Erinn Hayes to Leave CBS's 'Kevin can Wait'

LOS ANGELES – Erinn Hayes, who played Donna, Kevin James’ wife in Season 1 of the CBS sitcom “Kevin Can Wait,” is leaving the show according to TVLine.

It was just a day earlier that the network announced that James’ former “King of Queens” co-star, Leah Remini, is joining the show’s cast as a series regular after a guest slot at the end the show’s recently concluded first season.

It was unclear how “Kevin Can Wait” will explain Hayes’ departure, but a source told TVLine that the sitcom is now heading in a new creative direction.

In the Season finale, retired cop Kevin returned to the force temporarily as part an undercover assignment with his former partner Vanessa Cellucci, played by Remini. After the solving the case, Kevin learned that Donna had quit her job as a school nurse after being passed over for a promotion, resulting in both being unemployed.

On her Twitter today, Hayes wrote: “True. I’ve been let go from the show. Very sad, I had a great experience Season 1. Thank you for all the support from our wonderful fans.”