You're Lucky You're Funny: How Life Becomes a Sitcom

by Phil Rosenthal

The creator and executive producer of Everybody Loves Raymond dissects the art of comedy and the making of a sitcom classic

In television, where programs can premiere and disappear in the same week, Everybody Loves Raymond reigned as America’s best-loved show for nine years with more than seventeen million viewers. As the number-one sitcom, it received more than seventy Emmy nominations, including two wins for best comedy. With You’re Lucky You’re Funny, Phil Rosenthal takes us onstage and inside the writer’s room.

Rosenthal’s meteoric ascent was preceded by odd jobs, including a stint as a museum security guard, running a deli, and writing for a slew of forgettable shows—including one starring Robert Mitchum as a curmudgeonly homeless man taken in by two orphans. But when he met comedian Ray Romano, they discovered a shared lifetime of family dysfunction—and endless material for a sitcom.

Not only a chronicle of one man’s rise to the peak of his profession, Rosenthal’s book is also an unprecedented look at the making of a hit series: how shows are written and character developed, how comedy is refined, how network executives are outsmarted, and most important, how egos are massaged. You’re Lucky You’re Funny is an inspiration to anyone involved in the creative process and a must read for the show’s millions of devoted fans. BACKCOVER: Advanced Praise:

“In the Prologue, Mr. Rosenthal says ‘No one listens to me. Maybe the reader will...’ You should! He is the real deal, both as a human being and as an artist of comedy.”
—Henry Winkler

"I read YOU'RE LUCKY YOU'RE FUNNY and loved it! If you had the Everybody Loves Raymond bug during its 9 year run, this is the love letter you've been waiting for. If you've missed the bug, read it at the risk of being bitten and smitten."
—Norman Lear

Genres: Nonfiction, Humor, Memoir, Biography, Audiobook, Tv, Writing

256 pages, Hardcover

First published October 19, 2006

About the author

Television writer and producer who is best known as the creator, writer and executive producer for the sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond.

Reviews

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Admittedly my typical response to "Everybody Loves Raymond" is sighing "not everybody" as I change the channel. I got this mp3 on the cheap and was just hoping to have a few laughs amid what was sure to be a name-dropping, big-shot-Hollywood memoir, filled with crazy party stories.

I got my laughs. And tears. And some touching family stories, sentimental moments, and invaluable advice that extends well outside of television. There was only one "big-shot-Hollywood" story where Rosenthal uses a personal connection to get himself on Oprah with his cast. He is very proud, convinced by other friends that he deserves to be on Oprah and shouldn't take crap from her producers. They get to the taping; the stars are taken out to the audience one by one until he's alone in the green room, then eventually only allowed to come out and meet Oprah during the last two minutes. He tries to tell a joke and the actress who plays Marie interrupts (good naturedly) with the punch line and gets all the laughs. It brings Phil right back to earth. He feels he got just what he deserved.
This nervous, quiet guy had me from the intro. He wanted "Raymond" to be like him: all about family in a traditional, classic, and believable way. His un-Hollywood philosophies shine through and reinforced many of my own: be nice to people; keep them well fed; put quality first; don't let yourself get too comfortable. For as much I'm not really a fan of the show, I readily admit that it is all of these things he intended, and will live on among the best sitcoms.

There are many great stories (falling asleep on duty as a Met guard in NYC, the family trip to an "all-inclusive resort," the holiday "toaster" episode) but below are two of my favorites.

First: Phil has a friend who is terrified of getting Alzheimer's. He comes up with a solution. When he starts getting old and forgetful, he's going to bake himself a poison pie and leave it in the fridge. The day he forgets what it is and eats a slice, it was naturally his time to go. Genius.

Second: Phil gets the chance to direct a short video of Bill Clinton's last days in office, starring the president himself (its on YouTube. He orders smoked ham on eBay. Hilarious). Upon returning home Phil says to his wife, "If you're telling the most powerful man in the world what to do, doesn't that make you the most powerful man in the world?" Her reply: "Pick up your socks."

[Jeremy Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

I grew up watching Raymond on the dvds stored in the box shaped like their house with the actors' faces in the windows, and then watching all the episodes again with the actor/writer commentaries. So I'm not really sure what level of mature adult fandom makes this book a must read. For me it was a must read, and thankfully a really nice balance of his backstory (which I actually found worthwhile because so much of the show is his life), behind the scenes details from Raymond, and his thoughts on what made the show work so well and comedy/TV overall. He's funny and self deprecating, and it feels sincere when he talks about how much of the show was luck and how much he loved it. There are references to writers' room attitudes and famous comedians and TV executives that haven't aged well - hopefully it's not inappropriate to still be a fan of a book and think that anything written in 2006 is going to need a grain of salt today.
For anyone choosing to read this book, the audiobook is an absolute must. He has a great voice and knows how to deliver his jokes, which is 70% of the book's content anyway. His impressions of Ray Romano and his parents are worth the price itself, and the audio recordings from speeches he gave is a nice touch. The audiobook is full of very oddly placed pauses that last too long, but is otherwise great.

[Carlee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book by Phil Rosenthal, the creator of Everybody Loves Raymond, which is part memoir and part behind the scenes of the show. I wasn't an avid fan of the show (I didn't dislike it but it wasn't a show I tuned in to regularly) but I remember enjoying the show.

A few notes as I was listening to the audiobook:

1) The audiobook is read by Rosenthal and it is delightful. However, there are some awkward long pauses in between sentences to the point where you're not sure if the audiobook hit a glitch, and then no pause (practically a run-on sentence) from the end of some chapters into the next chapter. Also, the range in the volume of his voice was a little bit of an issue - he'd be talking loudly in exasperation one second and then drop to a low voice the next, and then back to a loud voice. Not pleasant when listening on headphones.

2) Les Moonves was the president of CBS at the time and he liked the show. Naturally, Rosenthal gives props to him for his support, but it's a little awkward hearing this after all we have heard about Moonves's tenure as the president of CBS.

3) Rosenthal (rightfully) says that he chose writers who are funny, and it didn't matter if they are men or women. However, while he gives a brief background/synopsis of these male writers, we hear next to nothing about the female writers aside from their names and some episodes they wrote (the scripts were group efforts but one writer was usually credited as "the writer"). It appears that all the first season writers (at least the ones he named) were all men - that's not necessarily an issue, and maybe it's because this group stayed with the show for the entire 9 season run, but it does appear that some of the female writers were regular writers on the show (as opposed to an "outside writer" which I think was the term he used for a non-regular writer).

All in all, a nice fun read.

[Randee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think Phil Rosenthal is a funny guy. There's no doubt in my mind had he not been writer and director of 'Everybody Loves Raymond', the show would not be as great a sitcom as it is. I've watched Phil in a documentary where he helps Russian TV get their version of 'Everybody Loves Raymond' up and running and that was funny, strange and interesting. Much of this book revolved around the making of 'Raymond' which I found interesting since I always liked the show. But my favorite part is his chapter on getting suckered in to taking his family along with another writer on the show's family to an all inclusive vacation at a Mexican resort. I suggest that he make a tv movie about that experience....lol.

[Matt Nix · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun read, and interesting if you're into TV writing.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars is not enough. You’re Lucky You’re Funny is now my all time favorite book and that isn’t a title I give to a book lightly. In fact, it was 2019 when I last awarded that title to a book. For those of you, like me, who grew up watching Everybody Loves Raymond with your family, this book is for you. If you have ELR quotes running through your veins, frequently find ways to make references to the show to apply to your real life with your mother, get called Nancy by your father, if you every now and then refer to yourself as the “useless giraffe” like Robert, and sometimes find yourself not being able to think because “there’s too much fruit in this house!,” then this book is for you. If you’re normal, this book is also for you. To Phil Rosenthal and Ray Romano, you’ll never read this, but thank you for writing a series that became a huge part of my whole life. Phil, thank you for writing a book that just like on Raymond, made me tear up a little at times, but made me laugh in every chapter. A beautiful book for a beautiful series. And for those of you who haven’t read the book, DEFINITELY READ IT! For the those of you who have never even seen the series, seriously, what are you doing with your life? Start it on Peacock, and you can thank me later.

[Stijn Zanders · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was great to hear Phil Rosenthal read his own book, he's a funny guy to listen to.

[Thomas Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

A phenomenal read on one of the greatest sitcoms that almost never happened.

[Simon Lipson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting stuff about Rosenthal's serendipitous journey, from nice Jewish middle-class New York potz (putz, for my American friends) to creator/showrunner of Raymond. A proper schlemiel who wanted to be an actor, he worked in a variety of crappy jobs while auditioning, performing in blink-and-you'd-miss-'em productions and, mainly, waiting for his opportunity. He discovered his real knack was for writing comedy when re-writing a part in a largely extemporised piece (for which someone else took the credit) and was lucky enough to get work on a number of shows, make some good contacts and eventually prove himself as a guy who could run a show. There are also some nice, bitchy asides about the network executives who try their best to ruin anything remotely good.

It's quite sentimental - he loves everyone, especially the guys in The Room, the fully catered space in which Raymond was written. There are one or two irritating tangents, like his diary recounting his disastrous 8 day all-inclusive holiday, and one or two verbatim speeches - essentially filler material - but also interesting tales like when he was engaged to write and film a piece starring Bill Clinton to accompany the President's speech at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. When Rosenthal gives full rein to his Yiddishe sensibilities, he's highly engaging and amusing company.

[A.J. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Judging from this book Phil Rosenthal is a very amicable, compassionate, and funny human being. I picked up the audiobook version and it is very ably narrated by the author and also contains recordings of some important events in his life.
I found the material entertaining and very informative regarding the inside workings of the studio system. Mr Rosenthal is not afraid to use real names which i think takes real courage in his business.
The main point on which I would disagree with Mr Rosenthal is his assessment of the TV sitcom "Everybody Loves Raymond". I personally never found it that different from the run of the mill Network shows. Whenever I tried to watch it i was invariably put off by the overly broad style of acting and the cliche filled dialog. The one exception being the actress who played Raymond's wife. She sometimes managed to transcend the quotidian material. On the other end of the spectrum was the actor who played Raymond's brother - he resorted to using a goofy voice and a dumb expression. When one compares this sitcom to true works of genius such as "The Larry Sanders Show" or "Extras" it doesn't fare well.

[Peter Derk · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book totally reminds me of this routine I had for a year or so in college, which I'm pretty sure started when I got a concussion.

I got up early for class. Then finished in the early afternoon. Then I'd eat a giant sandwich, and I'd sleep while DVD's of Futurama played on my computer, screen off, commentary tracks on.

Those tracks were mostly the writers talking about where the ideas for different episodes came from, and that's where a lot of this book goes too.

I'd sleep for a couple hours, then get up for work.

I slept between classes one semester too, in my car. I'd ratchet the seat back and nod off.

I'd never been so tired in my life. All the time, I just wanted to sleep.

It started right after I hit my head. That day I wanted to sleep so bad. And I did. I know you're not supposed to. I knew it then too. But when you hit your head like that, you're not thinking right. You just know that you want to sleep, so maybe that's what you do.

I woke up. And I was mostly okay. Except for like a year after that, all I wanted to do was sleep.

[Leah Wescott · Rating 5 out of 5]

While I'm not a rabid fan of Everybody Loves Raymond, I'd never seen an episode I didn't enjoy and I was intrigued by the notion of learning about the behind-the-scenes leadership of the healthy creative writing environment. I'm thrilled I gave it a try. Phil Rosenthal is a smart, self-deprecating, hilarious, generous writer who broke Hollywood's standards by eschewing egos, focus groups and bureaucracy to see if valuing human connections and high quality writing might just work in something other than a fairy tale. Rosenthal reads the audio version of the book and his presence is a huge bonus. He wears his emotions - whether reminiscent, wistful or angry, honestly.

Sometimes co-workers tell me my dreams of a functional, creative team are naïve and I wonder, "Am I the crazy one?" I can look to Rosenthal as a real-life example of someone who played the right way and saw success.

[Sonia Reppe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everybody Loves A Funny Memoir

As a kid, Phil Rosenthal loved television with a passion. He learned how to turn that passion into creativity, and to make that creativity his way of earning a living. He is one of the best writers alive today, because he knows how to find the funny (as he says, "almost anyone's life can be turned into fuel for comedy); but also how to impart good themes and a value system at the same time: kindness, loyalty, forgiveness, love your family, enjoy your life.

Jocks used to beat him up, and he notes the poetic irony of the Monday night hit show Everybody Loves Raymond beating Monday night football in the ratings. I like this piece of advice for comedy writers: "everybody must be humiliated."
New York Jewish Humor |

[Elizabeth Gambeski · Rating 3 out of 5]

ok. i just want to start by thanking phil rosenthal and his crew for Everybody Loves Raymond. so many wonderful laughs. days without network tv were never dull when filled with Raymond on DVD. it seems like it never gets old. that being said, i expected this book to mak me double over in laughter, just as the show did. well, as you might imagine, the book is about all the hard work that made that amazing comedy possible. the book is only funny when it mentions a well-known show bit. even so, it was a read that gave me a sincere appreciation for the work that is comedy. so again, i must thank phil rosenthal. i wouldn't want to think of my life without ray romano!

[Debra Fordham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this audiobook! Phil reads it himself and even includes audio sound bites from various speeches he's given. Felt very personal and chatty. And Phil is HILARIOUS. Really knows how to tell a story. And his story really is "regular guy makes good". Inspiring that for once, a nice guy finished first -- since that really never happens much in Hollywood. My only question regarding this book is whether or not it would be interesting to anyone who either isn't a fan of "Everybody Loves Raymond" or doesn't work in television. Very inside. But if you fall into one of those two categories -- or you're just curious about the inner workings of a TV show -- you MUST read this book.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was a big fan of the show "Everybody Loves Raymond," so this was fun to read. The book is a memoir of the creator of the show. The creation of the sitcom was a part of the book. He tells how they found the cast and how the premise for the show was based on his and Ray's real families. Things that happened in their lives with their wives and kids would end up on the show. I liked his attention to details and how they tried to make the characters as real as possible.
If you are interested in comedies on television, and how they are created, you'll really like this book.

[Krishna Kumar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Phil Rosenthal is the creator and writer of the famous sitcom, "Everybody Loves Raymond". This book is his biography from his childhood to his years on the show. I heard the audio version of the book and it was really funny. Filled with anecdotes and delivered with his Bronx accent, Phil talks about the various aspects of producing the show from writing to managing the crew. It does help if you have seen the show because he talks about how some of the more famous episodes were created from real-life incidents.

[Justin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am an spiring comedy wiriter, so I found this book to be pretty inspiring as well as cautionary. If the "suits" in the business are as back biting and deplorable as Rosenthal paints them, I may have to remember to, "be careful what I wish for".

Anway, this is a breezy, fun read and loaded with a lot of funny anectdotes. Anyone interested in "the business" or a fan of the show should check this out.

[Christian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This might be among the funniest books I have ever read. After reading this book, I am convinced that Phil Rosenthal might be one of the funniest people on the planet. But interspersed with the seemingly endless anecdotes is advice and insight, not just on show business but on human nature and the idea of family. I am not really a huge "Raymond" fan, but after reading this I am certainly going to revisit the series.

[Paul French · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great look behind the scenes of a hit sitcom. Phil Rosenthal is known for running one of the best writers' rooms in recent years. He was insistent that his writers worked regular hours because how could they write about real life if they weren't actually living it? It's a funny book, no matter how you feel about the show itself.

[Ben Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is amazing! I really recommend the audible version of this book. It has audio recordings of many of the stories that Phil talks about. He’s cadence just can’t be read, in the audio version he pauses, he yells, takes sips of water. It all adds to the timing and pulse of this book that adds up to a ripping good time. Thank you Phil! 10/10.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an autobiography and how-I-did-it book by the creator of "Everyone Loves Raymond." It's a fun, easy read if you're OK with his ba-dum-bum, Borscht Belt writing style. I enjoyed it because I'm a fan of the show and it had a lot of interesting behind-the-scenes TV-business stuff.

[Becky Marietta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funny, interesting, neat "behind-the-scenes" book. The author is a hoot, of course, and reading the book made me want to rent the EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND DVDs to see the episodes mentioned in the book.

[mehg-hen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good peek into putting together a shew and someone with opinions about tv that you'll like. Also, a good description of getting an acting career "just struggle for 10 years, be a writer for 5, make a hit sitcom, write that for 9 years, finally do a movie" That is a crap paraphrase.

[Jennywhoa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is HILARIOUS. I mean, I laughed out loud numerous times. I am a huge fan of Everybody Loves Raymond but this book is a must read for anyone wanting to become a writer/producer of sitcoms/television. A MUST read! Great book, quick read. I enjoyed myself thoroughly.

[Scott Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

For my media class this week we are focusing on Everybody Loves Raymond. This is a nice little book by the shows creator about his funny life and how the show came into being. It is pretty funny, and also some interesting insights into the world of US media.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book from the exec director of "Everybody Loves Raymond". I loved watching his path from kid who got by be funny and loved to watch sitcoms to one who created one of the best. Esp loved all the insight into what makes good comic writing and good quality tv.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent book that is part biography and part description of the making of a sitcom. Loved it even more as because you feel that you know the author personally and you enjoy knowing the back story.

[Matthew Rich · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you liked Everybody Loves Raymond and Somebody Feed Phil--you'll like this. Phil's humor and kindness come through; the history of the tv show and the explanation of late 1990's tv production are very interesting as well.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really interesting look into how a show is made. Didn't realize exactly what I was getting into - but I liked it.