If cross-cultural endeavors interest you or if you’re an Everybody Loves Raymond fan, Exporting Raymond should tickle your funny bone. The documentary Exporting Raymond follows executive producer Phil Rosenthal to Moscow as he consults with the Russian team that plans to bring this down-to-earth American sitcom to an audience that loves over-the-top comedy, like the Russian versions of The Nanny or Married with Children.
Rosenthal’s witty and approachable. I empathized with him as he tried to convince the intense looking costume designer that Debra shouldn’t be dressed in white cashmere when she’s spent the day cleaning This formidable woman wouldn’t hear of it. Style was everything in her book. When Rosenthal tried to figure out whether his driver really was in the hospital or whether he was lying and just on vacation, I smiled with recognition. Yep, one never knows what the real story is, just roll with it, Phil.
I found it all fascinating from the grim, decrepit studios to the stone faced execs — all very telling. I liked the documentary so much I watched the special features and deleted scenes. As a special feature they include two episodes of Raymond and two of Everybody Loves Kostya. which I found even more interesting than the American version. Go figure.
I’m not sure if this would translate to China, probably not, but I could see a Korean version of Everybody Loves Raymond.
Related articles
- ‘Everybody Loves Raymond’ Creator Reveals the Challenges of Making a Hit TV Show (screenrant.com)
- HBO to air ‘Raymond’ doc (variety.com)
- ‘Everybody Loves Raymond’ star Brad Garrett joins Sarah Chalke sitcom (digitalspy.co.uk)
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