The CBS is bringing back the Barone family for one last living room showdown — and this time, it’s real. On November 24, 2025, at 8:00 PM Eastern Time, the network will air Everybody Loves Raymond: 30th Anniversary Reunion, a 66-minute special marking three decades since the sitcom’s September 13, 1996 debut. For the first time in nearly 20 years, the entire principal cast — Ray Romano, Patricia Heaton, Brad Garrett, Monica Horan, Madylin Sweeten, and Sullivan Sweeten — will gather in a reimagined version of the iconic Barone home, hosted by Romano and Phil Rosenthal, the show’s creator and showrunner. The reunion isn’t just nostalgia. It’s a quiet tribute to a show that made ordinary family chaos feel like comfort food for the soul.
The Living Room That Held a Generation
The Barone living room wasn’t just a set. It was the emotional center of 210 episodes, where Raymond’s neuroses collided with Frank’s gruff wisdom, Marie’s overbearing love, and Debra’s quiet exhaustion. The reunion special reconstructs that space with startling accuracy — down to the mismatched couch cushions and the ever-present coffee table cluttered with half-eaten sandwiches. But this time, the actors sit in it as themselves, not characters. "We didn’t want to pretend we were still filming," Romano told TV Guide in an exclusive interview. "We just wanted to sit there and remember how weird, wonderful, and exhausting it all was."
Behind the scenes, the production team dug through decades of archival footage, including outtakes from the pilot episode and candid moments from the final season. One particularly poignant clip shows Doris Roberts — who played the unforgettable Marie Barone until her death in 2016 — laughing so hard during a take that she couldn’t finish her line. Rosenthal, who was married to Monica Horan (Amy on the show), recalls how Roberts would slip handwritten notes into his script: "More yelling. Less crying. This isn’t a soap opera, Phil." Those notes, now digitized, will be featured in a segment titled "Phil Rosenthal’s Reflections on Working with Doris Roberts."
The Sweetens: From Kids to Adults, Still Connected
Among the most emotional moments will come from Madylin Sweeten and Sullivan Sweeten, who were just 5 and 3 years old when they began playing Ally and Michael Barone. Now 33, they’re the only two cast members who grew up on the show. "I didn’t know any other life," Madylin says in a behind-the-scenes clip. "I thought every kid had a dad who yelled at the TV during baseball games and a grandma who hid cookies in her purse."
Sullivan adds, "I didn’t realize how rare it was to have your whole childhood filmed until I started college and people asked me if I was the kid from that show. I’d say, ‘Yeah.’ And they’d stare like I’d just said I was friends with the Pope."
They’ll also reflect on how the show shaped their adult lives — Madylin now works in children’s theater, Sullivan in film production. Neither pursued traditional acting paths, but both credit the experience with teaching them resilience. "We learned how to be quiet on set, how to listen, how to not be afraid of silence," Sullivan says. "That’s more valuable than any audition tip."
Ghosts in the Room: Remembering Roberts and Boyle
The reunion isn’t without its ghosts. Peter Boyle, who played Frank Barone until his death in 2008, and Doris Roberts are absent — but never forgotten. Romano shares a rarely seen home video of Boyle singing "My Way" off-key in his trailer after a long day. "He was terrible," Romano says, smiling. "But he was the only one who could make me cry laughing."
Heaton, who won an Emmy for her role as Debra, recalls how Roberts would bring homemade lasagna to set every Tuesday. "She’d say, ‘You’re too thin, dear. Eat.’ And then she’d stare at you until you took a second helping."
The special includes a brief, silent tribute to both actors — a single chair placed at the end of the couch, a framed photo of them on the side table. No words. Just presence.
Why This Matters Now
CBS isn’t just reviving a classic — it’s answering a cultural hunger. After the massive success of Friends and The Big Bang Theory reunions, viewers are craving authentic, unpolished nostalgia. Unlike those shows, Everybody Loves Raymond never leaned into fantasy. It was about a man who couldn’t open a jar, a mother who loved too much, and a father who didn’t know how to say he was proud. It was real. And in a world of algorithm-driven content, that feels revolutionary.
The special, produced by CBS Studios and distributed by Paramount Global, will stream on Paramount+ immediately after its linear broadcast. It’s listed as Season 2025, Episode 1 — a nod to the show’s enduring legacy, not a continuation. "This isn’t a reboot," Rosenthal insists. "It’s a thank-you note."
What Comes Next?
While no further reunions are planned, CBS has quietly begun licensing classic Raymond episodes for digital storefronts and educational media kits for film schools. Some universities are already using the show’s dialogue patterns to teach comedic timing and character development. "It’s a masterclass in restraint," says Dr. Lena Chen, a media studies professor at NYU. "No big jokes. No punchlines. Just truth, delivered with a sigh."
And for fans? The message is clear: You don’t need a new season. You just need to remember what made you laugh — and cry — in the first place.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is returning for the Everybody Loves Raymond reunion special?
The full principal cast is returning: Ray Romano, Patricia Heaton, Brad Garrett, Monica Horan, Madylin Sweeten, and Sullivan Sweeten. Phil Rosenthal, the show’s creator, co-hosts. None of the actors playing recurring roles like Robert’s wife or the neighbors will appear. The special focuses strictly on the core family, honoring the show’s intimate tone.
Why is this reunion significant compared to others like Friends or The Big Bang Theory?
Unlike those ensemble shows, Everybody Loves Raymond was grounded in quiet realism — no laugh tracks over absurd scenarios, no fantasy elements. The reunion mirrors that tone: no stunts, no gimmicks. Just actors sitting in the same room, talking honestly about grief, aging, and the weird intimacy of making TV together. It’s less spectacle, more therapy.
Will the original Barone house set be used?
No — the original set was dismantled after the series ended in 2005. But the production team meticulously recreated it using blueprints, photographs, and actor recollections. Even the scuff marks on the floor were replicated. The goal wasn’t nostalgia for nostalgia’s sake — it was authenticity. Fans who’ve watched the show for decades will notice the details.
When and where was the reunion filmed?
Filming took place in Los Angeles in August 2025, over three days. The exact studio wasn’t disclosed, but sources confirm it was a soundstage in the Warner Bros. lot. The cast arrived in town early to re-familiarize themselves with the set. Several crew members from the original series returned as consultants — including the original set decorator, who helped source the exact same lamp from 1997.
How can I watch the reunion if I don’t have cable?
The special will stream exclusively on Paramount+ immediately after its CBS broadcast on November 24, 2025. No free streaming options are planned. Paramount+ subscribers can watch on-demand for as long as the show remains in the library — which, given its cultural staying power, is likely to be years.
Did any cast members turn down the reunion?
No. All six principal cast members agreed to participate. Rosenthal says the invitation was simple: "Come sit with us. No pressure. No script." The only condition was that they wouldn’t promote any new projects — just talk about the show. That honesty, they felt, was worth more than any publicity.
