<i>King Of Queens</i> Trying To Lose Weight

Actor Kevin James is getting back to work on the third season of his hit sitcom, The King of Queens.

He's also just completed a comedy stand-up tour. James told CBS News Early Show Anchor Bryant Gumbel that people think he's funnier now that he's famous.

"Jerry Seinfeld said they give you the first five minutes because they just love you," said James. "Then I just think you have to be funny on your own again. If you're not doing well, they'll let you know that, too."

James, who's a heavyset guy, is on a workout regimen.

"I'm working out like crazy. The network says I have to lose weight," said James.

"They want me to be healthy. I understand that. That's not what pushed me over the edge. Not a network telling me to lose weight. I was watching late night television and I realized I'm bigger than the Skipper," he said, referring to the Alan Hale, Jr., character on Gilligan's Island in the 1960s. "So that's rough, right there."

James says he currently weighs about 260 pounds. At first he joked to Gumbel that he wanted to get down to 135 pounds. But James later said losing 30 pounds "would be great. We'll see. We take it a pound off at a time."

Ricki Lake is joining The King of Queens, playing James' younger sister.

"She can really act," said James. "She's funny and has great timing. Really likable. We have great chemistry."

Now that The King of Queens is in its third season, James feels the show has "hit a groove."

"We understand what the characters would do and wouldn't do. It's easier for the writers, I think, you know, to write for the characters," said James. "We can kind of explore different things and feel comfortable doing that."

He said in the first season, it was hard to act like he was married to his co-star when he'd just met her.

"Now we're like a married couple. We're arguing all the time."