In this almost archetypal sitcom Doug Heffernen is a bluecollar worker with a beautiful wife and a father in law who has moved in. When he’s not working, clashing with Arthur, or nesting with Carrie, Doug hangs with his advice-giving buddies Deacon (Victor Williams ) and Spence (Patton Oswalt), as well as his cousin Danny (‘Gary Valentine’). Oddly, their next door neighbor is actor Lou Ferrigno who plays himself and makes a couple of appearances a season with no explanation why he would be living in Queens.
Very much in the mould of Roseanne the series focuses on the mundanities of everyday life. Another eccentric touch is the fact that Carrie and Doug have hired Holly, a dog walker, to take Carrie’s father out on walks so he doesn’t get lonely.
production details
USA | CBS | 207×21 minutes | Broadcast 21 September 1998 – 14 May 2007
Creators: Michael J. Weithorn, Josh Goldsmith, Cathy Yuspa, David Litt, Ilana Wernick, Rock Reuben,
cast
Kevin James as Doug Heffernan
Leah Remini as Carrie Heffernan
Victor Williams as Deacon Palmer
Gary Valentine as Danny Heffernan
Nicole Sullivan as Holly Shumpert
Jenny O’Hara as Janet Heffernan
Bryan Cranston as Tim
Jeanine Jackson as Rhonda Phillips
Lou Ferrigno as Lou Ferrigno
Cristine Rose as Helen
Ray Romano as Ray Barone
Reynaldo Gallegos as Bad Guy
Tim Bagley as Glenn
Patton Oswalt as Spence Olchin
Merrin Dungey as Kelly Palmer
Myndy Crist as Jessica
Brenda Vaccaro as Sheila Rednester
Patricia Heaton as Debra Barone
Victor Raider-Wexler as Kaplan
