It never ceases to amaze me how in the world of comedy television programmes when it comes to a situation based on a family the wife often is presented as very attractive and wonderful and yet the husband and father leaves a lot to be desired in several ways. The Simpsons and Family Guy are good examples of this although animated because Homer Simpson is not the brightest spark and can be self centred at times and if Peter Griffin was a real person he would be absolutely awful. Despite their husband's characteristics, the wives Marge and Lois are apparently very pretty, intelligent and caring. In the show King of Queens Doug is overweight and selfish yet his wife Carrie although having the tendency to act in a horrid way is all the same very physically attractive. Finally closer to home in Only Fools and Horses Del Boy is a loveable rogue who never really seems to make it in life until the end of the series and yet his wife Raquel is an intelligent, pretty woman with a good upbringing.

It comes as no surprise then that in the show Everybody Loves Raymond the patriarch Ray Barone is very selfish and lazy. He works as a sports writer and prefers playing golf and watching other American sports to carrying out the duties and privileges of a good husband and father unless that involves the pursuit of his conjugal rights. He really comes across as the kind of guy who really only wants to make an effort if he is to personally benefit and he probably has the attitude that everybody loves him and who could blame him based on the actions of his immediate family around him especially his interfering mother Marie.

Debra the long suffering wife of Raymond is your typical put upon housewife and although she has to take care of three young children it is almost as if she has four to care for if you include her husband. I feel so sorry for her when I watch this programme as she is very beautiful and intelligent and probably could have done so much more with her life although there is no doubt she loves her offspring and even her husband despite the fact he drives her to distraction and on occasion his actions make her very upset.

To make matters worse for Debra her in-laws live across the street and there is no end to her mother in law Marie's interfering whether that is criticising her cleaning, cooking or even the rearing of the children. Marie absolutely dotes on Raymond and I get the feeling no woman would ever have been good enough for him and her attitude towards her son possibly goes a long way towards explaining why he is so self centred as he is the apple of her eye.

The father in law Frank is a very crotchety cantankerous older man who is probably in that way some part due to his wife's nagging and persistent ways and finally Robert or Robbie is Raymond's brother who knows deep down although his mum loves him that she has a very special place in her affections for Raymond. Robbie although quite a generous hard working nice chap has to watch as his brother always seems to land on his feet and he would like nothing more than to have the affection his brother gets from his mother and also a nice wife and family, he is quite jealous I think.

When watching this show once you have some idea of what the characters are like it really can be very amusing to watch them in all types of situations and scenarios and I think the writers were extremely clever in creating consistently amusing plotlines from this small family unit. It really is great to see them interact mainly in the setting of the family home fully exposing their human flaws and character weaknesses and insecurites.