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Still Love Raymond? Romano to Star in TNT Pilot
Ray Romano by Robert Mora/WireImage.com
Three years after the end of Everybody Loves Raymond, Ray Romano could be back on TV soon. The comedian is starring in Men of a Certain Age, a TNT pilot that he created with Raymond writer-producer Mike Royce, Variety says. In a bold development route, TNT is diving into the pilot straight from the script.
Men will center on three fortysomethings in mid-life crises, offering what's described as a Sideways-ish tone as well as a dash of thirtysomething. At a recent movie premiere, Romano hinted at his new gig, and described his philosophy for the series as "write what you know, and write what you cry about."
What's your take? Is this new concept a combo you'd want to see picked up, or a rehash of subjects well-trodden? Or, with Romano at the helm, does it even matter what it's about? — Anna Dimond
Related:
• Will Ray Romano Deal Us a New TV Series?
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Mar 31, 2008 9:43 PM
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Don't get cable, never thought Ray Romano was very funny, Everybody Loves Raymond sucked, so no, I'm not champing at the bit to see this. But you really can't tell from the pitch whether these kinds of things are going to be any good or not. You never really know until you see it (if you ever do).
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Apr 1, 2008 12:08 AM
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Thanks Staley, glad you weighed in, very helpful.
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Apr 1, 2008 12:55 AM
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Well, they did ask what my take was, so you're welcome.
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Apr 1, 2008 6:46 AM
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I never really watched Raymond when it was on CBS but have grown to really appreciate it in syndication. The cast was just terrific and their chemistry ranks up their with the casts of The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Cheers, All in the Family and other classic sitcoms. But acting-wise, Romano was probably the weakest link (much like Jerry Seinfeld). So I guess my point is, with the right people around him, this new project could be terrific.
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Apr 1, 2008 7:16 AM
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I have all nine seasons of ELR on DVD. It doesn't go beyond the basic sitcom structure, but I think that's one of the reasons I like it. You can just turn it on and laugh for a few minutes(in my opinion, it was funny).
The actors also had a lot of chemistry, and I actually think Ray was a very good actor(not in the beginning, though, because he was nervous). He had a few dramatic scenes throughout the series, and he seemed to handle them well.
I hope this new pilot works out. The thing that worries me is that the description compares it to Sideways and thirtysomething, which doesn't make it sound very original. I suppose that's how pitches work, though...
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Apr 1, 2008 8:28 AM
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I might check this out. I like Ray Romano in movies and such, but never liked Everybody Loves Raymond. I always found it to be mean-spirited, and while I know most people think that's funny, I didn't. I probably will see if it's any good though.
And woodson21, was that necessary?
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Apr 1, 2008 10:19 AM
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The writing just got better on Everyone Loves Raymond in later seasons and so did the acting. I hope this new show works.
To be honest, Ray Romano just plays himself in every role whether it is in Ice Age, ELR or Mooseport. It is the same character.
So if the writing and supporting cast is good, I am there.
Anything is better than House of Payne.
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Apr 1, 2008 10:30 AM
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I loved ELR and actually thought it was more sophisticated than people gave it credit for. How many other sitcoms have episodes about how much the work of a housewife is worth? But it was so skillfully written that you believed it was just another great comedic episode. I don't like the sound of "thirtysomething" or "sideways" - sounds way too yuppyish and serious to me. The charm of ELR is that it didn't take itself too seriously, as it was wonderfully down-to-earth with an Italian workingclass point of view (conflicted with Ray's rise up the economic/social latter). But it never shoved the politics in our faces like All in the Family did. I hope this new show retains some of that.
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Apr 1, 2008 11:18 AM
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I loved Everybody Loves Raymond and, unlike most sitcoms, it continued to get better right up through the final season. I agree with the comment that Ray was probably the weakest link in the show, but he was--in a sense--the most important, too. The sensibility of the series was based on his life, after all.
On the other hand, I think a great deal of why that show was funny was Phil Rosenthal. He is naturally hilarious and with him overseeing the show, it continued to thrive for nine great seasons.
Therefore, anything new that Ray does will have to be judged as a whole new deal, in my opinion. After all, I loved Patricia Heaton and Brad Garrett in ELR, but look at the dreck they're stuck in now.
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Apr 1, 2008 11:31 AM
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I agree with footballfran - the show was very mean-spirited...no one seemed to like each other and they were always too sarcastic and nasty. I would watch occasionally but was not a real fan of the show. And I hated the father's catch phrase, "holy c**p" - that was wholly inappropriate for a family television show.
So, I guess my bottom line is that I probably will not watch Ray's new show just to see him on TV again. I don't (or didn't) care for Patricia Heaton's or Robert's shows (can't remember his real name).
As we were asked for our opinions/thoughts, I hope no one will jump down my throat for sharing my views...as happened to an earlier poster.
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Apr 1, 2008 11:41 AM
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tvforever, Everybody Loves Raymond was a show about a family, but it wasn't a family show. The creators made that very clear in interviews while it was on the air that it was a show for adults. That's why there were so few episodes that featured the kids in any central plots. Besides, the show was on at 9pm.
"Holy crap" is one the least objectionable phrases on television, anyway. As much as I enjoy Aliens In America, it is aimed at the entire family (including kids), and I've been surprised at some of the things they get away with in the 8 o'clock hour! Not only is the language sometimes stronger, but in one episode, one student simulated sodomy on another student. Hilarious as it was in context, I wouldn't have wanted my 10-year-old watching it.
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Apr 1, 2008 12:18 PM
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Awesome. ELR is in my humble opinion one of the funniest shows in history (which was tricky given the wholesome - wacky, but definitely wholesome - tone) and I'm really excited to see Ray back on the small screen. So to quote one of the best characters in another completely funny show (at least in its first couple of years) let's get Kitty Foreman-excited and go YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY! 
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Apr 1, 2008 12:20 PM
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Most everybody loved Raymond! That show and Ray himself earned a huge initial audience for any show he does. Whether we support the show depends on the show itself.
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Apr 1, 2008 12:20 PM
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Ugh, no thanks! Ray Romano is totally over-rated.
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Apr 1, 2008 12:51 PM
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