As bland as they appear to be sometimes, family sitcoms have flourished on television and continue to flourish on television because of their everyday appeal.
Premiering in 1996 and airing its final episode in 2005, Everybody Loves Raymond was set on Long Island. Ray Barone (Ray Romano) lives with his wife Debra (Patricia Heaton) and their three children in a standard suburban split level home. His loving, but sometimes frustrating parents Marie and Frank (Doris Roberts and the late Peter Boyle) live across the street. They have the annoying habit of dropping by unexpectedly. Ray’s brother, Robert (Brad Garrett) is a cop who also frequently swings by his brother’s house without notice.
Yes, this show was another family sitcom. But it had a snap to it. It was funny, it was real and it appealed to audiences and critics because of the ordinary lives of the characters.
I recommend it.
