The Ultimate Laugh Riot: Arthur's Top 10 Hilarious Moments on King of Queens

Arthur Spooner, portrayed by Jerry Stiller, remains one of the most memorable characters from the sitcoms of the late 90s and early 00s. The King of Queens, which aired from 1998 to 2007 on CBS, revolves around married couple Doug and Carrie Heffernan, played by Kevin James and Leah Remini respectively. When Carrie's father, Arthur, loses his home in a fire, he moves in with the Heffernans, leading to relentless clashes and hilarious moments between Doug and Arthur.

It comes as no surprise that Arthur Spooner stands out in The King of Queens. Jerry Stiller, a seasoned comedian, had made a name for himself even before venturing into acting. As one half of the comedy duo "Stiller & Meara," he had appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show a remarkable 36 times. Stiller had also played notable comedy roles such as Frank Costanza in Seinfeld and Gus Duzik in Joe and Sons. However, it is safe to say that Arthur Spooner was a pinnacle performance in Jerry Stiller's career. While some of the show's storylines may not have aged well, Arthur's jokes and comedic bits continue to elicit uproarious laughter.

10 Arthur Finds a Nixon Potato Chip

In the season 8, episode 14 of The King of Queens, titled "Apartment Complex," Arthur approaches Doug with an unusual request to sell a potato chip. Confused, Doug questions Arthur, who then reveals that the chip bears a striking resemblance to Richard Nixon's face. Despite Doug's lack of enthusiasm, Arthur asserts that Nixon chips are the crème de la crème of presidential-shaped potato chips. The absurdity and randomness of this claim alone is comedic.

However, the humor escalates when considering Arthur's peculiar hobby of collecting odd items. Each character in The King of Queens possesses hidden traits, and Arthur's quirk lies in his fascination with strange objects. Given his extensive experience in collecting, it is not entirely implausible that Arthur may have been onto something with his claim.

9 Arthur Pretends To Be Doug

In the fourth season, episode five of The King of Queens, titled "No Retreat," Arthur provides a comedic break. Left alone for the weekend, he finds himself in need of entertainment. Taking on the role of Doug, he puts on his delivery uniform and convinces the food delivery person that he's worked up an appetite from distributing packages. The dynamic between Arthur and Doug, known for their constant bickering and animosity, adds to the amusement. What's even more heartwarming is the possibility that Arthur may secretly have a fondness for Doug.

The comedic climax occurs when Arthur falls asleep, still dressed as Doug, while enjoying a cup of curry clam soup in the couple's bed. As a result, the curry spills all over the bed. When Doug and Carrie return home, Arthur points the blame towards their friend Deacon (played by Victor Williams). But the audience, aware of the truth, finds great amusement in observing Doug and Carrie's reactions to this hilarious situation.

8 Arthur Includes Three People Named Mike in His Script

When Lou Ferrigno moves in next door in season 3, episode 11 of The King of Queens titled "Better Camera," Arthur approaches Lou with a proposition to read his script called "Reconsidering Sandy." This was one of Arthur's ill-advised get-rich-quick schemes. Upon reading the script, Lou points out an issue—Arthur has included three characters named Mike. Instead of accepting the criticism, Arthur counters by asking Lou if he has ever encountered someone with the same name. When Lou confirms this, Arthur responds, "Slice of life, my friend. I just write it how I see it." The concept of having three characters with identical names is inherently humorous as it would inevitably lead to confusion. However, Arthur's decision actually makes sense and adds an additional layer of comedy.

7 Arthur Flip Flops During Jury Duty

One of the most entertaining and relatable moments involving Arthur takes place in season 2, episode 24 of The King of Queens titled "Flower Power." Arthur is summoned for Jury Duty, and his inner thoughts are conveyed through a voiceover. Initially, Arthur holds a preconceived notion of the defendant's guilt. However, as new pieces of evidence are presented, his opinion swiftly changes. At one point, Arthur abruptly shifts from saying, "This is a witch hunt," to declaring, "Let's just fry this [man] and get it over with." Eventually, Arthur becomes distracted by his surroundings, showcasing his inability to stay focused and his susceptibility to persuasion. This humorous situation resonates with anyone who has experienced similar challenges.

6 Arthur Wants the Naked Channel

In episode 3 of season 2, titled "Assaulted Nuts," of The King of Queens, there is a comical exchange between Arthur and Doug. While Carrie tries to study, Arthur shouts across the house at Doug, demanding his help in finding "the naked channel". Instead of going to Arthur, Doug yells back that they do not have the naked channel. Despite Doug's response, Arthur continues to insist on finding it, resulting in a back-and-forth yelling match that irritates Carrie.

Fed up with the noise, Carrie retreats to her car in the garage to study in peace. However, her escape is short-lived, as she still hears the muffled shouting of Arthur and Doug, who are still entangled in a debate over the existence of the naked channel. This interaction highlights Arthur's stubbornness when he believes he is right. Nevertheless, this stubbornness only contributes to the humor of his character.

5 Arthur's Mysteriously Good at Ping-Pong

When Doug engages in a game of ping-pong in the garage during the sixth season of The King of Queens, specifically in episode three titled "King Pong," he stumbles upon one of Arthur's hidden talents. Initially, the two start playing in a non-competitive manner, unknown to Doug. Although Doug urges Arthur to expedite the game, Arthur surprises him by unexpectedly spiking the ball. Doug dismisses it as a lucky occurrence, leading them to embark on another round. However, in each subsequent game, Doug fails to land a single hit. As Arthur starts taunting Doug with outrageous claims of mastering ping-pong skills on the streets, it becomes evident that there are various facets of Arthur's personality that remain undiscovered.

4 Arthur Interrupts Movie Night

In episode 23 of The King of Queens' first season, titled "Where's Poppa," Carrie and Doug eagerly anticipate a night alone at home. With the belief that Arthur would be out for the evening, they make plans for a cozy movie date night. However, their hopes are quickly dashed when Arthur unexpectedly enters the room. He scolds them for excluding him from their movie night and settles in to watch with them. To their amusement, Arthur begins by reading the FBI warning aloud. As Doug tries to fast-forward through the introductory screens, Arthur interjects by announcing the displayed date and year. Doug, attempting to quiet him, reminds Arthur that they are all capable of reading.

Once the movie starts, Arthur bombards Doug with an incessant stream of questions. Gradually, Doug's irritation escalates to the point where he can no longer tolerate Arthur's constant interruption. In a moment of frustration, Doug exclaims that he cannot fully enjoy the movie while being bombarded with questions. Undeterred, Arthur responds by suggesting that Doug should have chosen a simpler film. The ensuing exchange of quips between the two becomes increasingly amusing. It becomes evident that Arthur lacks understanding of personal boundaries, and the audience realizes that he is not an ideal movie companion.

3 Arthur Listens to Gossip From the Basement

In a delightful twist in season 5, episode 25 of The King of Queens, titled "Bed Spread," Arthur discovers that a small window at ground level in his home has been hidden behind a panel. When he peeks through it, he is pleasantly surprised to find himself gazing directly at Lou Ferrigno's house. Not only can he see Lou's abode, but he can also hear every word he speaks. Intrigued by this unexpected opportunity, Arthur becomes captivated by Lou's gossip and can't help but eavesdrop. There is something comical about the image of Arthur peering out of this tiny window, bringing a smile to our faces. This revelation adds a touch of humanity to Arthur's character, allowing viewers to relate to him on a more personal level. Rather than being his usual grumpy self, Arthur proudly showcases his newfound vantage point to his friends and even begins providing entertaining commentary on Lou's gossip.

2 Arthur Unloads Dirty Dishes

In episode 16 of The King of Queens season 2, titled "Fair Game," an amusing encounter unfolds between Arthur and Doug. Arthur takes it upon himself to unload the dishwasher, but his progress is interrupted when Doug enters the room and questions Arthur's actions. Arthur, slightly annoyed, retorts, "Can't you see what I'm doing, Einstein?" Doug playfully responds, "Seems to me like you're unloading dirty dishes, Einstein." This sparks a lighthearted argument between the two, playfully name-calling each other.

Upon realizing that the dishes may need to be rewashed, Doug suggests the idea. However, Arthur cannot recall which dishes he has already put away. Considering the situation, they contemplate washing all the dishes they own. In a moment of understanding, Doug and Arthur exchange a look, silently agreeing to pretend this mishap never occurred, and both quietly leave the room. This scene not only provides comedic entertainment through their banter and handling of the situation but also sheds light on Arthur's more caring side. It becomes evident that he appreciates his stay at the house and genuinely desires to be of assistance, even if he may struggle to express it effectively.

1 Arthur Answers the Phone

In season 3, episode 16 of The King of Queens, titled "Deacon Blues," Arthur becomes involved in a tense situation with Doug. Doug calls his home to retrieve his messages, but to his frustration, Arthur consistently answers the phone instead. Despite Doug's repeated attempts to communicate that he wishes to check his messages, Arthur continues to intercept his calls. The cycle continues until Doug becomes increasingly agitated and expresses his perplexity towards Arthur's behavior. This memorable scene from The King of Queens showcases the humor that arises from Arthur's stubbornness.