The popular sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond ran for nine seasons on CBS between 1996 and 2005. Starring stand-up comic Ray Romano, the show was won 15 Primetime Emmy Awards, including acting nods for Romano himself, along with Patricia Heaton, who played his long-suffering wife Debra, and Doris Roberts, who stole the show as Ray’s over-bearing Italian-American mother.
In a 2013 poll, Everybody Loves Raymond was voted the 60th best TV series of all time by readers of TV Guide. While the show has been responsible for some iconic television comedy moments, there are also a few episodes that sadly missed the mark.
Overrated: Marie's Sculpture
The season 6 episode "Marie’s Sculpture" is generally thought of as one of the best, but the truth is that it relies on smutty comedy for its success, which doesn’t fit with the family-friendly vibe on Everybody Loves Raymond.
The sculpture in the title looks very like an intimate part of the female anatomy, and when Marie finds out what everyone thinks, she is horrified that she might be a lesbian – a gag that seems horrifyingly outdated and discriminatory, even though it is only 20 years old.
Underrated: Odd Man Out
Ray Romano may be the star of Everybody Loves Raymond, but there is little doubt that Doris Roberts and Peter Boyle steal every scene they are in. The episode "Odd Man Out" focuses on their relationship, which takes a hit when Marie starts giving piano lessons to Frank’s pal, Marco.
It is great to see an episode that gives them plenty of space to show off their acting chops, and an amazing supporting performance from David Proval (The Sopranos) helps to make this an unforgettable episode.
Overrated: The Skit
Another overrated episode from season 6 is "The Skit," which sees Ray and Debra performing a rather unkind impression of Marie and Frank for the guests at their party.
When Marie and Frank find out, they decide to get them back by performing their hilarious impression of Ray and Debra. While the latter part of the episode is very funny, the first half – when Ray and Debra get some cheap laughs at the expense of his parents – just feels a little too cruel.
Underrated: Frank, The Writer
Peter Boyle plays grumpy Frank Barone to perfection throughout the series, but his best moment comes in the season 1 episode, "Frank, The Writer."
Frank has always been proud of the fact that his son, Ray, is a successful sportswriter, and when he gets a joke published in a magazine, he starts to dream of his career in publishing. The moment when Ray rather cruelly shoots down his dreams shows a softer side of Frank and is one of the few times we feel sorry for the bossy Barone Sr.
Overrated: Brother
The season 2 episode "Brother" is often praised for its portrayal of the relationship between Ray and his brother, Robert, but as with many episodes where Ray appears to be doing something nice for someone, the truth is a little more complex.
Even though they both enjoy themselves, Ray sours the evening by admitting that he only came over to see Robert because their mom told him to. Ray Romano and Brad Garrett carry much of the episode, and Romano was still finding his sitcom feet in the second season.
Underrated: You Bet
"You Bet" is a vastly underrated episode of Everybody Loves Raymond and is one of those classic sitcom episodes where everyone comes out looking bad. Sportswriter Ray gives Frank an inside tip, which leads to him winning a bet.
Frank spends time with his son in the hopes of getting more hot tips, but when Ray discovers the truth, he decides to get revenge. The episode is a classic sitcom portrayal of the often difficult relationships between adult sons and fathers of Frank’s generation.
Overrated: Robert’s Wedding
Brad Garrett was a perfect piece of casting as Ray’s older brother, Robert. His sad demeanor was brightened somewhat when he met Amy, and their wedding day was supposed to be a celebration for the Barones.
But, although there were some really funny moments, everyone watching knew that there was no chance that Robert’s wedding would go off without a hitch, so the various disasters on their way to the altar were no great surprise. These were still two good episodes if only to see Robert happy at last!
Underrated: The Getaway
The season 3 episode "The Getaway" is a perfect encapsulation of what goes wrong when just about every couple tries to rekindle romance with a vacation. For starters, Debra has Ray pick the location, and he, of course, wants to save a few bucks, leaving them spending the night arguing in a motel room that doesn’t even have its own toilet.
Even the subplot about Marie not being able to stop herself from micromanaging Robert’s babysitting is a classic. It may be one of the more understated Raymond episodes, but sometimes less is more.
Overrated: Italy
It is quite controversial to say that the "Italy" double bill is among the most overrated episodes of the series. After all, Phil Rosenthal won a Writers’ Guild of America award for his script and he still says that the Italy trip is his favorite episode.
But while there are some funny moments, the double-bill does have an overly schmaltzy feel, and there are far too many soft-focus shots of members of the cast in beautiful Italian locations. The humor comes from Ray being a well-meaning but useless husband, and it doesn’t work when he starts acting all romantic to Debra.
Underrated: Working Girl
Sitcom tropes may be clichés, but that is also why we find them so funny. Debra, as the nagging yet incompetent housewife and mother, was already an outdated concept in 1996, so it was good to see her getting so excited about heading out to work in the season 3 episode "Working Girl" – even if she discovered that she was much happier at home after all.
This episode gave Patricia Heaton the chance to show off that her impressive acting skills stretch beyond just yelling “Ray!”