Kevin James tells Jimmy Fallon the story behind photo that triggered memes 'that will never get old'

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: In the ever-evolving landscape of the internet, memes have become a ubiquitous form of humor, often capturing unexpected moments from our favorite celebrities.

Recently, Kevin James sat down with Jimmy Fallon to unravel the story behind a particularly hilarious meme featuring the actor from his 'King of Queens' days.

The conversation shed light on the origins of the meme, the unconventional photo shoot that spawned it, and the unforeseen longevity of internet humor.

The original photo shoot

Kevin James kicked off the conversation by presenting the original photo from a 'King of Queens' photo shoot, evoking cheers and applause from the audience.

He candidly shared, "I remember, and you know what it's like when you first get a sitcom, you just listen to anybody. You're just so happy to be there."

James recalled the photographer's quirky instructions, urging him to strike various poses, including a particularly awkward one that would later become the source of countless memes.

The goofy poses

Describing the moment that led to the infamous meme, James recounted how the photographer encouraged him to express different emotions.

"Smile now like you're sexy. Now like you're shy, but now you're kind of..." James mimicked the bizarre positions, admitting, "What the hell am I doing?" It was in this surreal moment that the iconic image was born, capturing James in a comically perplexed pose.

The birth of a million memes

As James explained, he had requested the photographer to bury the peculiar shot, confident that it wouldn't resurface. However, fate had other plans.

Fast forward 25 years, and the meme not only surfaced but became a viral sensation. Reflecting on the unpredictable journey, James shared with Fallon, "I know. 25 years later, this thing pops up."

Internet humor unleashed

Jimmy Fallon, sharing a laugh with James, highlighted some of the memes inspired by the unforgettable photo.

From cooking compliments to text message screenshots, the meme found its way into various relatable scenarios. A standout moment included the ingenious use of the image during a college football game by Maryland, attempting to distract the opposing team during an extra point.

The meme's timeless appeal: fans declare, 'It will never get old'

The internet is abuzz with laughter as Kevin James' iconic meme continues to tickle the funny bones of fans across the globe.

One commented, "The meme will never get old."

One user wrote, "It was like the 4th quarter and Maryland was blowing that team out so the crowd was much smaller by that point when that happened. I hate that it looked that way."

Another added, "I’m watching re-runs of King of Queens right now ow! I love Kevin James! Favorite episode was when he was showing Carrie how to dance on stripper pole! How they did that episode without laughing was amazing."

One commented, "University of Maryland with the shoutout!"