Everybody Loves Raymond: Season 1 [DVD] [2005]

Not knowing anything about this sitcom I was not expecting much from 'Raymond' when I first watched it on Channel Four. It followed 'Friends' and I thought that it would be poor in comparison.I was in for a pleasant surprise.Everybody Loves Raymond is one of those rare sitcoms where not only do you find the script extremely funny but you also begin to associate yourself with the characters. At first glance the family seems to be the usual dysfunctional sitcom creation but then you see how familiar and likeable they actually are. Each one is quite different and have their own crazy traits which contribute to the storylines but none of them are so extreme that you cannot relate to their behaviour.This is all well and good but all sitcoms live and die by the number of laughs they generate. Once again you cannot fault Raymond as each episode explores the natural conflict between Ray and his wife Debra or with Ray's parents or with Ray's brother etc. Each plot develops into a number of different hilarious situations but concludes with the realisation that the family is just trying to look out for each other.This series is a real gem and one you really need to experience before making a judgement.

If you love Bilko, if you love Cheers, if you love Frasier, if you love The Larry Sanders Show, if you love Friends, if you love Malcolm In The Middle, if you love Seinfeld, if you love Will & Grace, if you love any of these or any comedy of this quality, then you will love Everybody Loves Raymond. Why? The setting is classic sitcom. The writing is absolutely first class and very very funny. The casting is utterly perfect, could not have been bettered. It's surreal, it's homely, it's cruel and it's full of heart, it's universal and it's very specific. In short it has everything. The only surprising thing about ELR is that ELR was made only a few years ago. It could have been made anytime in the last 50-60 years. Buy it, and enjoy it, for years and years to come. Great comedy such as this needs to be enjoyed by as many of us possible. It makes us laugh out loud - what can be better than that!

Ray Romano is Ray Barone, a sports writer, who's married to Debra, a beautiful young woman who's always trying to do the best she can; they have two twin boys Michael and Geoffry and daughter Allie. They live across the street from their nagging parents, Marie, a self-obsessed mother who's always right and Frank, a lazy guy who clicks his fingers and Marie does what he wants.This series was terribly overlooked - it's very funny and it's probably the best for Robert - you get to see his more closed side, the way he doesn't really interact with the family and has his values, his more serious police side is so prominant. It's also one of Ray's funnier seasons, though it's a tough call, but it's definately a classic that ELR fans need to watch, even if they came into it very late.Some of the best episodes include the one where Ray fancies a waitress at Nemo's - specially when Robert asks for a lot of cheese; the one where Frank beats Ray at poker and Robert uses his policing skills and of course the one where Debra makes the fish for the thanksgiving lunch.All the characters are very strong, there's not one I can point to and say they're ruining it, which is refreshing. The show does have a family angle to it but at times has a darker undertone which makes it funnier, like the way Ray's always trying to get some time with Debra and their annoyances.The DVD transfer is pretty good too, in it's 4:3 framing and the colour is rich at all times. The sound is also very clear and as good as the originals. The only gripe I have, and why it lost a star is because of the lack of extras, though the last disk does have some great stuff, I've have loved to see more commentries and inside looks like they did with Seinfeld.This is a good boxset, definately worth grabbing, specially at this value.

EBLR is one of those series that isn't that well known here in the UK unless you love Paramount or at home at 08.30am watching C4 (after Just Shoot Me - another brilliantly written series).Raymond repeats the same theme each and every episode but this doesn't matter because the writing is so bloody funny (I'm sorry but I'm surprised Americans get it) it never gets boring.There's nothing else out there to compare it to - it is unique in it's blatant 'Raymond trying to hold his own against his wife/mother/father/brother' and never really making any progress. Should mention his Mum and Dad are nuts and live across the road, his wife can kick his ass any time and his brother is off his head too.Buy it! It's brilliant.

well no, but lets not put this down, let me explain. I started watching the odd episode on C4 early in the morning and this program grows on you, after about 10 episodes you need more, Hense I purchased season 1. I had never viewed this from episode one and was interested to know how it all got started.Basically Ray is married to Deborah and they live across the road from his parents who are allways popping in without knocking and helping out. Ray has an older brother Robert who is a policeman, each character is funny in their own right and the laughs come thick and fast.The shows get better as the series develops but stick with this IT IS EXTREAMLY FUNNY. The box set has extras interviews etc and a very funny gag reel. Buy this YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPOINTED.

Anyone who enjoys watching on television the series 'Everybody Loves Raymond' will really enjoy this complete 1st series. I have just managed to watch a few of the series but Raymond is his usual self and the 'craic' is real good. Any fan of the programme will find this dvd set an excellant purchase.... a 1st step in building an entire collection.

Started of not bad but went downhill very quickly, I thought the gags where staged and unfunny, can't believe this show went nine seasons not my taste, unfunny tried to hard to please.

This is one of the best series to come out of the USA - it ranks alongside Friends!! The whole 9 series are brilliant and we are planning to buy the whole series. Hillarious - I'm sure everyone who watches this can relate to some (or at least one) of the characters -we all have them!!

J ai découvert Everybody loves Raymond a Londres à la TV, j'ai trouvé ces épisodes comiques, même si je comprenais pas. Catwoman

Ich liebe diese Serie schon lange nur ist die deutsche Synchronisation im Fernsehen haarsträubend, da geht jeglicher Flair des Originals verloren. Daher war ich froh über dieses Angebot in der Originalfassung. Einfach super.

Ich mehfach versucht mich zu beschweren die DVD ist nur in Englisch oder französisch,habe keine Antwort erhalten. Wurde auch nicht darauf hingewiesen das es nicht in Deutsch ist. Werde nie mehr da etwas bestellen. Beate Halmich