Everything I learned about successful TV from 'Everybody Loves Raymond'

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette ^ | May 15, 2005 | Rob Owen

[AmishDude]

The success of CBS's "Everybody Loves Raymond" offers several lessons today's TV executives would do well to recognize:

It takes time to grow a hit.

When "Raymond" premiered in September 1996, the show aired at 8:30 p.m. Friday and had terrible ratings. Critics raved about it, but viewers didn't find it. CBS paid attention to the critical plaudits and moved "Raymond" to 8:30 p.m. Monday in 1997, where it grew into a hit.

[Radioactive]

In my travels, I try to talk to as many people as possible because I find people interesting.

I find it very interesting when people attack me for saying that watching TV is a waste of time.

Obviously you feel guilty for watching so much TV and take your anger out on me for pointing it out.

I'm sorry. I won't do that any more.

And if you are not angry, you should be.

And if so, then I'm sorry for not being effective enough to make you see how wastefull TV is and not getting you angry.

[Radioactive]

Boy you are 'so' full of yourself!

Oh not so.

I wish to know why if I say watching a TV program is a waste of time, I get a bunch of angry responses.

Can there be a little bit of guilt hidden there?

TV by the way is nothing more than a slick way of advertising products with just a hint of entertainment thrown in to make it seem worth while.

I know this because I was dealing with ad agencies for a number of years and that is how they look at TV and radio.

If the American people would give up TV for a year, they would never ever have to worry about retirement or debt.

This TV program advertises products so Americans go into debt and waste valuable time which could be used to increase their wealth.

Harvard did a study and found that for every hour of TV watched, it costs an individual $250.00 in lost earnings.

TV is very expensive and being a couch potato is not a good way to go through life.

[Balding_Eagle]

You understand that she's playing a character on the show, right?

LOL! Fair question, given what I posted.

Yes, I do know that it's just an act, but like the actor lefties (Barbra Strisand for example), it's hard for me to totally ignore it. I used to really like her voice. Somehow I can't enjoy it anymore.

I saw Patricia Heaton interviewed one time, was very surprised of her politics, and tried to like her after that. Knowing her real beliefs, which seem totally incompatable with her character, just made it worse for me.

[mupcat]

OH NO!!!! Had to Think?

I know, I know--tis true---lol

[Chunga]

I must say, with all respect to her husband, not too shabby.

[R. Scott]

The poor things!

[kassie]

I hate to see that show end.

Marie is very, very much like my mil. We actually lived beside my in laws for one year. Longest year of my life.

[lysie]

Good morning.

[KC_Conspirator]

Debra Messing is hot, but that show is stupid, a one-trick pony of gay being shoved in your face and famous guests.

[cubreporter]

Why are you letting your children watch then? It's a family show, they curse now and then, there are adult themes and it deals with a lot of everyday things that happen in familes. If you dont' want your children watching or listening...change the ch or shut the TV off. We have been watching this show and it is NOT offensive. It is LIFE real and simple.

[cubreporter]

Reruns Main Entry: [2]re·run
Pronunciation: 'rE-"r&n, (")rE-'
Function: noun
Date: circa 1934
: the act or action or an instance of rerunning : REPETITION; especially : a movie or television show that is rerun

[cubreporter]

:)

[Luddite Patent Counsel]

Why are you letting your children watch then?

I don't.

It's a family show, they curse now and then, there are adult themes and it deals with a lot of everyday things that happen in familes.

It is not a "family" show; that's the point. It's an adult-themed show, as you just said, that happens to be about a family.

If you dont' want your children watching or listening...change the ch or shut the TV off.

Already done. The only reason I posted anything is because the producer of the show is crowing about his "sensitivity" to children in the audience, which is absolute hogwash.

We have been watching this show and it is NOT offensive. It is LIFE real and simple.

Whatever. If your "real and simple" family life includes sexual banter, calling people bastards, and talking about crawling out of a skunk's ass, all in front small children, it would not surprise me that you would approve of the show.

[absolootezer0]

"how stupid to they think children are?"

i haven't seen this episode, but i can understand your reaction. although i don't particularly care for him, eminem did have one thing to say regarding this that is (unfortunately) right on:

"...And that's the message that we deliver to little kids
And expect them not to know what a woman's clitoris is
Of course they gonna know what intercourse is
By the time they hit fourth grade
They got the Discovery Channel don't they?..."

and it's things like that episode that teaches them that. which is why my little girl doesn't watch tv, and won't be watching tv. i've got plenty of books.

[yellowdoghunter]

Good for you. ELR is definitely not a family show. The people on that show and those who write for the show can try to tell themselves that, but it is not true. And just because Patricia Heaton is pro-life does not make it okay. There was a time that there were true family shows like Andy Griffith, etc....they never had to resort to sex jokes for a laugh, I guess they had more talent back then.

Glad to see there are parents out there, like yourself, who get it.

Once again, how stupid do people really think children are?

Disclaimer: to anyone reading this....this is just my opinion, yours may vary...no need to trash and bash.

[macamadamia]

I posted this to you:
"And I wonder why you are wasting time talking about things you claim you don't care about."

You responded:
"I find it very interesting when people attack me for saying that watching TV is a waste of time."




First of all, I never addressed the matter of TV being a waste of time. Second of all, I haven't attacked you. So you're just knocking down a strawman. What I DID IN FACT address is that you posted on a thread about a topic which you explicitly claim you don't care about. I think its perfectly valid to wonder why. If you genuinely don't care about something and consider it a "waste of time", it begs the question: why incongruously waste valuable time talking about it? The irony is not too hard to see.



Then amazingly you presume this about me:
"Obviously you feel guilty for watching so much TV and take your anger out on me for pointing it out."

Wow, you're presumptuousness here is off the chart! It is beyond rationality that you can construe that I watch so much TV..........let alone that I feel GUILTY! Please don't attribute to me qualities that are not there.

[reagan_fanatic]

I was a late comer to ELR, and I admit the first couple of episodes I saw didn't impress me much. But my Wife liked to watch, so I did to, and it kinda grew on me.

I really hate to see it end.

[absolootezer0]

oh great, now i've got the theme song to andy griffith stuck in my head.
but it wasn't that they had (more) talent back then, it was just that they understood that people could enjoy good clean humour. i haven't seen many episodes, but as far as i've seen, the only recent one that i might consider still in this element of clean humour is 'mad about you' altho a bit adult humour, i haven't seen any "crude" humour- or maybe i've just been lucky to only have seen good ones.

[cubreporter]

So, when the Romano character famously refers to himself in one episode as a "sexual camel", you were aware that my children may have been watching? How considerate of you.



In your post to me you said you DON'T let your children watch the show. Then how could you say that your children MAY have been watching??????? Then stating: "How considerate of you."

Seems like a contradiction to me. But oh well.........

[Luddite Patent Counsel]

It might seem like a contradiction if you hadn't read the statement from producer Rosen, which I quoted in my original post, to wit:

"We are very aware of the children that may be watching," Rosenthal said.

The "children... may be watching" language was from the producer who apparently approves blatant sexual references and crude language to air on his "family" show. That's why my children aren't watching. No contradiction at all. But oh well...