I'm seconding new brother Blogcritic David Flanagan who finds freedom to be offensive. He's right. It sucks.
I say we clean house. We're not accepting or tolerating homophobia, xenophobia, prayer, racism, any of that. There is a democratic consensus or some judge decided it or something. Anyway, these things are fattening and immoral, and of course deeply offensive.
OK, fair enough - but I'll insist that we include on the banned phobia/ism list the principal group responsible for violating MY civil liberties. Since there so many citizens, maybe we should just pick one thing apiece to ban.
I pick think-o-phobes. Dumb sonsabitches who avoid thought of any significant kind as if it were painful. People who go to great lengths to actively avoid thought. People who love Raymond.
If I get to ban just ONE stupid, thoughtless thing, it will be Everybody Loves Raymond.
Nielsen estimates that approximately 1 billion Americans each week faithfully tune in to watch Everybody Loves Raymond. Why?
Do they adore the shrewish, nagging wife? Perhaps it is Raymond's whining and petty grievances that get the folks excited. Perhaps they identify with someone who manages to be such a miserable loser despite being a rich American.
Do any of these people have a personality other than broadly being whiny or shrewish? Do they have any pride or passion in anything? Are they Republicans, Democrats, Green? Do they believe in Jesus? Do they even give a THOUGHT to any such thing?
NO. Exactly my complaint. There's not a thought in the head of any of these characters other than the most mundane level of personal politics, how to get what they want out of family members in the next five minutes. How do I get him to take out the trash? How do I get her to leave me alone while I watch the game? That pretty much seems to be their level of consciousness.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Dennis
Apparently, "Everybody Loves Raymond" is a misnomer, as I also cannot stand him, or the show. He sucks large!
2 - jack e jett
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
3 - Rodney Welch
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.
4 - Dwaine AKA Scooter AKA D.J.
RAYMOND MUST DIE.
5 - duane
I was planning on saying something witty, erudite, and maybe even borderline interesting, but that last comment is too much to follow.
6 - Al Barger
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.
7 - Ms. Tek
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.
8 - Al Barger
Yes, Victoria. I have been very BAD.
9 - Eric Olsen
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.
10 - tim
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]!
11 - Al Barger
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.
12 - Justene
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.
13 - bobman_53
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].
14 - Al Barger
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.
15 - Genc
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.
16 - Al Barger
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."
17 - Bob A. Booey
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.
18 - Eric Olsen
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
19 - Silas Kain
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.
20 - Bob A. Booey
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.
21 - Silas Kain
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.
22 - Al Barger
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.
23 - Silas Kain
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!
24 - Al Barger
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
25 - Eric Berlin
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...