
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.

Frank gets a few anecdotes published in Reader's Digest and decides he would like his own newspaper column.

After having a fight with Frank, Marie moves in with Ray, Debra and the kids.

Ray begs his parents to be nice when his well-to-do in-laws come to town for a visit.

Frank decides to teach his son a lesson by winning all Ray's money at the poker table.