By By Mike Golz
An Emmy-award winning alum returned to where he got his start, cracking up the audience with his anecdotes as creator and executive producer of the sitcom “Everybody Loves Raymond.”
Phil Rosenthal, ’81 and wife Monica Horan, ’84, entertained University students Sunday at the Adams Playhouse with their show, “‘Everybody Loves Raymond:’ Inside the Writer’s Room of America’s Favorite Sitcom.”
The show consisted of a brief introduction by Horan, who plays Amy Barone in the sitcom and then progressed into how some memorable scenes were created, most of which were inspired by actual events that occurred in the lives of Rosenthal and the show’s star, Ray Romano.
Rosenthal recalled classic episodes from the nine-season hit, including the returned engraved toaster and “The Angry Family,” which were inspired by his family who filled an entire fourth row of the theater to cheer him on.
“How lucky I am to have a child who writes for my TV show,” Rosenthal said as he introduced his son Ben, author of “The Angry Family.”
The program also included a montage of Horan’s role in the show.
“The jokes came last, the story was more important,” Rosenthal said in response to an audience member’s question. “They [jokes] can be put in at the last second.”
Rosenthal had the opportunity to direct former President Bill Clinton’s White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner video and related what his brother said to him after a scene in the Oval Office was filmed.
“You corrected the President!” Rosenthal recalled. “You have that same tone of voice when you’re correcting me!”
Rosenthal was funny and energetic. The audience laughed at almost every sentence he said.
The question-and-answer session proved very rewarding for the audience; at one point, Rosenthal even accepted a letter from a student, joking that he hoped it wasn’t a love letter.
One member of the audience asked why Lee and Stan, friends of Marie and Frank Barone on the show, were not cast as better looking.
“Well Lee, you’d have to ask your parents,” Rosenthal said, turning his attention to the orchestra seating where the real Lee who inspired the character sat.
Rosenthal has always been very supportive of the University, requesting that all proceeds from the show be donated to a drama scholarship fund.
He remembers what it was like to be a student and how hard it is to get started in show business.
Rosenthal stood guard outside the Metropolitan Museum of Art, ran a deli and performed in “off, off, off broadway” shows before getting his start in writing and producing.
He advised drama students to take classes in writing and directing aside from acting to become a well-rounded student.
Rosenthal and Horan relayed experiences that inspired the show “Everybody Loves Raymond.” (Photo Courtesy Mark Getman)