Phil Rosenthal is the Creator and Executive Producer of the hit CBS comedy, Everybody Loves Raymond, which ran for nine seasons, from 1996 through 2005. The series won the Emmy for "Outstanding Comedy Series" in 2003 and 2005, and was nominated in this category seven times. Rosenthal was nominated for an "Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series" Emmy in 2000, 2002 and 2005.
Phil published his first book, You're Lucky You're Funny: How Life Becomes a Sitcom in October 2006. Click here for more info about Phil's book.
...click here for more Fun Facts About Phil!
How do you find out everything you've ever wanted to know about
"Everybody Loves Raymond"? ... ASK PHIL!
Added October 30th, 2012
Peter G. from Bedminster, NJ
Q: When the family went to Italy, where exactly did they go? I know the spots they visited in Rome having been there myself but some of the other locations were not familiar to me. Also, what time of year were you filming there?
Phil Answers: Ah, Italy. We filmed in August, in a little town, 40 minutes outside Rome, called Anguilarra. Beautiful.
Added July 9th, 2012
Neka M. from Coppell, TX
Q: Where did you, Ray and the writers get the idea for the episode Robert's date? Thanks, love the show. It's the best!
Phil Answers: Thank you. We got that idea from one of our great writers, Jeremy Stevens, who had always felt like an outsider, and this was the ultimate "wanting to belong" episode.
Added July 25th, 2011
Crystal M. from Newark, OH
Q: How close is Ray Barone compared to Ray Romano in real life? Are both a lot alike?
Phil Answers: Our joke is that Ray Barone is a little smarter than Ray Romano.
Added October 30th, 2012
Paul from Portsmouth, England, NY
Q: Hi Phil, I am a Drama Student from England and share a house with 4 others, also studying drama. We really enjoy all aspects of "Everybody Loves Raymond" and were wondering - did you ever think about taking the show on tour? Some of the set ups and stories are almost perfect for a stage show. We know that you tour "Inside the Writer's Room," but were hoping if you could indicate if ever we are likely to see ELR performed on the boards of London's West End? We know that it would be a huge hit. Many Thanks -- Paul, Neil, Elizabeth, Steve and Juliette (Drama Students at the University of Portsmouth)
Phil Answers: Wow, that would've been a lot of fun, if we had the time. I'm afraid now it would be so difficult to get everyone back together, and of course we wouldn't have Peter, who is essential.
Added October 30th, 2012
Courtney from Springfield, MO
Q: I have noticed there are quite a few episodes that have "monkey" references. For example, (wording may not be correct): "..it looks like you gave the camera to a monkey", "...you're all over me like a monkey on a cupcake", "heaven forbid there is a monkey on T.V." etc.... What is the reason/story behind this? It's very funny!
Phil Answers: Yes, you've got something there. The simple answer is it's a funny word. You are a very astute monkey.
Added October 30th, 2012
Andrew from Brisbane, NV
Q: Hello Phil. I am from Australia and I have all nine seasons watched them over and over. I think you and Ray Romano did a great job. I was deeply sad about Peter Boyle. My Question is about the set... did you or any of the actors take anything away with them? And do you still see the cast form the show?
Phil Answers: Thank you. I need to get to Australia. Ray took the living room couch, I took the parents kitchen table and chairs. And yes, I see the cast and writers all the time. We became family.
Added October 30th, 2012
Barbara from Palm Desert, CA
Q: One of my favorite characters on the show is Amy....I read she is your wife in real life. Is she similar to Amy's personality in real life? I saw her do an interview on the Raymond DVD's...she seems so sweet!
Phil Answers: Yes. She seems sweet. (She just said, "Philip, you can't just write that, people don't get your sense of humor on the website.")
Added June 21st, 2010
Dillon D. from New Fairfield, CA
Q: How did Patricia Heaton get away with being pregnant a couple of times during the series? How did you hide it so that it wouldn't affect her character?
Phil Answers: Our joke was that early on, you could have Patty hold a bowl in front of herself, then later, place her behind the couch, then later, have a steamship come onstage.
Added May 14th, 2010
Brent P. from Elyria, OH
Q: Did you have any cameos on the show?
Phil Answers: Nope. I kept myself out of the show because I loved it and didn't want to ruin it.
Added October 30th, 2012
Thomas from Albany, NY
Q: Which episode do you think had the most takes? Were there any episodes that were constantly messed up because the actors were laughing too much?
Phil Answers: Almost every episode had lines we had to do over because of laughing. (you can see some of these outtakes on the DVDs). I don't remember which show needed the most takes, we usually ran each scene twice, sometimes 3 times, and once in a blue moon, a couple of more times if we weren't getting it.
Added March 8th, 2010
Michael J. from Sugar City, IN
Q: How did you decide how Robert's personality would be different from that of Raymond's? Older kids tend to be more successful and it is usually the younger kids who are always in their older sibling's shadow. I noticed this was opposite with the Barone brothers.
Phil Answers: It was easy. Ray told me that his actual brother behaved that way.
Added October 30th, 2012
Alan from Honolulu, HI
Q: I know that Jon Manfrelloti regularly appeared as "Gianni" but also appeared earlier in the series' run as the Cable Guy and that Kevin James appeared both as "Kevin" and later as "Doug" (from a crossover from "King of Queens"). Also I think it was Ray Romano's real-life daughter who appeared as "Molly," Ally's best friend, but who was also the flower girl in a wedding show flashback. Were there any other actors who appeared as different characters during the show's run?
Phil Answers: I think the flower girl was Ally Romano too (younger). Can't think of any other times we had characters double up; I think you got them.
Added December 9th, 2009
Rob from Milford, MA
Q: Is it true that the person who plays Robert's wife, Amy, is actually your wife?
Phil Answers: I just checked with her, and she is, for now.
Added November 16th, 2009
Alex from Blackwell, OK
Q: I noticed on the first episode of Everybody Loves Raymond that his twins names were different then the rest of the episodes. Why was that?
Phil Answers: We wanted to use the names of his real twin boys in the pilot, and then when the series was going, Ray realized it might be confusing and annoying to his boys to have the same names as the TV twins.
Added April 17th, 2009
Paul from Malden, MA
Q: I LOVE Everybody Loves Raymond! It's my favorite show and I have every season on DVD. I have seen every episode about 4 times. I was just wondering why did the show have to end at season 9?
Phil Answers: Thank you. Season 9 is when we officially ran out of ideas. 210 is a lot to do of anything. We loved doing the show, but wanted to leave before we became lousy.
Terms of Service | Privacy Policy
Site Designed and Developed by Wireframe