The Early Show

"Everybody Loves Raymond," took home five Emmy awards last week, including one for outstanding comedy series.

And while one of its stars, Patricia Heaton, lost this year's Emmy to Debra Messing, she has two at home for previous seasons of the popular sitcom.

And along with the rest of the cast and crew, she returns for an eighth season in her role as Debra, Ray's loving and quick-witted wife.

Heaton credits her success to the show's writers. She tells The Early Show co-anchor Harry Smith, "Finally, the writers on the show got recognized this year at the Emmys for best show because you don't have a show without Phil Rosenthal and all of the writers - Tucker Cawley, who won this year. Thrilling. I think I was the only one tear tearing up on stage there. These are guys I've worked with for eight years and they're just terrific."

The show got awards as well for Outstanding Comedy Series, Outstanding Supporting Actor for Brad Garrett and Outstanding Supporting Actress for Doris Roberts.

The premiere episode aired on Sept. 22, but the season did not get off to a smooth start. In a work dispute, several cast members, including Heaton, called in sick. Brad Garrett was also embroiled in a contract dispute.

Heaton answers questions about this with jokes: "I think the press kind of did a real number on that. I only had one issue, with Ray basically, which was I felt we did not get enough make-out scenes in the last seven years."

Reports about cast discontent say it is because all the players have signed for two more years, but Ray Romano is expected to do only one more season.

Joking, Heaton says perhaps more make-out scenes will persuade him to stay. She adds, "My husband is making out with him now. We're all making out with Ray this year."

A decision on a ninth season is not likely to be made until December or January.

As for her personal life, Heaton said her family recently adopted a beagle.

"I just started being able to sleep in. I don't know why I thought getting up at 6:00 in the morning to take a guy out to poo is a good idea, but that's what we do now!"

And as for her recent tummy tuck, which also got a lot of press, she says, "I had four C-sections, Harry! Come on. Sucked it all in."

Asked if she recommends it, Heaton says, "Yes. I think people think you shouldn't do that and women in Hollywood under pressure and blah, blah, blah. I feel so much better about it. It's funny, that surgery is the one my husband just absolutely did not object to, financially or otherwise."