
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.

Marie accuses Ray and Debra of turning Ally into a slave when they start giving her chores around the house.

Ray catches Debra poking fun at him in front of the children, then realizes his mother did the same thing when he was a youngster.

Debra assures her husband she will be on time for an awards dinner, then her hair gets caught in a curling iron.

Debra and Ray wonder why they ever moved across the street from his overbearing parents.