History Trivia / EverybodyLovesRaymond

* BannedInChina: "Marie's Sculpture" has never been screened on British TV because the episode involves Marie making a large sculpture of a vagina, much to the rest of the family's disgust (erect male genitalia and exposed female genitalia are no-no's on UK screens). The explicit nature of Marie's abstract artwork and the fact it is on prominent display throughout the show probably called for the decision; it can't have helped that the series aired before the watershed on Comedy Central and ''way'' before the watershed (in the mornings, in fact) on Creator/Channel4. Ironically, US audiences didn't seem to have a problem with it.

** Ray's crossover on ''Series/TheNanny'' at his, Fran Fine's, and Val Toriello's high school reunion. TruthInTelevision, as actors Ray Romano and Fran Drescher really did attend Hillcrest High School in Queens, NYC in the same class.

* [[AuthorExistenceFailure Actor Existence Failure]]: Narrowly averted, as the show ended a year before Peter Boyle's death.
* [[BannedInChina Banned In The United Kingdom]]: "Marie's Sculpture" has never been screened on British TV because the episode involves Marie making a large sculpture of a vagina, much to the rest of the family's disgust (erect male genitalia and exposed female genitalia are no-no's on UK screens). The explicit nature of Marie's abstract artwork and the fact it is on prominent display throughout the show probably called for the decision; it can't have helped that the series aired before the watershed on Comedy Central and ''way'' before the watershed (in the mornings, in fact) on Creator/Channel4. Ironically, US audiences didn't seem to have a problem with it.

* [[BannedInChina Banned In The United Kingdom]]: "Marie's Sculpture" has never been screened on British TV because the episode involves Marie making a large sculpture of a vagina, much to the rest of the family's disgust (erect male genitalia and exposed female genitalia are no-no's on UK screens). The explicit nature of Marie's abstract artwork and the fact it is on prominent display throughout the show probably called for the decision; it can't have helped that the series aired before the watershed on Comedy Central and ''way'' before the watershed (in the mornings, in fact) on ChannelFour. Ironically, US audiences didn't seem to have a problem with it.

* ActorAllusion: In one Halloween episode, Frank dresses up like Frankenstein's monster (with Marie as his bride). At first this just seems like a quick gag on Frank's name until you remember Peter Boyle played the monster in the hysterically funny parody ''Film/YoungFrankenstein''.

** Patricia Heaton's new show ''Series/TheMiddle'' has her meet her son's new teacher, played by Doris Roberts. Pretty much their roles are verbally reversed: "Marie" accusing "Debra" of being a [[MyBelovedSmother Beloved Smother]] (which ironically is absolutely not true in either show).
*** The third season premiere of ''Series/TheMiddle'' features a flashback in which we see Heaton's character's honeymoon/camping trip interrupted by a hiker played by Romano. At one point his character tells her "In an alternate reality, you and I could have been happy together."

* HeyItsThatGuy: Ray and Deb's friend Linda looks like [[Series/{{Friends}} Janice]], but doesn't sound like her.
** [[UsefulNotes/NationalFootballLeague Terry Bradshaw]] shows up as himself in an early episode.
** As does the starting lineup of the [[{{UsefulNotes/Baseball}} 1969 New York Mets]].
** Jean Stapleton, aka Edith Bunker from ''Series/AllInTheFamily'', guest-starred in a very early episode as Marie's older sister Alda. Quite appropriate, given that both shows deal with [[{{DysfunctionalFamily}} dysfunctional families]].
** Sherri Shepherd, later co-host of "The View", plays Robert's partner on the police force and best friend, Judy.
** And comedian [[TheDanza Andy Kindler as, well, Andy]], another of Ray's best buddies.
** [[Series/{{Seinfeld}} Uncle Leo]] appears on this show a few times as well.
** Chris Elliot as Amy's brother
** Fred Willard as Amy's father
** Debra's mother is Jessica Tate out of ''Series/{{Soap}}''. Katherine Helmond hardly has to stretch herself to play a slightly eccentric, upscale lady, whose daughter married into a really dysfunctional family. It's hardly new to her...

** Kevin James originally played a guest character named Kevin, until he got the spinoff ''Series/KingOfQueens'', after which his character on "Raymond" was retconned into being Doug Heffernan, just like on "Queens."

** [[UsefulNotes/NationalFootballLeague Terry Bradshaw]] shows up as himself in an early episode.]]

*** The third season premire of ''Series/TheMiddle'' features a flashback in which we see Heaton's character's honeymoon/camping trip interrupted by a hiker played by Romano. At one point his character tells her "In an alternate reality, you and I could have been happy together."

* ActorAllusion: In one Halloween episode, Frank dresses up like Frankenstein's monster (with Marie as his bride). At first this just seems like a quick gag on Frank's name until you remember Peter Boyle played the monster in the hysterically funny parody YoungFrankenstein.
** Ray's crossover on ''TheNanny'' at his, Fran Fine's, and Val Toriello's high school reunion. TruthInTelevision, as actors Ray Romano and Fran Drescher really did attend Hillcrest High School in Queens, NYC in the same class.
** Patricia Heaton's new show TheMiddle has her meet her son's new teacher who is played by Doris Roberts. Pretty much their roles are verbally reversed: "Marie" accusing "Debra" of being a [[MyBelovedSmother Beloved Smother]] (which ironically is absolutely not true in either show).
*** The third season premire of TheMiddle features a flashback in which we see Heaton's character's honeymoon/camping trip interrupted by a hiker played by Romano. At one point his character tells her "In an alternate reality, you and I could have been happy together."
** One episode had J.G. Hertzler play an old book author who, while rambling on at a bookstore, causes Ray to fall asleep. He happens to be [[StarTrekDeepSpaceNine missing an eye]]...

** Kevin James originally played a guest character named Kevin, until he got the spinoff {{King Of Queens}}, after which his character on "Raymond" was retconned into being Doug Heffernan, just like on "Queens."

* HeyItsThatGuy: Ray and Deb's friend Linda looks like [[{{Friends}} Janice]], but doesn't sound like her.

** Debra's mother is Jessica Tate out of ''{{Soap}}''. Katherine Helmond hardly has to stretch herself to play a slightly eccentric, upscale lady, whose daughter married into a really dysfunctional family. It's hardly new to her...

** Don't forget Bill Parker, the handsome father of Ally's classmate played by David Hunt, Patricia Heaton's real life husband. Also Frank's lodge buddy Albert, played by Ray's real life dad Albert Romano.

* RealLifeWritesThePlot: According to Website/IMDb, the reason for the recast for Amy's brother was that after his cameo appearance, Reubens was arrested on child pornography charges. This caused Ray Romano to object to him being part of the show's cast.

** [[{{UsefulNotes/AmericanFootball}} Also, Terry Bradshaw shows up as himself in an early episode.]]
*** As does the starting lineup of the [[{{UsefulNotes/Baseball}} 1969 New York Mets]].
**** [[{{All In The Family}} Jean Stapleton, aka Edith Bunker from "All In The Family"]] guest-starred in a very early episode as Marie's older sister Alda. Quite appropriate, given that both shows deal with [[{{DysfunctionalFamily}} dysfunctional families]].
*** Sherri Shepherd, later co-host of "The View", plays Robert's partner on the police force and best friend, Judy.
*** And comedian [[TheDanza Andy Kindler as, well, Andy]], another of Ray's best buddies.
*** [[Series/{{Seinfeld}} Uncle Leo]] appears on this show a few times as well.
*** Chris Elliot as Amy's brother
*** Fred Willard as Amy's father

* PostScriptSeason: The series was originally intended to be only eight seasons long, but Ray Romano and Phil Rosenthal decided to give one last season to the fans. As a result, the final season was a bit shorter than the previous ones.

* TheOtherDarrin: Amy's brother was initially played by Paul Reubens. When the character returned, he had a different name and actor, but was clearly meant to be the same comic book store owner that grew attached to Ray. Off screen, Reubens was arrested on child pornography charges, and although he managed to stay out of jail, Ray Romano didn't like the idea of bringing him back and requested that the character be recast. Oddly, not only was the character recast, but ''renamed'' (Russell to Peter)

** Nemo was originally played by Joseph V. Perry, but the actor died in February 2000; his character was subsequently played by Robert Ruth in "What Good Are You?" and "Stefania Arrives".

* TheOtherDarrin: Amy's brother was initially played by Paul Reubens. When the character returned, he had a different name and actor, but was clearly meant to be the same comic book store owner that grew attached to Ray. [[strike: The reason for such a change is completely unknown]] the original guest actor was arrested on some pretty serious charges, and although Reubens managed to stay out of jail, Ray Romano didn't like the idea of bringing him back and requested that the character be recast. Oddly, not only was the character recast, but ''renamed'' (Russell to Peter)

* TheOtherDarrin: Amy's brother was initially played by Paul Reubens. When the character returned, he had a different name and actor, but was clearly meant to be the same comic book store owner that grew attached to Ray. [[strike: The reason for such a change is completely unknown]] the original guest actor was arrested on some pretty serious charges, and although Reubens managed to stay out of jail, Ray Romano didn't like the idea of bringing him back and requested that the character be recast.
** It'd be understandable to find a different actor, but changing that character's name?