Ray Romano has confirmed that the beloved sitcom “Everybody Loves Raymond” will not be rebooted, standing apart from the current trend of reviving classic TV shows. Romano shared this during the show’s 30th anniversary celebration at the Paley Museum in New York City.
“There will be no reboot,” Romano told the New York Post. “Obviously, Peter [Boyle], Doris [Roberts], and one of the kids are no longer with us. We are heartbroken. They were a crucial part of the show and the dynamic relationships.”
He added, “Without them, I don’t know what the dynamic would be. We love the show so much and respect it too much to even try.”
Romano attended the event alongside Maggie Wheeler, who guest-starred as Linda Grunefelder, show creator Phil Rosenthal, and Patricia Heaton, who played Ray’s wife Debra.
Heaton expressed to the media, “It wouldn’t be fair to the show to try to remake it without the actors we’ve lost. You shouldn’t redo something that’s almost perfect. We need to let it stay as it is and let people enjoy it the way it was.”
Peter Boyle, who played Ray’s father Frank, passed away in 2006; Doris Roberts, who portrayed his mother Marie, died in 2016; and Sawyer Sweeten, who played Ray and Debra’s son Geoffrey, passed away in 2015.
The series aired for nine seasons from 1996 to 2005.
In contrast, the sitcom “Malcolm in the Middle” is set for a four-episode reboot on Disney+, with nearly the entire original cast returning, except for Erik Per Sullivan, who played Dewey and is currently pursuing a master’s degree at Harvard. Although filming is complete, the release date has not yet been announced.
This news highlights the deep respect and affection the cast and creators have for “Everybody Loves Raymond,” choosing to preserve its legacy rather than risk altering its cherished dynamic.
Image Source: Richard Cartwright/CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images
Author: Lex Briscuso, IGN Film Critic and Freelance Entertainment Writer. Follow her on Twitter @nikonamerica.
