When it comes to legacy-defining sitcoms, Everybody Loves Raymond sits pretty high on the list. After scooping up a ton of acclaim and accolades, the sitcom then went on to be adapted all around the world. As such, it's clear that Ray Romano's depiction of normal family life struck a chord with families all around the world.
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The main appeal of this show is undoubtedly its cast, an oddball assortment of cute kids, overbearing parents, and a stubborn wife. Not to mention, the show typically revolves around realistic plot points, making it the ideal show for the 21st-century family. As such, some of the show's best episodes are also regarded as its funniest.
10 Marie Becomes a Source of Bad Luck
Season 6, Episode 16, "Lucky Suit"
There's no denying that Marie Barone has a confusing and potentially detrimental relationship with her adult sons, but she certainly cares about them a lot. Yet, in "Lucky Suit," Marie's love goes too far, and she inadvertently stops Robert from securing a superior position at the FBI. After burning a hole in his lucky suit, Marie sees nothing wrong with marching up to the FBI Head Office to explain the situation.
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Both Doris Roberts and Brad Garrett were submitted for an Emmy for their performances in this episode.
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Aside from Marie's usual obsessive nature, the funniest thing about this episode is Robert's reactions. Since Robert is often portrayed as a gentle giant, seeing him in a fit of uncanny rage is quite funny for the audience. Thus, instead of looking scary, this looming man actually looks more like a typical frustrated cartoon character.
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9 Pat Joins Forces With Ray
Season 8, Episode 19, "The Nice Talk"
Though Robert and Amy are a tooth-achingly sweet couple, their families don't always see eye to eye. Yet, when the tribes join together for Easter, Pat and Ray enjoy a heart-to-heart while completing one of Peter's Gothic puzzles. At first, Ray seems excited to develop his relationship with Pat, but Robert quickly grows jealous that the pair are getting on so well.
The scene where Peter flips out of the hammock is a subtle reference to the 1970s sitcom Three's Company.
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Pat is a great source of humor in "The Nice Talk," as well as the rest of the show. Not only is she a complete contrast to the Barones, but her overly religious attitude often makes her seem very isolated. Yet, this episode shows her in an entirely different light, and the audience quickly warms to her. Thus, Pat can now compete against Marie and Debra, making her the matriarch of the blended family.
8 Ray and Debra Show off Their Stubborn Sides
Season 7, Episode 22, "Baggage"
Ray and Debra aren't exactly the most loved-up couple on television, and sometimes, that's what makes them seem so relatable and approachable. After a long work trip, Ray returns home and places his suitcase on the end of the stairs. Yet, Debra doesn't believe that it's her job to put the items away and leaves the case for Ray to sort out. However, after a number of weeks, Debra schemes alongside Marie to force him to clean up after himself.
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This episode was based on a similar fight that writer Tucker Cawley had with his wife.
This is often regarded as one of the show's best episodes because it proudly highlights that happy couples aren't happy all the time. Plus, despite being the protagonist of the show, "Baggage" suggests that Ray isn't always right. As such, this beloved episode gives fans a glimpse into the nuances of the Barones' marriage and suggests that the couple butt heads more often than they probably should.
7 Ray Struggles to Stand His Ground
Season 6, Episode 15, "Cookies"
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Another fantastic thing about Everybody Loves Raymond is that the kids often take center stage and aren't just used as a vehicle for the protagonist's jokes. In "Cookies," Ray is forced to take a stand against Ally's Girl Scout leader, Peggy. After struggling to find a lucrative location to sell her cookies, the parents head to head for the best spot.
Ally's best friend is played by Ray Romano's daughter, Alexandra.
Arguably, the best scene in this entire episode is when Peggy tackles Ray to the ground, and Debra has to come and save him. This moment proves just how weak Ray can be, and even when he tries to stand up for his daughter, he still requires someone else to help him out. Thus, this episode shows the duality of Ray; a loving father but a very meek adult.
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6 Ray and Robert Run Back to Mommy and Daddy
Season 3, Episode 18, "Ray Home Alone"
When Debra and the kids go to visit her parents in Connecticut, Ray quickly fears the prospect of being alone in an empty house. Though his friend Doug tries to show him how exciting it can be, Ray and Robert end up spending the night hiding in their parents' wardrobe, waiting to play a prank on them. But Frank is one step ahead and tries to convince the boys that he and Marie are enjoying a private moment.
This episode is considered to be a crossover with Kevin James' sitcom The King of Queens.
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Alongside showing Ray as a very sheepish man, this episode proves that no matter how old a person is, they never want to hear their parents kissing. This episode also gives Frank and Marie to step outside their typical character profiles and pull some juvenile pranks for themselves. As such, a large portion of fans appreciate it when these veteran actors get their own chance to shine.
5 Robert Experiences a Massive Change
Season 3, Episode 15, "Robert's Date"
"Robert's Date" sits at the halfway point of this list purely because of Brad Garrett's exceptional performance. Robert's partner, Judy, notices that he doesn't really have an active social life, so he invites him to enjoy a night out with her crowd. But Robert gets the wrong idea and quickly develops a ton of stereotypical characteristics.
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Patrica Heaton, who plays Debra, was pregnant during this episode, so often wore baggy sweaters to disguise her bump.
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Although Robert's new persona is unbearably cringeworthy, this episode does a brilliant job of showing just how insecure he truly is. As soon as he arrives at Ray's house in a garish mustard suit, the audience can't help but feel incredibly sorry for him. Thus, "Robert's Date" is a prime example of how Everybody Loves Raymond expertly blends heart and humor.
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4 The Barones Goes International
Season 5, Episode 1, "Italy"
When other sitcom families decide to take a trip, they tend to venture out to iconic locations such as Disneyland. But, the Barones decided to stay in a very quaint and remote part of Italy. Though the rest of the family adored the location and enjoyed spending time with long-lost relatives, Ray struggled to adapt to a new pace of life.
"Italy" was filmed in Anguillara Sabazia, a small town 30km outside of Rome.
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Again, this episode provides clear examples of just how immature and uncouth Ray can be. He complains because he caught a cold on the airplane and moans about the water pressure in the shower. Ultimately, this episode places Ray as an outsider in his own family and could also prove that he's turning into his father much quicker than he thought he would.
3 Ray and Debra Experience Different Sides of the Same Event
Season 4, Episode 2, "The Can Opener"
One evening, Ray is tasked with making his own dinner and attempts to open a tin of tuna. Debra chimes in and tells him that she's purchased a brand-new can opener, but Ray struggles to use it and ends up spilling the can everywhere. Yet, when Ray recalls the event, he remembers being a lot more chipper about the whole ordeal.
Whenever an episode is set in the winter, the street appears a lot closer.
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This episode is surprisingly complex and effectively tells the same story twice without boring the audience. It also highlights just how differently Ray and Debra's brains are wired, suggesting that Debra always jumps to the most negative conclusion, and Ray is happy to just go with the flow. As such, Ray Romano has the ability to take a basic item and transform it into a hilarious episode.
2 Ray Takes Things Too Far Once Again
Season 8, Episode 20, "Blabbermouths"
After a day out with her girls, Debra reveals that she often shares sweet stories about her husband. However, Ray gets very embarrassed and begins talking to Robert and Frank about some of Debra's major flaws. One thing leads to another and the whole family is spilling their darkest secrets.
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In this episode, Robert doesn't touch the potato chips to his chin like he usually does.
"Blabbermouths" uses dialogue in an exceptional way and truly allows these performers to take their lines and run with them. As such, it's quickly revealed that Amy pees when she laughs and Marie uses jarred tomato sauce, causing the entire family to turn on each other. Thus, this is a great way to bring all the cast together and prove that they are just as bad as each other.
1 Amy and Robert Finally Enjoy Their Special Day
Season 7, Episode 24, "Robert's Wedding"
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Though it seemed like the world wanted them apart, Robert and Amy finally got married in Season 7. But, before the pair could say "I do," Robert became paranoid that something would go wrong, so he hid in the men's toilet. To top it all off, Peter forgot to pick the priest up, so their ceremony was delayed once again.
Robert and Amy's first dance was inspired by Executive Producer Michael Rosenthal's wedding to Monica Horan.
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The funniest part of this episode, and the reason it holds the top spot in this list, is Robert and Amy's first dance. Though most couples enjoy a slow dance to a soulful hit, the couple decided to do a choreographed routine to Elvis Presley's "A Little Less Conversation." Not only is this quite a shocking scene, but it's great to see the rest of the cast smiling along with their happy moment together.
Everybody Loves Raymond
TV-PG
The comical everyday life of sports columnist Ray Barone and his dysfunctional family.
- Release Date
- September 13, 1996
- Cast
- Ray Romano , Patricia Heaton , Brad Garrett , Peter Boyle , Doris Roberts
- Main Genre
- Sitcom
- Creator
- Phil Rosenthal