All people Loves Raymond might return for a Mates: The Reunion-style one-off episode, probably in 2026 to rejoice three a long time because the first episode aired, creator Phil Rosenthal instructed NME.
Starring Ray Romano as put-upon Italian-American dad Raymond Barone, the sequence ran for 210 episodes between 1996 and 2005 earlier than being remade for a number of worldwide markets. Within the UK, it aired within the in style weekday breakfast slot on Channel 4.
Various key solid members – together with Peter Boyle and Doris Roberts, who performed Raymond’s crotchety dad and mom – have since died. A few of the remaining solid appeared collectively for numerous interviews through the years, most just lately in 2020 for the 14th Annual IMF Digital Comedy Celebration, however by no means for a full-length reunion manufacturing.
“This yr we’ve been off the air for 20 years,” stated Rosenthal. “It’s a very good time to do a reunion particular, the best way Mates did a reunion particular [in 2021]. It wasn’t a reboot of Mates. It was: right here they’re now – speaking about what it was like then… We are able to try this subsequent yr after we’ll have premiered 30 years in the past. We’re speaking to manufacturing corporations proper now. We need to do it.”
Romano has spoken many occasions about his reluctance to do a full reboot or sequel to the present – as different ‘90s sitcoms equivalent to Frasier have executed just lately – and Rosenthal agrees with him: “Time has handed. Folks have handed away, so a reboot isn’t going to really feel the identical. It by no means does,” he stated. “There’s a lot cash available in the event you preserve going. We felt like we had sufficient cash. We’d executed effectively sufficient to dwell comfortably. Why preserve going? We’re gonna really damage the legacy of the present.”
A sitdown particular that includes basic clips, tales from the set and new interviews can be agreeable to all, Rosenthal suggests. “We’ll all have enjoyable tales as a result of that’s the place all the fabric for Raymond got here from – from stuff that occurred to us. Should you labored for me, your job was to go residence, get in a struggle along with your spouse and are available again in and inform me about it…”
Rosenthal, additionally a best-selling writer and host of hit Netflix journey present Any person Feed Phil, will inform a few of these tales when his An Night With Phil Rosenthal Of Any person Feed Phil tour involves the UK in April. He’ll seem in Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow and at London’s The Palladium, however is most excited to play Brighton “as a result of it’s by the ocean and it’s a spot I haven’t been to”, he says.
“It’s a boring cliche however most individuals all over the world not solely need the identical issues, however they’re additionally very candy and good…” Rosenthal provides. “You don’t see that on the information, which is why I believe a present like Any person Feed Phil is critical… exhibiting the nice stuff on the earth, the nice folks on the earth, the conventional, common, on a regular basis those who don’t make the information as a result of why they didn’t kill anyone.”
Phil Rosenthal will seem at:
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2 – The Palladium, London
3 – Brighton Dome, Brighton
4 – Birmingham City Corridor, Birmingham
8 – Philharmonic Corridor, Liverpool
9 – Manchester Academy, Manchester
10 – Tyne Theatre & Opera Home, Newcastle
12 – O2 Academy, Glasgow