Post by Maximus on Mar 15, 2004 15:29:17 GMT -5
Romano 'Almost Sure' His CBS Show Will Return
Mon Mar 15,12:09 PM ET
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Comedian Ray Romano (news), star of the hit CBS sitcom "Everybody Loves Raymond," says he's "almost sure" the show will be back for one more season in the fall, even if it's for an abbreviated final run.
"We're going to try to make it happen," Romano told reporters at a comedy benefit on Saturday night in Beverly Hills. We're trying to do something, but how many episodes we don't know yet."
It was the most positive sign yet that the highest-rated comedy on CBS -- and the No. 2 sitcom on all of prime-time television after NBC's "Friends" -- will be back for a ninth season, albeit one that may be shorter than usual.
CBS president Leslie Moonves said recently he was cautiously optimistic the series would return.
The future of "Raymond" had been in doubt since Romano indicated publicly last year that he was leaning toward calling it quits after the show's eighth season, which ends in May, saying he wanted to end the series on a high note.
Romano and fellow executive producer Phil Rosenthal, the show's creator, have said they are discussing with CBS the possibility of coming back with fewer than the usual 22 episodes that traditionally make up a complete sitcom order.
One recent factor that may have added impetus for the show's return was the disappointing box office performance of Romano's feature acting debut in the comedy "Welcome to Mooseport," which Romano joked about on stage Saturday.
"I owe you all $8.50," he told the audience at the Wilshire Theater, then pretended to shrug off the film's commercial flop. "It didn't do that well, but that's the way it is in this business. What does box office mean anyway? As long as you've got your health."
Delighted, don't care or perhaps even disappointed?
Mon Mar 15,12:09 PM ET
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Comedian Ray Romano (news), star of the hit CBS sitcom "Everybody Loves Raymond," says he's "almost sure" the show will be back for one more season in the fall, even if it's for an abbreviated final run.
"We're going to try to make it happen," Romano told reporters at a comedy benefit on Saturday night in Beverly Hills. We're trying to do something, but how many episodes we don't know yet."
It was the most positive sign yet that the highest-rated comedy on CBS -- and the No. 2 sitcom on all of prime-time television after NBC's "Friends" -- will be back for a ninth season, albeit one that may be shorter than usual.
CBS president Leslie Moonves said recently he was cautiously optimistic the series would return.
The future of "Raymond" had been in doubt since Romano indicated publicly last year that he was leaning toward calling it quits after the show's eighth season, which ends in May, saying he wanted to end the series on a high note.
Romano and fellow executive producer Phil Rosenthal, the show's creator, have said they are discussing with CBS the possibility of coming back with fewer than the usual 22 episodes that traditionally make up a complete sitcom order.
One recent factor that may have added impetus for the show's return was the disappointing box office performance of Romano's feature acting debut in the comedy "Welcome to Mooseport," which Romano joked about on stage Saturday.
"I owe you all $8.50," he told the audience at the Wilshire Theater, then pretended to shrug off the film's commercial flop. "It didn't do that well, but that's the way it is in this business. What does box office mean anyway? As long as you've got your health."
Delighted, don't care or perhaps even disappointed?
