"Who am I"
will air October 14th and is the 5th episode of the Season.
Okay Kids this is the Recap of the Taping I saw on Sept 20th. Its Rated R lol. I say that cause there is some cuss words in here. Not from me mind you only what I heard on the set so if your easily offended maybe this isn't for you. Also maybe humor in general isn't for you. Ha ha. Plus everybody this thing is scene by scene very long and detailed. I do this for two reasons. One its the way I like spoilers cause im a loser like that who likes to know everything ahead of time and, two I know in a few days I will forget stuff myself and I don't want to so writing it down while its fresh is good for us all. Just a warning even when im using quote marks the line might be a little off. My memory can only do so much so if its a little different at show time Ya know why.
First they showed us an episode of ELR called "Homework" Basically the episode was about how much homework Ally was getting in the 5th grade. They have new credits and its more like what they do on friends its a bunch of past clips from the show and they play Jungle Love and at the end its them dancing to it from the episode Snow Day. Anyway... Ray spent two hours helping her do it and was complaining to Debra who said he should talk to the teacher if he felt so strongly about it. The next night at open house he talks to some parents and they too talk about how much work there kids have and they pretty much all force Ray into talking to the teacher about it. The teacher agrees but says its up to the district advisors who set the homework standards and then basically says that he is gonna talk to them about it cause it means more coming from a parent. Then she gives him a crap load of things to read and he is supposed to decide what to cut from the curriculum and what to keep in. Ray of course waits to the last minute to do it cause he doesn't really want to begin with. He asks Deb for help and she says no. So he goes over to his moms and has her help him. He isn't paying attention to what they are doing and Marie gets mad. Then she finds out he hasn't read Tom Sawyer and gets madder plus the fact that he cant speak correctly. He says she's never read Greatest Quarterbacks of All Time or something like that and that he has cause sports is what he liked and sports is what he wanted to learn about. She's sad she raised an illiterate. She says this is much to important for him to do himself so she will do it. Deb comes in and sees Marie doing all the work and gets pissed. She gives Ray a speech about how he never takes a stand on anything. She wonders how it can possibly be that not even his daughters education is important enough for him to actually wanna do something. Then its him at the school board and he gives a really moving speech about how when he was growing up all the homework made him hate learning and now kids have twenty times what he had and he doesn't want his daughter to hate to learn he wants her to be curious and want to know things. At the end Marie is helping Ally with her homework, and Ray comes in and she tells him he has work to do and hands him Tom Sawyer. He says he isn't gonna read it. She says he has to because she read Greatest Quarterbacks of all time. He says she's lying so she starts quoting things she learned from the book. So the EP ends with him saying DAMN YOU and then going to read Tom Sawyer.
I will give a recap of the episode I saw being Filmed and all the bloopers and off camera stuff I remember. Bloopers and such I will put in parenthesis and anything that doesn't really have a place will go at the end. The episode I saw this time was so great, better than the other one I saw which was "The Cult" and that was hilarious!
The episode title is "Who Am I?" The show starts out with Marie on the phone at Ray and Debra's house. Someone named Cindy is calling and she is taking a message for Debra. She tells Cindy that Ray and Debra aren't home but they aren't out together but separately! Marie thinks that's odd that husbands and wives should be out together on a Saturday night. She asks if Cindy's husband and Cindy ever go out separately. Cindy says she isn't married and Marie says she has another son Robert that she can fix her up with. Then she tells Cindy she will give Robbie the message to call her. When Deb comes in and ask what Marie is writing she replies oh just a message for Robert. Debra then asks how the kids are. Marie says they are fine and they don't know a thing. Debra asks a thing about what. Marie says they don't know that Ray and Debra are going there separate ways. Debra says there fine she just wanted to go to a book reading from Linda's cousin who just got back from the Amazon and Ray didn't so he made other plans. Marie says she guesses that's what they call an "Open" Marriage. The Ray, Robert, and Gianni walk in from there night out. Marie asks how there night was and Ray says fun. Marie goes Debra also had fun! So Ray walks up to Deb and asks how her thing went. She said she had a great time listening to the doctor. Marie is like See Ray she had a "Great time" with a "Doctor" like implying something is going on. Then Robert asks Marie if maybe she would make him and Gianni some food and Gianni says he has been thinking of Marie in her apron all night long. Marie doesn't want to leave cause she feels she is needed there but then gives and exasperated sigh and says okay she gets really close to Ray and then tells Ray to remember that no matter what at least she will always love him.
The next scene Picks up where the last left off. Ray asks what was with his Mom. Debra said she was flipping out cause they went separate places. Ray jokingly asks if she is having an affair with the book guy. Debra says yeah 60 year olds with one eye who reek of the amazon are just her cup of tea. Rays like yeah don't I know that. Debra then says she is gonna go see him do the second half of the book reading next weekend. Rays all really again, what am I gonna do? Debra says she thought he could go out with the guys again. Rays like Oh okay in a kind of sad voice. Debra is like what's up Ray didn't you have fun? Rays like yeah I had fun I had fun except I didn't really have that much fun. He says he did all the stuff he always does but it just wasn't fun. Ray said he felt like something was missing. Debra asks was it her that was missing. He very casually says no not her. She shoots a look and He starts talking about how Gianni did the same funny jokes he always does (In one take it was something about Gianni getting out at a stop light with no pants on, in another it was about Gianni dropping ice cubes and saying he was peeing like an Eskimo) Debra was like oh doesn't hold the same magic it used to. Rays like yeah tonight was just different he was different. Debra is like OH MY GOD! You are finally growing up! That's why you didn't have fun tonight the same immature things weren't fun to you! Im so happy Ray your becoming a man! Rays like Nooooo, maybe im like catching the flu or something. She is like no Ray im right your maturing. Your looking at me like that cause you know im right. He's like Oh crap maybe you are right! She is like I have been waiting for this day for so long im so excited and kisses him hard on the cheek. She then says come to the book thing with me and he's like I don't know. She is like it will be fun this is what adults do we read and we discuss its gonna be great! Rays like okay im in. Plus it will be kinda cool to see a dude with one eye! ( Patty had to say this speech about Ray growing up literally like 29 times. She just could not get threw it. She kept flubbing her lines or forgetting them. after the like 19th mess up she was like SHIT! It was pretty funny. Ray kept joking around saying stuff like "Two time Emmy winner ladies and gentlemen." Then he was like "I wonder how people who haven't won two Emmy's would do this" and she is like "I don't know why don't we ask you." He also said the good part of doing it over and over again is that he gets more kisses. It was funny some other stuff was said back and forth between them that was really funny but I can't quite remember it. My friend was looking at the director and I guess after the 20th time he was getting kinda pissed cause when she screwed up again he mouthed "What the Fuck!" and kept grabbing his head in frustration. I guess while its funny as hell to the audience its probably not very time effective lol.)
The Next Scene is at the Book Reading. Debra and Ray immediately see Linda and Bernie. They go up to them and Debra is just soo excited that Ray is their and ready to be mature. Linda asks if Ray wants some cheese and wine. He says he doesn't know he just getting situated to these things. Linda tells Bernie to give Ray a piece of his cheese. Bernie is all there's a whole table of cheese over there. Linda shoots Bernie a look and then Bernie hands over the cheese. (In one take he throws the cheese at Ray in the other he violently stabs the cheese with a toothpick and then hands it over to Ray.) Now the speaker comes out and they all go to sit down. Ray says he is excited that its just like high school except now he has had sex with the girl he is sitting next to. The speaker then begins a very wordy lengthy story on his Amazon adventure. We then cut to 20 min later and he is still going on and on we focus on Linda and Bernie focusing attentively. The camera pans to Debra listening and then Ray dead asleep. He begins to fall on to Debra's shoulder and she tries to elbow him off of her and eventually hits him right in the eye. He wakes up and starts going on and on pretty loudly about his hurt eye and why'd she have to do that. He could have lost an eye. Then we see the speaker with he one eye and patch staring at Ray, and Ray is like not that that would make me any less of a person. ( In another take Ray instead say ".... And then id get one of those cool eye patch things" or something to that effect.)
Ray and Debra get home, and Debra says hello to Marie in a strained voice. Ray then follows in and is rubbing his eye. Marie asks what's wrong, and Ray says nothing. He just got hit in the eye. She asked what happened? He says that the guy was droning on and on and he fell asleep. Marie then says So he hit you in the eye?? Ray points to Debra and is like no she did. Debra says that he fell asleep on her in public and she had to get him off of her. Marie says that when she wanted to wake up Ray she would pat his hair gently and kiss him on the forehead. Ray then says did you even try that!! (in one take he said "that's how you do it") Then Marie is like I had hoped that things would be better for you too after your little separation last week. Debra tells Marie that they are fine and starts to walk up the stairs. Ray says no there not. Debra stops on the stairs and is like oh just stop rubbing it and you will be fine referring to his eye. Then Ray goes no there's something wrong with me. Debra turns around and goes back down the stairs and goes next to Ray and says what do you mean? Ray says there is something wrong with him he tried really really hard to like the book thing and he didn't. Debra says that's cause she made the mistake of thinking he was a grown up. Ray then goes No because I went out with the guys before and I didn't like that either. Now its like this thing in my head of like "Who am I?" why don't I like either of these things, Where do I belong. Marie comes racing to Ray and pulls him against her chest and is like "Right here." And hugs Ray. ( In one take Ray says Ma your on my foot again. In another he goes I can hear the ocean as he is up against her chest)
The next scene starts out in the steam room of Franks lodge. There are four old men sitting in there when Ray and Frank walk in. Its Stan and Garvin, and both Phil Rosenthal and Ray Romano's real life fathers, Max Rosenthal and Al Romano. They see Ray and so excited that he is there. Everything Ray says they tell him to put it in his column. There all in towels and Ray looks uncomfortable. Frank says he brought Ray there because he's having a hard time. One of the guys offers to turn up the steam for him. Ray says no please everyone stay right where they are. They tell him he should put that in his column he looks confused. They tell Ray to sit down. He can have Oswald's (I think that's the name??) seat they say he won't need it cause he is dead. Frank starts talking about how great the lodge is and what more could you ask for. Phil's dad replies Hair. One of the men go there is nothing better than oil in your joints and Stan asks him if he is still stiff. The man says yeah he is and Stan replies "I got that" Frank starts talking about how his back aches and Stan goes "Got that." Ray then gets into the mix and says his shoulder bugs him when he lifts things. They ask him why he is lifting things and he says Debra makes him. they all commiserate over wives for a minute and Ray says you don't get relief from that until your Oswald. They tell him to put that in the paper. and this time Ray is like maybe I will. Then Stan says is it like a knot in your shoulder blade? Ray says yeah it is. Stan replies, Ya got that. There's a lil silence and then Ray says last night I had to get up to pee twice! And then Stan says yeah we all got that!
Next scene Deb's at the house and Marie followed by Robert comes in. Marie is holding a big plate of Canoli's and tells deb he made them for Ray to make him feel better and asks if she can put them in the fridge. Robert asks for one and Marie says they are for Ray. So Roberts like Ray gets 10 Canoli's and I can't get one! Marie says Ray is going threw a life crisis. Robert says ha life crisis when I was getting a divorce I could barely get you to make me blueberry toast. Then Ray and Frank come home and Deb and Marie asks Ray how it was. He said he actually had fun. Roberts jealous cause he has never been invited to the lodge. Marie brings out the Canoli's for Ray and tells him she made them for him. Frank asks if Ray wants to Join the lodge. Roberts all that's it! And he grabs a Canoli and shoves it in his mouth the whole time Marie is trying to jump up and get it out of his hand. Then Ray says yeah he thinks he does wanna join. Debra's all you cant be serious. Ray says he is. Frank says his friends said he was the best looking guy there. Robert says of course he is the before in a room full of after. Debra's all is that why you wanna join the lodge to feel young? Ray says no, its amazing how good you can feel after a steam and a naked swim it makes you really feel the water. Deb says he can't join the lodge. Marie asks why and Debra tells her because Ray is not a 100! (one time Patty flubbed and said cause RAY IS A 10O! Ray then was like "You guys are witnessing a Patty Heaton record mess up episode." When the line did go right in one take she said 1OO....percent sure he wants to do this. In another she just told Frank sorry. Also somewhere around this part Robert makes a joke about saggy man boobs. For the life of me I cant remember where it goes exactly.) Rays like I know what your saying Debra but I had a good time, I felt happy. She's like so now your just gonna hang out at the lodge all the time. He is like no not all the time. How much do you go dad? Frank answers 6 times a week. Then Marie thanks God for the lodge. Debra says this is ridiculous they still do stuff, go out to eat, go to dinner, he doesn't need the lodge. Frank says the last time he went to the movies was to see Patton and the next time he will go to the movies is only to see Son Of Patton. Ray then says that honestly the movies they go see are never that great there are always people talking in the theater and its always drafty. Then he asks if there's a draft in there cause he is cold. He then complains about his shoulder and says he is tired and gets up with an old man grunt, goes to the couch and puts the blanket on him. Robert asks if he wants some melba toast or perhaps a Cathador. Frank asks if his shoulder is still bugging him and says he needs more time in the steam room that there not coming out of there till everything's soft. Debra goes over there pissed. She is like "This is not fair to me you've gone straight from immature teenager to old lodge man. I never got to be married to a regular mature man!" Ray then says So you have to yell? ( in another take he says "life's not fair.") Debra then says everyone needs to leave now. Marie protests and Debra says to go. They all leave. Rays all why did you do that and pulls his blanket up to his chin. She says she wants to see how old he really is. she then goes over to the couch and starts making out with him.(when they had to re do this scene, Ray was like this time Patty no tongue! The audience guy Tom whom you will learn about later in this recap told us what Ray was doing was reverse Psychology) she then pulls away and asks how he feels now. Rays replies "Still a lil tired." Debra is exasperated and gets off the couch and then Ray is like but not too tired, and grabs her back and starts pushing her up the stairs. She's like I thought your shoulder hurt and he's like im not gonna use my shoulder. (in another take Ray says not to tired and starts to chase Deb and jumps over the couch and they are playing around and then they go upstairs laughing saying the other lines im pretty sure that what they will use cause it was way cuter)
In the last scene we are back at the lodge. The same four guys are sitting there. Frank walks in with Robert. He says he brought the huge one this time. They go and have a seat. Someone says Robert looks like he is in good shape he must not eat to many donuts. Stan explains how funny that is cause he is a cop. Then Phil's dad asks Robert, if his wife is gonna let him join the lodge? Robert says he's not married. Stan says that right and everybody should be careful cause there steaming naked with a confirmed bachelor. Rays dad tells Robert he can go ahead and take of his sweater. Robert laughs and says why doesn't he take off his wig. Rays dad asks what the hell is that supposed to mean! He gets up to start something with Robert and tells Robert he is just a wise guy. The other old men stop Rays dad and Frank takes Robert out of the steam room. As they are about to leave the guys yell out bring back the funny one. That's the end.
Okay now on to other Interesting things...
They shoot every scene twice. They do this for coverage purposes and in case anything happens to the film. At this taping it seemed like they did almost every scene a bunch of times though. They also do little things called pick ups. This is when they redo only a small part of the scene instead of starting from the beginning.
They hand out little Play bill type things with each episode. It has the day of the taping, the title of the taping, the day it will air. It also has BIOS of the cast and then a credit and crew list with some trivia. They also give you pizza and waterbottles with ELR on them.
Ray comes out at the beginning of every show and does a little bit. He talks about the show and all that good stuff. He talked about how the Emmy's are coming up and every year his parents come down hoping he will win one and that they say they will keep coming until he wins. He said its been 4 years now so he has to win this thing. Then he said something about how he was rehearsing that bit for the Emmy's so if you hear him say something similar when he presents, you heard it here first.
The audience was warmed up by two people. One was a magician type guy and the other was Tom Caltabiano one of the writers of the show and Rays Friend. I liked him doing it better cause he asked people on stage questions, Made jokes with everyone and was just a cool guy. In one part Ray was getting his make up fixed by some guy after kissing Patty. Tom was like ladies and gentleman that's Rays lover. Sure his wife and kids are on set but damn those Hollywood types. Ray laughed and said something about how he knows Tom was his first love. When Tom couldn't really come back with anything he told Ray maybe they should rehearse this bit.
Monica Rosenthal (who plays Amy on the show) talked to the audience for a bit. She wasn't in the episode but her husband is the creator/exec producer Phil Rosenthal. Anyway she told us about how the episode the Can Opener, Bad Mood Rising, The Toaster, and The Angry Family all came from her and Phil's experiences. She also told us that her and Phil have known Tom McGowan (who plays Bernie) for nearly 15 years they met on a play.
Patty Heaton gave away two copies of her book. One she gave to the audience at the beginning and the audience warm up guy gave it to the person who had traveled the farthest. Since I had traveled 20 mins I didn't win that. Someone from Ireland did though. Then in the middle of the show Patty came up and asked if there was anyone in the audience named Ken? Some guy was like yeah my name is Ken. She said she accidentally made an autographed copy of her book to a Ken and asked if wanted it. He said sure whilst his wife freaked out with excitement. So lucky Ken got an autographed copy of Patty's book.
Maggie Wheeler who Plays Linda and who most people know as Janice on Friends was there. She talked to the audience for a bit as well. She even did the trade mark Janice laugh for us! We found out that it was pretty much between her and Patty for the role of Debra back in the day. How weird would that have been? Anyway that's how she got the part of Linda and how she became Friendly with Phil Rosenthal.
Anna Romano even talked to us for a bit which im told she doesn't normally do cause she is shy. Tom asked her about what she was thinking when she married Ray. That at the time he 28 and living at home he worked in a bank and then as a futon delivery guy so she obviously wasn't in it for the money. Anna very sweetly said she was just very in love. Tom laughed and said oh how things change. Speaking of Relatives on the set Anna and Rays daughter Ally was on the set the whole time and was out with her dad when he took bows and stuff. She also brought a friend with her. She was there when I saw the cult too.
I got an explanation sort of on the whole changing on the twins names from the pilot and why they are played by different kids. Tom told us that they switched babies for two reasons one was the original twins were triplets and one was a girl. Secondly it was easier to use the current twins cause they are related to Madlynn Sweetin who plays Ally. As for the name change thing. Ray decided after the pilot that he should change the twins names to different ones that his real life kids names because then everyone would know who they were. Tom said it doesn't really make that much sense cause they didn't change Ally's name plus the last name is a tip off as well. Plus and this is just my thing if you have ever seen Ray do stand up he does a bit on his twins and tells you one of them is named Gregory and the Shmegory. You can guess where the joke is in that lol. Anyway though Tom says that why he did it.
Okay I think that's it! If there is more I think of later I will try to add it. Hope you had a great read kids!