective (16:13)
  Recorded just days after the series wrapped, the cast and crew look back at the series, the characters, what they’ll miss about working on the series, why it was so successful, their favorite episodes, writing the final episode, and more. Includes behind-the-scenes footage, and interviews with series co-creator Michael Weithorn, writers/executive producers David Bickel, Ilana Wernick & Chris Downey, and stars Kevin James, Leah Remini, Jerry Stiller, Garry Valentine (“Danny Hefferman”), Victor Williams (“Deacon Palmer”), Patton Oswalt (“Spence Olchin”) & Nicole Sullivan (“Holly Shumpert”).
- Thanks to the Fans (4:48)
  The cast and crew (same participants as above) thank the viewers for 9 years/207 episodes.
- 200th Episode Celebration (1:48)
  Footage from the show’s 200th episode celebration, along with a few brief interview clips with stars Leah Remini, Victor Williams, Jerry Stiller & Kevin James.
- The Writers of King of Queens (12:33)
  The cast and crew discuss the quality of the writers/writing on the series, the characters, the final season, and more. Includes behind-the-scenes, and interviews with series co-creator Michael Weithorn, writers/executive producers Ilana Wernick, David Bickel & Chris Downey, and stars Leah Remini, Jerry Stiller, Garry Valentine & Nicole Sullivan.

Final Thoughts:

My Rating

Episodes:

Video:

Audio:

Extras:

Highly Recommended for Fans

The King of Queens is a fun sitcom that still holds up quite well. Mill Creek’s re-issued Blu-ray box set comes highly recommended for fans of the series or of the cast. The picture and video presentation is generally good, it has some nice bonus material, and the set makes a great way to binge through the episodes. This re-issue doesn’t appear to be any different from the previous release, so there is no need to double-dip if you previously picked up Mill Creek’s box set the first time around.