re: Everybody Loves Raymond

I agree... I've probably first watched 90% of the episodes in syndication. For some reason it didn't appeal to me when it was on network.

Frank is probably the greatest one liner laugh character in the history of television...

I don't get the Debra hate... she appears the bitch but that always ends poorly for her and justice is served. Then when she loosens the reigns it ends poorly for her also where Ray takes advantage and she is the sympathetic character. To deal with that complexity of character in a sitcom Heaton makes it work as the bitchy sympathetic character and is quite funny.

The show works because we can relate as each character plays out their dysfunction while holding up the facade of normalcy... I mean we are only "normal" because we don't allow our own dysfunctions to overcome and define us.