re: Doug and Carrie Heffernan

quote:

---

Ray and Debra Barrone have to be in this conversation.

---

They get my vote. They didn't agree on a single thing. Ray was an idiot but, he brought home the bacon so Debra didn't have to work and just wanted to get laid. Debra complained about everything Ray did. And remember, it was Debra who pushed for them to move across the street from the in-laws, then started to constantly complain about that fact.

quote:

---

Has there ever been a couple who seemed to hate each other more?

---

That’s an exaggeration. They loved each other enough to make their own shortcomings work.

The formula was:
Doug does something selfish and immature
Carrie wants to control him, gets angry and criticizes him
Doug tries to avoid confrontation
They fight, reconcile and repeat.

It appeals to the audience because we see ourselves in our own relationships trying to manipulate each other, keep score, use guilt, and try to win arguments rather than understand each other. We do the same thing for selfish reasons but we still love our spouses.

quote:

---

They apparently hated each other offscreen, w/KJ giving producers an "Either she goes or I go" ultimatum at one point.

---

kevin is a big time catholic. she was hardcore scientology. they have since reconciled since she backed off scientology

I always assumed they made Carrie so bitchy and unlikeable to make it more understandable how she'd wind up with an obese, moron, delivery driver as a husband. Kind of a way to level them out since, other than her being a knockout, neither seemed to have much to offer from a relationship perspective. Funny show though.

quote:

---

So much is relatable but I never looked at Carrie as a nag....she was usually on point with Doug.

---

There’s plenty of episodes where Carrie goes off the rails, too, and Doug has to bring her back down to Earth.

quote:

---

There’s plenty of episodes where Carrie goes off the rails, too, and Doug has to bring her back down to Earth.

---

I liked the one where Doug's dad starts going through their closet and figures out how much Carrie is spending on clothes and shoes.

quote:

---

Ray and Debra Barrone have to be in this conversation

---

Wrong. Debra was a Saint, having to live next door to Marie and Frank, but she really loved Raymond, and Ray loved her.

I watched that show original run in my late 20s then again about 20 years later. It's a great show that hits you differently depending on your age. Same episode and you'll have completely different ways of looking at it depending upon your age and where you're at in marriage.

Leah Remini was incredible in her prime.

My wife (no pics) and I love this show. It's one of our favorite sitcoms but if you really take Doug and Carrie at face value, they are both horrible people. Comedy gold though. But then that was the same model for Seinfeld as was highlighted in the final episode.

Best character by far in KOQ though was Arthur. Stiller was a genius. Same in Seinfeld. Read recently where Kevin James was asked if he would ever consider a reunion show and he said absolutely not without Jerry Stiller. Said it wouldn't be the same.

My favorite episode is where Deacon starts hanging out with his black friends a little more. Doug gets jealous /concerned and goes to Spence for advice. Spence tells Doug that he’s incapable of fulfilling Deacon’s black needs. Doug then dreams of going on a wild spree trying to fit in with black people.