It’s been just over 10 years since Everybody Loves Raymond went off the air, and almost 20 since the series first debuted in September of 1996.
And in celebration of the occasion, the show’s star Ray Romano told Entertainment Tonight that a reunion was in the works.
‘I think we might be going to Austin for the festival – the South by Southwest festival – and I think they’re gonna have a little thing for us and get us together,’ he shared, at the premiere for his new HBO series Vinyl. ‘So that’s in the works right now.’
It had previously been confirmed that the cast of the popular CBS sitcom would be reuniting at Austin’s ATX Television Festival.
Everybody Loves Raymond followed successful sports writer Ray (Romano) and wife Debra (Patricia Heaton) as they tried to cope with living across the street from his domineering mother Marie Barone (Doris Roberts), gruff father Frank (Peter Boyle), and jealous brother Robert (Brad Garrett).
Ray and Debra also had three children on the series – daughter Ally (Madylin Sweeten), and twin boys (played by Madylin’s real-life younger brothers, Sawyer and Sullivan).
Unfortunately, not all of the beloved main cast members will be present for the reunion, as veteran actor Peter passed away in 2006 at 71, and Sawyer Sweeten, who played one of Ray and Debra’s twin sons, died in April at just 19.
Meanwhile, in response to why the show – in syndication – has continued to resonate with people, Ray joked: ”Cause I’m not naked in it?’
But then he reasoned that audiences could likely relate to the characters and stories that the show portrayed.
Honored: The popular sitcom won for best Ensemble in a Comedy Series at the 9th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards in 2003 (pictured, L to R, Peter Boyle, Brad Garrett, Ray, Madylin Sweeten, Doris Roberts, Patricia Heaton)
‘I’m amazed. It seems to be just a common denominator that no matter where you’re from, how you’re brought up or your religion or beliefs, family is universal,’ Ray said, adding: ‘It resonates with people.’
However, despite the show’s popularity, Ray admitted that Vinyl executive producer Martin Scorsese had never seen it.
He had never even heard of him before his audition, which Ray said was ‘refreshing. It was good – it actually worked in my favor, because he didn’t have a preconceived idea of who I was.’
He also admitted to being a bit starstruck when he met Vinyl’s other executive producer, Mick Jagger.
‘I was a teenager in the ‘70s, so the fact that I’m talking to him – the fact that he’s seeing stuff that I’m doing – I don’t get it,’ he gushed.
