Everybody Loves Raymond

While Everybody doesn't yet have top-notch writing, Romano manages to communicate something distinctive: He plays a beleaguered family man, but one who's happy about it. Not a dope and not a weasel, he's a fellow accepting his responsibilities. Ain't that unusual?

Few new sitcoms this fall provide more pleasure. Or more identifiable humor. [13 Sep 1996]

Low key in concept, in style of humor and in star power, it's that rarity: a comedy that manages to be very, very funny without making parents watching with their children very, very uncomfortable. It's not necessarily a kids' show; it just gets its laughs honestly, without being crass. [13 Sep 1996]

Romano has an easy-to-like style, a knowing wit delivered without Seinfeld's sharp ironic edges. This could be a sleeper hit. [14 Sep 1996]

Mr. Romano has a knack for hilariously obsessing on life's most ordinary details. He's made for prime-time comedy, and "Everybody Loves Raymond" would seem to be his perfect vehicle. [13 Sep 1996]

Love, maybe not. But there's much to like, starting with Romano himself.

Bland ... Romano can be slightly amusing during his stand-up act, but his CBS sitcom is wallowing in wimpiness. [12 Sep 1996]

I loved this show from beginning to end. The cast is perfect. The chemistry is great. Storylines are smart and silly! Hated to see it end!

There were a couple of episodes that I didn't like but overall it is the show that gave me more laughs than any other show or movie.

This show had good writing, acting, and a decent storyline. The earlier seasons were good with many stand-out episodes. The later seasons get fairly corny and then I just stopped watching.

Despite being innately hit or miss, the goals of comedy are always the same: to relieve, amuse or inspire. In theory, a good comedy is capable of achieving all three, but the brutal truth is that funny often ends in a broken nose. Following the unspoken rules of the American Sitcom, this family friendly suburban recounting is, unfortunately, mostly a miss. It’s hard enough to get an audience to laugh at standup; add to that the laundry list of daytime programming’s content restrictions and you get a very limited playing field.Regardless, “Everybody Loves Raymond” is considered one of the most successful sitcoms of all time. It was received with high viewership and unending praise during its nine seasons, and is ranked among the funniest comedies to release on television. This is because, in the words of one of my acting teachers, “America does not want to come home to Medea”. Most Americans need to relax after a hard day’s work, and Romano’s peaceful setting, coupled with its lighthearted subject matter make for an easygoing sit on the sofa. The wider the net in terms of audience, the more careful the comedian must be with his content. This is where the writers excel in this series: Raymond’s true appeal is in tackling family matters with mirth and optimism. The next best thing to funny is cute, and Raymond’s cast excels at captivating its audience. Who are these quirky people? What common day conflict will crop up next? Will this family face issues we are currently experiencing? Everybody Loves Raymond is like a tall, refreshing glass of iced tea in that it keeps a fresh charm about it. By addressing everyday conflicts, this show is able to offer a degree of amusement, understanding and consolation like a vicarious support group, theoretically achieving all three goals of a proper comedy… if only they’d tone it down with all the kissing couples! Sheesh!!

pathological man childs, manipulative narcissistic wife, egocentric parents keeping their children in a childlike state. No one loves anyone. It's sparingly funny, most of it is cringe or downward psychological torture.