Let Us Now Praise The King of Queens

Have you ever caught yourself thinking, "You know, what the world really needs is a paean to the glory that is The King of Queens"? If so, you can now die happy, because The New York Times has served up just that. And... why? It's fair to say that the show reached "is that show still on" status at least three years ago. It's now in its ninth season, which seems unfair when you consider the case of Arrested Development (or any other show ignominiously and prematurely canceled by Fox). Now, I'll admit I've never seen The King of Queens. It could very well be a funny show. But I'm not sure it's the jewel of the dial that Virginia Heffernan is trying to convince me that it is. In fact, it can't possibly be, given the hyperbolic terms she uses to discuss the show. Heffernan rapturously describes the childish antics of the characters (frosting a sofa cushion? cheating at a board game?) as though they are not only the height of comedy, but also have something important to tell us about our own inherent humanity. She goes so far as to compare it to The Pilgrim's Progress. And I'm the first person to say that TV deserves respect (okay, some TV), but what's wrong with just saying the show is funny? Is it funny? Who are you trying to convince, anyway?

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