“Everybody Loves Raymond” Cast Reflects on Long-Awaited Reunion Special
After years of pitching, a 30th-anniversary celebration of the beloved sitcom finally aired on CBS, bringing the cast and creator back together for a heartwarming and emotional reunion.
For years,creator Phil Rosenthal tirelessly advocated for a reunion special of his hit CBS comedy,”Everybody Loves Raymond.” Despite multiple attempts, the network remained hesitant-until this year. The 90-minute special, which aired this week, featured Rosenthal alongside stars Ray Romano, Patricia Heaton, Brad Garrett, Monica Horan, Madylin Sweeten, and Sullivan Sweeten, commemorating the show’s nearly 30-year legacy. Rosenthal credits CBS entertainment president Amy Reisenbach for finally greenlighting the project,stating,”Amy was not only supportive,she was really into it.It shows that it just takes one person to make a difference in these kinds of things.”
The timing of the reunion was slightly ahead of the show’s actual 30th anniversary-the series premiered in September 1996-but Rosenthal isn’t concerned. “I have two answers for that,” he explained. “One is they wanted it now, so who cares? The other is, Ray and I met 30 years ago, and I wrote the pilot 30 years ago. So in essence the show was born 30 years ago.” Romano and Rosenthal participated in separate interviews with the Hollywood Reporter to discuss the editing process, unexpected emotional moments, and their favorite Thanksgiving episodes.
The reunion evoked a strong sense of camaraderie, prompting questions about the cast’s continued relationships. romano shared that he and Rosenthal remain close, often speaking several times a week.However, the editing of the special proved to be a source of minor frustration. Romano, for example, participated in a half-hour interview that was reduced to just three seconds of screen time, and footage of his and Rosenthal’s fathers-who made guest appearances-was also considerably shortened.
The reunion wasn’t without its emotional moments. Romano was unexpectedly moved while discussing advice he received from the late Peter Boyle during the pilot filming. “I didn’t expect that I would tear up-I don’t know if it was noticeable-talking about Peter Boyle,” he confessed. Rosenthal experienced a similar wave of emotion while on stage with Romano and Heaton, realizing the profound luck and talent that surrounded the show. “I got emotional because I realized how lucky I was and how great they were. Not just the two of them, but all of our cast, our guest actors, and all our writers and crew.”
Stepping onto the meticulously recreated set proved to be a surreal experience. Rosenthal described it as if the set had been preserved in time, noting that even the refrigerator magnets were faithfully reproduced. “That set was so good, I think people probably thought it had just been sitting there forever,” he said. Romano echoed this sentiment, describing a “time travel feeling” that eventually faded into a sense of familiarity. “We all felt like we never left,” he remarked, acknowledging the passage of time and the growth of their children, many of whom had spent their childhoods on set.
A especially amusing segment of the special featured Romano’s children doing impressions of their father. Romano playfully inquired if his sons would perform during a car ride, and his son Greg admitted to needing to “go a little deeper than my actual voice.” Romano also noted that his daughter, Ally, is often candid with him, much like his on-screen wife.
As the holiday season approaches, the conversation naturally turned to favorite Thanksgiving episodes. Rosenthal highlighted the show’s ability to tap into the universal experience of family gatherings, whether dreaded or celebrated. He cited the tofu turkey episode (“No Fat”), the episode featuring a bird crashing into a window (“The Bird”), and the very first Thanksgiving episode (“Fish or Turkey”) as standouts. Romano agreed that the tofu turkey episode was a fan favorite.
The “Everybody Loves Raymond” reunion special served as a poignant reminder of the show’s enduring appeal and the lasting bonds forged among its cast and crew. It was a celebration of a sitcom that, even decades later, continues to resonate with audiences.
