<Tr> <Th> Original release </Th> <Td> September 13, 1996 (1996 - 09 - 13)--May 16, 2005 (2005 - 05 - 16) </Td> </Tr> <P> Everybody Loves Raymond is an American sitcom television series created by Philip Rosenthal that aired on CBS from September 13, 1996 to May 16, 2005, with a total of 210 episodes spanning over nine seasons . It was produced by Where's Lunch and Worldwide Pants, in association with HBO Independent Productions . The cast members are Ray Romano, Patricia Heaton, Brad Garrett, Doris Roberts, Peter Boyle, Madylin Sweeten, and Monica Horan . Most episodes of the nine season series were filmed in front of a live studio audience, with few exceptions . </P> <P> The show is centered on the life of an Italian - American everyman named Raymond Barone, a sportswriter for Newsday living with his family in Long Island . Beleaguered, diffident and dryly sarcastic, Raymond takes few things seriously, making jokes in nearly every situation, no matter how troubling or serious . He often avoids responsibilities around the house and with his kids, leaving this to wife Debra . </P> <P> Raymond and Debra have a daughter Ally (Alexandra) and twin sons Michael and Geoffrey (originally Matthew and Gregory in the pilot). The Barone children are regular characters but not a major focus . Raymond's parents, Marie and Frank, live across the street with older son Robert (who, later in the series, has his own apartment). All Barone relatives frequently make their presence known to the annoyance of Raymond and Debra; Debra's justifiable complaints about Raymond's overbearing family serve as one of the show's comedic elements . Out of the three unwanted visitors, Debra is particularly intimidated by Marie, an insulting, controlling, manipulative (though ultimately caring) woman who criticizes Debra passive - aggressively and praises Ray, clearly favoring him over other son "Robbie," whose birth necessitated her marriage (a fact revealed in the episode "Good Girls"). </P>

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