As a series that follows the daily life of sportswriter Ray Barone, Everybody Loves Raymond had a surprisingly convenient means of introducing numerous celebrity cameos throughout its run. Though most significant celebrity cameos were only featured in the series’ first season, as it found its footing on CBS, Raymond regularly featured notable names and faces from the world of sports in humorous and unexpected situations.Everybody Loves Raymond
Since all of these cameos come from the world of sports, it’s rare any of the celebrities are able to interact with characters other than Raymond himself. But even still, Ray always makes the best of these interactions; especially, and even when, the cameos allow him to make a fool of himself as a result.Everybody Loves Raymond
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Everybody Loves Raymond James Worthy
Ray Barone might be good with the written word, but as the series makes abundantly clear in the episode “Ray’s on TV,” he’s not exactly cut out for the world of television. When he is invited to appear on personality Roy Firestone’s talk show, Ray struggles greatly, but the segment is livened considerably by the appearance of panelist and NBA legend James Worthy.Everybody Loves Raymond
Ray is uncomfortable from the moment he sets foot on the stage, and Worthy’s humorous recommendation of vomiting before the show begins only heightens his anxiety.Everybody Loves Raymond
Everybody Loves Raymond Pat O’Brien
Though most of the guest stars in Everybody Loves Raymond are athletes themselves, occasionally, the series features other personalities from the sports world, including managers and sportscasters, such as Pat O’Brien. The second season episode “Working Late Again” is a crucial episode in the series, as it features Ray’s transition to working from home.Everybody Loves Raymond
But before that, Ray and his coworker and friend Andy find themselves caught up in a heated game of paper football at the offices of Newsday, which sportscaster Pat O’Brien is gamely commentating alongside.Everybody Loves Raymond
Everybody Loves Raymond Katarina Witt
By and large, the celebrity cameos in the world of Everybody Loves Raymond come in the form of male athletes and sportscasters. It’s much rarer, and therefore always a welcome surprise, when a female athlete is included in the ranks. Figure skater and Olympic gold medalist Katarina Witt appears in the season-one episode “Recovering Pessimist.”Everybody Loves Raymond
Witt appears to express her appreciation of Ray’s writing in a piece on professional Olympic athletes and to wish him luck regarding the award he is up for, Sportswriter of the Year.Everybody Loves Raymond
Everybody Loves Raymond Marv Albert
The second notable cameo in season one’s “Recovering Pessimist” happens only mere seconds after the first one. Shortly after running into Katarina Witt, Ray and Debra cross paths with Marv Albert, the legendary NBA sportscaster. Debra is more flustered than Ray is for once, imitating Albert’s signature “Yes!” to him, much to Albert’s chagrin.Everybody Loves Raymond
Much like Witt, it turns out Albert is a fan of Ray’s writing and believes he is the clear favorite to win Sportswriter of the Year; something that only further sets the already anxious Raymond on edge.Everybody Loves Raymond
Everybody Loves Raymond Barry Bonds
Though he may be one of the more controversial cameos in the series in retrospect, former MLB star Barry Bonds appears in the first season episode “Diamonds.” As the episode eventually goes on to be about Ray being cheap and foolish, this is one of the rare episode openers that actually ties in to the main storyline.Everybody Loves Raymond
Bonds asks Ray for change for the pay phone, leading to him and Ray getting into a heated but playful debate about the privacy of salaries and whether athletes and sportswriters are paid fairly.Everybody Loves Raymond
Everybody Loves Raymond Kristi Yamaguchi
In yet another rare female athlete cameo, famous figure skater and Olympic gold medalist Kristi Yamaguchi appears in the first season episode “The Dog.” Though Yamaguchi doesn’t do much in her appearance, the scene itself is nevertheless hilarious as Ray makes a complete fool of himself.Everybody Loves Raymond
On assignment, Ray visits Kristi in the locker room to conduct an interview, and quickly becomes very uncomfortable as she begins to change out of her skating outfit. He comments wryly on the awkward gender dynamics at play before trying to conduct the interview, only to turn into a babbling idiot once she removes her leotard.Everybody Loves Raymond
Everybody Loves Raymond Art Shamsky
In a rare sports cameo in a later season, stars of the 1969 New York Mets team appear at an event at the Baseball Hall of Fame which Ray and Robert try to attend. Robert grew up as a passionate Mets fan, and a huge fan of player Art Shamsky in particular – so much so that Robert would go on to name his beloved dog Shamsky after the player.Everybody Loves Raymond
Thanks to Ray’s arrogance and his creating a scene trying to cut in the line, neither Ray nor Robert are able to meet the Mets. But Art Shamsky himself still gets in a hilarious guest bit when Ray loudly declares Robert has a collar for Shamsky to sign – for the dog Shamsky, of course.Everybody Loves Raymond
Everybody Loves Raymond Terry Bradshaw
Earlier seasons of Raymond place greater focus on the realistic ways in which Ray struggles to balance his work life as a sportswriter with his responsibilities as a father. The episode “Debra’s Sick” perhaps does so to greatest comedic effect, when Ray struggles to take the children to the doctor and also juggle an interview with NFL icon Terry Bradshaw.Everybody Loves Raymond
As a result, Bradshaw meets Ray for their interview at the pediatrician’s office. Try as he might, Bradshaw can’t take the situation seriously, eventually bursting into hysterical laughter once Ray tries to get him to sit on a children’s giraffe chair.Everybody Loves Raymond
