The scene: Kevin Gable (Kevin James) opens a form letter from Donna’s old gym saying the gym missed her and so did he. He then jokes about a kung fu lesson coupon. And just like that, it was all over for Erinn Hayes and Donna Gable – done and dusted! No explanations were given! What better send off could they have been given! Sarcasm intended!
Well, actually, to be fair, there was some mention of Donna toward the end of the episode – just before Kendra and Chale’s wedding – when Kevin hints that he was “just missing one thing” obviously referring to his ignominiously-sent-off-to-the-hereafter wife.
All this, after CBS Entertainment president Kelly Kahl said in July that Donna’s death would be ” addressed on the show, it will be addressed tastefully and set up as a way to move forward….it will be treated with dignity and respect and the show will go forward.”
It would appear that the CBS president made a minor error with the phrase “dignity and respect,” probably confusing it with its opposite meaning “indignity and disrespect.”
Upset with the ignominy meted out to Erinn Hayes’ character, Fans took to Twitter with a vengeance to give vent to their anger and disgust.
This should give you an idea of what hit the fan!
#KevinCanWait killed off Kevin’s wife tonight & spent less than one minute talking about her death in the whole ep https://t.co/GxvcdO0gnC pic.twitter.com/CexQHJEQ23
— Jarett Wieselman (@JarettSays) September 26, 2017
Yikes @CBS @KevinCanWaitCBS that was a little heartless on the killing off of Mrs. Gable into a quick Kung fu joke
— Derick Michael (@DThePackageDeal) September 26, 2017
Wow. Really. #KevinCanWait just casually mentions his wife “died over a year ago”. Just to bring Leah Remini back. Sad and distasteful
— Nathan Reed (@nathanreed001) September 26, 2017
Never watching #kevincanwait again. Killing off your wife and mother of your children isn’t really that funny. Erinn Hayes was hilarious.
— Jack Wunschel (@drummerjack) September 26, 2017
Wow they just kill her of like it’s nothing #KevinCanWait pic.twitter.com/vwvdPzTIFj
— Eli Falcon (@EliJfalcon) September 26, 2017
just watched cbs ssn 2 premiere of kevin can wait…couldnt even make it to the end.distasteful way to kill donna. @hayeslady will be missed
— Saul Rodriguez (@SaulRdrgz) 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
Miss you @hayeslady! “She died over a year ago” That was lame af. @KevinCanWaitCBS #KevinCanWait pic.twitter.com/nUnUOfiw1B
— Sylvia McCorkle M.S. (@mrsssmac) September 26, 2017
So they killed the wife/mom on #KevinCanWait ??? Wow! And they addressed @hayeslady departure in 2 lines. So disrespectful and savage af. pic.twitter.com/by0e9ojyLF
— Kelena Sothersby (@Tua_motu) September 26, 2017
CBS did the wife from Kevin Can Wait so dirty for no reason
— Jordan Frankel (@jordan_frankel) September 26, 2017
Leah Remini who plays James’ wife on his earlier hit “The King of Queens” comes in full-time as his former cop partner.
“I think when everybody collectively saw how Leah and Kevin were together in those last couple of episodes, there was an undeniable spark there,” CBS President Kelly Kahl had told reporters in an August statement justifying the inclusion of Remini. “I think Leah and the studio and network got together and we wanted to keep that magic together.”