Ray Romano: 'I've Had a Crisis in My 20's, 30's, 40's'

It's closing time for season 2 of
'Men of a Certain Age,' Ray Romano's show about a trio of college friends grappling with their 50's. The 53-year-old comic sounds awfully close to his alter ego Ray Barone. He's self-deprecating, sweet and quick to spill the beans on his dating techniques which were pretty non-existent. He met his wife when they worked at the same bank, in fact she was the third girl he asked out at that job.
Did you go through a midlife crisis?
You're in the middle of it right now! You're a part of it. Like I always say, it's only called a midlife crisis because I'm in midlife. I've had a crisis in my 20's, 30's and 40's. It's all different things at different times. They take on a little more seriousness I guess through the years but yeah the idea of the show was sparked because both Mike (Royce, co-creator of 'Men of a Certain Age') and I were both coming off working on Raymond and we were both kind of realizing that we were stuck in this void of what do we do now? I'm not ready just to sit down and not do anything. We had a little identity crisis, a little existential crisis. We knew people go through this for different reasons so this is what we should write about. We always write about what we know.
What was your crisis in your 20's?
Geez, it was almost kind of the same theme but it wasn't, 'Hey is that all, do I I have any other goal or purpose or passion?' In my 20's it was like 'When am I going to find a passion, have a direction in life?' Adulthood was just smacking me in the head, my friends were getting married and getting into business. I was kind of in this limbo, it just kind of hit me in the head and I had a very strong identity crisis in my 20's and it took me a while to get over it. I got a sense of self through finding stand-up comedy. In life you go through these peaks and valleys. If you're lucky enough to find something you love that can help you through it. You know some people don't need it, they're happy and content.
Are you envious of people like that?
Yes! I'm happy for them. I go to my therapist and say, 'Why can't I just be content sitting back and letting life happen around me.' I'm not going to be able to do something for my whole life and have a goal and perform and create.
What does your therapist say?
He says, 'Time's Up Ray.'
When you went through a crisis after Raymond finished was your wife like, 'Get out of the house and do something.'
At the final curtain call for Raymond everyone was very emotional and crying and my wife was not crying. She said to me later, 'I found it hard to get sad because it was like the other woman was finally leaving.' So she thought it would be great to have me at home but after a while she saw I'm better off happy, when I'm happy I'm a better husband and working makes me happy.
Are you like the clown crying on the inside?
You're making it sound like a cliche.
But isn't that the stereotype of the stand-up comic?
I think it's a common denominator. I don't think it's a hard rule. Look ... to want to go out there, to have this validation from other people, it's probably lacking somewhere. Thank God for that, otherwise we'd have no entertainment at all. What would we do? We'd all have to go bowling.
You worked in a bank. Were you the funny teller?
Yeah I was the guy who was a little bit irresponsible. I used to write funny poems, usually to try and impress the women. My wife was the third woman I asked out at the bank. She didn't say yes until I left the bank. We were friends for the longest time. We used to go out with a group of friends. Let's put it this way, I was not very smooth and I was not very daring. It took me a lot to go out on a limb and ask someone out. I kind of eased into where we went out and flirted and then I saw a sign, you know the guys who land the planes with the flashlights and wave them in, that's what I needed from for me to make a move. I was making sure I wasn't going to get turned down at that point.
How about your first kiss?
She remembers it because she says it very awkward. We went out to the movies and it was kind of our proper first date. I drove her home and then I kissed her in the car and she says that when we stopped I looked away and stared out the window and wouldn't look at her.
I just interviewed Kevin James and I asked him if he was in a rowboat with you and Adam Sandler who would he save. Guess who he picked?
First of all that's a horrible question! Second of all I hate to even answer it because if I say me I feel bad for Sandler.
Well first of all it's a hypothetical and secondly you should be pissed off with Kevin because he picked Sandler. He said Sandler feeds his [Kevin's] family.
Yeah I was going to same the same thing. He's got to pick Sandler now because Sandler's the guy he's in business with now. Well, I pick Sandler because then the boat stays afloat more.
Thanks for speaking to me Ray.
Hey, make it sound good!
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I love men of a certain age too.
shqshi you must be really really ugly to advertise your relationship gosh you are so stupid as much as caley anthony is a murderer.
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CASEY Anthony is the murderer, Caylee is the murderee.
Ahhhh, poor Ray. He made millions while he was working, and we're supposed to give a rat's behind what he's going through now? LOLOL
Imagine what all the average Joes are going through who were barely making ends meet when they were working and now have lost their jobs altogether.
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I think Ray is a genius! Anyone who can put together a cast like "Everybody Loves Raymond" and script it and star in it ...truly an amazing talent. It deals with family problems with humor, and usually with a good message. I watch re-runs and enjoy them every time. Cheer up, Ray, you did a good thing, and I am sure you will again.
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Ray Ramano, Is a Genius! I love his work, he is Brilliant. Sorry your such a no talent jerk wad! You, are not fit to play with Mr. Ray Ramano's puddin pops! I love his show, and Scott Bakula is the Best! The black guys cool too, though I forgot his name, for now.
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His name is Andre Braugher.
I always loathed Raymond and I don't want ANY of the cast of Men of a Certain Age to represent me. I can't think of a worse actor than Romano.
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Give me a freaking break...Ray Ramano going through a crisis, after making tens of millions from his show. Hey Ray tell your wife real Americans are living a crisis everyday without financial deposits in the millions. Millions have lost their homes, their jobs, and your wife can openly admit you're in crisis. This is the biggest f**king joke ever. Hollywood types like you have no idea what a PERSONAL CRISIS is...get a life.
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I have been retired since I was 52 and I realy an enjoying every minute of it Except when I dream nightmares about my old work load in the Electrical supply industry in very busy LasVegas,that was a constant, Red lable UPS or Fed X overnight all the time for the short sighted Electricians.
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Thank you for sharing. Now go take a nap.
my husband thinks he is funny...I do not....
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Ray Romano is not funny and to tell you the truth, I'm sick of looking at Mexicans. They are taking over and are trashing the country. In my state, they throw trash all over the parking lots, steal you blind and spray paint everything.
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I like Ray Ramano. He's the typical guy next store. Just always has a good thing too say and funny! I wihs I had neighbors more like that! Nice family guy who wouldnt like that?
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It's no surprising to see that he's a sap in real life and not only playing one.
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this is just NUTS good, bad, or indifferent.
ARE ANY OF YOU MAKING THE KIND OF MONEY RAY RAMONO IS MAKING ????
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OMG.....life is tough eh?.....you need gratefullness for all you have had so far. Now go put yourself to good use and we will all feel better.
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Seems like your one of the saps that the crap on TV is designed for! These "people" only make money because of morons who think they're talented! Keep watching, as your brain turns to jelly!
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I have found that I....will like an actor for a long time....and then .... I get so tired of them. They get boring. It happens with them all....not just a few. I wonder...does anyone else feel this way about actors ?
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I loved the Raymond show but I'm very disappointed in the new show, Men of a Certain Age. I had looked forward to seeing it but, after the very first episode, figured out it was just plain boring! Wow how old did Ray and the others get? And his buddy from Everybody Loves Raymond, Gianni, wow he looks terrible. But, guess that happens to the best of us.
A few weeks ago I was watching the new one and reading. After about 1/2 hour it finally dawned on me "This is so boring there is no point in watching." Very disappointing show. Surprised it lasted more than one season.
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