What the first season had that the second was lacking was other characters that were allowed to be entertaining. Erinn's character was a bit of sanity to offset Kevin's childish choices. Ryan and Erinn were very funny in their scenes together. There were so many times in the first season where Ryan and Erinn were so funny together that I immediately figured that was why she was replaced on Kevin's show.
Season 2 became all Kevin all the time and, even for a fan of his, it proved to be too much. He needs a mix of good characters around him. It just can't be 20 minutes of him making sounds and faces.
Since he largely played the same character in this and King of Queens comparisons are unavoidable. As a 20-30 something in King of Queens his childish behavior fit more than it did here with a nearly 50 year old with kids. Especially in season 2 when they apparently told him to amp up the Kevin to 11. The Deacon character in King of Queens was the adult in the room that continually pointed out how childish his responses were. And even Remini's character would shut him down. But in Kevin can Wait she was just along for the ride. Her character rarely really called him out on his antics. That left us with nobody sane to say the things the audience was thinking.
I don't know if the writers weren't allowed to have anyone really point out that his character was often an a-hole or if they thought that was the best route to go. But in season 2 it often felt like the script just said "Everyone sit there and watch Kevin act like a really big toddler. Then move to another room and repeat".
Season one had some charm and a variety of laughs. Season two had a few laughs, no charm and quite a few long drawn out parts that were worthy of the skip button.
Season 2 became all Kevin all the time and, even for a fan of his, it proved to be too much. He needs a mix of good characters around him. It just can't be 20 minutes of him making sounds and faces.
Since he largely played the same character in this and King of Queens comparisons are unavoidable. As a 20-30 something in King of Queens his childish behavior fit more than it did here with a nearly 50 year old with kids. Especially in season 2 when they apparently told him to amp up the Kevin to 11. The Deacon character in King of Queens was the adult in the room that continually pointed out how childish his responses were. And even Remini's character would shut him down. But in Kevin can Wait she was just along for the ride. Her character rarely really called him out on his antics. That left us with nobody sane to say the things the audience was thinking.
I don't know if the writers weren't allowed to have anyone really point out that his character was often an a-hole or if they thought that was the best route to go. But in season 2 it often felt like the script just said "Everyone sit there and watch Kevin act like a really big toddler. Then move to another room and repeat".
Season one had some charm and a variety of laughs. Season two had a few laughs, no charm and quite a few long drawn out parts that were worthy of the skip button.