LOS ANGELES — Actor Kevin James brought back a funny pose from “The King of Queens” more than 20 years after it first became a hit meme online. The picture shows him wearing a plaid shirt, shrugging his shoulders and making a silly face. Fans everywhere know the look from social media posts.
James was at the premiere of his new movie “Solo Mio” when a reporter from “Entertainment Tonight” asked him to do the famous meme pose again. He laughed and said it still felt “corny” to him, just like it did back when the photo was first taken.
The original photo was taken early in James’ career when “The King of Queens” was starting. It was from a goofy promo shoot, and James once hoped the picture would stay hidden. The photographer at the time told him it wouldn’t be a problem, but the Internet had other ideas.
Years later, social media users found the wardrobe shot and turned it into a reaction meme. Many people use the image to show a “what can you do?” moment in funny online posts. The meme took off as people added captions and shared it widely.
James has now embraced the meme more than once. In 2023, he used the picture to promote his stand-up tour, showing he could laugh at himself. And in January 2024, he even reenacted the pose with host Jimmy Fallon on “The Tonight Show.”
Fans of “The King of Queens” also see this as a chance to remember the whole show. The sitcom ran from 1998 to 2007 and was a favorite for many viewers who liked its humor about everyday life.
Some viewers have also started talking about possible returns or reunions of “The King of Queens.” Both James and co‑star Leah Remini have said they would consider something new, though they also talked about how hard that might be without actor Jerry Stiller, who passed away in 2020.
With his new movie coming out and the old picture still getting laughs, the goofy shrug that once embarrassed him has become part of his story.