Jeremy Stevens

Writer / Producer


The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About
About this interview

In his three-and-a-half-hour Archive 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

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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

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Jeremy Stevens on writing for Coach
01:24

Electric Company, The

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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)

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

Everybody Loves Raymond

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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

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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

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Jeremy Stevens on writing for Playboy After Dark
08:16

Richard Pryor Show, The

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

Saturday Night Live

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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

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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

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

Censorship / Standards & Practices

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

Characters & Catchphrases

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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

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

Comedy

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

Creative Influences and Inspiration

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Jeremy Stevens on early television 
04:08

Emmy Awards

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

First Big Break

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

Pivotal Career Moments

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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

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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

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

Writers

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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

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

Comedy Series

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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

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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

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

Peter Boyle

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

Jean Doumanian

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Jeremy Stevens on writing for Saturday Night Live
14:10

Sonny Fox

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

Brad Garrett

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

Gary Halvorson

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

Valerie Harper

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

Patricia Heaton

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

Skitch Henderson

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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

Gabe Kaplan

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Jeremy Stevens on writing sketches for variety specials
03:04

Norman Lear

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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

Martin Mull

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

Richard Pryor

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

John Ritter

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Jeremy Stevens on writing sketches for variety specials
03:04

Doris Roberts

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

Charles Rocket

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

Ray Romano

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

Phil Rosenthal

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

Richard Schaal

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

Neil Simon

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

Alan Thicke

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

Tom Whedon

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

Fred Willard

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

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