Jeremy Stevens

Writer / Producer


The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

Tab

About
About this interview

In his three-and-a-half-hour interview, Jeremy Stevens (1938-2020) talks about his early training and stage experience that included the off-Broadway revue The Fourth Wall and Broadway's The Sunshine Boys. He describes his entrance into television as a writer for a WNEW series hosted by Skitch Henderson that featured Valerie Harper and Richard Schaal in their early careers. He speaks about his work writing for the children's series The Electric Company and describes writing for the talk show satires Fernwood 2-Night and America 2-Night with his writing partner Tom Moore. He tells the story behind the famous "leisure suits cause cancer" bit and talks about his one-season stint as head writer on Saturday Night Live during the early 1980s. He then details serving as writer-producer for Everybody Loves Raymond's entire nine-year run. He discusses the atmosphere in the writers' room, recounts working with creator/executive producer Phil Rosenthal, and describes memorable episodes. Among the other projects he talks about are variety series Playboy After Dark, variety series The Richard Pryor Show, and the feature film Summer Rental. Gary Rutkowski conducted the interview on September 6, 2006 in Studio City, CA.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"Everybody Loves Raymond is timeless. I don't think in the future anyone will say it isn't. It will always be involving, it will always be hilarious, and it will always be moving."

People Talking About ...
Highlights
Jeremy Stevens on co-creating The Electric Company
04:31
Jeremy Stevens on winning an Emmy for The Electric Company
01:47
Jeremy Stevens on Charles Rocket saying an expletive live on the air on Saturday Night Live
02:20
Jeremy Stevens on working with Ray Romano on Everybody Loves Raymond
04:30
Jeremy Stevens on Peter Boyle as "Frank Barone" on Everybody Loves Raymond
01:45
Jeremy Stevens on his early theater experience 
05:35
Full Interview

Play Full Interview

Chapter 1

On his early life and influences; on his early theatrical experience; on early television
On transitioning from theater to television

Chapter 2

On his early performing career; on writing for The Skitch Henderson Show; on acting on Broadway
On writing for Playboy After Dark; on co-creating The Electric Company

Chapter 3

On co-creating The Electric Company; on writing episodes of The Electric Company; on winning an Emmy for the show
On moving to Los Angeles; on writing for variety shows; on writing for Fernwood 2-Night

Chapter 4

On working with Norman Lear on Fernwood 2-Night; on the production and guest stars of Fernwood 2-Night; on writing for The Richard Pryor Show
On writing for Saturday Night Live during the ill-fated 1980-81 season

Chapter 5

On his writing stint on the 1980-81 season of Saturday Night Live; on writing for Thicke of the Night; on writing the feature film "Summer Rental"
On writing for Coach; on how he came to write for Everybody Loves Raymond

Chapter 6

On working with Ray Romano on Everybody Loves Raymond; on "Ray Barone's" relationship with his family; on the writing process for Everybody Loves Raymond
On the writers' room of Everybody Loves Raymond

Chapter 7

On the inspiration for scripts for Everybody Loves Raymond; on Brad Garrett as "Robert Barone" on Everybody Loves Raymond
On the taping of Everybody Loves Raymond; on the cast members of Everybody Loves Raymond; on the final season of the show

Chapter 8

On Peter Boyle as "Frank Barone" and Gary Halvorson as the director on Everybody Loves Raymond; on the post production of Everybody Loves Raymond; on the final episode and the legacy of the show
Shows

Coach

View Show Page
Jeremy Stevens on writing for Coach
01:24

Electric Company, The

View Show Page
Jeremy Stevens on how he came to help create The Electric Company
03:16
Jeremy Stevens on co-creating The Electric Company
04:31
Jeremy Stevens on writing episodes of The Electric Company
04:54
Jeremy Stevens on the cast and characters of The Electric Company
05:04
Jeremy Stevens on winning an Emmy for The Electric Company
01:47
Jeremy Stevens on the end of The Electric Company and moving to Los Angeles
02:05

Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)

View Show Page
Jeremy Stevens on winning an Emmy for The Electric Company
01:47

Everybody Loves Raymond

View Show Page
Jeremy Stevens on how he came to write for Everybody Loves Raymond
09:04
Jeremy Stevens on working with Ray Romano on Everybody Loves Raymond
04:30
Jeremy Stevens on "Ray Barone's" relationship with his family on Everybody Loves Raymond
02:32
Jeremy Stevens on the writing process on Everybody Loves Raymond
10:14
Jeremy Stevens on the writers' room at Everybody Loves Raymond
12:50
Jeremy Stevens on using situations from his life on Everybody Loves Raymond
10:56
Jeremy Stevens on Brad Garrett as "Robert Barone" on Everybody Loves Raymond
03:48
Jeremy Stevens on ad-libbing on Everybody Loves Raymond
02:39
Jeremy Stevens on the taping of Everybody Love Raymond
01:44
Jeremy Stevens on the biggest laughs of Everybody Loves Raymond
01:46
Jeremy Stevens on Patricia Heaton as "Debra Barone" on Everybody Loves Raymond
00:31
Jeremy Stevens on the evolution of Everybody Loves Raymond
02:40
Jeremy Stevens on the final season and final episode of Everybody Loves Raymond
03:44
Jeremy Stevens on Doris Roberts as "Marie Barone" on Everybody Loves Raymond
01:11
Jeremy Stevens on Peter Boyle as "Frank Barone" on Everybody Loves Raymond
01:45
Jeremy Stevens on Gary Halvorson as director on Everybody Loves Raymond
01:12
Jeremy Stevens on the post-production of Everybody Loves Raymond
00:58
Jeremy Stevens on the contribution of the female writers on Everybody Loves Raymond
00:54
Jeremy Stevens on memorable episodes of Everybody Loves Raymond
05:55
Jeremy Stevens on filming the final episode of Everybody Loves Raymond
02:23
Jeremy Stevens on the legacy of Everybody Loves Raymond
02:04

Fernwood 2 Night

View Show Page
Jeremy Stevens on writing for Fernwood 2-Night
07:31
Jeremy Stevens on working with Norman Lear and the cast of Fernwood 2-Night
04:04
Jeremy Stevens on writing Fernwood 2-Night with his writing partner Tom Moore
01:30
Jeremy Stevens on the production and guest stars of Fernwood 2-Night
02:30

Playboy After Dark

View Show Page
Jeremy Stevens on writing for Playboy After Dark
08:16

Richard Pryor Show, The

View Show Page
Jeremy Stevens on writing for The Richard Pryor Show
06:45

Saturday Night Live

View Show Page
Jeremy Stevens on writing for Saturday Night Live
14:10
Jeremy Stevens on the guest hosts of Saturday Night Live
01:00
Jeremy Stevens on how the press treated Saturday Night Live during his time on the show
01:02
Jeremy Stevens on Charles Rocket saying an expletive live on the air on Saturday Night Live
02:20
Jeremy Stevens on leaving Saturday Night Live
02:33

Skitch Henderson Show, The

View Show Page
Jeremy Stevens on his first writing job for television on The Skitch Henderson Show
09:05
Jeremy Stevens on working with Skitch Henderson
02:55

Thicke of the Night

View Show Page
Jeremy Stevens on writing for Thicke of the Night
01:50
Topics

Censorship / Standards & Practices

View Topic
Jeremy Stevens on Charles Rocket saying an expletive live on the air on Saturday Night Live
02:20

Characters & Catchphrases

View Topic
Jeremy Stevens on Brad Garrett as "Robert Barone" on Everybody Loves Raymond
03:48
Jeremy Stevens on Patricia Heaton as "Debra Barone" on Everybody Loves Raymond
00:31
Jeremy Stevens on Doris Roberts as "Marie Barone" on Everybody Loves Raymond
01:11
Jeremy Stevens on Peter Boyle as "Frank Barone" on Everybody Loves Raymond
01:45

Classic TV series episodes

View Topic
Jeremy Stevens on memorable episodes of Everybody Loves Raymond
05:55

Comedy

View Topic
Jeremy Stevens on memorable episodes of Everybody Loves Raymond
05:55

Creative Influences and Inspiration

View Topic
Jeremy Stevens on early television 
04:08

Emmy Awards

View Topic
Jeremy Stevens on winning an Emmy for The Electric Company
01:47

First Big Break

View Topic
Jeremy Stevens on his first writing job for television on The Skitch Henderson Show
12:02

Pivotal Career Moments

View Topic
Jeremy Stevens on early television 
04:08
Jeremy Stevens on his first writing job for television on The Skitch Henderson Show
12:02

Pop Culture

View Topic
Jeremy Stevens on Brad Garrett as "Robert Barone" on Everybody Loves Raymond
03:48
Jeremy Stevens on Patricia Heaton as "Debra Barone" on Everybody Loves Raymond
00:31
Jeremy Stevens on Doris Roberts as "Marie Barone" on Everybody Loves Raymond
01:11
Jeremy Stevens on Peter Boyle as "Frank Barone" on Everybody Loves Raymond
01:45
Jeremy Stevens on memorable episodes of Everybody Loves Raymond
05:55

Television Industry

View Topic
Jeremy Stevens on Charles Rocket saying an expletive live on the air on Saturday Night Live
02:20
Professions

Writers

View Profession
Jeremy Stevens on the writing process on Everybody Loves Raymond
10:14
Jeremy Stevens on the writers' room at Everybody Loves Raymond
12:50
Jeremy Stevens on using situations from his life on Everybody Loves Raymond
10:56
Genres

Children's Programming

View Genre
Jeremy Stevens on co-creating and writing for The Electric Company
18:21

Comedy Series

View Genre
Jeremy Stevens on writing for Fernwood 2-Night
07:31
Jeremy Stevens on writing for Fernwood 2-Night
08:04
Jeremy Stevens on writing for Everybody Loves Raymond
09:02
Jeremy Stevens on the writing for Everybody Loves Raymond
30:08
Jeremy Stevens on writing for Everybody Loves Raymond
29:00
Jeremy Stevens on writing for Everybody Loves Raymond
16:47

Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials

View Genre
Jeremy Stevens on writing for Playboy After Dark
08:16
Jeremy Stevens on writing for The Richard Pryor Show
06:45
Jeremy Stevens on writing for Saturday Night Live
14:10
Jeremy Stevens on writing for Saturday Night Live
08:44

Talk Shows

View Genre
Jeremy Stevens on his first writing job for television on The Skitch Henderson Show
12:00
People

Alan Thicke

View Person Page
Jeremy Stevens on writing for Thicke of the Night
01:50

Brad Garrett

View Interview Page
Jeremy Stevens on Brad Garrett as "Robert Barone" on Everybody Loves Raymond
03:48

Charles Rocket

View Person Page
Jeremy Stevens on Charles Rocket saying an expletive live on the air on Saturday Night Live
02:20

Doris Roberts

View Interview Page
Jeremy Stevens on Doris Roberts as "Marie Barone" on Everybody Loves Raymond
01:11

Fred Willard

View Interview Page
Jeremy Stevens on working with Norman Lear and the cast of Fernwood 2-Night
04:04

Gabe Kaplan

View Person Page
Jeremy Stevens on writing sketches for variety specials
03:04

Gary Halvorson

View Person Page
Jeremy Stevens on Gary Halvorson as director on Everybody Loves Raymond
01:12

Jean Doumanian

View Person Page
Jeremy Stevens on writing for Saturday Night Live
14:10

John Ritter

View Person Page
Jeremy Stevens on writing sketches for variety specials
03:04

Martin Mull

View Person Page
Jeremy Stevens on working with Norman Lear and the cast of Fernwood 2-Night
04:04

Neil Simon

View Person Page
Jeremy Stevens on acting in Neil Simon's "The Sunshine Boys"
04:01

Norman Lear

View Interview Page
Jeremy Stevens on writing for Fernwood 2-Night
07:31
Jeremy Stevens on working with Norman Lear and the cast of Fernwood 2-Night
04:04

Patricia Heaton

View Interview Page
Jeremy Stevens on Patricia Heaton as "Debra Barone" on Everybody Loves Raymond
00:31

Peter Boyle

View Interview Page
Jeremy Stevens on Peter Boyle as "Frank Barone" on Everybody Loves Raymond
01:45

Phil Rosenthal

View Interview Page
Jeremy Stevens on how he came to write for Everybody Loves Raymond
09:02

Ray Romano

View Person Page
Jeremy Stevens on working with Ray Romano on Everybody Loves Raymond
04:30

Richard Pryor

View Person Page
Jeremy Stevens on writing for The Richard Pryor Show
06:45

Richard Schaal

View Person Page
Jeremy Stevens on his first writing job for television on The Skitch Henderson Show
09:05

Skitch Henderson

View Interview Page
Jeremy Stevens on his first writing job for television on The Skitch Henderson Show
09:05
Jeremy Stevens on working with Skitch Henderson
02:55

Sonny Fox

View Interview Page
Jeremy Stevens on his first writing job for television on The Skitch Henderson Show
09:05

Tom Whedon

View Person Page
Jeremy Stevens on writing episodes of The Electric Company
04:54

Valerie Harper

View Interview Page
Jeremy Stevens on his first writing job for television on The Skitch Henderson Show
09:05

All Interviews

S