
Ray Barone is a successful sports writer and family man who deals with a brother and parents -- who happen to live across the street. Mom Marie loves to meddle in his life, while older brother Robert sometimes resents his success, and Dad Frank just makes comments and raids the fridge. Nevertheless, Ray manages to keep a bright outlook and a sense of humor, leaving the hard issues to his more-practical wife, Debra.

Ray and Debra lie to Frank about the source of injuries they incurred during romance.

Ray must face the fact that his parents are getting older after his father has another auto accident.

At open-school night, Michael reads aloud his story about family members who always yell at one another.

Debra and Marie hope that Robert will be stirred to action when they fix up Amy with Raymond's friend Gianni.