Apparently, "Everybody Loves Raymond" is a misnomer, as I also cannot stand him, or the show. He sucks large!

i do not love raymond. i do not like raymond. however...that book by doris roberts looks like a total camp and is a result of excessive vaseline on the camera lens.

my partner loves raymond. i don't love my partner while he is loving raymond.

jack e. jett

I love the show. I think it's funny. I don't really care about the "levels of consciousness" of people in sitcoms -- if I did, I'd move to France.

RAYMOND MUST DIE.

I was planning on saying something witty, erudite, and maybe even borderline interesting, but that last comment is too much to follow.

Scooter, I can't help but notice that you've got some kind of "must die" list going. That's cool, so long as you don't do anything to make it shorter.

Jack E- surely you could do SOMETHING to distract your boyfriend from rotting his mind with Raymond.

In short, Raymond sucks really bad, and anybody who watches it is a big doo-doo head.

For shame your mouth, Al. For that you should be spanked.

Yes, Victoria. I have been very BAD.

I have never watched the show, though I like Ray pretty well doing standup and he was great in Ice Age. I don't really watch any "normal" sitcoms.

what a waste of time you are,you could be complaining about the extreme sexual content on tv or some of the sleazy networks pushing homosexuality,these things do have impact on children you were talking about people not thinking, thinking is analyzing both points of view and willing to change yours [edited]!

Ah yes Tim, sweet reason! Now that I consider your thoughtful logical analysis of my education and the marital status of my parents, I now change my mind and embrace bland, mindless drivel. It is far better to numb my brain with Raymond than to watch something that might make Mr. Weenie tingle.

I like ensemble casts that play off each other but if the nagging, shrewish wife disappeared, it would be ok with me, although I like the actress very much.

I think the parents and Robert are some of the best comedy characters out there.

Everyone who hates raymond must be idiots! this show is awesome! now, you say what you want, it's a free country.
But if you hate Raymond, and I speak for fans everywhere, [edited].

Yes, Bobman. I hear that Harvard is instituting a must-love-Raymond standard for admissions, on grounds that anyone who doesn't is an idiot too stupid for higher education.

Aren't you afraid of sounding as a Nazi when you say "should be banned"?
Take it easy man, it is just an entertainment show, people tune to it for fun and laughter and not to put their brain cells to hard work. Brain should also relax sometimes. You say these characters have no passion for anything. I think you are wrong. Their passion is the family. It is a show about dysfunctional people that despite of their individual problems love their group. One does not have to be only a democrat or republican or green or an overzealous christian to have passion. There are also other things in life to have passion for and there is also multiculturalism and diversity and that can make yourself think that you could also be wrong. Your perspective is extremely narrow. Try to widen it and you will understand why some people like to watch Everybody loves Raymond and not only Susan Sarandon, Michael Moore or Barbara Straisand. Life is also made of small and apparently unimportant details and not only of great ideals.

Ouch, Genc. "Try to widen it and you will understand why some people like to watch Everybody loves Raymond and not only Susan Sarandon, Michael Moore or Barbara Straisand. Life is also made of small and apparently unimportant details and not only of great ideals."

Call me a Nazi, but don't accuse me of being a Michael Moore or Barbara Streisand fan. That's a low blow.

Nor should you confuse their bloviating for "great ideals."

I didn't care for this show, nor did I watch it, and I'm pretty sure this post was meant to be somewhat satirical.

I must also point out that Senator Al's flirting with BoobyTek was pretty creepy. Victoria? Al was in LOOOVE :)

That is all.

my interest in this show is that I am friends with Patricia Heaton's brother and have always wished her unfettered success with it - beyond that, none

Patty Heaton is sweet. Doris Roberts and Peter Boyle made that show what it was. Anyone who is even remotely familiar with Italo-American domestic life could easily identify with the show. Sorry, folks, I loved Raymond and I still love him.

Patricia Heaton went to Ohio State -- I saw a profile on her in my Dad's Ohio State alumni magazine one of the last times I went to visit my folks.

Doris Roberts and especially Peter Boyle are so not Italian on that show. Peter Boyle's way too neurotic to be Italian, but I guess Doris does a better job of it.

That is all.

Oh I totally disagree. Any true Italian mother (and I speak from experience) is a Yiddish Christian. Peter Boyle's dry wit and facial expressions have contributed to the increase in Depends sales over the years.

Silas, more power to you brother if this show does it for you. For my part though, they could rename it Everybody Wants to Slap the Taste Out of Raymond's Mealy Mouth.

Sorry, Al. But then again I like Sex & the City and the Sopranos. But in my book the two best shows on television are Rescue Me and House. How ironic that they are both broadcast on FOX properties!

Other than South Park, actually almost all the good shows are Fox shows.

The Shield
The Simpsons
King of the Hill
Arrested Development
Bernie Mac
Malcolm in the Middle

The Inside had great potential, but will likely be gone come fall.

And then there's the great disaster of Firefly's cancellation.

Fox can serve 'em up and shut 'em down...

That's the way it is with all Fox properties except the News channel. They report, they decide.

The only thing good I can say about Senator Al Barger is that he likes good TV shows. But then, TV isn't much of a challenge when it comes to taste.

That is all.

Silas, I've been real frustrated a few times in recent years with Fox shutting down really good shows. Titus and Dark Angel top my list. Greg the Bunny rates mention as well.

In fairness though, they just didn't get the ratings, and it IS a business. Give Fox credit for having given them a shot at all. Titus, for example, would never have seen the air on the big three.

"'Blandly whiny' pretty well describes" this post.

Al - You're treating the symptom, not the cause. What we need to do is embed a signal in Raymond broadcasts which will kill the viewers.

I can think of two means, given our current technology. First, a subliminal message urging suicide or reckless behaviour. Secondly, there was that Japanese cartoon that caused epilepsy; couldn't we use that somehow?

Baronius, now you're talking. If you wanted to be all "humane" to satisfy the pinkos, perhaps we could just come up with someway technologically simply to neuter Raymond viewers so they don't reproduce.

Great for the next generation, but we'd have to keep dealing with the current population.

I know, Baronius. Obviously I sympathize. Still, if we absolutely wiped out the Raymond lovers, it would end up getting twisted around in the press to make US look like the bad guys.

Whereas I personally would call euthanizing a Raymond fan a mercy killing.

What are you going to do? Damned if you do, stuck watching damned Raymond reruns if you don't.

Raymond is one of THEE best shows ever! You sound like a pointy headed leftist intellectual sitting around a book store drinking coffee while listening to soft alternative music in the background in order to feel hip. You overthink Raymond and miss the simplicity of the show. Thats why people LOVE it. If you don't like what I said, maybe the cookie lady who beat up Raymond (peggy) could kick youre but too!

Al Barger, in another age you would be telling racist jokes against black people down at the Elks Lodge. Not at all clear why your constant hate speech comments against women are tolerated here, but the site pays a price for that.

Now David, there's no reason to be calling me a "leftist." That's not very nice. Or very right. Plus, my idea of music to prove I'm hip by listening to would likely be Grandpa Jones or Macy Gray.

It's not simplicity, though. It's outright damned stupidity. But that's not even the main objection.

It's not just that it's dumb, but that I found the characters actively grating and tended to find myself wishing ill on the wussy whupped husband and the shrew wife alike.

Nor am I concerned about your cookie lady. The Mimi chick from Drew Carey could probably whip me, but there's no one from Raymond that I couldn't take.

Cerulean, perhaps you could grace us by posting a video of you doing your Superior Dance.

"I'm seconding new brother Blogcritic David Flanagan who finds freedom to be offensive. He's right. It sucks."

Al baby, you are now championing a person whose blog (I was going to put a link to it here but can't bring myself to do it) leads off with what appears to be a serious, if flawed and ultimately useless, attempt to defend that crime against humanity currently called Intelligent Design. Way to go on the thinking front there!

Who is grandpa jones? I've heard of Macy Gray, but come on. That makes my point. They sound like they sing black country music with a touch of blues. In other words something people in San Francisco would sit around listening to while holding up anti-war signs. You stick to Friends and Will and Grace. I'll stick to Seinfeld and Everybody Loves Raymond. King of Queens too.

Friends and Will and Grace?! Now you're just screwing with me. I don't think so.

Plus, Grandpa Jones was SO not a San Francisco character. He was a proud Kentuckian from Louisville, and one of the top stars of Hee Haw, for starters.

AL BARGER! Are you the same Al Barger who ran for the senate back home in Indiana against bayh and Scot? Are you that same Libertarian candidate? I'm not a Libertarian myself, but I would take them over the party of Michael Moron, Howard deanie Weenie, Ward "hate America" Churchill and Billary. If you are that senate candidate from Indiana, my apologies sir for the slams.

AL IS A POO-POO HEAD!!

Yes, Mr Cousins, I was the Libertarian candidate against ever lovin' Evan Bayh in 2004. From this, you might appreciate that whatever my many faults, I am definitely not some weenie San Francisco pinko.

Also, Bobman, re "poo-poo head": I know you are, but what am I?

Al is pretentious and tries so hard to be "cool." In reality he's a bore.

Sounds like MT is jealous.

Raymond good. anyone who dissagree big fat lardface!

This is how bad I think Raymond is, I have wasted my time and money making this site

aplologies for the swearing, but I really, really hate it.

Brownhaze, your website is a brave front in the battle against the dumbing down of our country.

I do try to keep the cussing to a minimum, but this needed said.

Thanks, and keep up the good fight!

My wife & kids like this show and it is on TV often because it comes on after Seinfeld re-runs. I think it sucks really bad. What annoys me more than anything is the laugh track. There is no quiet titter of laughter, ever. EVERYTHING that anyone says apparently triggers great howls of hearty laughter. Contrast this with the much more cerebral humor of Seinfeld and the accompanying laugh track on that show. I despise Raymond and I despise his brother. Sometimes the parents can have their moments, but they aren't enough reason by themselves to tune into the show. The mentality of this show is just not one that I can force myself to sink down into. If that makes me a snob, so be it. I can't stand to be in the room when this is on.

Vigin: Everyone who has left a note on this blog up until now.

Virgin rather...

Dudes.. Everybody Loves Raymond is a GREAT SHOW!! There's rarely any dirty humor at all on it. I'd rather laugh at something like that, even though i watch other shows.

i've got news: RAYMOND DOES NOT SUCK. All of you who said so, however, do. Screw you all, cuz Raymond is the best thing thats ever happened to TV, among other things in the entertainment world. take some time to laugh, instead of worry over the wad in your panties. It's a genuine show. We needed it. If you're spending your life analyzing this show, you need better things to do. and p.s, they don't use a laugh track.

I don't really watch any Tv shows,but this TV show has been very intertaining no matter what people might say. It's helerious tv show and for all the people out there don't be hating on the tv show. you guys maybe dont have a sense of humor. come on tuff enough chief.

1 Billion Americans??? only 300 million as of right now...

in reply to post #53...Seinfeld was the best thing that ever happened to tv... then raymond..:)

I love this show!!!!I have almost every episode!Although I love love this show,I think they could have done a better Job on the final episode!Anyone agree with me???????????????A nyone who does not like this shw can go fly a kite!!!!!!!!!!!

You mean I can't say that Patricia Heaton has her head stuck up her butt? Or do you mean that I can't say that she's lucky she doesn't have Parkinsons, or Alzheimers, but there is still time even she caouldn't rely on her surgeries to last.

I like Everybody loves Raymond, it has humor, romantics and sad parts.

wtf raymondis one of the funniest shows i have ever seen......all u lot hu r dissin it r sum seriously sad people..... aint u gt nuthin better to do thn chatt shit about a perfectly funny show... n wots up with all this po po head stuff man .. come on grow up u saddos

Dips, not to put to fine a point on it, but just by the utterly illiterate nature of your comments here, you sound like a perfect Raymond fan.

Well now I'm upset because my favorite blog critic doesn't like the show I've just recently taken an interest in.

It's in syndication and available about twice an hour on some channel. We Tivo it and burn through the commercials. We were able to absorb the complete compilation of "Frazier" in about 2 months using this method. I never watched Frazier before syndication either.

Don't tell the wife, but Debra is a beauty. The conscious deliberate understatement of her obvious charm makes her even more of a draw.

Peter Boyle works well too. I think he went out on top.

Their kids are noticably absent most of the time.
That's good. You get the flavor of familial entanglements without the cheesieness of having them around.

It usually never causes me to laugh out loud, but I smile a lot.

I'll stop watching it now that I know you disapprove.

Damn it now Dan, I got my mind all good and made up, and you come along making reasonable sounding arguments the other way - written in something pretty close to well formed and grammatical fashion.

The way you describe it would almost make me think that maybe I missed something the couple of times I managed to sit through it. Perhaps Raymond just went over my head.

Who could direct / invent such a show?
It is really horrible.

We are tired of the sinical old man!
Get rid of the flanel, etc.
take this show off the air.

First of all, Debra is shrewish because of 'what' she is married to. I can't help but think, that since stand up comedy is generally based on the comedian's real life and the show is based on his stand up routine, then Ray Romano must be a lot like the character he portrays. Can you imagine being married to such a self-centered little man. No wonder Debra never wants to have sex with him. Egads, I shudder at the thought. Notice how he is an executive producer and everything revolves around his small mind. The man is not funny. I generally do not like or dislike actors but I cannot stand Ray Romano.

Another option would be for those who do not like 'Everybody Loves Raymond' not to watch it.
For some the show is about escapism, for some it's a funny outlook / mirror on their own lives, for other's it's not liked - fine, we all have different interests, we all have stuff to do during the day, we all have our way's of relaxing but to call those who enjoy the show 'doo-doo heads' is wrong.
Instead of criticising all the time, why not make some suggestions as to what you would like to see or hear ? What are the public really interested in seeing ? Waht about the ridiculous religious shows showed on numerous US channels asking for donations from Joe Public all the time - are these more realistic ? What about the programmes that are extorting / manipulating / forging our youth ?

Let's get real 'Everybody loves Raymond' is entertainment for some, annoying for others - however it's not real life - if you've got issues / complaints in your own life take them up with somebody who can change things rather than have a moan about somebody who's (like it or not) making a successful living by making a large number of people laugh !!!!!

& by saying the above I'm not suggesting all you Americans who do not like 'Raymond' go open up your gun cabinets & slaughter some innocent passer by because I suggested you go do something you enjoy !!!!!!

PS - I'm guessing for some people, the only enjoyment they have in their life is to put other people (generally those who are more successful / have made something for themselves) down.

I guess it's true what they say - nobody likes the people that are better off !!!!

IF THAT'S THE CASE - GET OFF YOUR ASS, GET A JOB, GET SOME MONEY & MAKE SOMETHING OF YOURSELF INSTEAD OF BEING A 'JERRY SPRINGER' ADDICT or WANNABE !!!!!! - YOU GET NOTHING UNLESS YOU CAN BE ARSED TO PUT SOME EFFORT IN !!!!!

I stand with the poster of this blog in the opinion that "Raymond" must be banned. This is also why I have refused, steadfastly refused, to buy any DVD releases of it, and why I will continue to refuse to buy them from now on. Television before "Raymond" was much, much better, in my honest opinion.

Raymond is unpretentious, easy viewing and follows in a long tradition of good quality American blue-collar comedy beginning with Jackie Gleason's Honeymooners.

"There's not a thought in the head of any of these characters other than the most mundane level of personal politics"...and so it is [sadly] for most of the human race in r/life most of the time. Raymond simply satirises the absurdity of many people's existence. I can certainly relate to that.The writing is sharp, the acting is good...what more can you expect from a half hour sit-com?

I've been trying to visualise a more *thoughtful* version of the show, but I just cant see Marie and Frank sitting around discussing Sartre.

Kaye- Thank you for your considered response, but of course I ain't buying it. For starters, it's a wonder G-d didn't strike you with lightning for comparing Raymond to The Honeymooners. Oh HELL no. Jackie Gleason was an artist, and his show had considerable emotional depth. The show was not really entirely easy viewing, as Ralph Kramden really had serious dramatic pathos.

While there was some simple physical comedy, it's the deeper angst of Kramden that animated the show and has people still watching it 50 years later when most easy viewing shows are long forgotten. Don't see a lot of re-runs of My Three Sons at this point - not that it was a particularly horrible show.

Much of the mundane personal politics of the human race is not particularly worthy or interesting as art, certainly not coming from Raymond, not unless you've got something to say about it other than just representing it. It did not particularly satirize or shine any interesting light on any of this. Seinfeld did, Raymond did not. Despite their famous tag line, Seinfeld was about something - a baroque comedy of modern manners. Raymond, however, really and truly was a show about nothing.

And "thoughtful" doesn't mean anything like idiots discussing Sartre to prove that they're smart. That wouldn't be thoughtful, but merely pretentious. Truly thoughtful might more likely involve something that the characters do or say, through a personal representation of dramatic conflict. The Simpsons, for one, do it week after week, and year after year. And then if you get a few highbrow jokes about philosophers and such, that's gravy.

I have one thing to say about the whole "Raymond banning" thing. Just because you don't like it, doesn't mean you should insult those who have a different opinion and want it to be banned. I don't get what your problem is if you don't watch it.

There are worse shows that need to be banned than Everybody Loves Raymond. How about idiotic "Nip Tuck" and the rest of those stupid dramas that always revolve about sex and have absolutely no core material whatsoever? Cheapsell? More than that. Pieces of crap. That's what they are. Give me a break. Let some of the last remaining intelligent humor survive.

raymond is stupid. point blank. you people enjoy it cause its so dumb, tells you where the mass public's level of intelligence is

Al Barger, I think that you are a very narrow minded person, and not only that but a whore for attention. When you came on the internet and insulted an international TV sitcom that billions of people worldwide tuned into enjoy, what sort of response did you expect to get? Everybody loves Raymond is not a show for fools and biggots, nor does it "numb brain cells". Every episode has a well written plot of its own and there is much satire throughout. A thing you need to get through your obviously thick skull is that the great majority of people are not extremely smart and don't enjoy shows like Fraiser and the Honeymooners. And comparing Everybody Loves Raymond to the voice of Barbara Streisand is just way over the line. As a long time Raymond fan I would like to punch you right in the face, why dont you get your head out of your ass you stupid insensitive git.

Robert Jones- You make a strong and thoughtful case for Raymond. As you say, not everyone is extremely smart - even by the dumbed down standard of "extremely smart" meaning smart enough to get a simple sitcom like Frasier or The Honeymooners. So perhaps I should get a lobotomy, some Britney Spears albums and some DVDs of Raymond, and get with the program.

And when you say that you wish to punch me in the face after I pull my head out of my ass, I have to admit that I have no logical answer to that. I mean, who HASN'T wanted to punch me in the face at one time or other?

To that end, I live in Franklin County in Indiana, about halfway between Cincinnati and Indianapolis. Let me know when you're coming, and I'll bake you a cake. XOX.

i'm not a virgin and i am commenting on this.

can i has prize now #50 & #51?

Reading through this article as I corrected some editorial oversights, I noticed your statement that one billion Americans watch this truly awful show.

Whilst I agree with the sentiment expressed, I was wondering if that was comedic overstatement for effect? There are, of course, only 300 million Americans...

Brother Rose- The 1 billion viewers number is only a rough estimate, and some of that is likely the same people watching several times a day. Thing is, it's kinda hard to get an accurate number in that the typical Raymond lover is too stupid to accurately answer a survey on the phone from Nielsen, much less fill one out on paper.

Politics and "DEEPER MEANINGS" are what shows like This Week with George Stephanopolis are for. If I want something like that, I tune into a show like that, not a sitcom. I happen to enjoy Raymond, because I feel like this is the typical family. That doesn't make me an idiot. And of course, every Sunday I tune into This Week.

Umm. You do know that there are much more important things to be banned then Everybody Loves Raymond. A TV show never hurt anyone. If you were really so smart you would complain about those DEEPER things, such as the declining economy or the pointless war that we are stuck in rather than some TV show that some of America happens to enjoys.

Woww...what an extreme waste of space on the internet and time for Al Barger. You know, mister, you're not changing anybody's mind with this post. TV networks aren't going to magically stop airing reruns of Raymond just being the all-powerful Al Barger disliked the show. Get a life.

And another thing. KING OF THE HILL? I personally despise that TV show. But that's just my opinion. I'm most definitely not putting down anyone who enjoys those shows. That's Al Barger's job.

PS-

My favorite shows are

Seinfeld
King of Queens
Simpsons
The Office
Colbert Report
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
and How I Met your Mother

Do those shows meet your approval? Because I may have to stop watching them if they don't.

One more thing.
Third year med student at John's Hopkins
aka
Everybody Loves Raymond lover

i like you man. i can't say i agree with you, but you are opinionated and i appreciate that.

neha- Thank you for your kind words.

All Hail- The Official Correct Judgment is that the Simpsons, Seinfeld and Colbert are cool, Jon Stewart is extremely overrated, the King of Queens is only maybe marginally better than Raymond, and I don't know enough to have any strong opinion about the others. Please adjust your viewing in accordance. Thank you.

Funny it says personal attacks are not allowed, but this whole blog is a personal attack to those who enjoy Everybody Loves Raymond. The formula for this show is all about domestic situations, that's the key to its success and why a billion people watched it every week. If you don't like it, don't tune in. But obsessively hating it and spending so much time talking about it doesn't make you look any better than the type of people you claim are fans of the show. My only complaint about the show is that every episode makes Ray look like an idiot and Deborah has to clean up after his stupidity. We all know in real life the Man is the intelligent head of the family who has to manage the wife's erratic irrational emotions. But the show is probably written by whiny politically correct liberals and the fanbase is most likely overwhelmingly female. Never the less, I am one of those fans who laughs at every episode.

People watch Everybody Loves Raymond because they do stupid innate things that make people laugh. This can also be said of Peter Griffin on The Family Guy. He is sooo stupid... it's funny! Why else do you think this Al Barger guy got this article published? He's pretty stupid, and this article made me laugh. I'm telling you... it works. Stupid people are funny!

ILSP- I are not stupid. I is a real smart intelektual, so there!

Uummmmm...Excuse me, Dr. Evil. One BILLION Americans? As in three times the three hundred MILLION Americans we have? Are we all watching it three times, including the infants? You Tool!

God bless you child..."everybody hates raymond" is simply one of the most sinfully-boring, mind-numbingly stupid shows and now "2 and a half wits" inherited this honour.

Although I have to disagree with you about friends, the show was very funny and witty although the scripts were simple.

And I couldn't help but notice that some of you put "seinfeld" with the same level of "everybody loves raymond" and "the king of queens" that should be one of the seven sins people....the latter two added nothing to the dimwitted-gets-a-family formula