Everybody Loves Raymondwon’t follow in the footsteps of shows likeFull House, Fraiser,andRoseanne.Ray Romano, who starred in the Emmy Award-winning series as the titular character, says a revival just isn’t in the cards for the esteemed sitcom. During a recent appearance onReal Time with Bill Maher(viaVariety), Romano said a reboot ofEverybody Loves Raymondwas “out of the question,” namely because two members of its core cast have passed since the series' 2005 conclusion.
“As far as a reboot, well, it’s now out of the question because unfortunately, the parents are gone: Peter Boyle and Doris Roberts.”
Boyle and Roberts hilariously portrayed Ray’s parents, Frank and Marie; Boyle passed away in 2006, just a year after the sitcom wrapped, while Roberts passed away in 2016. Besides the deaths of the two veteran actors, who were such a crucial part of the sitcom’s storylines, reviving the series would not be a good idea for another reason. According to Romano, revivals don’t live up to the originals.
“They’re never as good. We want to leave with our legacy with what it is.”
Everybody Loves Raymond,created by Phil Rosenthal and inspired by Romano’s stand-up comedy, premiered on CBS in 1996. The show follows Newsday sportswriter Ray, his wife Debra (Patricia Heaton), and their three kids living across the street from Ray’s parents and brother in Long Island. During its nine-season run,Everybody Loves Raymondwas nominated for 69 Primetime Emmy Awards, winning 15; the show remains one of the most regarded comedies in television history. The show’s nine seasons included 210 episodes, and according to Romano, much of its cast would have been content to keep the narrative going.
“The rest of the cast was happy to go on, but myself and Phil Rosenthal — who ran the show — we wanted it to end in Season 8, because we just felt it, we felt it [was] time.”
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Ray Romano Remembers Peter Boyle and Doris Roberts
InEverybody Loves Raymond, the closeness of the two homes housing the Barones allowed Ray’s family to be much more involved than his wife Debra would have liked; this often lead to hilarious (and relatable) situations. While Frank and Marie werefar from dream in-laws, Boyle and Peters remained beloved by the show’s cast and audience.
Following Boyle’s 2006 death,Romano spoke of the seasoned actor, who was also known for his roles inYoung Frankenstein, Taxi Driver, and The X-Files.
“He gave me great advice, he always made me laugh, and the way he connected with everyone around him amazed me. The fact that he could play a convincing curmudgeon on the show, but in reality be such a compassionate and thoughtful person, is a true testament to his talent,” he said.
Following Roberts' death, Romano commemorated the late actress, who earned four Emmy Awards for her portrayal of Marie Barone, in a public tribute.
“Here’s how good she was: She played the most intrusive, overbearing, noisy woman always starting fights and whatnot and meddling in our business and yet when I asked the fans who their favorite character was, all the time it was her,” Romano said. “She was so good at portraying the love that was underneath.”
Romano, who made hisdirectorial feature debut with 2022’sSomewhere in Queens, will next star in Netflix’sNo Good Deedalongside Lisa Kudrow.
