Pilot (Everybody Loves Raymond)

Infobox Television episode
Title = The Pilot
Series = Everybody Loves Raymond


Caption =
Season = 1
Episode = 1
Airdate = September 13, 1996
Production = 9601
Writer = Michael Lembeck
Director = Philip Rosenthal
Guests = Stephen Lee as Leo
Next = I Love You

"The Pilot" is the first episode of the American television situation comedy "Everybody Loves Raymond", which began airing on CBS on September 13, 1996. It introduces the five main members of the Barone family. Ray, Debra, Robert, Marie and Frank as well as the three children Ally, Mathew and Gregory (later renamed Michael and Geoffrey) who all live in Long Island, New York. The episode introduces the rivalry between both Ray and Robert as well as Debra and Marie.

The episode was directed by Michael Lembeck and written by Philip Rosenthal.

Plot

Debra is at home feeding the children when Ray returns home after a road trip for work. After finishing the pair discuss Debra's birthday plans before being interrupted by Ray's parents. Debra then leaves Ray in charge of the kids as she goes to the movies with Linda, later played by Maggie Wheeler. Ray leaves with Leo to go to a pizzeria and leaves Marie in charge, when Debra returns home she is angry that Ray did not listen to her and left his parents in charge. This results in Debra asking Ray to not invite them to her birthday. Ray is reluctant, but eventually tells them that there is no party. When Frank and Marie find out, they feel highly insulted...

Ratings

Entertainment Weekly rated the episode as an A calling it "No small feat, considering the fate of this season's other most promising pilots". [ [http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,287450,00.html RAY OF HOPE (1996)] "Entertainment Weekly"] TV.com rated the episode 8.6 out of 10 with 92 ratings. [ [http://www.tv.com/everybody-loves-raymond/pilot/episode/2537/summary.html Pilot] "TV.com"]

Trivia

*In this episode, the wallpaper at Ray's house is all white and the set of Marie's house is completely different from the one we see in the rest of the series.
*Ray borrows the "Big Fork" while later in the series it is the "Big Spoon"
*This episode has the first mention of "The Fruit of the Month Club"
*The twins are Gregory and Matthew [Ray Ramano's actual sons] meanwhile in the rest of the series it is Michael and Geofrey
*Leo is not mentioned again in the series

References