Everybody Loves Raymond creator Phil Rosenthal reveals he almost QUIT because CBS wanted a ‘hotter’ actress for Patricia Heaton’s character Debra

CBS’ Everybody Loves Raymond was one of the network’s most successful sitcoms, but the show’s creator revealed  he almost quit over one of the network’s demands.

Phil Rosenthal created the hit series, which debuted 25 years ago this week, starring Ray Romano as Ray and Patricia Heaton as Debra.

Rosenthal, 61, revealed in a new interview with Yahoo! Entertainment that CBS had wanted to cast a ‘hotter’ actress to play Debra.

Hotter: CBS’ Everybody Loves Raymond was one of the network’s most successful sitcoms, but the show’s creator revealed he almost quit over one of the network’s demands

Stars: Phil Rosenthal created the hit series, which debuted 25 years ago this week, starring Ray Romano as Ray and Patricia Heaton as Debra

Before Heaton had even auditioned for the role, the network said they, ‘wanted someone hotter to play Debra,’ adding, ‘I almost quit the show over it.’

While he never mentioned the actress the network wanted, he said, ‘They insisted on this actress.’    

‘I thought she was wrong, but I met with her and she was a very pleasant, very nice person,’ he added.

Quit: Before Heaton had even auditioned for the role, the network said they, ‘wanted someone hotter to play Debra,’ adding, ‘I almost quit the show over it’

Phil: While he never mentioned the actress the network wanted, he said, ‘They insisted on this actress’

‘She wasn’t going to read for the role, but during the meeting I convinced her to read a little bit with me, and she was 10 times worse for the part than I thought she would be!’ Rosenthal said.

Rosenthal then met with CBS head Les Moonves to discuss casting, and the creator had his top three choices, one of whom was CBS’ choice.

He went into that meeting thinking he was going to get fired and lose his show for refusing to cast the actress the network wanted.

Read: ‘She wasn’t going to read for the role, but during the meeting I convinced her to read a little bit with me, and she was 10 times worse for the part than I thought she would be!’ Rosenthal said

‘I did know that [Moonves] was going to say, “What about so-and-so,” and if I don’t say, “Yes, let’s cast her,” I won’t have a show. So that was the day I knew that I’d be quitting my own show,’ Rosenthal said.

Thankfully, it didn’t work out that way, even though, when Les asked about that actress, he told her the truth.

‘I said, “I love her and I’ve loved everything she’s been in. I think she’s terrific and beautiful, but then she read for me and I have to tell you it’s just not what I wrote. I just don’t see them as a couple. I think she could do it, but I also think that maybe we could do better,”‘ he said.

Quitting: ‘I did know that [Moonves] was going to say, “What about so-and-so,” and if I don’t say, “Yes, let’s cast her,” I won’t have a show. So that was the day I knew that I’d be quitting my own show,’ Rosenthal said

‘[Moonves] said, “Well, it’s just an idea.” In other words, he let me slide and we agreed to keep looking! Two weeks later, Patty walked in and within five minutes she had the part. When it’s right, it’s right, and you know it immediately,’ Rosenthal said.

Rosenthal added that he almost quit the show again, when he wanted to serve as the program’s showrunner, despite never having run a show before.

They offered to have another experienced producer co-run the show with him, but Rosenthal rejected that because he knew he really wouldn’t be in charge.

Charge: They offered to have another experienced producer co-run the show with him, but Rosenthal rejected that because he knew he really wouldn’t be in charge

‘I felt that person was still going to be in charge, and I’m not going to have any say in my own show. So I quit! I told them, “I quit, goodbye,”‘ Rosenthal said.

‘It wasn’t because I was brave — I was actually s****** my pants because I quit the thing I loved,’ he said, but just three days later, his agent told him he’d been named the solo showrunner. 

‘I asked him why the sudden turnaround, and he told me, “[Moonves] liked how you handled that thing with so-and-so.” It just goes to show you that if you stick to your guns — and maybe quit — they see you have some integrity,’ he said.

In charge: ‘I felt that person was still going to be in charge, and I’m not going to have any say in my own show. So I quit! I told them, “I quit, goodbye,”‘ Rosenthal said

‘So my advice to young people is to always quit! I’m not saying quit on your first job, or if you’re dependent on it to be able to eat. But if it’s not your first job and it’s your own thing, that’s when you get to show your integrity,’ he added.

‘I can’t tell you how many shows have been ruined by the writers taking every note from the network and the studio and then the network goes, “This isn’t very good,”‘ he said.

Rosenthal also wrote for shows such as Coach, Down the Shore, The Man in the Family and Baby Talk before creating Everybody Loves Raymond. 

Hotter: Rosenthal, 61, revealed in a new interview with Yahoo! Entertainment that CBS had wanted to cast a ‘hotter’ actress to play Debra

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