Bethpage, NY - May 13, 2016 - Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano today announced that CBS has picked up “Kevin Can Wait” starring Kevin James – a multi-camera live studio audience sitcom. The pilot was filmed at Gold Coast Studio in Bethpage and the sitcom will continue to film in Bethpage. While Bethpage’s Gold Coast Studios and Grumman Studios have served as home to a number of motion picture and television productions, this was Long Island’s first-ever live audience sitcom.
Look for the sitcom to air on CBS in September. The industry is adding hundreds of millions of dollars annually to our local economy.
Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano stated, “This is exciting news as Bethpage's Gold Coast Studios first ever live studio audience sitcom starring Kevin James has been picked up by CBS. 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.”
“Kevin Can Wait” stars James as a newly retired police officer looking forward to spending carefree, quality time with his wife and three kids, only to discover he faces tougher challenges at home than he ever did on the streets. Co-starring alongside James are Erinn Hayes, Taylor Spreitler, Mary-Charles Jones, James Digiacomo, Ryan Cartwright, Leonard Earl Howze, Lenny Venito and Gary Valentine.
Also working on the new episodic are Long Islands home grown comics Joey Kola and Chris Roach. Kevin James has recently moved back to his hometown on Long Island.
An independent economic analysis performed by Camoin Associates in 2015 indicates 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. The industry employed 1,773 annual jobs through the production of more than 535 films, which accounted for over 2,109 days between 2013 and 2014.
Nassau County is now the home of two successful production studios that encompass three buildings and nine sound stages that compete internationally for film and television production.
The economic study, commissioned by the Nassau County Industrial Development Agency (IDA), focused its review on three filmmaking facilities: Gold Coast Studios in Bethpage, Grumman Studios in Bethpage and the Sands Point Preserve in Port Washington, and on-location filming throughout the County.
These studios are qualified New York State production facilities and therefore film producers are entitled to a 30% tax credit through the Empire State Film Production Tax Credit program. In addition, the studios are located within the “Film Zone” – a boundary set by several New York City film industry unions to define the area in which their members will work locally without incurring travel and overtime costs. The boundary is a 25-mile radius of Columbus Circle.
Prior to serving as County Executive, Ed Mangano worked tirelessly to redevelop the former U.S. Navy-Northrop Grumman Corporation property in Bethpage. Today, the property serves as home to nine sound stages and two studios: Gold Coast Studios and Grumman Studios.
As a Legislator, Ed Mangano formed Nassau County’s first Film Commission in 1997. As County Executive, Mr. Mangano has hosted annual industry tours to attract producers, directors, film writers and others in the industry to Nassau.
Over the past few years, Nassau County has served as home to NBC’s live performances of “The Sound of Music,” “Peter Pan,” and “The Wiz.” Motion picture and television shows filmed in Nassau County also include “The Good Wife,” “The Amazing Spiderman 2,” “Royal Pains,” “The Americans,” “Person of Interest,” “The Blacklist,” “Boardwalk Empire,” “This Is Where I Leave You,” “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” ”The Wolf of Wall Street,” “Annie,” “The Affair,” “Still Alice,” “Sisters,” “TrainWreck,” and many, many more.