The holiday season is all about family: spending time with the people who mean the most to us, sharing good times and memorable moments. Even when those special people drive us absolutely insane.
With the holiday season drawn to a close, now might be a good time for a little storytelling catharsis. I can't think of a show that would better fit that bill than the hit sit-com Everybody Loves Raymond.
Everybody Loves Raymond is the story of Ray Barone, a sports writer who lives in Long Island with his wife and three kids. His parents (and his older brother) also happen to live nearby. Right across the street, in fact. "Tha-a-a-at's right."
Throughout its nine-season run, the show offered an in-depth look into what family is really all about -- the highs, the lows, and the downright crazy. So if your holiday season was filled with family and you need a bit of a recharge, check out our list of recommended Raymond episodes: one from each season. And remember: It's never just about the can opener. (See Season 4's episode "The Can Opener" for more about that.)
Click on the Seasons' DVD links to request that season from our Catalog!
The Game - Season One [DVD]
"We haven't talked for thirty-five years!"
"I didn't want to interrupt."
What to do when the cable's out? The family decides to break out "Scruples," a board game designed to bring out the truth. Of course, as anyone in a family could tell you, a little truth goes a long way.
Marie’s Meatballs - Season Two [DVD]
"Given everything that I do around here, why do I care so much that I can't make spaghetti and meatballs for my husband as good as his mother?"
"Because you're a good wife."
"… Don't you ever, ever call me that again."
Debra's determined to learn to cook. Of course, that's hard enough to do without outright sabatoge.
No Fat - Season Three [DVD]
"A recipe for tofu turkey?"
"It looks good, huh?"
"... I would rather eat that page."
Marie's making an effort to serve healthier meals to herself and her family -- even if it means a low-fat (and, to the guys' way of thinking, utterly tasteless) Thanksgiving. This episode gives new meaning to showing support through "thick and thin."
The Christmas Picture - Season Four [DVD]
"I think you've made a wonderful gift choice. You have a lovely family."
"You haven't met everybody yet."
Ray's finally figured out the perfect gift for his mother: a family portrait photo. Too bad it involves the family.
The Wallpaper - Season Five [DVD]
"What happened?!"
"Grandma and Grandpa stopped by."
Ray and Debra's complaints about their in-laws barging into the house have always been a mere turn of phrase. Until now.
Lucky Suit - Season Six [DVD]
"He's the FBI, Ma! I wasn't applying for a job at the Gap!"
One of Marie's best qualities is her desire to help her family. Unfortunately, it's one of her worst qualities, too. Like when she decides to help her eldest son with his job interview. By faxing a letter to his interviewers.
Meeting the Parents - Season Seven [DVD]
"'No good can come from family'?"
"HER family."
When in-laws collide! Robert and Amy are getting married. Their parents are meeting for the first time. It's always a little rocky when two families take their first steps to getting to know one another – but when one of those families are the Barones, "rocky" doesn't quite cover it.
The Bird - Season Eight [DVD]
"We promise to protect your people and treat you with kindness."
"Lies. They're gonna screw us."
Robert and Amy are adjusting to marriage, and their families are adjusting to each other. Their "first Thanksgiving" cumulates in a family holiday pagent that seems to sum up the tension on both sides pretty well. Luckily, food does wonders to bring people together.
The Finale - Season Nine [DVD]
"Hey, Ray, it's a little crowded in here."
"Maybe we should get a bigger table."
It was a scare that only lasted thirty seconds – but that's enough time for the family to realize how much they all mean to each other. With the final episode of the series, the finale shows us what this story's been about all along: the fact that, as crazy as they drive us, we love our family.
Well. Most of the time, anyway.
Also From the Catalog:
-- You're Lucky You're Funny: How Life Becomes a Sitcom - by Phil Rosenthal. A memoir from the showrunner on the stories behind the scenes of Everybody Loves Raymond.
-- Exporting Raymond [DVD] - Phil Rosenthal oversaw a nine-season run of one of the most successful American television sit-coms of all time. Turns out there's a Russian production company that's interested in doing their own version of Raymond. This documentary follows Rosenthal overseas as he tries to break the culture gap and prove that, when it comes to family, some stories are universal.
-- Post by Ms. B
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