Everybody Loves Raymond Must Be Banned - Page 2

"Blandly whiny" pretty well describes the tone. That would have to be one of the least appetizing descriptions I could imagine. I'd rather watch Susan Sarandon rant against President Bush. Heck, I'd rather watch Michael Moore rant against the president. Hell, I would rather listen to Barbara Streisand sing than to have to watch Everybody Loves Raymond.

Raymond kills brain cells. Every time you fixate on one these inane thoughts, a few of your brain cells dies not just from lack of exercise, but by active suffocation. It's like Raymond's whining is holding a pillow over your brain, and smothering it from ever being able to think again. You might as well be huffing paint thinner or sniffing glue.

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

It's bad for America. It is destructive of our basic will to think. If any of you conspiracy buffs wanted to argue that there is some oligarchic/corporate/government/Vatican plot to dumb down the nation, Raymond would be exhibit A in evidence. Raymond must be put down with extreme prejudice.

Hey, hey-ho, ho Think-o-phobes have got to go!

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Article Author: Al Barger

Unreformed hawkish Hoosier hillbilly Al Barger runs the still squeezin' down the psychodelic Kentucky moonshine at More Things. What with the paranoid religious visions, the Pentecostal music, visions of God and anarchy running amok and such, somebody …

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  • 1 - Dennis

    Jan 25, 2004 at 4:54 pm

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

  • 2 - jack e jett

    Jan 27, 2004 at 8:28 pm

    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

    Jan 27, 2004 at 8:45 pm

    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.

    Jan 27, 2004 at 8:47 pm

    RAYMOND MUST DIE.

  • 5 - duane

    Jan 27, 2004 at 8:51 pm

    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

    Jan 27, 2004 at 11:48 pm

    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

    Jan 28, 2004 at 12:18 am

    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

    Jan 28, 2004 at 1:07 am

    Yes, Victoria. I have been very BAD.

  • 9 - Eric Olsen

    Jan 28, 2004 at 9:47 am

    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

    Mar 01, 2004 at 10:10 pm

    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

    Mar 01, 2004 at 10:28 pm

    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

    Sep 24, 2004 at 2:11 pm

    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

    Aug 09, 2005 at 4:55 pm

    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

    Aug 09, 2005 at 5:21 pm

    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

    Aug 23, 2005 at 1:45 pm

    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

    Aug 23, 2005 at 2:01 pm

    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

    Aug 23, 2005 at 2:17 pm

    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

    Aug 23, 2005 at 2:51 pm

    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

    Aug 23, 2005 at 3:29 pm

    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

    Aug 23, 2005 at 3:37 pm

    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

    Aug 23, 2005 at 4:07 pm

    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

    Aug 23, 2005 at 4:26 pm

    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

    Aug 23, 2005 at 4:54 pm

    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

    Aug 23, 2005 at 11:37 pm

    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

    Aug 24, 2005 at 1:55 am

    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...

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