'Everybody Loves Raymond' celebrates 100th episode

The cast of "Everybody Loves Raymond" blows out candles on a giant cake in celebration of their 100th episode

From Gloria Hillard
CNN Entertainment Correspondent

LOS ANGELES (CNN) -- The cast members of "Everybody Loves Raymond" (CBS) celebrated their 100th episode with a piece of cake. But the first show in 1996 was anything but, says Emmy-nominated actor Ray Romano.

"I was just so nervous that they were going to cancel it after the first week," he says. " I was coming out of stand-up (comedy). I had never acted before."

Romano proved to be a natural, getting two Emmy nods for his acting talents. He earned the respect of veteran actress Doris Roberts, who plays his overbearing mother, Marie Barone.

Roberts has also appeared on "Remington Steele," "St. Elsewhere," "The Boys" and "Dream On." But "Everybody Loves Raymond," she says, is her favorite.

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"I've been in the business over 40 years," she says. "It's the best gig I've had."

Peter Boyle, who plays Raymond's father, agrees.

"It's the only time in my life in show business that I've actually had a day job," he says. "We come in here every day, we laugh, we have breakfast, we rehearse ... we change each other."

After a slow ratings start, one of TV's most dysfunctional families caught on with the audience and critics. The cast and show are nominated for nine Emmys, pitting "family" against "family."

Brad Garrett, who plays Raymond's cop brother, is competing against Boyle, for outstanding supporting actor.

"I'm preparing -- I'm writing Peter's speech," Garrett jokes.

Romano's TV wife, Patricia Heaton, has a few remarks prepared, too. "I told Ray if I win I'm going to tell everyone about the acting notes he gave me," she quips.

Ramano says having his own show is strange Sound WAV

Romano says he's thankful the show has lasted four seasons.

"I think this is everyone's dream: to be on a show that goes this long," he says. "I love the work. I love the people."

But he still hates the show's title.

"It's constantly used in an interview as a title," he says. "As a comic, your self-esteem is not the greatest, so to have a show with that name is kind of weird. But I try to block it out."

Romano's wife Anna says the story line bears some resemblance to their life before the show.

"His parents, when we lived in Queens, lived about a mile from our house," she says. "And they were over constantly."

And on stage 5 in Burbank, California, the cast of a TV family has become ... just like one.

"We trust each other, we love each other, we love to come to work," Roberts says.

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'Everybody Loves Raymond,' CBS

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