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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His face is a crisis.
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Who edits this site, anyway? It's 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s. No apostrophe.
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I love Ray Romano!!
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I think he's cute! And I love his hair! And I love his down to earth personality!!! He's natural and believable, and that's what makes him funny
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Everybody Loves Raymond was perhaps the best show ever on TV. It made me laugh for the entirety of the 30 minutes even if I'd seen the episode many times. It reflected real life situations to most viewers, and the characters were superb in their roles.
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I love Ray, I still watch the reruns of Everybody loves Raymond and Seinfield, the two funniest shows ever..
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I watch Raymond every night, On Wednesday night I am ready to watch Men of a certain age, I started watching it when it first came on, my # 1 show
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HE IS NOT FUNNY; HIS SHOW SUCKS; HIS DUFUS BROTHER IS A NO TALENT; WHAT WAS PETER BOYLE THINKING...........
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Am I the only one who is sooooo tired of Ray's whining and poor me slobber?
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I don't know anyone who didn't love his show.
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Must be a really slow news day to publish this dribble on witless Ray Romano. Boohoo! He makes me cry all the way to his bank account. Quit you're belly-aching and disappear, Raymond. You had your 15 minutes.
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I love men of a certain age. If I miss it I then watch it on demand. Great show ray...so real to life
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How sad to be worth millions and go thru a life crisis.... is it because his ego won't be fed any longer? He won't be the center of attention? I never found him funny, I thought he was a negative character. While I think its a good thing he made it in Hollywood where others dont, for him to go on and on about shows ending is very immature. He needs to grow up and enjoy his family and his life...or he can give me his money... my kids and I could use some. Put your Big Boy pants on Ray and grow up.
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What bothers me about this story, he has more money than he will ever need. He made 2 million an episode for the last 2 years on Raymond. Seems actors can't make millions and enjoy it.
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Already missing "Men of a Certain Age" and look forward to its return. Watched it or recorded it every Wednesday night. Great show.
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That whole cast made that show funny.It'a all good writing anyway
Mr Romano has had his time in the limelight and a millionaire
live life be happy.
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RAY, YOUR LONG LONGEVITY IN SHOW BUSINESS WILL BE YOUR FITNESS AND YOUR LOOK. BECAUSE YOU ALREADY HAVE THE TALENT!!! PERSONAL TRAINER. DON''T GET ME WRONG YOUR AVERAGE PHYSICALLY. BUT IN HOLLYWOOD YOU NEED THAT EXTRA. YOUR NAME WILL KEEP YOU IN IT. BUT TO BE ONE OF THE GREATS. I THINK THAT IS WHAT IT WILL TAKE. BIG FAN!
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I LIKE THE HUMOR. ONLY PROBLEM THAT THE STUPID NETWORK ONLY BUYS VERY FEW EPISODES EACH SEASON. SHOULD BE LONGER RUN EACH SEASON. I AM 790 AND IDENTIFY.
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I found that to be a very refreshing interview. I get sick of "The Beautiful People" interview subjects. Ray came across as an average everyday guy. I hope he knows this, as it may help him to realize that his situation is not unique. Most guys go through it. The ones that convey that nothing gets them down or causes them to question their mortality are the ones that are A: Phoney B: Dishonest with themselves & C: The ones that scare me a little. There will always be seasons in life when we hit our Apex and instead of feeling happy we hear that quiet voice in our heart say "Is this it??" I tried everything to beat that disenchanted feeling away. I also tried the same man made remedies for the downs, losses and failures of my life. What I learned is that nothing worked for too long and before I knew it I was back where I started. I had the answer right within myself but for some reason I thought that using this one solution it would require too much change, to much work. I also felt that I was not worthy to rely upon this solution. Finally after so many years I could take it no more, I was drugging, drinking, womanizing, & throwing large quantities of money down the drain on this toy and that. When life finally got to the point where I did not think I was going to make it, I fell on my knees and asked God to save me. It was an Painful, cleansing & awesome experience. I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit, I felt as if I was safe, I eventually stopped crying & slowly began to calm down. As I continued in prayer I slowly began to feel GOOD. Life still has its challenges. I fall short(sin) all the time, but I know longer have to try and fix the unfixable(me, the world,) I can let go, and LET GOD. Hope this helps someone:)
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I really liked "Men of a Certain Age"....and I am sorry it's over. But I feel certain that Ray will be okay and probably get another show in no time. He's cool!
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