Who Wants to be a Millionaire fans do a double take as Hollywood A-lister appears – and wins huge jackpot

WHO Wants To Be A Millionaire fans were left blindsided when a Hollywood A-Lister popped up in the hotseat.

Viewers of the cash-prize quiz show were bemused as the screen star swapped acting for answering brain-teasing questions.

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Who Wants to be a Millionaire fans did a double take as a Hollywood A-lister appeared – and won a huge jackpotCredit: ABC

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Matt Damon starred with Jeopardy! legend Ken JenningsCredit: ABC

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Jimmy Kimmel was hosting proceedingsCredit: Getty
Oscar winner Matt Damon, 54, appeared in the hotseat alongside Ken Jennings, 51 – and the pair made light work of the challenge.

The Pearl Harbour star, sported a rugged look with a bushy beard and long hair, and appeared to be elated to be partnered with the Jeopardy! legend.

The show also saw him reignite his “feud” with Who Wants To Be a Millionaire re-boot host Jimmy Kimmel, 57.

Jimmy, who hosts and executive produces the series – as well as having the idea for the celebrity special – was left red-faced as Ken said: “Everybody but Jimmy Kimmel.

“Do we love Matt Damon or what?”

The lively studio crowd cheered as The Martian star Matt said: “Ah you guys thank you so much.

“You are making him so miserable right now,” referring to anchor Jimmy.

Jimmy then said: “You are turning this into an uprising!”

THE KILLER QUESTION

Ken and Matt progressed all the way to the $1milllion question.

At the final stage, they were tasked with the question: “Which of these words is used to describe one of the most beautiful auditory effects on Earth, the sound made by the leaves of trees when wind blows through them?”

Jimmy Kimmel’s future on Who Wants to be a Millionaire revealed 5 years after taking over as host
The pair opted to use their 50/50 lifeline, which reduced the options to Susurrus – the correct answer – and phoney reply Petrichor.

As they chose the correct answer – which Ken knew before the lifeline was used – Jimmy told him: “You know you won this on your own, right?”

Matt then interjected: “Wow wow,” as Ken said: “You caught a break, you caught a break.

“Sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good I think.”

Who Wants to Be a Millionaire hosts

Who Wants to Be a Millionaire has on and off the air since 1999.

Here is a list of the hosts of the US game show:

Regis Philbin
Meridith Vieria
Cedric the Entertainer
Terry Crews
Chris Harrison
Jimmy Kimmel

Jimmy then mused: “Maybe Millionaire isn’t harder than Jeopardy!”

Matt, who could be seen giggling in delight, said: “It is so awesome having Ken Jennings as your partner in a trivia game, I can’t tell you.”

The funds from the ABC game show will be donated to Matt’s non profit organisation, water.org.

The US Sun was first to reveal Ken’s Millionaire role back in June.

In the same month, we exclusively reported host Jimmy’s future on the game show after five years as anchor.

KEN’S GLOWING GAME SHOW HISTORY

Ken is known for his record-breaking, consecutive 74-game winning streak on the game show Jeopardy! when he first appeared on it as a contestant.

Ken first appeared on Jeopardy! as a contestant on June 2, 2004.

His winning streak then ended that November.

He earned over $2.5million and became the highest-earning American game show contestant at the time.

Ken later became a host of the show and has also written several books.

The news of Ken’s new game show stint comes after he could be seen in the trailer for the new Happy Gilmore 2 movie.

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They used a 50/50 in the $1million question – but Ken already knew the answerCredit: ABC

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Pearl Harbor actor Ben gushed about having Ken as his partnerCredit: ABC

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The Martian actor looked completely different from his fresh-faced look with a bushy beardCredit: Getty

Wheel of Fortune’s Vanna White gives cryptic response when asked about leaving game show as $10m contract set to expire

WHEEL Of Fortune host Vanna White had a cryptic response when asked about her potential successors on the show as her contract is set to expire.

Vanna, 68, has co-hosted Wheel Of Fortune for more than four decades and in 2023 negotiated a two year contract.

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Vanna had a cryptic response when asked about her potential Wheel Of Fortune successorCredit: NBC

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She has co-hosted the hit show for more than four decadesCredit: Getty

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Last year she was joined by new co-host Ryan SeacrestCredit: X
At the time it was reported that her salary was bumped from $3million to $10million a year.

However it’s not been revealed whether or not the show’s longest-running host will stay on when her current contract expires.

During an interview with Forbes, Vanna was asked who she thinks would be a suitable replacement should she ever decide to leave.

Suggesting the audience should have a say, she shared advice for the potential new host, saying: “Be yourself, and know the entire alphabet!

Vanna previously revealed how many days she works a year to earn her estimated $10million salary.

In a chat with Elvis Duran and The Morning Show, she said: “We film about 34 days a year.

“That’s it. But [we film] six shows a day. Come on… You could feel bad for me.”

Elvis replied: “I do not feel sorry for you one bit. That sounds like a great job.”

Last year Vanna welcomed a new co-host to the show when Ryan Seacrest took over from Pat Sajak, who made his debut in 1981.

She recently showed off a bold new look while hosting alongside Ryan, 50 – leaving fans divided.

Wheel of Fortune’s Vanna White gives cryptic response when asked about leaving game show as $10m contract set to expire

One wrote: “I LOVE this look. She looks amazing! I enjoy the fancy ball gowns of the past years, but switching it up with a fun outfit like this is good too.”

But others were less convinced, speculating that show bosses are styling Vanna “younger” after Ryan joined the show last year.

Someone speculated: “She has changed up her outfits – I think in response to Ryan being younger. It’s for the better. She looks fantastic.”

Another said: “I like it. I feel like they are trying to dress her a little younger/hipper to more match Ryan’s style.

Fox News Greg Gutfeld ‘confirms’ swirling rumors on his co-star Jesse Watters

Fox News host Greg Gutfeld joined in the speculation about his co-star Jesse Watters as he hilariously responded to rumors about him on social media to ‘confirm’ the truth

Greg Gutfeld hilariously responded to rumors about Jesse Watters(Image: Getty Images)

Fox News star Greg Gutfeld responded to rumors about his co-star Jesse Watters to confirm the truth in them.

Taking to social media Greg responded to a post on X that posed the question, “Hey Greg is it true @JesseBWatters Jesse Watters, Host of The Jesse Watters show, is bald and gay?” Humoring the fan Greg then replied, “Half true.”

The question came after Jesse’s apparently receding hair recently stole the limelight from Greg as he tried to show off his new haircut to viewers of Fox News’ The Five panel. Sharing a video on Instagram Greg said, “What a pleasant surprise for you. It’s me, and look, I got a haircut, check it out.”

Continuing to show off his new look Greg added, “Nice and tight with a blend in the back. Got it in Rock Center. Who knew there was a barber shop in Rock Center?” He continued, “It’s right next to the men’s room. Even better for me, I can go in and get a haircut, then go to the men’s room and make friends.”

Greg poked fun at Jesse(Image: AP)

He then joked, “I did brush my teeth in the men’s room. But I pooped in the barber shop.” Jesse was heard laughing off camera and as he went to take up his seat on The Five panel fans got a glimpse of the top of his head and were left shocked.

One commented, “Wow I didn’t realize Jesse had such a big bald spot on the back of his head.”

A second said, “Oh dang. Should he do a Trump swoop, or maybe a Flock of Seagulls do? Naaa… he’s good like he is. This seems like a set up by @greggutfeld.”

A third shared, “I noticed the same thing,” as a fourth social media user added, “Oh s— someone is going bald Jesse lol.”

Viewers claimed Jesse has a bald spot in the clip(Image: X/TheFive)

A fifth then posted, “OMG Jesse your bald spot showing. Camera caught ya..” as another quipped, “Can you show Jessie’s bald spot more.”

Fans found Greg’s response hilarious as they commented on the post with one sharing, “If anyone has seen @JesseBWatters wife, then you know he’s not gay. Just say’n.” Another joked, “So which half is bald and gay? @JesseBWatters.”

A third commented, “We should have an “ask Greg” option here, much like ‘ask Grok’.” A fourth quipped, “Laughing, it reminds me of picking on my younger brothers…Big Brother Syndrome!”

A fifth said, “Who does Greg pick on more, @kilmeade or @JesseBWatters? The fact they both enjoy it is a little strange.”

For the latest local news and features on Irish America, visit our homepage here.

The Price Is Right left in chaos after ‘awkward’ mishap sends fans into meltdown

The Price Is Right is not a show that is known for having major mishaps, but one did happen in 2017 that left host Drew Carey and the rest of the CBS game show team in disbelief

Price Is Right’s Drew Carey in disbelief as unusual mishap occurs during airing(Image: (Image: CBS))

The Price is Right, hosted by Drew Carey on CBS, is known for its seamless operation. However, a rare and significant blunder occurred during an episode aired on 24th January 2017 that left everyone watching the episode on TV in shock.

The mishap happened when the host introduced a new round with a grand prize: a Cuisinart espresso machine, thermal programmable coffee maker, and coffee bean grinder. These were brought onto the stage on a flatbed pulled by a small-scale train engine.

The prizes were placed on a shaky table on the flatbed, which proved to be a poor decision. As the contestants guessed the price of the package, the entire prize fell and shattered into pieces, causing gasps from the live audience.

Carey responded with a nervous laugh as the last contestant humorously adjusted his guess to $1. “Whoops,” Carey chuckled, informing viewers they wouldn’t see the Price Train for some time.

Drew Carey reacts to seeing his image on The Price is Right(Image: Getty Images)

Fans flooded the comments section of a YouTube video showing the blunder with laughter and praise. One viewer quipped: “The guy changing his bid to one dollar was the crowning touch. But I do have to give them credit for not even trying to edit the mishap out.”

Another joined in, saying: “That guy who said ‘one dollar’ is the best person on that show this year,” while a third howled: “Buddy killed it with the ‘1 dollar’ line.”

Someone else highlighted: “They handled that situation perfectly. It was awkward, or cringey or uncomfortable. Well done Drew and the $1 dollar guy lmao.”

A fellow fan commented: “I just think it’s awesome that they have the crew so quickly ready to go to clean it up. Really goes to show you how much work and effort goes on behind the scenes people aren’t even aware of.”

With light-hearted spirit, another joked: “Dude transitioned from retail to thrift store pricing in a heartbeat,” and a different user praised: “The tech crews on these shows are professionals, as are the writers and directors. They deserve our support during the strike.”

In a stunning revelation, this wasn’t the first time a prize has been smashed on the live game show.

Price Is Right model Rachel Reynolds drove a car into a stage wall once. Host Carey was having a chat with contestant Cameron when he found out he was playing for a brand-new Ford Mustang, which was driven onstage by a model who then accidentally bumped into the set.

Rachel didn’t hit the brakes in time, causing the car to careen across the stage and smash into a makeshift wall built for the show. The vehicle appeared unscathed, but the wall was wrecked.

“I’m so sorry Cameron,” she apologised, her cheeks flushing with mortification. Carey checked on Rachel, who was more worried about the car’s condition than her own.

“I think the car’s still okay,” she remarked. The veteran host reassured Cameron that he’d get a pristine car if he won, not one that had been in a collision.

“This is going to be a damaged, used car. We’ll get you a brand new one,” he promised.

For the latest local news and features on Irish America, visit our homepage here.

‘Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage’ Season 2 Gets an Update Worthy of a “Bazinga”

The first season of the Young Sheldon spin-off, Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage, was a success for CBS in more ways than one. The cracks which are likely to lead to a divorce between the show’s protagonists, Georgie Cooper (Montana Jordan) and Mandy McAllister (Emily Osment) have already begun to appear despite the fact that the pair both love each other.

Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage will not be returning to TV for Season 2 until October 16, but the CBS comedy series is getting to work already as taping for upcoming episodes is set to commence. Unlike its predecessor, Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage is filmed in front of a live studio audience.

According to the ticketing site, production on Season 2 begins on Tuesday, August 5. Yes, you heard that right. Today. Tickets are currently available for fans to attend tapings with dates running through Tuesday, December 16.

Taping dates are already set for Tuesdays between that time period with Wednesday, September 3, being the only exception. For those interested and presumably less acquainted with the taping process, Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage is filmed at the Warner Bros. Studio in Burbank, California.

Tickets are available on the site 1iota with attendees — who must be 18 or older to participate — able to purchase up to four tickets at once.

How’d Season 1 of ‘Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage’ Play Out?

The first season of Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage is set in the aftermath of the events in the series finale of Young Sheldon. Georgie now lives with the McAllister household, attempting to maintain good relations with his in-laws, with his mother-in-law, Audrey (Rachel Bay Jones), the toughest nut to crack . Throughout Season 1, the young couple experienced several ups and downs as they navigated married life, while also dealing with other issues, such as work, family drama, and various challenges, including debt and career choices.

The first season ended with Georgie purchasing the tire shop from his father-in-law Jim (Will Sasso), with coworker Reuben (Jessie Prez) coming onboard as a partner, taking on part of the financial burden.

On the other hand, Mandy has found herself in a precarious position as she now works alongside an ex at the news station where she continues to deliver weather forecasts to Texas. While on-screen audiences will get to see how things unfurl when the season premieres. Fans who get to sit in on the tapings, would be the first to know what’s next for the characters.

While Season 2 of Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage does not have a trailer, BTS photos or plot details available yet. We have an idea of onw potentially key storyline. In an interview with TVLine, showrunner Steve Holland previously hinted at the prospect of Georgie’s father-in-law, Jim coming out of retirement despite selling the tire shop to Reuben and Georgie. Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage Season 2 premieres on October 16, 2025, on CBS. In the meantime, you can stream one on Paramount+. Follow Collider to keep up to date with the latest updates.

Reba McEntire Gets Great News on Additional ‘Happy’s Place’ Episodes

Happy’s Place has received an order for additional scripts less than a month after its premiere.

Pictured: (l-r) Melissa Peterman as Gabby, Belissa Escobedo as Isabella, Reba McEntire as Bobbie on ‘Happy’s Place’ — (Photo by: Casey Durkin/NBC)

Less than a month after premiering on NBC, Reba McEntire’s Happy’s Place just received some great news. Deadline reports that the network has ordered three extra scripts of the multi-camera sitcom, which initially had just 13 episodes for Season 1. Fellow sitcom Lopez vs Lopez got the same treatment, which is based on ratings performance, and it’s possible that more pickups could happen in the coming weeks.

It should be pointed out that an episodic order has not been given, as networks commission additional scripts in case of back orders “as a way to keep the writers rooms working.” The script order is not so surprising for Happy’s Place, which comes from the Reba producing team. The sitcom has brought in 4 million linear Live+Same Day viewers, which reached 10 million cross-platform viewers within a week and was even the best new comedy launch on Peacock.
HAPPY’S PLACE — Episode: Pilot — Pictured: Reba McEntire as Bobbie — (Photo by: Casey Durkin/NBC)
Created by Kevin and Julie Abbott, Happy’s Place centers on McEntire’s Bobbie, who inherits her late father’s tavern, only to find out that her new business partner, Isabella (Belissa Escobedo), is a twentysomething half-sister she never knew she had. The series also stars McEntire’s Reba co-star Melissa Peterman, Pablo Castelblanco, Tokala Black Elk, and Rex Linn. McEntire, Kevin Abbott, Mindy Schultheis, Michael Hanel, Pamela Fryman, and Matt Berry serve as executive producers.

The country superstar has been quite busy on NBC. Aside from Happy’s Place, Reba McEntire has been pulling double duty as a coach on The Voice for Season 26. She won’t be a coach for Season 27, however, after joining the series for Season 25. While she initially debunked rumors of her exiting, NBC later confirmed that she would, in fact, be departing, at least for now. It’s unknown if she will be returning in the future, but working on two shows plus her music and likely other projects might just be too much for her. At the very least, since both Happy’s Place and The Voice are on NBC, there’s always the chance she can swing by the singing competition series.

It shouldn’t be long until Happy’s Place gets an official extended episodic order, but fans will just have to be patient. In the meantime, new episodes air on Fridays at 8 p.m. ET on NBC, and there is still quite a lot to look forward to.

Melissa Peterman Reveals Which of Her ‘Baby Daddy’ Sons She Wants as a ‘Happy’s Place’ Love Interest (Exclusive)

Instagram

Melissa Peterman is ruling out having her Baby Daddy sons, Jean-Luc Bilodeau and Derek Theler, making a guest appearance on Happy’s Place — but which one could she see playing her love interest?

During the NBCUniversal Backlot Summer Experience on Monday, August 4, Peterman, 54, told Us Weekly that she would love to have her former Baby Daddy costars on her new sitcom.

“Derek, Jean-Luc, Tahj [Mowry] — any of them. I would absolutely love it,” she shared. “And we are still all very tight, too. So I think they’d be really fun.”

Peterman pitched an unexpected story line for her character, Gabby, adding, “I think Derek [could be] a love interest maybe? I don’t know. It would be really fun. I would absolutely love to [see them on Happy’s Place].”

Before joining Happy’s Place, Peterman had very memorable roles as Barbra Jean on Reba to Bonnie on Baby Daddy to Brenda in The Big Bang Theory spinoff Young Sheldon. Baby Daddy, which aired on Freeform from 2012 to 2017, followed a man (Bilodeau) raising a baby after a one-night stand with help from his friends, brother (Theler) and mom (Peterman). In addition to Peterman, Bilodeau, Theler and Mowry, Baby Daddy starred Chelsea Kane and Peter Porte.

ABC Family / Courtesy: Everett Collection
“I love those boys. I love them all. I love Chelsea and I love Tahj,” Peterman previously gushed to Us in March about having her Baby Daddy costars visit her on the set of Happy’s Place. “It is another moment where I am like, ‘How lucky that I got to work on shows where I just loved the cast so much?’ I made sure I introduced Jean-Luc and Derek to the Happy’s Place creatives.”

She continued: “It would be so great [to see Jean-Luc and Derek cameo on Happy’s Place]. They’re both so talented and funny. I was thinking about how that could be really great. My mind is already working. That’s the beauty of working with a lot of great people. You just want to bring all your friends on and work with them again.”

As most of Us await news on possible Happy’s Place guest stars, there’s still a lot of exciting story lines to look forward to when the show returns for season 2 on November 7.

“We had such success in that first round of the show. It’s always scary to come back together with new people and I was nervous,” Peterman said on Monday about reuniting with Reba McEntire after their time together on Reba two decades prior. “As soon as I met the [rest of the cast], it just felt so very natural. Even after we finished shooting the pilot, I was so proud of what we had done and so happy about it.”

Peterman credited the rest of the cast — including Belissa Escobedo, Rex Linn, Pablo Castelblanco and Tokala Black Elk — for making Happy’s Place such a hit.

“After the pilot I was like, ‘If this doesn’t get picked up and I don’t get to do a scene with Pablo or Belissa or Tokala, I’m going to be so mad.’ I would have been so angry not to have gotten to do scenes with them,” she noted. “It felt very natural. We didn’t want to force it and we didn’t have to. So my nervousness went immediately to relief and we truly have a great time together every day.”

Happy’s Place returns to NBC on Friday, November 7, at 8 p.m. ET.

Buckle up, “Happy’s Place” fans! Melissa Peterman is spilling the tea on what’s to come. With the show renewed for a second season, Peterman teases new characters and surprising twists, promising an even deeper look into the lives of the beloved bar crew. Get ready for a season that takes the comedy—and the heart—to the next level.

Happy’s Place season 2 gets exciting update from star Melissa Peterman

Who’s ready for more laughs, heartwarming moments, and behind-the-bar chaos? Happy’s Place season 2 just got an exciting update, and star Melissa Peterman is the person to deliver the good news!

After the first season premiered on NBC back in October 2024, it didn’t take long for people to catch on and fall in love with Happy’s Place. Season 1 had a total of 18 episodes, with the season finale airing in March 2025. Given the success of the show, NBC made the decision to renew it a month before the season 1 finale aired. Now, it’s been a waiting game for fans eager to hear updates about season 2. Thanks to a recent tease from Peterman, the excitement is officially building again.

At the time of the season 1 finale, ScreenRant had the opportunity to speak with co-creator, showrunner, and executive producer Kevin Abbott about the upcoming second season. He mentioned that they planned to start shooting the new episodes at the beginning of June 2025. While we don’t have confirmation that filming for season 2 actually began in early June, we do know that production is currently in progress based on one of Peterman’s latest Instagram posts.

On June 25, Peterman shared a post on Instagram of her at the Universal Studios Lot in Universal City, California. In the photo, she’s happily posing in front of the stage where Happy’s Place season 2 is being shot. In case the picture didn’t give it away, her caption makes it clear that filming is underway.

“Back at my Happy Place!! Season 2! Look Ma! They painted the name on the stage!! #grateful #HAPPY @nbc @nbcuniversal #happysplace”

Now with the cameras rolling on the second season, we’re another step closer to seeing all of our favorite characters back on our screens. Happy’s Place season 2 is confirmed to start airing on NBC in the fall. An official premiere date has not been announced yet, but you can count on us to share it as soon as it is revealed.

Happy’s Place stars Reba McEntire as a woman named Bobbie McAllister who, after unexpectedly inheriting her late father’s bar, finds herself juggling the challenges of running the business while also getting to know her newfound half-sister. She’s joined in the cast by Peterman, Belissa Escobedo, Rex Linn, Pablo Castelblanco, and Tokala Black Elk.

McEntire and Peterman previously starred together in Reba. In Happy’s Place season 1, there were more Reba alums making guest appearances on the show, such as Steve Howey and Christopher Rich. Back in May 2025, McEntire revealed that fellow Reba alum JoAnna Garcia Swisher would eventually make a cameo appearance in the show as well. That should be exciting!

From Sitcom Stardom to New Horizons: A Look at the “Everybody Loves Raymond” Cast Today
Ever wonder what happened to Ray, Debra, and the rest of the Barone family after the cameras stopped rolling? We delve into the current lives and careers of the beloved cast members, revealing where they are now.

Where Is the Everybody Loves Raymond Cast Now? See the Stars 20 Years After the Show Ended (Including Who Did a Full Rewatch!)

The beloved series earned multiple Emmys during its nine-season run, which ended on May 16, 2005

Patricia Heaton, Ray Romano, Peter Boyle, Brad Garrett and Doris Roberts in ‘Everybody Loves Raymond’. Credit :© CBS / Courtesy Everett Collection

NEED TO KNOW

Everybody Loves Raymond premiered in 1996
The sitcom ran for nine seasons, and the cast earned multiple Emmys for their hilarious portrayals of the Barone family
Since the series wrapped two decades ago, on May 16, 2005, the original cast members have gone on to have successful careers

It’s been two decades since fans were first introduced to Ray Barone (Ray Romano) and his dysfunctional family.

The hit CBS live-studio sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond premiered on Sept. 13, 1996. It starred the comedian as an Italian sports columnist living in Long Island with his wife (Patricia Heaton) and their three kids, with his nosy parents just across the street.

After winning 15 Emmy Awards — including two for Outstanding Comedy Series and several for acting — the show aired its final episode 20 years ago on May 16, 2005.

Although fans have missed the Barones’ weekly antics, Everybody Loves Raymond lives on with all 210 episodes available to stream on Peacock and Paramount+ — a binge undertaken by Romano in April 2024, who watched and rated all the episodes for the first time since the series finale in 2005.

“I got on a little kick there. I hadn’t seen the episodes,” the actor told PEOPLE. “They took on a new look to me. I was appreciating them more. I was very hard on them back then … But you see when you’re removed from it a little, I felt like an audience member. And then I said, ‘Let me rate them.’ I rated them, and I was hard on some.”

Whether you’re a newbie to the series or a longtime fan, here’s what the Everybody Loves Raymond cast is up to now.

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Ray Romano as Raymond Barone

Left: Ray Romano as Ray Barone on ‘Everybody Loves Raymond’; Right: Ray Romano attends the 24th annual SAG Awards on Jan. 21, 2018.CBS /Everett Collection; Kevin Mazur/Getty

Romano — in the role of sportswriter Raymond Barone — kept the laughs coming through interactions with his overbearing parents and put-upon wife, Debra (Heaton). The role earned him one Emmy and a handful of nominations, however, he’s admitted that not every episode was award-worthy.

“When you do 210 episodes, you’re going to have episodes that you think are brilliant and you’re going to have episodes that you think, ‘Wow, you know what? We kind of missed it on that one,’ ” Romano told PEOPLE of his Everybody Loves Raymond rewatch.

He continued, “Then you’re going to have episodes that are very good, great, and somewhere in the middle, you know what I mean? That’s just to be expected when you’re cranking an episode out every week.”

Following Romano’s run on the hit show, the Queens-born actor remained a fixture on TV, appearing on Men of a Certain Age, Parenthood, Vinyl, Get Shorty, Made for Love and Bupkis. He also starred alongside Lisa Kudrow, Linda Cardellini, Luke Wilson and more on the 2025 Netflix comedy series No Good Deed.

Romano voiced Manny in the Ice Age film series and appeared in The Big Sick and Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman. Before his appearance in Greg Berlanti’s 2024 film Fly Me to the Moon, he wrote, directed and starred in 2022’s Somewhere in Queens, opposite Laurie Metcalf.

He shares four children — Alexandra, Matthew, Gregory and Joseph — with wife Anna Romano.

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Patricia Heaton as Debra Barone

Left: Patricia Heaton as Debra Barone on ‘Everybody Loves Raymond’; Right: Patricia Heaton visits Build Series in New York City on Nov. 26, 2018.HBO/REX;

Heaton played Debra on the sitcom, a hard-working mom who just couldn’t see eye to eye with her in-laws, though she had a soft spot for her brother-in-law, Robert (Brad Garrett). She won back-to-back Emmys for her performance in 2000 and 2001.

After Raymond‘s end, Heaton joined actor Kelsey Grammer on Fox’s Back to You before finding a new home on the small screen as an overworked mom on ABC’s The Middle, then as a mom pursuing medical school on CBS’ Carol’s Second Act, which inspired the title of her 2020 book, Your Second Act: Inspiring Stories of Reinvention.

Since 1990, Heaton has been married to British actor David Hunt, with whom she has four sons.

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Brad Garrett as Robert Barone

Left: Brad Garrett as Robert Barone on ‘Everybody Loves Raymond’; Right: Brad Garrett attends a Los Angeles screening of ‘Gloria Bell’ on Feb. 27, 2019.CBS /Everett Collection; Amanda Edwards/Getty

As Raymond’s slightly less beloved big brother Robbie, a New York City cop, Garrett earned lots of laughs with his “woe is me” attitude and comebacks to his mom and dad, with whom he lived for much of the series.

Like his costars, Garrett scored several Emmy nominations and took home three trophies — as well as a green dial telephone he snagged from the set.

“I wanted to steal [the phone], and they were like, ‘What are you doing?’ And I’m like, ‘Nothing.’ It was really lame,” he told PEOPLE in June 2023. “They said, ‘Would you like that phone?’ And Rhonda, who was the head of props, gave it to me, and so I treasure it.”

Following Raymond, he appeared on ‘Til Death and other series, including Single Parents, High Desert and Not Dead Yet. He’s done a fair amount of voice work for Disney, too, though he’s also known for his stand-up.

After finalizing his divorce from his first wife, Jill Diven — with whom he shares two kids, Maxwell and Hope — Garrett wed actress IsaBeall Quella in November 2021.

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Monica Horan as Amy MacDougall

Left Monica Horan as Amy MacDougall on ‘Everybody Loves Raymond’; Right: Monica Horan Rosenthal attends the League of Women Voters of Los Angeles Celebrates 95 Years of Right to Vote on Nov. 8, 2015.Monty Brinton/CBS Photo Archive/Getty; Jennifer Lourie/Getty

Monica Horan joined the cast slightly later as Robbie’s girlfriend (and later, wife) Amy MacDougall. Like sister-in-law Debra, Amy couldn’t win with her future in-laws, sparking a bond between the two over the sheer absurdity of the Barones.

Following the show’s end in 2005, she appeared on Enlightened, The Bold and the Beautiful, The Middle and Better Things.

Horan is married to Raymond creator Philip Rosenthal; together, they have two kids.

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Peter Boyle as Frank Barone

Left: Peter Boyle as Frank Barone on ‘Everybody Loves Raymond’; Right: Peter Boyle attends an N.Y.C. screening of ‘Thank You for Smoking’ on March 12, 2006.CBS/Everett Collection; Chance Yeh/Getty

Peter Boyle had quite the career in the years before Raymond, appearing in Joe (1970), The Candidate (1972), Young Frankenstein (1974) and Taxi Driver (1976), as well as on and off-Broadway.

Though he never won an Emmy for his work as the patriarch on Raymond, fans adored him in the role of Ray and Robbie’s deadpan, slightly cranky dad, Frank. However, off-screen, he was nothing like his character, as Romano told PEOPLE, “He made me feel welcome. He made me feel part of the club.”

Shortly after Raymond wrapped, Boyle died of multiple myeloma and heart disease in 2006 at age 71.

He is survived by his wife, Loraine Alterman, and their two daughters.

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Doris Roberts as Marie Barone

Left: Doris Roberts as Marie Barone on ‘Everybody Loves Raymond’; Right: Doris Roberts attends the N.Y.C. premiere of ‘Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Witness Protection’ on June 25, 2012.CBS/Getty; Sykes/Invision/AP/REX/Shutterstock

As the overbearing Barone family matriarch, Doris Roberts was the queen of laughs, doting on her sons, berating her two daughters-in-law and bickering with her husband.

Roberts earned four Emmys for her work on the series and, like Boyle, had a long list of credits prior to Raymond, including the shows Angie and Remington Steele.

Before she died at age 90 in 2016, Roberts kept working, reuniting with Heaton for a few episodes of The Middle and bringing laughs in 2006’s Grandma’s Boy.

Roberts was twice married and had one son, Michael Cannata Jr.

07of 08

Sawyer and Sullivan Sweeten as Geoffrey and Michael Barone

Left: Sawyer and Sullivan Sweeten attend the ‘Everybody Loves Raymond’ series wrap party on April 28, 2005; Right: Sawyer and Sullivan Sweeten arrive at the 8th annual TV Land Awards on April 17, 2010.Kevin Winter/Getty; Jordan Strauss/REX

Twin brothers Sawyer and Sullivan Sweeten — along with older sister Madylin Sweeten — starred as Barone children Geoffrey, Michael and Ally, respectively. The boys were cast on the series when they were just 16 months old and were featured on 142 episodes (the series ran for 210).

When the show ended, the brothers chose to remain out of the spotlight until Sawyer died by suicide in 2015. He was 19.

“Sawyer was more than just a brother,” Madylin told PEOPLE following her brother’s death. “He was a strong and selfless friend. When confiding in one another, Sawyer always had the kindest words of encouragement. He will live on in my head and those shared moments forever.”

In 2019, the Sweeten family restored two old theaters and dedicated them in Sawyer’s name.

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Madylin Sweeten as Ally Barone

Madylin Sweeten attend the 11th Annual Nickelodeon’s Kids’ Choice Awards on April 4, 1998 in Westwood, California ; Madylin Sweeten poses for a photo in January 2022.Madylin Sweeten poses for a photo in January 2022.Ron Galella Collection via Getty ; Madylin Sweeten/ Instagram

Like her brothers, Madylin played one of the Barone children, appearing on 206 episodes. She has worked steadily since the show ended, popping up on TV shows like Grey’s Anatomy and Lucifer.

As revealed on her Instagram, Madylin is married to Sean Durrie, whom she started dating in 2014, according to a post she shared of the couple. They welcomed a son in 2025.

‘Everybody Loves Raymond’ reunion show in the works, says creator Phil Rosenthal

The much-loved sitcom will turn 30 next year

Ray Romano and Patricia Heaton during filming for ‘Everybody Loves Raymond’. CREDIT: Bob Riha, Jr./Getty Images)

Everybody Loves Raymond could return for a Friends: The Reunion-style one-off episode, possibly in 2026 to celebrate three decades since the first episode aired, creator Phil Rosenthal told NME.

Starring Ray Romano as put-upon Italian-American dad Raymond Barone, the series ran for 210 episodes between 1996 and 2005 before being remade for multiple international markets. In the UK, it aired in the popular weekday breakfast slot on Channel 4.

A number of key cast members – including Peter Boyle and Doris Roberts, who played Raymond’s crotchety parents – have since died. Some of the remaining cast appeared together for various interviews over the years, most recently in 2020 for the 14th Annual IMF Virtual Comedy Celebration, but never for a full-length reunion production.

“This year we’ve been off the air for 20 years,” said Rosenthal. “It’s a good time to do a reunion special, the way Friends did a reunion special [in 2021]. It wasn’t a reboot of Friends. It was: here they are now – talking about what it was like then… We can do that next year when we’ll have premiered 30 years ago. We’re talking to production companies right now. We want to do it.”
Ray Romano and Philip Rosenthal attend ‘SNL50: The Homecoming Concert At Radio City Music Hall’ in New York City. CREDIT: Sean Zanni/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images
Romano has spoken many times about his reluctance to do a full reboot or sequel to the show – as other ‘90s sitcoms such as Frasier have done recently – and Rosenthal agrees with him: “Time has passed. People have passed away, so a reboot isn’t going to feel the same. It never does,” he said. “There’s so much money to be had if you keep going. We felt like we had enough money. We’d done well enough to live comfortably. Why keep going? We’re gonna actually hurt the legacy of the show.”

A sitdown special featuring classic clips, tales from the set and new interviews would be agreeable to all, Rosenthal suggests. “We’ll all have fun stories because that’s where all the material for Raymond came from – from stuff that happened to us. If you worked for me, your job was to go home, get in a fight with your wife and come back in and tell me about it…”

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Rosenthal, also a best-selling author and host of hit Netflix travel show Somebody Feed Phil, will tell some of these stories when his An Evening With Phil Rosenthal Of Somebody Feed Phil tour comes to the UK in April. He’ll appear in Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow and at London’s The Palladium, but is most excited to play Brighton “because it is by the sea and it’s a place I haven’t been to”, he says.

“It’s a boring cliche but most people around the world not only want the same things, but they are also very sweet and nice…” Rosenthal adds. “You don’t see that on the news, which is why I think a show like Somebody Feed Phil is necessary… showing the great stuff in the world, the great people in the world, the normal, regular, everyday people that don’t make the news because they didn’t kill somebody.”

Phil Rosenthal will appear at:

APRIL
2 – The Palladium, London
3 – Brighton Dome, Brighton
4 – Birmingham Town Hall, Birmingham
8 – Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool
9 – Manchester Academy, Manchester
10 – Tyne Theatre & Opera House, Newcastle
12 – O2 Academy, Glasgow