USA Today
As Marie Barone, Ray Romano's
meddling mother in the CBS
comedy Everybody Loves Raymond,
Doris Roberts has earned
herself a supporting actress
Emmy nomination this year.
But it isn't her first. She
received an Emmy in 1983 for
her role in St. Elsewhere and
was nominated four more times,
including last year for her
role in Raymond and in 1985 as
gabby secretary Mildred Krebs
in Remington Steele. Roberts
has been a television regular
in Remington Steele, St.
Elsewhere, The Boys and Angie.
Her feature film credits
include The Grass Harp, Little
Murders and Barefoot in the
Park.
Comment from USATODAY.com
Host: Welcome to today's chat
with Emmy nominee Doris
Roberts.
Houston, TX: You play
the role of "meddling
mother" very well. Is
there some kind of outside
situation in which you can
associate the role with your
personal life? Have these kinds
of situations happened to you,
or do you know of someone with
the "meddling mother"
in their lives?
Doris Roberts: I think
all mothers are meddling. I
have certainly made the
mistake. If you look at it from
the way conceived Marie Barone,
everything she does stems from
love.
Mothers tell you what to do
because they think they're
preventing you from making the
wrong choice or having any pain
from making that choice because
they've lived much longer than
you have and have experienced
life longer than you have. And
therefore they feel they have
the knowledge and ability to
help you make your choices.
It doesn't mean they're right,
but it is coming from love and
you have to forgive them. Most
people can laugh at Marie
Barone, so if you can do that
you should be able to laugh at
yourself and your own
situations.
Harrisburg, PA: Do you
feel "Everybody Loves
Raymond" and its success
will open the door for the
return of more family oriented
sit-coms?
Doris Roberts: Yes, I
do. They have to be as good as
we are, for them to continue.
Washington DC: Do you draw
your character from yourself,
your mother or someone's
mother? Your character is so
much like my mother that I
almost find it scary. I tell
all my friends to watch your
show. I LOVE it.
Doris Roberts: My
character is a combination of
the mothers of Phil Rosenthal,
our executive producer and
writer, and Ray Romano. And
also, as my son would say, he's
so glad I'm working this
particular job because I can
tell Raymond what to do and I
don't have to tell him! It
really is a compilation of
every one of us.
Washington, DC: Do
you feel a real life mother
should be that involved in
their children's
marriages/relationships? What
type of affect would it
ultimately have on their
relationships?
Doris Roberts: No, I
don't believe that mothers
should be that involved in
their children's lives.
I think you should be involved
with your children with love,
concern and help (if asked),
but they have their own lives
to lead. And if you're
intrusive, you might build a
wall between you and your
daughter-in-law or son-in-law,
which is not a smart thing to
do.
We tend to want people to
behave the way we do, but we
need to accept them for who
they are. That's true love.
Kansas city, mo: i
love what a strong woman yu are
on the show. you're a role
model. are you that way in real
life?
Doris Roberts: Yes, I am
a strong woman. In real life,
I'm smarter than Marie because
I don't do what she does. And I
think before I speak.
Portland, TX: Since
you have been successful in
both comedy and drama, what
differences do you find in
preparing for the two genres
and which do you prefer?
Doris Roberts: Comedy is
harder than drama, and it's a
very interactive performance
because we do it in front of a
live audience. You have to know
when the laughter peaks and
when to begin the next line so
that you don't lose the flow or
attention or the wonderful
comedy.
As to preference, I love it
all, and I find that I'm
capable in a dramatic piece to
bring laughter to it and I'm
capable in a comedy piece to
bring drama to it. So I have
the best of both worlds.
Jacksonville, Fl: Dear
Mrs. Roberts, Your on-screen
rapport with the cast of
"Everybody Loves
Raymond" - does this also
happen behind the scenes?
Doris Roberts: Absolutely.
I have been in the business for
over 40 years, and this is the
best gig I've ever had.
We're all very professional
actors who trust and respect
each other and enjoy the
process of rehearsal. The shows
you see on Monday nights are a
result of all of that.
There are no ego problems on
our set, and it's a joy to go
to work.
Meriden, CT: Doris,
Are Ray and Deb's children
going to have more "air
time" this season? Or are
they still going to be more in
the back-ground?
Doris Roberts: I do
believe they'll still be in the
background. As this is a 9
o'clock show, the writing is
geared toward an adult
audience.
Chantilly, VA: What
was it like to work with Pierce
Bronsan?
Doris Roberts: It was
great. He's a wonderful man,
and I'm happy for his success.
Cambridge, MA: I love
the way you turn things around
in the show to make Raymond's
poor wife look like the bad
guy. Why don't they have you
straighten out your husband on
the show, seems like he always
gets the best lines to use on
you.
Doris Roberts: You'd
have to talk to the writers
about that. I think I'm able to
straighten him out with the
withering looks I give him.
But if you had two characters
going at each other with the
same level, it'd be quite
unpleasant, I think. It would
become just bickering. And you
might lose some of the comedy.
Thanks for the compliment.
Alexandria, VA:
Please help! I need a quick
Bundt cake recipe!
Doris Roberts: I can't
help you, try Julia Childs.
Canton,Ohio: Have you
remained close to your
Remington Steele co-stars?
Doris Roberts: Yes, I
have. The problem is that
Pierce, when he does the Bond
character, films all over the
world. And as Everybody Loves
Raymond films in Los Angeles,
that's where I am most of the
time.
Gainesville, VA: You and
Peter Boyle seem so comfortable
and compatible on
"Raymond." Did you
know each other before the
show?
Doris Roberts: No. But
certainly, I respect his talent
and he respects mine. It's a
perfect match. We work so well
together that it's as if we've
known each other for 45 years.
Bellefontaine, Ohio:
You are a great actress! How
did you land the role as Marie?
Doris Roberts: 161 women
read for this part, and I was
one of them. I think it was
meant for me to have this one.
Fairfax, VA: Are TV
critics giving up on the sitcom
format too soon? Don't people
need to laugh?
Doris Roberts: I
disagree with you because TV
critics have been our biggest
boosters. Entertainment
magazines and newspapers have
been our supporters and have
done so from the very
beginning.
Wilkes-Barre PA: Do you
hear from anyone from the
"Angie" cast? If so,
what are they up to?
Doris Roberts: Yes I do.
I see Donna Pescow ?she's
now working on a series for
cable. I see Bob Hayes
occasionally. Debra Lee Scott
has become an agent, and I see
her on occasion as well.
Bowie, MD: Is it hard
getting through a scene with
the whole cast? All of you are
so talented and funny and I
can't figure out how you do it.
Doris Roberts: We break
up a lot and have a lot of fun
doing, but when it comes time
to filming it, we're very
professional. The process is
always fun.
Lexington, KY: With
your and ELR's critical
success, do you think that you
might be typecast as a strictly
comedic actor in the near
future?
Doris Roberts: I hope
not. I'm an actress who has
luckily been working for a long
time. I've been in the business
for over 40 years. I've
recently done a movie for CBS
called One True Love in which I
play dramatic role. It will be
released sometime this year.
I love playing Marie on
Everybody Loves Raymond, but I
also want and need to be
challenged by dramatic roles. I
spent 20 years on Broadway
before coming out to
California, and they were all
different kinds of characters
and not necessarily comedic.
But you're right, I need to
worry that I don't get
categorized only as a comedian.
Fairfax, VA: I would
love for you to get this year's
Emmy, but if you don't, then
who would you want the Emmy to
go to?
Doris Roberts: Megan
Mullally of Will & Grace.
Ashburn, VA: Is Ray
Romano really the
self-deprecating guy he
portrays himself as?
Doris Roberts: Yes, he
plays very close to who he is.
And that's what makes him
adorable and fun to work with.
Solon, Oh: How is
your cooking in real life. Do
you like Italian cooking or
something else?
Doris Roberts: I love
Italian food. But since my
husband died, I don't do much
cooking. I know how to phone
for a caterer, though.
Lockport, NY: Just a
comment.... My wife and I love
your show, and got hooked
particularly because of you and
Peter Boyle. You are both
tremendously talented actors.
By the way, I work for a TV
station and we have your show
in syndication for next fall.
We're really looking forward to
it! Take care and keep up the
great work!
Doris Roberts: Thank you
very much. And I think you will
enjoy our new season, which
starts Oct. 2. The opening show
will be an hour long, and we
filmed it in Italy. Keep
watching!
Canton, Ohio: Tell us
about the episodes filmed in
Italy, please.
Doris Roberts: I can't!
You have to watch it. But
you'll be glad you did.
Knoxville, Tn: Someone
once said the eyes are the
mirror to the soul. Even with
the tv muted, I can tell the
nature of what you are saying
by looking at your eyes. Is
that all acting, or do you by
nature communicate that
wonderfully?
Doris Roberts: What a
lovely compliment. Thank you.
I hope that applies to my life
as well. I wish to communicate
that clearly with people. And I
agree with you that what people
see in your eyes can be more
important than what you're
saying.
Washington, DC: Hi
Doris, You've been cracking me
up for years, ever since I
first saw you on ABC's
"Angie." That show
was a hit the first year and
then fell apart. What was the
deal behind that?
Doris Roberts: Someone
joined ABC in a research
department and claimed that the
show did not have a 5-year run
possibility. And as the
networks need 100 episodes to
be able to sell it to
syndication and were afraid
that we would not make the 100,
they canceled us. I believe
they made a big mistake.
Springfield VA: Love
your show babe! If this is the
best gig you've ever had--what
was the worst?!
Doris Roberts: A film
called Rabbit Test. I played
Billy Crystal's mother, and in
the film he was pregnant.
Enough said.
Santa Monica, California:
Dear Doris: How's it going? I
wrote the "Walker, Texas
Ranger" episode that you
starred in a few years back and
love you on
"Raymond." Robert
Wynne
Doris Roberts: Hello
Robert. Thanks for your good
wishes, and I am indeed having
a ball. Thanks for your good
wishes. How are you?
Christiansburg, VA: Mrs.
Roberts, you are the best. Your
character is absolutely
terrific and you play her with
so much enthusiasm and talent.
Congratulations on your
nomination. Is Ray's mother
anything like how you portray
her on the show?
Doris Roberts: According
to Ray, yes. But I'm a
combination of his and Phil
Rosenthal's mother (and I throw
in a little bit of myself).
That becomes the recipe for
Marie Barone.
But as a result of the show,
I'm learning what NOT to do
with my own son. And he's
extremely happy about these
results.
Omaha, NE: Any
thoughts on Joe Lieberman's
campaign discussions on
religion?
Doris Roberts: I think
he's fabulous. I think it's
quite clear that he is a
religious man, and I respect
that. I think it's quite clear
that he has great integrity and
honor, and I respect that.
I think it's quite clear that
he's an intelligent man who's
very clear about what he
believe in. What you see is
what you're going to get. In
politics, that kind of
truthfulness is a rare
commodity. Good luck Joe!
Cleveland, OH: Marie,
stick with comedy! You are such
a talent, never over the top in
your performance -- truly a
character that many people can
relate to. Are there any roles
you were rejected for that you
wish you had had the
opportunity to play? If so,
could you name them?
Doris Roberts: In
theater, I would have loved to
have played Come Back Little
Sheba. In film, I would have
loved to have played Olympia
Dukakis' role in Moonstruck. In
television, I would have loved
to have been Lucy's sidekick.
But in the meantime, I'm having
a great time playing Marie
Barone.
Chicago, IL: Please
tell me you and Patricia Heaton
get along better behind the
scenes than in front of the
camera... having a 'difficult'
mother in law myself - I often
empathize with her character.
:)
Doris Roberts: No
question, Patty and I are good
friends. We enjoy each other's
company; we laugh at our
characters. When we're
rehearsing we even break up.
She's a terrific woman and a
fabulous actress. Try to find
the humor in your own
situation, and realize that
your intrusive mother-in-law
thinks she's helping.
Comment from Doris
Roberts: Thanks to all the
fans out there. Keep watching
because this new year promises
to be the best ever. The
opening show for the season,
Oct. 2, will be an hour show
that we filmed in Italy. It's
not only funny with all the
things we do, but it's so
beautiful. I know you'll enjoy
it. Thank you for your support,
and keep laughing!
Comment from USATODAY.com
Host: Looks like we're out
of time. Thanks for all the
great questions and
comments, and a special
thank you to Doris Roberts
for joining us today. 
