How Did 'Kevin Can Wait' Deal with Its Huge Cast Change?

At the beginning of its second season, Kevin Can Wait had to get rid of one of its main characters and significantly alter the role of another one. How would the series' writers explain the absence of Erinn Hayes' character, to whom Kevin James' character had been married for years and years? Pretty offhandedly, it turns out. Read on to find out how it went down.

Via Us Weekly.

And that's that. It seems that Erinn Hayes won't make even the slightest appearance in Kevin Can Wait's season 2. In the premiere, which aired on Monday, September 25, it was revealed in the first scene that her character, Donna Gable, had died.

The CBS comedy briefly mentioned her absence when Kevin Gable (Kevin James) received a postcard for her gym saying they missed her.

"So do I," he said. No other details were given as to what happened to Donna, but she was also brought up toward the end of the episode during Kendra's last-minute wedding.

"[It's] just missing one thing," Kevin said at the ceremony. Kendra (Taylor Spreitler) replied: "I know, I wish Mom was here too." Leah Remini's character, Vanessa, helped organize Kendra's big day.

As previously reported, it was announced in June that Remini was bumped to a series regular after she guest starred on the series on season 1. On the same day, CBS revealed that Hayes would be leaving the sitcom.

"True, I've been let go from the show. Very sad, I had a great experience season 1. Thank you for all the support from our wonderful fans," Hayes tweeted at the time. Last month, executive producer Rob Long said that they killed off Donna "out of respect."

Remini, meanwhile, is ecstatic to be teaming up again with her former The King of Queens costar.

Get the whole story at Us Weekly.

Are you satisfied with the way the series handled Erinn Hayes departure? Let us all know how you feel in the comment section below.