The King Of Queens: 20 Hidden Details About The Main Characters Everyone Missed

Summary

• Doug’s love of classic literature is subtly portrayed through hidden details in
  The King of Queens
  , such as hiding books at work and expressing interest in joining a book club.
• Carrie, despite vocalizing her disdain for reality shows, secretly has a guilty pleasure for them, as hinted by various hidden details throughout the series.
• Lou Ferrigno, who plays himself in the show, is hinted to have a collection of Hulk memorabilia, with subtle references scattered throughout different episodes.

More than 15 years after it ended, there are still questions about Richie’s disappearance, what happened to Carrie’s sister, and was Leah Remini pregnant during The King of Queens, and luckily, the answers may be revealed by the many hidden details in the show. The King of Queens centers around married couple Doug (Kevin James) and Carrie Heffernan (Remini) who live a quiet life until Carrie’s father Arthur (Jerry Stiller) moves into their home, who clashes with Doug in hilarious ways and impedes on what should be a blissful life for Doug and Carrie.

A sitcom spinoff of Everbody Loves Raymond, The King of Queens developed its own legacy with a show full of quirks, oddities, and mysteries. It would be easy to dismiss Doug and Carrie as sitcom tropes, with him as the lazy husband and her as the nagging wife, but they have layers and complexities, as do the characters around them. Meanwhile, other details in The King of Queens flat-out don’t make sense, whether they’re a dropped storyline or a conflicting backstory. However, between plotholes and character nuances, there are many intriguing The King of Queens hidden details.

20 Carrie’s Name Was Once Simone

Arthur Lost Carrie’s Name In A Poker Game

Carrie and her father, Arthur, have a complicated relationship, to say the least. Arthur Spooner is easily one of the most eccentric sitcom characters ever conceived, with reveals about his past always revealing something unusual. Whether it’s the fact he’s a Communist or that he’s incredibly skilled at ping pong, Arthur never ceases to surprise viewers or members of his own family. However, one of the most shocking reveals is easily that he lost his child’s name in a poker game.

When Carrie was born, she was named Simone. It was also shown in various flashbacks that she kept the name Simone well into her childhood. Her name is only Carrie during the show because Arthur lost a poker game to Uncle Chester, and Chester won the right to call his own daughter Simone, leading to Arthur having Carrie’s name legally changed.

19 Richie Almost Became Doug’s Brother-In-Law

Dating Stephanie Could Have Led To A Bigger Role For Larry Romano

Richie (Larry Romano) was a regular presence in the earlier seasons of King of Queens. An FDNY firefighter, Richie was Doug’s best friend, and was integral to many episodes in King of Queens seasons 1-3. Richie was only written out of the show because actor Larry Romano wished to be let out of his contract so he could take a role in the short-lived sitcom Kristin. However, at one point, a specific Richie plot-thread could have set him up to become a member of Doug’s family.

Early on in King of Queens, Richie went on several dates with Doug’s sister, Stephanie. While it’s of course speculative since the writers never indicated whether they had bigger plans for this romance, there was still the possibility that, had Larry Romano stayed in the show, Richie and Stephanie could have got married, which would have made Richie Doug’s brother-in-law.

18 Lou Ferrigno’s Real Wife Plays His On-Screen One

Carla Ferrigno Also Plays Herself In King Of Queens

One of the funniest aspects of King of Queens is that actor Lou Ferrigno plays himself on the show. Ferrigno is, of course, known for his role as The Incredible Hulk, but having him arrive as Doug’s neighbor in King of Queens was absolutely hilarious, especially because of the number of Hulk-related jokes this led to. Lou was, of course, an incredibly fleshed-out character beyond this and Ferrigno was playing a semi-fictionalized version of himself, but the show still had many references to his real life.

However, one particular King of Queens easter egg when it comes to Lou Ferrigno pertains to his wife Carla. While there have been many instances of actors playing themselves in sitcoms, any on-screen partners they have often are portrayed by actors. Carla Ferrigno, however, is also playing herself on King of Queens. The fact that Lou’s real wife also plays his on-screen one in King of Queens means the chemistry between them is incredibly realistic, and definitely lends itself to the show.

17 Doug Heffernan Also Appeared In Everybody Loves Raymond

King Of Queens Isn’t The Only Time Kevin James Has Played Doug

Doug Heffernan from King of Queens is arguably the most popular character actor Kevin Smith has played. However, King of Queens isn’t the only show where he’s played Doug. As many fans may already know, Smith also played Doug in Everybody Loves Raymond, and it was in Ray Romano’s sitcom that the character first appeared (although, in his first appearance, he was named Kevin, despite the fact it’s been confirmed they’re the same character).

Everybody Loves Raymond isn’t the only time Doug has appeared on a show outside of King of Queens, either. Kevin Smith also played Doug during a cameo appearance on Cosby, and also appeared as Doug in a 1999 episode of Becker (which also featured Ray Ramono as Ray Barone). Doug’s most recent appearance was in 2016 in a series of commercials for sitcom Kevin Can Wait, which sees Doug in various humorous situations with Kevin James.

16 Doug Surprisingly Loves To Read

Hints Of Doug’s Love Of Literature Are Peppered Throughout The Show

Sitcoms in the same era as King of Queens were common for having the husband characters fitting into a certain type. They were often slobbish, lazy, and not too bright compared to their wives and Doug seemed to fit in nicely with this collection. The recent Doug King of Queens memes are a reminder that while he’s depicted as a goofy average Joe in King of Queens who loves BBQs, cars, and beer, he’s also deeper than first appears. The show has subtle references to Doug’s collection of classic literature books.

In season 5, episode 24’s “Taste Buds,” Doug hides books in his toolbox at work. In season 7 episode 14, “Hi, School,” Doug impresses Carrie with his vast knowledge of classic literature, and in season 7, episode 12, “Gym Neighbors,” he even expresses interest in joining a book club.

15 Carrie Hides Her Weird Obsession With Reality Shows

Carrie Seemed Embarrassed By Her Guilty Pleasure Viewing

Throughout The King of Queens, Carrie often vocalizes her disdain for reality shows. This was in keeping with her blunt and outspoken attitude. She had a very blue-collar outlook on life and it seemed as though she would simply be annoyed with the rich and spoiled personalities that stereotypically inhabit reality shows. However, they’re secretly a guilty pleasure of Carrie’s, as one King of Queens hidden detail hints that she’s addicted to them.

In season 6, episode 24’s “Awful Bigamy,” Carrie gleefully mentions that her and Doug’s bigamy scandal would make a great reality series. In season 1, episode 8, “Educating Doug,” Carrie quietly becomes obsessed with The Bachelor, and in season 4, episode 2, “Sight Gag,” she’s all about a reality show called Patricia’s Ultimate Style. It is a funny little detail that suggests, like many people, Carrie could criticize reality shows but get wrapped up in them as well.

14 Lou Ferrigno Has A Collection Of Hulk Memorabilia

The Hulk Actor Was His Own Biggest Fan

Lou Ferrigno, who famously played the Hulk in the 1970s series, plays himself in the King of Queens cast and is one of Doug and Carrie’s neighbors. He is a hilarious addition to the show, playing the gentle giant role while also being able to poke fun at his own image. It’s no secret that the sitcom plays on Ferrigno’s previous role and makes a pun about it any chance it gets. However, the show took it a step further when it hinted that Ferrigno has a collection of Hulk memorabilia.

Throughout The King of Queens, there are very subtle hints to Ferrigno’s collection, such as in season 2, episode 10, “Roamin’ Holiday” when Lou gives Doug a signed Hulk action figure, and in “Hi, School” when Lou reveals his favorite possession, which is a Hulk lunchbox.

13 Doug Is A Talented Musician

Doug Even Proves Himself A Songwriter

Doug does a lot to cement himself in the role of the typically lazy husband as he loves to lounge around and watch television. However, there are plenty of hints that he has more going on under the surface. Not only does Doug come off as surprisingly cultural with his classic literature references, but other hidden details hint at the character being a talented musician.

Several episodes see Doug masterfully playing the guitar, such as in season 8, episode 9, “G’Night, Stalker” when he plays a version of The Beatles’ “Blackbird.” Doug also played a song that he wrote for Carrie in season 4, episode 11, “Depo Man,” and in season 8, episode 19, “Emotional Rollercoaster,” Doug combines his love of playing the guitar with his other love, as he wrote a song about his love of food.

12 Arthur Has A Strange Antique Collection

The Weirdest King Of Queens Character Has Many More Quirks

Arthur provided the funniest moments on The King of Queens, thanks largely to the hilarious performance from Jerry Stiller. Though the show was relatively grounded, the writers seemed to embrace a certain absurdity when writing some of his eccentricities. His bizarre collection of antiques is just one example of his strange antics even though it was kept as a barely acknowledged secret for much of the series.

Arthur’s collection of antiques is hinted at, such as a stash of antique doorknobs in “Taste Buds,” and his odd-shaped rocks in season 2, episode 21 “Big Dougie.” However, Arthur has somehow managed to maintain the quality of these antiques, which is especially difficult with vintage postcards, which he proudly shows off in season 3, episode 17, “Inner Tube.” It is a strangely precise hobby to be undertaken by a man who is known for his sudden fits of frustration.

11 Spence Is Allergic To Peanuts, But He Eats Peanut M&Ms

Was The Allergy Fake Or Was Spence Just Hungry?

Though he was known for his work as a standup comedian at this point in his career, Patton Oswalt found a breakout television role in The King of Queens as Doug’s nerdy friend Spence. In season 4, episode 4, “Friender Bender,” Spence is babysitting Deacon (Victor Williams) and Kelly’s (Merrin Dungey) kids. When Kirby finds out Spence is allergic to peanuts, he teases him for it as Spence tries to explain his allergy. However, earlier in the show, Spence’s allergy is non-existent.

Either Spence is lying about his allergy, or he likes peanut M&Ms so much that he’s willing to face the consequences

In season 1, episode 4, “Richie’s Song,” Spence eats expired peanut M&Ms that he finds in Doug’s car. When Spence asks Doug if they’re peanut M&Ms, Doug says yes, and then Spence just eats them anyway. Either Spence is lying about his allergy, or he likes peanut M&Ms so much that he’s willing to face the consequences.

10 Doug’s Uniform Is Too Tight In The King Of Queens

Doug’s IPS Job Came With Its Challenges

Doug’s blue-collar job was a central part of The King of Queens and helped add to Doug and Carrie’s lifestyle which differed from a lot of other married sitcom couples. It was an unglamorous job but one that fit Doug nicely. However, the required wardrobe was a nuisance. Kevin James hated wearing the IPS uniform because it was too snug (via TV Guide). Sometimes he’d ask the producers if he could just not be wearing the uniform at all, even when he’s shown at work.

The actor explained, “The shorts were tight and they’d cut into my hips, I’d feel like writing scenes around it, like, ‘Oh, I don’t need a uniform.’ They’d be like, ‘But you’re at work!’ And I’d be like, ‘Whatever. I show up without it!‘” While it is not the most confining costume compared to the kind of things that appear in superhero shows or period pieces, it does make it interesting to watch those scenes in the series knowing James’ discomfort.

9 Continuity Errors In The Story Of How Doug And Carrie Met

The Couple Cannot Get Their Own Love Story Right

Despite the fact that they have plenty of arguments and go through various struggles in their relationship, the romance between Doug and Carrie is at the heart of the show. They make for a charming couple and it makes sense that the audience would like to know more about their romance. However, the show kept changing the origins of how these two met and began their relationship.

In some episodes, they talk about how they knew each other in middle school. In season 1, episode 9, “Road Rayge”, “their song” comes on TV and Carrie talks about them dancing to it as children. However, in season 2, episode 17, “Meet By-Product”, a flashback shows Carrie meeting Doug at a bar where he’s working as a bouncer. Richie (Larry Romano) brings Carrie on a double date, which doesn’t work out, and Doug has to convince Carrie to give him a second chance.

8 Spence Stood Completely Motionless For Three Minutes

The Writers Wanted To Know If Viewers Noticed

King of Queens is not always given the credit it deserves as a great sitcom. It is easy to dismiss it as one of many similar domestic sitcoms of that particular era but it did feature some clever writing and even some off-the-wall moments that fans might not have even noticed. In an appearance on The Howard Stern Show, Patton Oswalt mentioned that in season 8, episode 19, “Emotional Rollercoaster,” Spence stands completely motionless for about three entire minutes.

The scene is Doug’s 40th birthday party and the whole thing was a prank. Oswalt claimed that all the writers on the show were big cannabis consumers and thought it would be weird to include this to see if anyone noticed. It turns out that people did notice. Oswalt commented, “All the writers were stoners, they were always pulling weird pranks” (via Youtube).

7 Carrie’s Sister May Or May Not Exist In The King Of Queens

Is Carried An Only Child Or Not?

King of Queens was a popular show that ran for nine seasons. As with most shows of that length, there are bound to be some continuity issues or things that the writers might have forgotten about. It is also not common for TV characters to disappear without explanation on these long-running shows, as with Carrie’s sister on The King of Queens. Sara Spooner (Lisa Rieffel), Carrie’s younger sister, appears in the first six episodes of season 1. She’s shown as an aspiring actress who doesn’t know how to handle responsibilities.

oug doesn’t say her name, just that Carrie’s sister had an event, so he could get out of another one

Later on, though, the show refers to Carrie as an only child. In season 3, episode 2 “Roast Chicken,” Doug mentions Carrie’s sister, but this is the only other time she’s acknowledged. Doug doesn’t say her name, just that Carrie’s sister had an event, so he could get out of another one.

6 Richie Silently Disappears From The King Of Queens

Doug Never Mentions His Best Friend Again

Carrie’s sister is not the only character on the show to be introduced in a fairly significant role only to leave and not return. However, in the case of Richie, he played a significant role in the show before his exit which made his absence more noticeable. In the earlier seasons, Doug’s relationship with Richie is one of his longest-running friendships. On top of that, Richie is why Doug and Carrie get together in the first place.

However, after those first few seasons, Richie disappears entirely and his sudden absence is never acknowledged for the rest of The King of Queens by his best friend Doug or anyone else. The real reason it happened was that the actor left the show. Romano asked to be let out of his contract with The King of Queens after landing a role on another sitcom (via Looper).

5 Leah Remini Was Pregnant During The King Of Queens Season 6

King Of Queens Was One Of Many Sitcoms To Disguise Actors’ Pregnancies

It is not uncommon in shows for an actor to get pregnant and the series is forced to hide the rather noticeable change. During season 6 of King of Queens, Remini was pregnant which posed a problem as the showrunners had no interest in having Carrie and Doug having a baby. To explain her changing figure, the producers decided to have her character lose her job and then lounge around the house eating all day. This way, they didn’t have to hide her stomach as much and could refer to her weight on-screen to make it more believable.

Later in her term, she’s usually seen wearing baggy clothing. A weight gain storyline, loose clothing, and props in front of bellies are all commonly used to hide pregnancies in shows, as Friends, Modern Family, and How I Met Your Mother all had cast pregnancies and similarly dealt with them.

4 Doug Was Born In Canada In The King Of Queens

Doug Didn’t Find Out He Was Canadian Until Later In Life

Where Doug was born is a little detail that’s extremely easy to miss because it’s quickly mentioned in one episode in season 5 and never again. However, it sets up an interesting backstory, making it even funnier that it is never really touched upon. In season 5, episode 23, “Dog Shelter,” Doug and Carrie visit his parents at their home in Florida. When they get there, they find out quite a few shocking details about Doug’s childhood.

Of course, after the revelation, Doug does nothing to embrace the fact that he is Canadian and seems to forget about it.

It turns out that his parents lied to him to cover things up instead of dealing with confrontations or problems head-on. One of those secrets is the fact that Doug was actually born in Canada, and he went decades without taking advantage of his dual citizenship. Of course, after the revelation, Doug does nothing to embrace the fact that he is Canadian and seems to forget about it.

3 Carrie And Doug Had A Dog For A Few King Of Queens Episodes

The Hiffernans’ Adopted Pet Is Another Disappearance On The Show

Disappearing characters in long-running shows is common but The King of Queens is a bit unusual for featuring a disappearing dog. Doug and Carrie adopt a dog named Stanley that had previously belonged to their obnoxious neighbors, the Sackskys. The Sackskys were going to abandon him, so the Heffernans took him in. With Carrie and Doug having little interest in having babies, it made sense that they would get a dog to share some of their love with.

it is likely the show just decided they didn’t want to deal with a dog actor on set.

Though Doug and Carrie weren’t totally happy with the decision, they felt that they had a moral obligation. However, Stanley only appears in a few episodes before he mysteriously vanishes. No one ever acknowledges the dog in The King of Queens again. While that could draw some sad conclusions about what became of the adorable canine, it is likely the show just decided they didn’t want to deal with a dog actor on set.

2 Jerry Stiller Almost Didn’t Play Arthur

Stiller Was Always The First Choice For The Role

Imagining someone else in the role of Arthur is almost unthinkable. However, while Stiller was executive producer David Bickel’s first choice for the part, it initially went to veteran actor Jack Carter (History of the World: Part I). It’s unknown why Stiller was originally unavailable to play Arthur, but the studio went ahead and began filming the pilot episode with Carter as Arthur.

However, as soon as Stiller became available, Carter was recast and his scenes in the pilot were re-shot. In a 2006 interview with The Futon Critic, Bickel said, “And I’m thinking our lives would have really would have been so different — both of ours — by this one event.” Interestingly, this ended up being Stiller took over a sitcom role from the original actor as John Randolph played Frank Costanza first on Seinfeld before Stiller stepped into the role.

1 The Studio Decided Not To Give Doug And Carrie Children

The Show Wanted To Keep Focus On Arthur Rather Than A Child

Outside of wondering what happened to Richie on King of Queens, a lot of viewers had questions regarding why Doug and Carrie waited so long to have children. The couple doesn’t get pregnant until the series finale, and the topic of having children was occasionally a plot point on King of Queens.

In the end, it was a wise decision simply for the fact that it made the show feel like a different kind of domestic sitcom

However, the reason the pair had no children had to do with the studio. In the same interview, David Bickel mentioned that studios opted not to give the characters children because they felt that a child would separate The King of Queens into two eras: pre-baby and post-baby. It would’ve reportedly hurt the syndication and diminished Arthur’s role. In the end, it was a wise decision simply for the fact that it made the show feel like a different kind of domestic sitcom.