9th Season of ELR still a possibility - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

dlemond · 03-03-2004, 06:08 PM

3/02/2004

Final season of 'Raymond'? Not so fast ...
By Gary Levin, USA TODAY

Despite vows that this season would likely be the last for Everybody Loves Raymond, the show's top producer now appears open to a shortened ninth season.

And CBS, desperate to hold on to what would likely become TV's top sitcom post-Friends, is eager to negotiate.

"We are in the process of right now deliberating whether we should continue or not," says creator and executive producer Phil Rosenthal.

Although he'd rather bow out now — he has said writers are running low on ideas — "I'm thinking maybe there's a compromise. We're actually talking about can we do part of a season," probably 16 or 18 episodes instead of 24, much as Friends did this year.

But a decision will come down to whether "it's financially viable for the people who pay the money" — producers CBS, HBO and David Letterman — to pay even more each week for fewer episodes, he says.

CBS seems willing. "We're very guardedly optimistic that we could hopefully come to some arrangement by which they could come back," says CBS Television chairman Leslie Moonves. "We need Raymond. We want it back."

A decision is due any day: Raymond has only three episodes left to tape, and Rosenthal says a series finale is already written as the last of those. A renewal would simply delay it until next season, when Raymond could escape from the shadow of Friends' farewell for a bigger sendoff.

CBS can hardly afford to lose Raymond, its No. 1 comedy and the keystone of its Monday-night lineup. Even with the show intact, the top-rated network, up overall this season, is down 3% on Mondays (9% among young adults) as NBC and Fox compete aggressively.

But a Raymond deal could prove steep: CBS now pays nearly $6 million an episode. And star Ray Romano has the richest acting deal in TV, now earning $1.8 million an episode. Romano won't return without Rosenthal. And Rosenthal will want more money, although he stands to make as much as $450 million from his share of syndication profits.

There's been talk of a spinoff involving Ray Barone's brother Robert (Brad Garrett) if Rosenthal and Romano walk away. But even that is fraught with complications. Monica Horan, who plays Robert's wife Amy, is Rosenthal's wife. And just who's handling negotiations for Romano? His lawyer, Moonves' brother Jon.

http://www.usatoday.com/life/televis...h-season_x.htm

Brian Damage · 03-03-2004, 06:12 PM

I think a ninth season is imperative. They need time to build up a proper farewell for it's best show.

Janice · 03-03-2004, 06:18 PM

Great article dlemond. We need a 9th season of Raymond. Television will never be the same without Debra Barone!

Miss Golden · 03-03-2004, 11:17 PM

The futon critic states that Raymond will sign a deal next week to return for a 9th and final season. It also says possibly an 18 episode run identical to Friends did this past year.

Skywalker · 03-03-2004, 11:36 PM

I wish Ray would call it quits after this season. There hasn't really been a lot of great episodes this year. I remember when classic episodes such as Marie's Sculpture were airing almost every week.

HuntingtonM15 · 03-04-2004, 11:45 PM

At the SAG awards Patricia Heaton said it's likely that they WILL come back for one more season, but she also said you never know what could happen. It really does need another year. They can't just suddenly throw a series finale at us.

Brian Damage · 03-04-2004, 11:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Miss Golden
The futon critic states that Raymond will sign a deal next week to return for a 9th and final season. It also says possibly an 18 episode run identical to Friends did this past year.

You see, that I don't get. If you're going to sign for another season, why not do a FULL episode run?

dlemond · 03-05-2004, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jpnoyes
I wish Ray would call it quits after this season. There hasn't really been a lot of great episodes this year. I remember when classic episodes such as Marie's Sculpture were airing almost every week.

Remember when?
That was only 2 years ago.

There have been some pretty damn good ones this year- and if you are going to come back and cite the difference in tone then you might as well go back 2 years- because it is the same.

This years better episodes:

The Thank You Notes
Misery Loves Company
Liars
The Bird
Lateness

Skywalker · 03-05-2004, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dlemond
Remember when?
That was only 2 years ago.

There have been some pretty damn good ones this year- and if you are going to come back and cite the difference in tone then you might as well go back 2 years- because it is the same.

This years better episodes:

The Thank You Notes
Misery Loves Company
Liars
The Bird
Lateness

Liars and the Bird were great episodes, no arguement here, but there have been some duds. The Party Dress episode was one of the worst episodes I've ever seen, and I've seen all the episodes. There isn't a difference in tone, but with almost 200 episodes in the can, the jokes (to me at least) just aren't as funny as they used to be.

HuntingtonM15 · 03-05-2004, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dlemond
The Bird

The Bird is by FAR the best episode of the season.

dlemond · 03-05-2004, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jpnoyes
Liars and the Bird were great episodes, no arguement here, but there have been some duds. The Party Dress episode was one of the worst episodes I've ever seen, and I've seen all the episodes. There isn't a difference in tone, but with almost 200 episodes in the can, the jokes (to me at least) just aren't as funny as they used to be.

Hey, I can understand that is your opinion, but there were plenty of duds worse than The Party Dress in previous seasons.

I just think there are plenty of crisp zingers that even surpass the last couple of seasons. Just good stuff that rises above even mediocre episodes.

HuntingtonM15 · 03-05-2004, 11:43 PM

Well, it's now final that there will be a 9th season.

Miss Golden · 03-06-2004, 12:01 PM

I hope it moves to Wednesday nights so Two and a Half men gets the Monday 9PM timeslot.

Brian Damage · 03-06-2004, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by HuntingtonM15
Well, it's now final that there will be a 9th season.

Where did you hear that from?

HuntingtonM15 · 03-06-2004, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Brian Damage
Where did you hear that from?

It was a CBS news announcement.

03-03-2004, 06:08 PM	#1
dlemond Hey, I know you. Moderator Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 03, 2001 Location: New Jersey Posts: 6,751	9th Season of ELR still a possibility 3/02/2004 Final season of 'Raymond'? Not so fast ... By Gary Levin, USA TODAY Despite vows that this season would likely be the last for Everybody Loves Raymond, the show's top producer now appears open to a shortened ninth season. And CBS, desperate to hold on to what would likely become TV's top sitcom post-Friends, is eager to negotiate. "We are in the process of right now deliberating whether we should continue or not," says creator and executive producer Phil Rosenthal. Although he'd rather bow out now — he has said writers are running low on ideas — "I'm thinking maybe there's a compromise. We're actually talking about can we do part of a season," probably 16 or 18 episodes instead of 24, much as Friends did this year. But a decision will come down to whether "it's financially viable for the people who pay the money" — producers CBS, HBO and David Letterman — to pay even more each week for fewer episodes, he says. CBS seems willing. "We're very guardedly optimistic that we could hopefully come to some arrangement by which they could come back," says CBS Television chairman Leslie Moonves. "We need Raymond. We want it back." A decision is due any day: Raymond has only three episodes left to tape, and Rosenthal says a series finale is already written as the last of those. A renewal would simply delay it until next season, when Raymond could escape from the shadow of Friends' farewell for a bigger sendoff. CBS can hardly afford to lose Raymond, its No. 1 comedy and the keystone of its Monday-night lineup. Even with the show intact, the top-rated network, up overall this season, is down 3% on Mondays (9% among young adults) as NBC and Fox compete aggressively. But a Raymond deal could prove steep: CBS now pays nearly $6 million an episode. And star Ray Romano has the richest acting deal in TV, now earning $1.8 million an episode. Romano won't return without Rosenthal. And Rosenthal will want more money, although he stands to make as much as $450 million from his share of syndication profits. There's been talk of a spinoff involving Ray Barone's brother Robert (Brad Garrett) if Rosenthal and Romano walk away. But even that is fraught with complications. Monica Horan, who plays Robert's wife Amy, is Rosenthal's wife. And just who's handling negotiations for Romano? His lawyer, Moonves' brother Jon. http://www.usatoday.com/life/televis...h-season_x.htm

03-03-2004, 06:12 PM	#2
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	I think a ninth season is imperative. They need time to build up a proper farewell for it's best show.

03-03-2004, 06:18 PM	#3
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	Great article dlemond. We need a 9th season of Raymond. Television will never be the same without Debra Barone!

03-03-2004, 11:17 PM	#4
Miss Golden Member Senior Member Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Posts: 1,231	The futon critic states that Raymond will sign a deal next week to return for a 9th and final season. It also says possibly an 18 episode run identical to Friends did this past year.

03-03-2004, 11:36 PM	#5
Skywalker Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 04, 2003 Posts: 14,204	I wish Ray would call it quits after this season. There hasn't really been a lot of great episodes this year. I remember when classic episodes such as Marie's Sculpture were airing almost every week.

03-04-2004, 11:45 PM	#6
HuntingtonM15 That Bothers Me Moderator Forum Star Join Date: Jun 20, 2003 Location: Metro Detroit Posts: 11,060	At the SAG awards Patricia Heaton said it's likely that they WILL come back for one more season, but she also said you never know what could happen. It really does need another year. They can't just suddenly throw a series finale at us.

03-05-2004, 11:43 PM	#12
HuntingtonM15 That Bothers Me Moderator Forum Star Join Date: Jun 20, 2003 Location: Metro Detroit Posts: 11,060	Well, it's now final that there will be a 9th season.

03-06-2004, 12:01 PM	#13
Miss Golden Member Senior Member Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Posts: 1,231	I hope it moves to Wednesday nights so Two and a Half men gets the Monday 9PM timeslot.