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Why Ray Barone's imperfect personality was so important in Everybody Loves Raymond
Co-star Patricia Heaton called the character an "anti-hero."
It’s an age-old question, asked for over a decade at this point: Does everyone really love Raymond?
Honestly, no, probably not. While he may be a pretty good sports writer, he’s sort of lacking as a father and a husband. That being said, what Raymond was missing in personality, he made up for in charm and laughter.
Regardless of your perception of its main character, no one can deny that Everybody Loves Raymond was one of the most popular sitcoms of its time. Patricia Heaton, who starred in the series alongside Ray Romano, argued that Ray Barone’s imperfect nature was part of the show’s charm.
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While many shows attempt to shoot for the moon, Everybody Loves Raymond made its mission to remain relatable to its audience. “The show itself is full of love,” said the actor. “It isn’t fantasy, but how things really are, and we take comfort in that.”
Just as there was love on-screen, the cast and crew became like a real family behind the scenes. “I’m for going on indefinitely,” said Heaton. “I love this show, the people, the writing, and the work schedule. I could do it for another five years, as long as it’s good and there are stories to tell.”
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