CBS has kicked off the pickups of new series by formalizing the series order to Kevin Can Wait (formerly Untitled Kevin James). The multi-camera sitcom, which already had a series commitment/straight-to-series order, brings back Kevin James to CBS where he became a star on the network’s sitcom The King Of Queens. The new series, which is said to share a lot of DNA with King Of Queens, hails from the same studios, Sony TV and CBS TV Studios.

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It stars James as a newly retired police officer looking forward to spending carefree, quality time with his wife and three kids, only to discover he faces tougher challenges at home than he ever did on the streets. James executive produces with showrunner Bruce Helford, Rock Reuben, Jeff Sussman and Andy Fickman. James, Helford and Reuben wrote the script.

Co-starring alongside James are Erinn Hayes, Taylor Spreitler, Mary-Charles Jones, James Digiacomo, Ryan Cartwright, Leonard Earl Howze, Lenny Venito and Gary Valentine.

Kevin Can Wait is one of two sitcom starring vehicles that have been a high priority for CBS this season, along with the Matt LeBlanc pilot from CBS TV Studios. CBS Corp. chairman Les Moonves personally monitored the table reads/tapings for the projects, which both have big stars and big commitments.