Everybody Loves Raymond

**Dodge** · 03/04/2008, 2:55 PM

Originally Posted by anto1208

Just because a show is popular doesn�t mean its good

Just because its popular doesn't mean its bad is a more apt phrase

**osarusan** · 03/04/2008, 2:59 PM

Originally Posted by anto1208

Just because a show is popular doesn�t mean its good .

Just because you don't like it doesn't make it terrible either.

Actually, I agree with you in that I don't like it, because it fails the number one aim of a comedy in that it doesn't make me laugh. But I'm willing to accept that I just don't 'get' it. (I like to think it's because I'm too intelligent to find it funny

)

**anto1208** · 03/04/2008, 4:33 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

Just because its popular doesn't mean its bad is a more apt phrase

Originally Posted by osarusan

Just because you don't like it doesn't make it terrible either.

Actually, I agree with you in that I don't like it, because it fails the number one aim of a comedy in that it doesn't make me laugh. But I'm willing to accept that I just don't 'get' it. (I like to think it's because I'm too intelligent to find it funny

)

Im far from a hate it coz its popular guy ( I like Ricky Gervais I like most pop culture as long as its good ) nor do I think stuff I don�t like or even don�t get is rubbish I don�t like/get Shakespeare but I reckon its probably good.

I wouldn�t even say I only like high brow comedies as I still find farts funny.

I don�t think Raymond is funny I don�t think it has done anything that hasn�t been done before it hasn�t introduced any new characters it�s the same old safe TV sit com. Stand up comedian is the husband stick in a hot wife, weirdo brother, and parents stuck in there ways. As I said earlier Raymond, king of queens, grounded for life and my wife and kids all basically the same show. Im sure if I done some thinking I could find another 10 shows that follow the same pattern.

**NeilMcD** · 03/04/2008, 5:02 PM

I like Frasier and Seinfeld and Curb Your Enthusiasm, Family Guy

I hate Everybody loves Raymond and Two and a Half Men.

**HarpoJoyce** · 03/04/2008, 5:07 PM

With Peter Boyle and Doris Roberts as the parents, I think there may be an element of nostalgia for the show. That may one reason why the viewer figures were so high in the States.

Also, even though at least three of the characters were kids, their appearances were kept to a minimum. Another pulse.

**Dodge** · 03/04/2008, 5:58 PM

Originally Posted by NeilMcD

I hate Everybody loves Raymond and Two and a Half Men.

But I don't think you could even compare the two. They are worlds apart in temrs of quality

**Billsthoughts** · 05/04/2008, 3:36 PM

Im always suspect of people who dont like seinfeld.

**GavinZac** · 05/04/2008, 5:53 PM

Originally Posted by Billsthoughts

Im always suspect of people who dont like seinfeld.

Whats their deal?

South Park is the finest comedy around, perhaps one of the things in its favour is the lack of the usual sitcom characters. Perhaps the closest thing to the 'lovable oaf' clich� is the emergence of Butters but, in true South Park style, he's often the most screwed up or, conversely the most sensible character of them all - witness his speech on self acceptance, whilst not realising he was at a "retrain your gay kid" camp.

**skitz3** · 06/04/2008, 11:34 AM

Originally Posted by GavinZac

South Park is the finest comedy around

South park is over rated controversial muck.

**superfrank** · 06/04/2008, 11:41 AM

Originally Posted by Billsthoughts

Im always suspect of people who dont like seinfeld.

Why so? I do and don't like Seinfeld. Some of the storylines are really well done but some are ridiculously annoying. Elaine is a pain in the arse as well.

Everybody Loves Raymond is pretty good, mainly for Ray's family.

South Park is brilliant. It's got better over the years and I dare anyone to watch the Scott Tenorman episode and say it's crap.

**Billsthoughts** · 06/04/2008, 2:30 PM

cause its very funny.

**TonyD** · 06/04/2008, 6:02 PM

Have never been a great fan of American comedies really. Simpsons of course, is class. Malcom in the Middle was also very funny. Have only ever seen snatches of Seinfeld, but it never grabbed me. Haven't seen enough of South Park to comment, though I have seen some funny parts of it.

In general though, I prefer English comedies. The holy grail of sit-com is Fawlty Towers. Nothing else has ever approached it's genius. Also The Royle Family, Phoenix Nights, Blackadder, Spaced. And of course, the great Irish contribution to sit-com, Leave it to Mrs O'Brien.

(Just kidding - I meant Father Ted.

)

**pete** · 06/04/2008, 6:27 PM

Never understood how Raymond was so popular in the US & won so many awards. Its natural TV slot in this part of the world is 11am weekdays.

King of Queens is obvious comedy but is ok to dip into for 10-20 minutes. Would not go out of my way to watch it.

**rambler14** · 07/04/2008, 9:23 AM

Everybody loves Raymond is terrible. I think it's the worst show ever brought over from the States, theres not a hint of comedy in it. I can't even stand the adverts on Paramount Comedy but at least there not making anymore.
As for King of Queens, I can like it from time to time. It's certainly better than ELR.
That 70's Show is crap too. As is the American version of The Office (Brit version is crap too)

Everybody Hates Chris is good as is Two and a Half Men. Scrubs is probably my favourite American Comedy though. Also My name is Earl is very good.Seinfeld and Frasier are both very good. I'm a big fan of Arrested Development aswell it's a brilliant show.

On the comedy cartoon front. I think that Family Guy, The Simpsons and South Park are brilliant where as American Dad is awful.

**jebus** · 07/04/2008, 12:18 PM

Originally Posted by GavinZac

South Park is the finest comedy around, perhaps one of the things in its favour is the lack of the usual sitcom characters.

Originally Posted by Billsthoughts

Im always suspect of people who dont like seinfeld.

Agree with both these sentiments.

As for Everybody Loves Raymond, it wouldn't be in my top ten but I have to say I do enjoy it. It's harmless easy comedy that is well acted with decent characters, much much better than most comedies that have followed this decade.

Finest sitcom of all times goes to either Seinfeld or Sgt. Bilko/The Phil Silvers Show in my opinion (it depends what day of the week it is to which of those two I think is the better comedy)

**gustavo** · 07/04/2008, 12:35 PM

Originally Posted by skitz3

South park is over rated controversial muck.

So you think it's controversial ?
Granted it has garnered a fair bit of controversy over the years but I don't think it it's ever been controversial for the sake of it , and it wouldn't have lasted long purely on shock tactics if it wasnt damn funny , which it is.

**anto1208** · 07/04/2008, 12:39 PM

Originally Posted by rambler14

Everybody loves Raymond is terrible. I think it's the worst show ever brought over from the States, theres not a hint of comedy in it. I can't even stand the adverts on Paramount Comedy but at least there not making anymore.
As for King of Queens, I can like it from time to time. It's certainly better than ELR.
That 70's Show is crap too. As is the American version of The Office (Brit version is crap too)

Everybody Hates Chris is good as is Two and a Half Men. Scrubs is probably my favourite American Comedy though. Also My name is Earl is very good.Seinfeld and Frasier are both very good. I'm a big fan of Arrested Development aswell it's a brilliant show.

On the comedy cartoon front. I think that Family Guy, The Simpsons and South Park are brilliant where as American Dad is awful.

I was with you untill the office statement the office(brit one ) is brilliant . American dad as well is much better than family guy a much smarter show.

Scrubs id watch if its the only thing on as its called "scrubs the funniest show your not watching" as for 2 1/2 men thats garbage id watch raymond before that drivel.

**GavinZac** · 07/04/2008, 1:14 PM

Originally Posted by gustavo

So you think it's controversial ?
Granted it has garnered a fair bit of controversy over the years but I don't think it it's ever been controversial for the sake of it , and it wouldn't have lasted long purely on shock tactics if it wasnt damn funny , which it is.

If anything, they usually say what most (young/educated/liberal) people would think - e.g. Big Gay Als Boat Ride pleading for sexual tolerance, or the frequent ,mocking/accusations against Scientology. In the same vein, they're not afraid to mock themselves or their fans either. Pretty much everybody comes in for some ribbing but at the end of the day theres usually some speech "you know, I've learned something today...". In the Family Guy episode they mock themselves about this with Cartman saying he hates comedy that tries to be preachy.

That being said, the early episodes did have a Python-esque flavour to them.

**tetsujin1979** · 07/04/2008, 4:18 PM

I dare anyone to watch the "Imagination Land" trilogy of episodes from South Park Series 11 and not think it genius

The new series hasn't been up to scratch so far, although the Heavy-Metal tribute episode was a little over my head. The Canada on Strike episode last week was an inprovement too.