Another huge 90s sitcom could follow in the footsteps of Friends
'We've spoken about it.'
The creator of Everybody Loves Raymond has shared his hopes that the cast and crew can follow in the footsteps of Friends with their very own reunion special.
Phil Rosenthal was the genius behind the sitcom, following the antics of sportswriter Ray Barone (Ray Romano) and his meddling family – the series aired for nine seasons before ending in 2005.
Since then, the 65-year-old has gone on to front his very own PBS project before landing a Netflix program titled Somebody Feed Phil, where he travels around the world to explore different foods and cultures.
Speaking to Metro ahead of the UK leg of his upcoming An Evening with Phil Rosenthal tour – which kicks off in April – the producer detailed his efforts on the long-running comedy, and whether we could see Raymond and co again.
‘My kids watch it still, it’s on a lot,’ he told us. ‘It pops up and sometimes I’ll click on it, and I have to be honest, I’m like, “I don’t remember doing this!” It’s a long time ago now. I love that people are still watching it.
‘I wanted to do something that might have lasting value. Why? Because you get this shot to have a TV show, if you’re lucky enough to have that opportunity, why don’t you try to make it have some lasting value?
Could we possibly get an Everybody Loves Raymond reunion? (Picture: Getty)‘It was designed to be that – no topical jokes, no topical references hardly ever. The only way you could tell the time of it was maybe what they’re wearing … but even that was very simple. You want to make something timeless, not timely.
‘The issues were not political. They weren’t even sociological. They were relationship issues which never, ever go away.’
Despite the huge success, Phil and co have absolutely no desire to go down the Frasier route and set up a revival in present day. Instead, he wants to bring the cast together for something a little different, similar to the Friends reunion in 2021.
‘We’ve spoken about it. Luckily, Ray and I agree never to do [a reboot],’ he continued. ‘I have to be honest with you, some of the great cast members have passed [so] it would never be the same, no matter what.
‘As a student of TV, and as someone who loves TV, I don’t find it works. When I see other people do it, I don’t feel like it’s the same. It’s never as good.
Everybody Loves Raymond aired for nine seasons before ending in 2005 (Picture: CBS)‘Why is it in entertainment, we do this, but in sports, we don’t? You tell a 70-year-old football player, “Go out there, we want to see what you do now!”
‘Everyone slows down, is what I’m saying. It’s never the same. These things are lightning in a bottle when they work. They’re very rare and beautiful. The beautiful thing about having it recorded on film is that you can revisit it whenever you want. We don’t need to see the update!
‘Here’s what I would do – a reunion special. Meaning, here we are, all of us, the surviving actors and writers talking about the show, and their favorite moments, and then clips of those moments. You get the behind the scenes and, at the same time, you get to see your friends as they are right now.’
Before Phil can even think about that, he has an entire European tour to get stuck into – with dates in Amsterdam, Oslo, Stockholm, Denmark and Berlin next month, before bringing An Evening With Phil Rosenthal over to the UK.
He will be hosting a string of performances across Brighton, Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester and Newcastle – with a ‘very special guest’ popping up for his London show at the Palladium on April 2.
While he was forbidden from spilling the beans on their identity, he has enjoyed meals with the ‘almost regal’ Nigella Lawson, Jay Rayner and many more during his trips to the capital in the past, meaning this VIP guest has very big shoes to fill.
Shedding light on what we can expect from the live shows, the host teased: ‘I love telling people, after they bought a ticket, that I’m going to come on stage, eat a sandwich and go.
‘What happens is we show a little highlight reel and then I come out with a special guest moderator, and I’m interrogated by whatever the moderator feels like asking me. I tell hopefully very funny stories about my life, career, behind the scenes of the show, and then we open it up.
‘The second half of the show is all Q&A with the audience, and that’s actually my favorite part.’
Unsurprisingly, a lot of the questions Phil is asked are food-related, ranging from his favorite restaurants and what his last meal would be, to insider tips and where to eat in whatever area he finds himself in.
Considering he has seven solid seasons of Somebody Feed Phil where he travels around towns, states and cities by visiting restaurants, cafes and whole-in-the-wall eateries, he’s absolutely the man to ask.
Unpacking how the award-winning show came to be, the foodie revealed that he pitched himself as the ‘anti-Anthony Bourdain’, suggesting that he’s ‘somebody who wants to travel but likes to be a little comfortable’.
The series was an instant success and has seen the host travel around the world in search of a well-cooked meal.
‘Well, now that the eight seasons coming up, I’d be stupid if I didn’t think it was working,’ he said. ‘If I try to figure it out – and I try not to figure it out, because I think you can jinx things if you over analyze – but the key may be in my pitch to first PBS, and then Netflix.
Somebody Feed Phil will be returning for another season (Picture: Netflix)‘This was my one-line pitch: “I’m exactly like Anthony Bourdain, if he was afraid of everything.” That might be the key to the success of the show.
‘Look at him, look what he’s doing … I’m not doing that. But maybe there’s a show for people like me who just want to know about the good stuff in the world, and in life, and that’s enough.
‘I figured if people looked at a schlemiel like me and say, “If that guy can go outside, maybe I can too,” that’s the point.’
Somebody Feed Phil was renewed for an eighth season in July, 2024, and the host added of the upcoming episodes: ‘I can tell you, we go all over the world. I can tell you there’s eight episodes, and there’s places we’ve never been, and there’s places I’ve never been in my life.
‘I think this is the best season. I’m so excited!’
An Evening with Phil Rosenthal of Somebody Feed Phil is touring across the UK, kicking off at The London Palladium on April 2, 2025.
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