About
"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."
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.
Highlights
Jeremy Stevens on co-creating The Electric Company
Jeremy Stevens on winning an Emmy for The Electric Company
Jeremy Stevens on Charles Rocket saying an expletive live on the air on Saturday Night Live
Jeremy Stevens on working with Ray Romano on Everybody Loves Raymond
Jeremy Stevens on Peter Boyle as "Frank Barone" on Everybody Loves Raymond
Jeremy Stevens on his early theater experience
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
Jeremy Stevens on writing for Coach
Electric Company, The
Jeremy Stevens on how he came to help create The Electric Company
Jeremy Stevens on co-creating The Electric Company
Jeremy Stevens on writing episodes of The Electric Company
Jeremy Stevens on the cast and characters of The Electric Company
Jeremy Stevens on winning an Emmy for The Electric Company
Jeremy Stevens on the end of The Electric Company and moving to Los Angeles
Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)
Jeremy Stevens on winning an Emmy for The Electric Company
Everybody Loves Raymond
Jeremy Stevens on how he came to write for Everybody Loves Raymond
Jeremy Stevens on working with Ray Romano on Everybody Loves Raymond
Jeremy Stevens on "Ray Barone's" relationship with his family on Everybody Loves Raymond
Jeremy Stevens on the writing process on Everybody Loves Raymond
Jeremy Stevens on the writers' room at Everybody Loves Raymond
Jeremy Stevens on using situations from his life on Everybody Loves Raymond
Jeremy Stevens on Brad Garrett as "Robert Barone" on Everybody Loves Raymond
Jeremy Stevens on ad-libbing on Everybody Loves Raymond
Jeremy Stevens on the taping of Everybody Love Raymond
Jeremy Stevens on the biggest laughs of Everybody Loves Raymond
Jeremy Stevens on Patricia Heaton as "Debra Barone" on Everybody Loves Raymond
Jeremy Stevens on the evolution of Everybody Loves Raymond
Jeremy Stevens on the final season and final episode of Everybody Loves Raymond
Jeremy Stevens on Doris Roberts as "Marie Barone" on Everybody Loves Raymond
Jeremy Stevens on Peter Boyle as "Frank Barone" on Everybody Loves Raymond
Jeremy Stevens on Gary Halvorson as director on Everybody Loves Raymond
Jeremy Stevens on the post-production of Everybody Loves Raymond
Jeremy Stevens on the contribution of the female writers on Everybody Loves Raymond
Jeremy Stevens on memorable episodes of Everybody Loves Raymond
Jeremy Stevens on filming the final episode of Everybody Loves Raymond
Jeremy Stevens on the legacy of Everybody Loves Raymond
Fernwood 2 Night
Jeremy Stevens on writing for Fernwood 2-Night
Jeremy Stevens on working with Norman Lear and the cast of Fernwood 2-Night
Jeremy Stevens on writing Fernwood 2-Night with his writing partner Tom Moore
Jeremy Stevens on the production and guest stars of Fernwood 2-Night
Playboy After Dark
Jeremy Stevens on writing for Playboy After Dark
Richard Pryor Show, The
Jeremy Stevens on writing for The Richard Pryor Show
Saturday Night Live
Jeremy Stevens on writing for Saturday Night Live
Jeremy Stevens on the guest hosts of Saturday Night Live
Jeremy Stevens on how the press treated Saturday Night Live during his time on the show
Jeremy Stevens on Charles Rocket saying an expletive live on the air on Saturday Night Live
Jeremy Stevens on leaving Saturday Night Live
Skitch Henderson Show, The
Jeremy Stevens on his first writing job for television on The Skitch Henderson Show
Jeremy Stevens on working with Skitch Henderson
Thicke of the Night
Jeremy Stevens on writing for Thicke of the Night
Topics
Censorship / Standards & Practices
Jeremy Stevens on Charles Rocket saying an expletive live on the air on Saturday Night Live
Characters & Catchphrases
Jeremy Stevens on Brad Garrett as "Robert Barone" on Everybody Loves Raymond
Jeremy Stevens on Patricia Heaton as "Debra Barone" on Everybody Loves Raymond
Jeremy Stevens on Doris Roberts as "Marie Barone" on Everybody Loves Raymond
Jeremy Stevens on Peter Boyle as "Frank Barone" on Everybody Loves Raymond
Classic TV Series Episodes
Jeremy Stevens on memorable episodes of Everybody Loves Raymond
Comedy
Jeremy Stevens on memorable episodes of Everybody Loves Raymond
Creative Influences and Inspiration
Jeremy Stevens on early television
Emmy Awards
Jeremy Stevens on winning an Emmy for The Electric Company
First Big Break
Jeremy Stevens on his first writing job for television on The Skitch Henderson Show
Pivotal Career Moments
Jeremy Stevens on early television
Jeremy Stevens on his first writing job for television on The Skitch Henderson Show
Pop Culture
Jeremy Stevens on Brad Garrett as "Robert Barone" on Everybody Loves Raymond
Jeremy Stevens on Patricia Heaton as "Debra Barone" on Everybody Loves Raymond
Jeremy Stevens on Doris Roberts as "Marie Barone" on Everybody Loves Raymond
Jeremy Stevens on Peter Boyle as "Frank Barone" on Everybody Loves Raymond
Jeremy Stevens on memorable episodes of Everybody Loves Raymond
Television Industry
Jeremy Stevens on Charles Rocket saying an expletive live on the air on Saturday Night Live
Professions
Writers
Jeremy Stevens on the writing process on Everybody Loves Raymond
Jeremy Stevens on the writers' room at Everybody Loves Raymond
Jeremy Stevens on using situations from his life on Everybody Loves Raymond
Genres
Children's Programming
Jeremy Stevens on co-creating and writing for The Electric Company
Comedy Series
Jeremy Stevens on writing for Fernwood 2-Night
Jeremy Stevens on writing for Fernwood 2-Night
Jeremy Stevens on writing for Everybody Loves Raymond
Jeremy Stevens on the writing for Everybody Loves Raymond
Jeremy Stevens on writing for Everybody Loves Raymond
Jeremy Stevens on writing for Everybody Loves Raymond
Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials
Jeremy Stevens on writing for Playboy After Dark
Jeremy Stevens on writing for The Richard Pryor Show
Jeremy Stevens on writing for Saturday Night Live
Jeremy Stevens on writing for Saturday Night Live
Talk Shows
Jeremy Stevens on his first writing job for television on The Skitch Henderson Show
People
Peter Boyle
Jeremy Stevens on Peter Boyle as "Frank Barone" on Everybody Loves Raymond
Jean Doumanian
Jeremy Stevens on writing for Saturday Night Live
Sonny Fox
Jeremy Stevens on his first writing job for television on The Skitch Henderson Show
Brad Garrett
Jeremy Stevens on Brad Garrett as "Robert Barone" on Everybody Loves Raymond
Gary Halvorson
Jeremy Stevens on Gary Halvorson as director on Everybody Loves Raymond
Valerie Harper
Jeremy Stevens on his first writing job for television on The Skitch Henderson Show
Patricia Heaton
Jeremy Stevens on Patricia Heaton as "Debra Barone" on Everybody Loves Raymond
Skitch Henderson
Jeremy Stevens on his first writing job for television on The Skitch Henderson Show
Jeremy Stevens on working with Skitch Henderson
Gabe Kaplan
Jeremy Stevens on writing sketches for variety specials
Norman Lear
Jeremy Stevens on writing for Fernwood 2-Night
Jeremy Stevens on working with Norman Lear and the cast of Fernwood 2-Night
Martin Mull
Jeremy Stevens on working with Norman Lear and the cast of Fernwood 2-Night
Richard Pryor
Jeremy Stevens on writing for The Richard Pryor Show
John Ritter
Jeremy Stevens on writing sketches for variety specials
Doris Roberts
Jeremy Stevens on Doris Roberts as "Marie Barone" on Everybody Loves Raymond
Charles Rocket
Jeremy Stevens on Charles Rocket saying an expletive live on the air on Saturday Night Live
Ray Romano
Jeremy Stevens on working with Ray Romano on Everybody Loves Raymond
Phil Rosenthal
Jeremy Stevens on how he came to write for Everybody Loves Raymond
Richard Schaal
Jeremy Stevens on his first writing job for television on The Skitch Henderson Show
Neil Simon
Jeremy Stevens on acting in Neil Simon's "The Sunshine Boys"
Alan Thicke
Jeremy Stevens on writing for Thicke of the Night
Tom Whedon
Jeremy Stevens on writing episodes of The Electric Company
Fred Willard
Jeremy Stevens on working with Norman Lear and the cast of Fernwood 2-Night