Fans ofEverybody Loves Raymondwho are clamoring for a revival would do well to check out its perfect replacement sitcom,Modern Family, instead. TheEverybody Loves Raymondcastwas led by Ray Romano, who played the titular sports writer dealing with his intrusive family and frequently frustrated wife.
The sitcom aired its finale in 2005, and in the years since, actors Peter Boyle and Doris Roberts, who played Ray’s parents, Frank and Marie Barone, respectively, passed away — Boyle in 2006 and Roberts in 2016. Their deaths are the main reason Romano has cited for whythere won’t be anEverybody Loves Raymondreboot.
But just asEverybody Loves Raymondwas a definitive sitcom of the ’90s and 2000s, so wasModern Familyfor the 2010s. The sitcom, which won 22 Primetime Emmy Awards in its 11-season run, centers on the intertwining households of one big family.Those missingEverybody Loves Raymond’s in-law squabbles and family members butting into each other’s livesshould definitely giveModern Familya watch.
Modern Family’s Phil & Claire Are Basically A Sweeter Version Of Ray & Debra
They Have A Similar Marriage Dynamic Without The Negativity
Not only doesModern Familycover similar subject matter fromEverybody Loves Raymond, but Ray and Debra have a sitcom counterpart in Phil and Claire Dunphy. Like Ray and Debra, Phil and Claire have three kids.Phil is also the more relaxed, nonchalant parent, while Claire is very type Aand keeps the family unit organized. Like Debra, she’s also a homemaker for much of the show.
However, one of theharshest realities of watchingEverybody Loves Raymondis how poorly Ray and Debra treat each other.Ray completely shirks his responsibilities as a parent and a husband, while Debra is the pinnacle of the nagging housewife sitcom trope, belittling Ray every chance she gets.
In contrast,Phil may be irresponsible, but he’s an extremely committed father while being wholly appreciative of how hard his wife worksin raising their children. For her part, Claire does grow frustrated with Phil’s happy-go-lucky demeanor on occasion, but she rarely, if ever, undermines him, and makes her love for him clear.
There’s a reason why the type A-goofball pairing is such a tried-and-true sitcom trope, and that’s because it provides enough friction to keep the story interesting and enough banter to keep the audience laughing, while putting these characters into relatable situations. If you love that dynamic inEverybody Loves Raymond, you’ll enjoy the sweeter version found inModern Family.
Why Everybody Loves Raymond Fans Will Love Modern Family
It’s Perfect For Those Who Appreciate The Softer Side Of Ray Romano’s Sitcom
Beyond Phil and Claire, there’s a lot inModern FamilyforEverybody Loves Raymondfans to love. The households may not live across the street from one another, butthey’re always together and all involved in each other’s lives. Those who can relate to Debra’s strained relationship with her mother-in-law, Marie, will also get a lot out of Jay’s disapproval of his son-in-law, Phil.
Everybody Loves Raymondwon the Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series twice during its run, whileModern Familytook home the honor five times.
Also, beneathEverybody Loves Raymond’s acerbic tone is a surprising amount of sweetness. Marie’s constant undermining of Debra isn’t cruel for cruelness’s sake — she’s genuinely scared of being irrelevant in her youngest son’s life. When the sitcom explores the softer side of its characters, it leads to some ofEverybody Loves Raymond’s best episodes, andModern Familyhas moments like these in spades.
Modern Family
Cast
Modern Family is a comedy series that follows the unconventional Pritchett-Dunphy-Tucker family as they redefine what makes a family in their modern age. Broken into sub-families, the three diverse groups shake up the nuclear formula with empty nesters, adopted children, gender neutrality, and more as they attempt to navigate the various pitfalls and comedic misadventures of their dysfunctional but warm-hearted family dynamic.
Everybody Loves Raymond
Everybody Loves Raymond: The show follows Ray Barone, a sportswriter residing in Long Island with his wife Debra and their three children. Challenges arise as Ray’s intrusive parents, Frank and Marie, live directly across the street, often entangling themselves in his family’s daily life.
