
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 buys Debra an extravagant gift, hoping she'll be so overjoyed that she'll let him take a golf trip.

Sibling rivalry heats up when a publishing company passes on Ray's sports book and Robert gets promoted.

Ray tries to prove to everyone that he can be counted on after failing to help Debra when she chokes.

Ray runs into a girl he disrespected when they dated in high school, but he ends up regretting an apology.