Podcast Summary: The BobbyCast – Phil Rosenthal on Creating ‘Everybody Loves Raymond’, Quitting the Show Twice, Betting Big on a Diner, Love for Food & His Best David Letterman Story

Date: November 23, 2025
Host: Bobby Bones (Premiere Networks)
Guest: Phil Rosenthal
Episode: 556

Episode Overview

In this engaging episode, Bobby Bones sits down with Phil Rosenthal—creator of Everybody Loves Raymond, star of Somebody Feed Phil, and celebrated food enthusiast. The conversation covers Phil’s path from struggling New York actor to sitcom visionary, his passionate (and risky) defense of creative integrity, his new venture opening a diner, how food has shaped his worldview, and his favorite stories involving David Letterman and the cast of ‘Raymond’. Woven throughout are Phil’s heartfelt reflections on family, community, and the magic of sharing what you love.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Phil’s Early Career & TV Influences

• Growing up with TV: Phil shares how, as a short and skinny kid, TV (“my friend that didn’t hit me”) became his window to the world and a blueprint for comedy. He emulated classic TV greats like Jackie Gleason and Art Carney, drawing deep inspiration from The Honeymooners, Dick Van Dyke Show, All in the Family, Mary Tyler Moore, Taxi, The Odd Couple, Roseanne, Cosby Show, and The Office.

  • “I watched a lot of TV because I was short and skinny and if I went outside, I would get hit. And so TV was my friend. That didn’t hit me and I loved it.” – Phil (05:16)

• From performer to writer: Though he loved performing in high school/college, Phil struggled to break into acting in NYC and faced relentless rejection.

  • “No one had called New York to tell them what a big star I was in high school.” – Phil (07:10)

• Turning point: Out of necessity, he and friends wrote their own shows, which led to writing a script for HBO and moving into sitcom writing, discovering that sometimes the “world tells you what you’re supposed to be.”

  • “This fantasy of being discovered is a fantasy. You have to do it yourself.” – Phil (08:12)

Creating ‘Everybody Loves Raymond’ and Standing Up for His Vision

• Meeting Ray Romano: Phil describes receiving a Letterman-scouted VHS tape of Ray Romano and seeing sitcom potential not just in Ray’s comedy, but his actual life (twin boys, overbearing parents, jealous brother).

  • “He finished telling me this, and I said, well, I don’t think there’s anything there we can use.” [Joking] – Phil (14:37)
  • Ray was skeptical at first, wanting a Seinfeld-esque show, but Phil convinced him the real value lay in family stories.

• Commitment to Realism: Their creative “filter” was a commitment to relatability and truth—no “phoney TV situations”, everything had to feel authentic.

  • “It shouldn’t sound like writing. It should sound like a guy talking or your mom talking.” – Phil (18:44)

Quitting the Show—Twice (Major Turning Point, [19:07]–[25:25])

• Phil recounts two near walkouts before Raymond ever went on air:

  1. Casting Debra: Network insisted on their choice for Debra, but Phil threatened to quit rather than cast someone he felt was wrong.

     • “I was going to quit that day. I even met with this actress…she was 10 times worse than I thought she would be. And I knew I was quitting that day.” — Phil (21:17)
     • His calm conviction impressed the network, who relented; Patricia Heaton was cast and “nailed the part.”

  2. Showrunner Battle: After the pilot, the studio doubted Phil’s lack of showrunning experience and wanted to install a seasoned co-runner. Phil stood firm:

     • “I quit, because I’m not going to work for someone else on my own show…It would be a nightmare to me to have this thing I care about compromised.” – Phil (23:50)
     • He spent three days believing the show would proceed without him—until the network relented and made him sole showrunner, seeing his integrity.

• Best Advice Received:

  • “Do the show you want to do, because in the end, they’re going to cancel you anyway.” – from Ed Weinberger, legendary producer (20:16)

Everybody Loves Raymond Memories

• Favorite Episodes ([27:20]): Phil loves the season-ending flashback episodes, which introduced a “fantasy” element while remaining grounded in the show’s reality—especially the one showing how Ray & Debra met.

  • “You laughed and cried at the same time…it was so beautiful to me.” – Phil (27:48)

• Family Inspiration: Much of the show, especially the Barone parents, was inspired by Phil’s own parents—supportive, loving, but also “crazy enough to be a complete source of comic material.”

  • “My mom was really a great inspiration.” – Phil (31:10)
  • He shared touching stories of being able to reward his parents in later life, including buying his opera-loving mom an apartment across from the Metropolitan Opera.

• Behind-the-Scenes: The early years were tough—finding tone, handling studio interference, and even fending off an executive trying to oust Phil as showrunner.

  • Ray’s loyalty kept the team together.

Food, Travel, and Opening a Diner

• Investing in Restaurants: Phil jokes about being “not very bright” for owning parts of 25–30 restaurants, explaining he does it for love, not money—chefs are artists, and food is community art ([35:05]).

  • “The best things that come to us are never because we needed the money.” – Phil (35:27)

• New Diner Project: Inspired by a transcendent meal at a Maine diner (as filmed in Somebody Feed Phil), Phil is opening his own diner in L.A. with chef Nancy Silverton, aiming to create “the best diner in the world” by elevating classic comfort food.

  • “We want to keep our neighborhood…The diners are disappearing from America. I don’t know what your diner scene is like here in Nashville…” – Phil (39:24)
  • He and Bobby connect over the nostalgia and emotional resonance of diners, which are “centers of the community” ([41:47]).

• Origins of Food Passion: Despite his current gourmet stature, Phil grew up on overcooked steak and utilitarian meals. Only as a young adult in NYC (and on a courier trip to Europe) did he discover flavorful, joyful eating, leading to a life of culinary exploration.

  • “A steak was punishment…the driest, cheapest cut of meat that they could afford.” – Phil (46:12)
  • “It’s the most mind-expanding thing we can do in life is travel.” – Phil (49:00)

• Advice and Perspective: Despite becoming a world food aficionado, Phil resists the label of “snob,” preferring “enthusiast.”

  • “I don’t think I’m a snob. I’m a lover of food. An enthusiast.” – Phil (42:16)

Television, Travel Shows, and Stagecraft

• Live Shows: Phil relishes doing live performances, combining his storytelling and stage skills ([57:07]).
• TV Production: He shares production insights from Somebody Feed Phil, favoring small, agile crews for intimacy.
• Travel as Inspiration: Travel changed his life, and he’s honored to inspire others through his shows and cookbooks.

Exporting ‘Raymond’, International Comedy, and Letterman Stories

• Exporting Raymond: Bobby and Phil reminisce about Exporting Raymond (the documentary about adapting ‘Raymond’ for Russian TV) and the cultural differences in comedic sensibilities.

• Italy Episode: The arc where Ray Romano’s character reluctantly visits Italy—and is transformed—was inspired by Phil’s own efforts to get Ray to travel. This experience directly inspired Somebody Feed Phil.

  • “We should do an episode where we send you to Italy as you and you come back as me.” – Phil (53:15)
  • “There’s no greater high than turning people onto stuff you like. I’m guessing that’s why you do what you do.” – Phil (54:11)

• David Letterman Story ([62:14]):

  • Phil tells a hilarious and revealing story of interviewing with David Letterman to become Raymond’s showrunner: walking into Letterman’s office, being told to sit at the desk like it was his own, heavy metal blaring from a stereo, the desk facing the wrong way, and Dave’s signature, nearly silent deadpan. The advice from Letterman?
    • “Just don’t embarrass us.” – Letterman ([62:34])
  • Though Letterman’s company produced Raymond, the legend was “not involved”—but still showed graciousness and support, even personally calling Phil in his final week of “retirement” from TV.

Reflections on Ending the Show

• Phil believed in ending Raymond before it went stale, prioritizing the integrity of the creative work over continued paychecks or comfort.
  • “You want to get off the stage before somebody says, ‘Hey, you should get off the stage.’ …If you respect your audience, your good time and your cash payout shouldn’t be the reason you stay.” – Phil (66:38)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Creative Integrity:

• “Do the show you want to do, because in the end, they’re going to cancel you anyway.” – Ed Weinberger, recounted by Phil (20:16)

On Courage:

• “It took all the courage I could muster to say this, because I love this show… It was my family. I had no choice. I felt like I had no choice. You’re pushed to the edge of the cliff. I have to jump.” – Phil (23:50)

On Family and Gratitude:

• “I owe them everything. Not only were they incredibly supportive and loving…and quote, unquote, normal—but they were crazy enough to be a complete source of comic material my whole career.” – Phil (31:10)

On Diners and Community:

• “You’re creating community. Diners are centers of the community. And if that disappears, maybe we lose our community. And then maybe we lose our town and maybe we lose our country.” – Phil (41:47)

On the Magic of Food:

• “It’s the most mind-expanding thing we can do in life is travel.” – Phil (49:00)
• “There’s no greater high than turning people onto stuff you like.” – Phil (54:11)
• “My tombstone will say, ‘He tasted everything. You should try it.’” – Phil (54:22)

On Meeting Letterman:

• “Just don’t embarrass us.” – David Letterman (62:34)

Key Timestamps

• 03:11 – Inspiration for Raymond’s Italy episode
• 05:16–06:53 – Phil’s TV influences & early comedy
• 07:10–08:12 – Rejection and writing own material
• 14:37–15:34 – Seeing Ray Romano’s sitcom potential
• 19:07–25:25 – Quitting ‘Raymond’ twice to save creative vision
• 27:20–28:18 – Favorite Raymond episodes
• 31:10–31:32 – Parental inspiration for sitcom
• 35:05–41:47 – Investment in restaurants, plans for new diner
• 46:02–49:00 – Discovering love for food
• 53:15–54:11 – How Raymond’s Italy episode inspired Somebody Feed Phil
• 62:14–66:34 – David Letterman office story and mentorship
• 66:38–67:32 – Why and how he decided Raymond should end

Tone & Language

The conversation is a blend of heartfelt nostalgia, comic timing, and sincere mentorship (with both guests sharing personal stories and professional insights). Phil is self-deprecating, outspoken on artistic integrity, and full of warmth—whether talking about his parents, diners, or the joys of travel and television. Bobby Bones sets a relaxed, fan-spirited tone, inviting Phil to reminisce and philosophize.

Final Thoughts

Phil Rosenthal’s journey is as much about risk, conviction, and gratitude as it is about comedy or food. His legacy—across sitcoms, food TV, and now his own diner—is one of connecting people through authenticity, laughter, and shared delight in everyday pleasures. For fans of TV history, stand-up, travel, and food, this conversation is a feast—full of lessons, laughter, and love.

Cookbook Note:
Phil’s second cookbook, Phil’s Favorites, is out now, featuring favorite recipes from his travels, friends, and family, and reflecting his ever-curious, ever-expanding love of food and sharing.

“My tombstone will say, ‘He tasted everything. You should try it.’” – Phil Rosenthal (54:22)