# Not Everbody Loves Raymond **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 26, 2005, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-everbody-loves-raymond/301160 "2005-04-26T15:11:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Agrippina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8797f3/32.png) [@Agrippina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agrippina)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2005, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-everbody-loves-raymond/301160/81 "2005-04-28T00:20:02Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > 1. Paul Reuben as Amy’s brother (pre-Chris Elliot). Actually, Paul Reuben played a comic book store owner. Raymond gave one of Ally’s Pokemon-rip-off cards to another kid or something and he went to get her another one only to find that Reuben wanted him to pay a couple of hundred dollars. ---
**Author:** ![Israfel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/87869e/32.png) [@Israfel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Israfel)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2005, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-everbody-loves-raymond/301160/82 "2005-04-28T02:50:08Z")
> [@Agrippina](#): > > Actually, Paul Reuben played a comic book store owner. Raymond gave one of Ally’s Pokemon-rip-off cards to another kid or something and he went to get her another one only to find that Reuben wanted him to pay a couple of hundred dollars. Right, and that comic-book store owner was also Amy’s brother. ---
**Author:** ![Omega\_Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7c8e57/32.png) [@Omega\_Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omega_Glory)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2005, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-everbody-loves-raymond/301160/83 "2005-04-28T03:07:10Z")
> [@quietman](#): > > **MEDIUM** Quirky, Off-beat, and Patricia Arquett. (Isn’t that why you bought the DVD of True Romance?) The husband is a bit whiny and nasal (Like she’d settle for That!). Sure, FOX arm-twists tha plotline into a slightly right-wing bend, but Herr Rupert’s agenda has been held at bey for the most part. I really wonder how good this show could be if it could escape the gravity the black-hole that is FOX. This would be the Crown Jewel of UPN, NBC, or CBS; perhaps they’ll bring their check-books to the next Vegas-Con. Huh? Medium is, (and always has been) on NBC. ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2005, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-everbody-loves-raymond/301160/84 "2005-04-28T04:02:52Z")
> [@Roadfood](#): > > You know, it’s pretty much a truism that **any** show is “not for everyone”, and this comment sounds like a borderline insult… Absolutely not intended as an insult. Apologies if it felt that way to you. ---
**Author:** ![Sarah\_Woodruff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sarah\_Woodruff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarah_Woodruff)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2005, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-everbody-loves-raymond/301160/85 "2005-04-29T01:07:01Z")
Of the American shows we get over here (Oz), I hates me some: _Everybody Loves Raymond Friends Joey According to Jim Yes Dear Will & Grace Medical Investigation ER Home Improvement_ And I likes me some: _Frazier Oz The Sopranos Sex & the City Arrested Development_ ---
**Author:** ![Sarah\_Woodruff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sarah\_Woodruff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarah_Woodruff)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2005, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-everbody-loves-raymond/301160/86 "2005-04-29T01:09:33Z")
Oh yeah, and I also liked those shows about a law firm in Boston featuring James Spader. Mostly because of James Spader (mmm…) ---
**Author:** ![Bites\_When\_Provoked](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bites_when_provoked/32/18073_2.png) [@Bites\_When\_Provoked](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bites_When_Provoked)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2005, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-everbody-loves-raymond/301160/87 "2005-04-29T06:19:36Z")
> [@Sarah Woodruff](#): > > Oh yeah, and I also liked those shows about a law firm in Boston featuring James Spader. Mostly because of James Spader (mmm…) Mmm, James Spader. 😃 What I don’t get about \*The Practice \* is that it was spectacularly awful for so many years, then about the time they decide to wind it up, they suddenly bring on James Spader (_wistful sigh_) and William Shatner (who was hilarious in his role) and put a lot of the fun back into it. I’m glad they did it, but it seemed a shame to wind it up once they’d made it fun to watch again. ---
**Author:** ![Bites\_When\_Provoked](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bites_when_provoked/32/18073_2.png) [@Bites\_When\_Provoked](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bites_When_Provoked)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2005, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-everbody-loves-raymond/301160/88 "2005-04-29T06:29:28Z")
Medical Investigation is incredibly stupid. Whenever I catch it (it’s on prior to Stargate: Atlantis, so I’ve seen a couple of episodes) I wonder how depressed the actors must feel about all their effort and hard work having lead their careers to this point. The other prime-time(ish) show I can’t stand is The Amazing Race. ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2005, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-everbody-loves-raymond/301160/89 "2005-04-29T15:18:18Z")
> [@Bites When Provoked](#): > > I’m glad they did it, but it seemed a shame to wind it up once they’d made it fun to watch again. The network’s site says it’ll be back next year! ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2005, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-everbody-loves-raymond/301160/90 "2005-04-29T15:24:58Z")
> [@whiterabbit](#): > > The network’s site says it’ll be back next year! I think **Bites When Provoked** meant \*The Practice \* was wrapped up, not _Boston Legal_. I never watched \*The Practice \* (I couldn’t have been less interested in another overly-serious lawyer show), but I really got into Boston Legal because Spader and Shatner’s characters were so great, and they especially worked so well together. I’m glad \*Boston Legal \* will be back next year. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2005, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-everbody-loves-raymond/301160/91 "2005-04-29T22:30:08Z")
> [@Bites When Provoked](#): > > Mmm, James Spader. 😃 > > What I don’t get about \*The Practice \* is that it was spectacularly awful for so many years, then about the time they decide to wind it up, they suddenly bring on James Spader (_wistful sigh_) and William Shatner (who was hilarious in his role) and put a lot of the fun back into it. > > I’m glad they did it, but it seemed a shame to wind it up once they’d made it fun to watch again. Wow, exactly the opposite (almost). I thought the show sucked throughout, but when they brought in Spader and Shatner, it went into gigantic Hoover-On-Steroids mode. ---
**Author:** ![Mirror\_Image\_egamI\_rorriM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e56c9b/32.png) [@Mirror\_Image\_egamI\_rorriM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mirror_Image_egamI_rorriM)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2005, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-everbody-loves-raymond/301160/92 "2005-04-30T00:59:23Z")
[This girl](http://www.bmezine.com/tattoo/A50420/high/bmegl053568.jpg) hates Raymond more than you. ---
**Author:** ![Bites\_When\_Provoked](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bites_when_provoked/32/18073_2.png) [@Bites\_When\_Provoked](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bites_When_Provoked)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2005, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-everbody-loves-raymond/301160/93 "2005-04-30T13:43:00Z")
> [@Big Bad Voodoo Lou](#): > > I think **Bites When Provoked** meant \*The Practice \* was wrapped up, not _Boston Legal_. I never watched \*The Practice \* (I couldn’t have been less interested in another overly-serious lawyer show), but I really got into Boston Legal because Spader and Shatner’s characters were so great, and they especially worked so well together. I’m glad \*Boston Legal \* will be back next year. Until now, I’d never heard of Boston Legal. If it’s got the good stuff from the end of The Practice, I hope they bring it Down Under. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2005, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-everbody-loves-raymond/301160/94 "2005-04-30T16:58:02Z")
> [@Roadfood](#): > > You know, it’s pretty much a truism that **any** show is “not for everyone”, and this comment sounds like a borderline insult; I don’t like it because it’s “adult”? Corrupt cops makes it “adult”? Heavily blurred lines between good and bad is “adult”? Is this a whoosh? Because the answer to the last two questions is ‘yes’. In particular the last. Shades of grey is something that children have a tough time grasping. Moral ambiguity is most definitely a defining characteristic of ‘adult’. > [@](#): > > I’m not a religious conservative (I’'m not even religious), but it seems that for many years now, the more morally ambiguous a show and its characters are, the more “adult” it is. The more the lines between good and bad are blurred, the more “adult” the show. Having well delineated good and bad is considered “less adult”. Um, yeah, pretty much by definition. > [@](#): > > Yeah right, I know, the real world is full of moral ambiguity and corrupt cops and politically ambitious leaders who climb over others on their way to the top. The real world is also full of plenty of truly good guys, too. Really? Color me surprised. > [@](#): > > You’re more than welcome to like _The Shield_ all you want, but please don’t tell me that its being “adult” has anything to do with my dislike for it. That is a fair point. Your reasons are your own. Personally, I can’t stand The Shield. I just find the actors overly earnest in their performances. ---
**Author:** ![ITR\_champion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c67d28/32.png) [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2005, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-everbody-loves-raymond/301160/95 "2005-04-30T19:38:35Z")
I have never seen an episode of **Everybody Loves Raymond** , but I did see a commercial for it once. As near as I can remember, it went like this: Narrator: This week on Everybody Loves Raymond, there’s a strike and Raymond is forced to hire replacement workers. [Scene in a reception area. The phone rings. Replacement workers sit around doing nothing. Raymond walks in and looks at the replacement workers.] Raymond: Would it have killed one of you to pick up the phone? [Studio audience bursts into hysterical laughter.] ??? ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2005, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-everbody-loves-raymond/301160/96 "2005-05-08T10:48:40Z")
**Malcolm in the Middle** is the one show that I cannot even bear to have on for three minutes while I’m cueing up a DVD or something. Every one of the characters seems to be a breath away from completely reverting to toddlerhood and having a screaming, kicking, pants-wetting tantrum at the top of their lungs. In fact, don’t some of them do that already? Anyway, I just can’t deal with it. Any other show I can tune out, but not MItM. ---
**Author:** ![gommsn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bcef8e/32.png) [@gommsn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gommsn)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2005, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-everbody-loves-raymond/301160/97 "2005-05-08T11:42:21Z")
> [@Mirror Image egamI rorriM](#): > > [This girl](http://www.bmezine.com/tattoo/A50420/high/bmegl053568.jpg) hates Raymond more than you. Holy Billboard Batman! I hope that’s not permanent! I’ll fess up to liking Raymond. It probably shows my level of sophistication but I laugh my ass off. I don’t watch a lot of “network” television, the commercials drive me nuts but I saw my first episode of House the other night and it was quite interesting. The one about the young girl diver who turned out to be pregnant. From the comments I’ve read here I should give Boston Legal a look. Seems to be popular. What about the “reality” shows? Am I the only one who thinks these are the lowest form of entertainment on TV? ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2005, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-everbody-loves-raymond/301160/98 "2005-05-08T21:39:11Z")
I do like ELR, but I don’t like any of the characters! I just watch to see how big a train wreck there’s going to be! In that sense it’s like “Absolutely Fabulous”, which I really disliked at first, but came to appreciate in the same way. It’s the crazies against the slightly crazies, Edina and Patsy vs. Saffy, Ray and his folks vs. almost everybody else. I can’t understand why Debra didn’t divorce Ray long ago. Or marry him, for that matter. > [@ralph124c](#): > > I agree, watching ELR is like observing a group of severely retarded adults living in a group home. The jokes are corny, the dialogue is stupid, and the in-laws are morons. > I guess people must like it…it seems to be popular. > The funny thing is, this show is a reversion to the family shows of the 1950’s-although not half as clever. Since I was born in 1951, I don’t think so. I think humor in general (and I include things like South Park) has in some ways regressed farther than that - possibly to the slapstick of the silent film/vaudeville era (my limited knowledge of which comes only from Harpo and Groucho Marx’s memoirs). > [@Big Bad Voodoo Lou](#): > > It’s the same kind of humor for people who think Jay Leno is a comic genius, but get a little uncomfortable when Letterman is on and wouldn’t dream of watching Conan or The Daily Show. 'Nuff said. I only watch Leno if Letterman is a repeat. Leno’s jokes are obvious. I used to like Letterman a lot more than I do now. He’s increasingly predictable and has shown flashes of hostility to the audience, not a winning tactic, whether real or “joking”. I’ve watched Conan a few times, but he’s as obvious as Leno, just more outrageous. The only time I really liked his show was when Triumph the Insult Dog pissed off a few Quebecois. Now THAT was funny! ---
**Author:** ![Gail](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Gail](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gail)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2005, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-everbody-loves-raymond/301160/99 "2005-05-08T21:50:01Z")
This probably dates me, but I always hated **Welcome Back Kotter**. I was a senior in high school when it was on and even though I was probably the target audience, I just couldn’t stand it. To me, it seemed like a vehicle to promote Gabe Kaplan’s stand up act. I’ve never been good at sticking with a sitcom for it’s whole run…I usually get bored with most after a few seasons. Right now, I only enjoy two sitcoms: **Two and a Half Men** and **Scrubs**. Most of the others are just stupid. ---
**Author:** ![hawkeyejo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e19b73/32.png) [@hawkeyejo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawkeyejo)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2005, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-everbody-loves-raymond/301160/100 "2005-05-08T22:05:23Z")
**Seinfeld** - I have never been able to figure out what people think is so funny about this show. I find it extremely blah…I’ll watch **Raymond** over that nonsense anytime (even though it sucks too) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-everbody-loves-raymond/301160.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-everbody-loves-raymond/301160.md?page=6)