Kevin Can Wait

Predictability ensues, of course, but that’s why people tune in to James. ... There is acceptable, if not quite credible, chemistry between James and Hayes, the laugh track is annoying but expected, Spreitler is also what you’d expect her to be, and the only tiny pinprick of creativity can be seen in the character of Chale and Cartwright’s performance.

Kevin Can Wait is basically Kevin James 101.

Based on the pilot, Kevin Can Wait is a serviceably funny show that works best if the audience already accepts Kevin’s worldview.

There’s still room for a modest comedy of this sort on CBS, but even in its limited ambitions, the premiere stumbles on undercooked dialogue and the garbled perspective of its protagonist.

This is a throwback to mediocrities like “Still Standing” that gave us chubby hubbies acting like big kids and pretty wives who have to boss them around.