Sometimes, an onscreen dynamic rings so true that we read into it a little too much. And sometimes, we're right! Lucy and Ricky? They were married in real life. The family on The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet had a natural rapport because they were actually a family. 

Other times, though, we're just swept up in an undeniable chemistry that grows as a series progresses. Sure, it might lead to an off-screen relationship as the actors on set develop a friendship. But it's a testament to the performers that we believe what we see without really questioning who's known eachother ahead of time.

It's well-known that Everybody Loves Raymond featured a lot of material inspired by real life. The show's writers tapped into their family histories to weave together believable stories. That's partly why the show resonated so deeply with its audience. Many folks felt represented by what they saw on Raymond.

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But another reason the series rang true was its incredible cast. In a 2023 interview, Looper writer Xandra Harbet asked stars Ray Romano and Brad Garrett whether any of their scenes together were based on real-life moments. The answer might surprise you!

"We had just met," said Romano. "We never met until we met on the set of Everybody Loves Raymond, and we became good friends. But we all brought our life experiences to the writers room, at least."

It's a reflection of how well-cast the show was that we all just immediately bought into their brotherhood. Not for a minute did audiences question that family bond as depicted on Everybody Loves Raymond. What's all the more striking is that Garrett never even brought any of his life experience into the writers' room. In fact, he was mostly kept at bay.

"Yeah, [I was by the] craft service of the set," said Garrett. "There was a little cage I would wait in, and they would rattle it and open the door."