Everybody Loves Raymond - The Complete Series DVD Review - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TJ · 11-19-2007, 12:31 AM

Own them all here together in one complete package! It is the complete series of Everybody Loves Raymond, now on DVD! In 1995, stand-up comedian made a fairly routine appearance on Late Night with David Letterman, to do a stand-up comedy bit. Part of the routine, about Ray's family, inspired producer Phil Rosenthal to begin work on a sitcom concept based around the stand-up routine. A few drafts later, the fictional family of the Barone's was created. The show, which would later go on to be one of the top rated shows on TV, didn’t start out so well. After its first season, Everybody Loves Raymond was 84th in the total ratings. Friday at 8:30 was draining the show of what Nielsen life it had. CBS, seeing the potential of the show, placed the show between Cosby and Cybill, Monday at 8:30, for the 1997-98 season, and ratings began to shoot-up. The timeslot move gained the show a full two ratings points, and 35th overall. The show also changed a little bit -- the first season really served more as an introduction than anything else did. The second season is when the show really started to hit its stride -- before become the monster hit it became in season three. Raymond’s ratings in season 3 were good enough for 11th that year -- putting it in the ratings territory it would occupy for the remainder of its run. The show would continue on for several years, in the process spinning off the long-running series The King of Queens, and delivering an audience on a silver platter to freshman sitcom Two and a Half Men in 2003.

Aside from the addition of Amy to the family as Robert’s wife midway through the run, and the aging of the kids, the family -- and the show -- never really changed much from beginning to end. It was still, at its core, always a crazy show about a crazy family. The family featured Ray, a successful sportswriter, and husband of Debra (played by Patricia Heaton). The couple consistently deals with their young kids - a 5 year-old daughter and twin 2-year-old sons, as well as Ray's brother, Robert (Brad Garrett), and parents Frank (Peter Boyle) and Marie (Doris Roberts), who are always coming over at unexpected times or otherwise meddling in their business. Midway through the run Monica Horan would be introduced as Amy, who Robert would go on to marry in season seven.

Read our review by Seth here:
http://www.sitcomsonline.com/everybo...dvdreview.html

Please post any questions or comments about this set.

Corolla · 12-01-2007, 06:56 PM

I'm importing this from Amazon in the US. It's $145 there and $263 at the Canadian store. No way I'm paying that much more + plus CDN taxes for the same exact set.

The set looks awesome - a real collector's item and at $145 for 9 seasons (~$16 per season), it's a great deal compared to paying $30+ here for each set.

Now I just hope it arrives before Christmas.

11-19-2007, 12:31 AM	#1
TJ Site Owner Administrator Forum Star Join Date: Feb 03, 2000 Location: Marietta, GA Posts: 10,683	Everybody Loves Raymond - The Complete Series DVD Review Own them all here together in one complete package! It is the complete series of Everybody Loves Raymond, now on DVD! In 1995, stand-up comedian made a fairly routine appearance on Late Night with David Letterman, to do a stand-up comedy bit. Part of the routine, about Ray's family, inspired producer Phil Rosenthal to begin work on a sitcom concept based around the stand-up routine. A few drafts later, the fictional family of the Barone's was created. The show, which would later go on to be one of the top rated shows on TV, didn’t start out so well. After its first season, Everybody Loves Raymond was 84th in the total ratings. Friday at 8:30 was draining the show of what Nielsen life it had. CBS, seeing the potential of the show, placed the show between Cosby and Cybill, Monday at 8:30, for the 1997-98 season, and ratings began to shoot-up. The timeslot move gained the show a full two ratings points, and 35th overall. The show also changed a little bit -- the first season really served more as an introduction than anything else did. The second season is when the show really started to hit its stride -- before become the monster hit it became in season three. Raymond’s ratings in season 3 were good enough for 11th that year -- putting it in the ratings territory it would occupy for the remainder of its run. The show would continue on for several years, in the process spinning off the long-running series The King of Queens, and delivering an audience on a silver platter to freshman sitcom Two and a Half Men in 2003. Aside from the addition of Amy to the family as Robert’s wife midway through the run, and the aging of the kids, the family -- and the show -- never really changed much from beginning to end. It was still, at its core, always a crazy show about a crazy family. The family featured Ray, a successful sportswriter, and husband of Debra (played by Patricia Heaton). The couple consistently deals with their young kids - a 5 year-old daughter and twin 2-year-old sons, as well as Ray's brother, Robert (Brad Garrett), and parents Frank (Peter Boyle) and Marie (Doris Roberts), who are always coming over at unexpected times or otherwise meddling in their business. Midway through the run Monica Horan would be introduced as Amy, who Robert would go on to marry in season seven. Read our review by Seth here: http://www.sitcomsonline.com/everybo...dvdreview.html Please post any questions or comments about this set.

12-01-2007, 06:56 PM	#2
Corolla Member Senior Member Join Date: Dec 21, 2006 Location: Owen Sound, ON Posts: 2,376	I'm importing this from Amazon in the US. It's $145 there and $263 at the Canadian store. No way I'm paying that much more + plus CDN taxes for the same exact set. The set looks awesome - a real collector's item and at $145 for 9 seasons (~$16 per season), it's a great deal compared to paying $30+ here for each set. Now I just hope it arrives before Christmas.