KEVIN CAN WAIT star Erinn Hayes announced in early June that she was axed from her CBS sitcom after one season, and CBS execs revealed Tuesday the way her character is being written out of the show.
“The character will have passed away, and we will be moving forward in time catching up at a later date,” CBS EVP Thom Sherman announced at the network’s 2017 Television Critics Association summer press tour.
After the panel, CBS Entertainment President Kelly Kahl told a small group of journalists that the exit “will be addressed tastefully” and “with dignity and respect.”
While he praised Hayes as an actress, he cited star Kevin James’ chemistry with his former King of Queens costar Leah Remini, who joins as a series regular, as a reason for the creative overhaul.
“When everybody collectively saw how Leah and Kevin worked together in those last couple of episodes, there was just an undeniable spark there. Kevin, the studio, and the network wanted to keep that magic and chemistry going forward,” he said.
Kahl also acknowledged that Hayes did not have a say in how her character would exit the show.
