Kevin James Sitcom Filmed on Long Island Gets Picked up by CBS

The pilot for a sitcom filmed on Long Island called “Kevin Can Wait” has been picked up by CBS and is expected to hit the television screen this September.

The multi-camera show, starring actor and Long Island native Kevin James, will serve as Long Island’s first-ever live studio audience sitcom.

The pilot was filmed at Gold Coast Studios in Bethpage and it is expected the rest of the season will be filmed there as well.

In “Kevin Can Wait,” James stars as a newly retired police officer looking forward to spending carefree, quality time with his wife and three kids, but things don’t go his way. He ends up facing tougher challenges at home than he ever did on the streets. The show also co-stars Erinn Hayes, Taylor Spreitler, Mary-Charles Jones, James Digiacomo, Ryan Cartwright, Leonard Earl Howze, Lenny Venito and Gary Valentine.

Also working on the sitcom are Long Island comics Joey Kola and Chris Roach.

James recently moved back to his hometown on Long Island to continue working on this new endeavor.

Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano says the film and television industry helps bring millions of dollars annually to Nassau County’ local economy.

“ Nassau County is quickly becoming the Hollywood East of the motion picture and television industry - employing residents and generating more $250 million in economic benefit for our local economy annually,” he said in a press release.

According to a 2015 independent economic analysis performed by Camoin Associates, the motion picture and television industry generated $533.6 million in economic benefit for Nassau County and more than $1.64 million in sales and hotel taxes between 2013 and 2014. This industry reportedly employs 1,773 annual jobs through the production of more than 535 films.

Photo credit: Angela George via Wikimedia Commons