‘Queens’ behind the scenes
As the hit sitcom "The King of Queens" ends its nine-year run tonight,
we asked Twin Cities resident Nicole Remini, sister of co-star Leah
Remini, for an up-close-and-personal view of the show’s final
taping. She filed this report.
By Nicole Remini Special To The Star Tribune, Special To The Star
Tribune
Last update: May 13, 2007 – 4:38 PM
March 15: The last show
9 a.m. I can’t help but feel a little sad, nervous and yet excited.
These are people that I worked with for seven years as Leah’s personal
assistant and as part of the production staff. I will miss taking my
place on stage for curtain calls and Leah giving me a wink.
2:30 p.m. I arrive at the studio and head to Leah’s dressing room on
Stage 28 — her home away from home — where she is getting her hair
and makeup done. We hug and cry. I head over to the food table and run
into actor Victor Williams. People go on and on about how Michigan
looks great on me (Hello, morons. I live in Minnesota!)
5:30 p.m. The cast enters the stage in front of the audience. Our
sister, Shannon, is on tonight’s episode. We hold hands and try to
comfort each other and try to smile for Leah. Right before taping, the
makeup artists quickly run up to replace the tears with makeup.
7:05 p.m. We are halfway through the show. About 20 of us are there to
support Leah, including Mom, who has only missed one or two shows in
nine years.
Also there is Jenna Elfman, who looks beautiful pregnant. The most
amazing flowers arrive. They are from Leah’s good friends, the
Cruises.
10:30 p.m. Time for the final curtain call. The audience stands, and
the clapping and whistling goes on for what seems like forever.
Midnight: The car is quiet as we exit onto the 101 freeway toward
Leah’s house. There is a hit-and-run accident. Leah runs out to rescue
a woman from a smoking car. I will never get the picture out of my
head of this sweet Armenian woman resting her head on my mother’s
shoulder and the way they are holding hands. We cannot believe how
this night ends.
March 16: Cleaning day
Leah and I head back to the studio to pack her dressing room. She is
impressed at how easy it is for me to use an automatic
screwdriver. Hey, being single, you learn these things!
We walk around and look at the kitchen and living room. She takes me
to the place where she and co-star Kevin James would stand before the
cast was introduced to the studio audience. There, on a piece that
holds up part of the set, she and Kevin would mark a countdown to the
last show.
March 17: Wrap party
We head to the Social, the latest L.A. hot spot, and do a little red
carpet.
Leah is pretty mellow, and we hang out most of the evening in a
cabana. We like to people-watch. Leah’s makeup artist gets in one of
those cash-blowing wind machines, even though she’s wearing a
dress. She wins the most money.I can’t tell you how. Just trust
me. She did.
The evening progresses with more hugs and tears. Onstage, Kevin and
Leah express their gratitude for one another and love for
everyone. Leah gets a huge laugh, saying she knows that she came off
like she wanted to kill some of them, but that truly they are her
family. Kevin gets down on one knee and pretends to propose: "I have
been married to you longer than anyone." Verysweet.
Back home
I still check in with Leah every couple of days as I know she still
misses getting up to go to work every day. We’re very proud of the
woman she’s become.
She will continue on. She will find another home other than "Queens"
to entertain millions of people once again.
NICOLE REMINI
© 2007 Star Tribune.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
