Behind the Scenes

“Behind the Scenes”


In previous posts, I have talked about Ray Ramano, also known as Ray Barone, his role in “Everybody loves Raymond.” Now I will tell you a little something about the producer of the show, Philip Rosenthal.


Rosenthal wrote as a media columnist for the Chicago Tribune at the age of seventeen. From there, he became a regular freelancer with the Waukegan News-Sun while in high school. Philip Rosenthal was born in Queens, New York and was raised in Rockland, New York. He went to the University of Hofstra in Long Island. In 2002, he won the “Writers Guild Award” for “Excellence in Television Writing” for his script “Italy.”


Rosenthal and Ramano came together to write and produce the sitcom “Everybody Loves Raymond.” The sitcom started in 1996 and continued till 2005. While all of this was going on, Philip Rosenthal wrote a book, “Your Lucky, Your Funny: How Life becomes a Sitcom.” This book talks about how the sitcom “Everybody Loves Raymond” was created. His book was released in 2006.


Philip Rosenthal tours and stars in a very funny stage show called “Inside the Writers Room.” This show features anecdotes and members of the shows writing staff and behind-the-stories about the history of the show.


Philip Rosenthal based the comedy of “Everybody Loves Raymond” on his own life experiences as a child growing up in New York. When asked the question, “What are the similarities of a Jewish families and Italian families?” Rosenthal responded, “All Italian and Jewish families seem to be exactly the same to me. All problems are solved with food, and the mother never leaves you alone. To me this was the source of great humor-the matriarchal.”

I am from an Italian family so I can relate to how the in-laws are so critical. My grandmother on my dad’s side of the family is the typical Italian woman. We would go to their house for Sunday night dinners, big Italian meals, lots of desserts and yelling (very loud talking). My grandparents have four boys. They are all mommas boys much like Raymond and Robert on “Everybody loves Raymond.” I can’t leave out the plastic slip covers and everything has a place, even grandpop. I understand that the Jewish families are similar. I don’t have anything to relate it to, so feel free to add a short story in my comments.



http://www.tv.com/philip-rosenthal/person/7937/summary.html

http://www.chicagotribune.com/topics/arts-culture/mass-media/news-media/phil-rosenthal-PECLB004534.topic

http://www.hollywood.com/celebrity/Phil_Rosenthal/1125199