Three decades after its initial debut, the beloved sitcom “Everybody Loves Raymond” is making a special return to commemorate its 30th anniversary. Fans can look forward to a prime-time special, “Everybody Loves Raymond: 30th Anniversary Special,” airing for one night only on Monday, November 24, at 8 p.m. ET on CBS, with streaming available on Paramount+. The reunion will be hosted by series star Ray Romano, who won an Emmy for his role, and series creator Phil Rosenthal.

The 90-minute special promises an immersive experience, filmed on a meticulously recreated soundstage of the Barone family’s living room set. It will feature candid conversations with surviving cast members including Patricia Heaton (Debra), Brad Garrett (Robert), Monica Horan (Amy), Madylin Sweeten (Ally), and Sullivan Sweeten (Michael). The event will also include never-before-seen outtakes from the series, commentary from the cast on their journey to becoming one of America’s most cherished television families, and heartfelt reflections. A particularly moving segment will pay tribute to the late Peter Boyle and Doris Roberts, who played the unforgettable Frank and Marie Barone, respectively, and whose portrayals were considered the emotional anchors of the series. Fulwell Entertainment, known for producing other landmark reunion specials like “Friends: The Reunion,” is behind this production, with executive producers including Romano, Rosenthal, and others.

“Everybody Loves Raymond” was created as a showcase for comedian Ray Romano and was loosely based on his family life and stand-up comedy act. Produced by David Letterman’s Worldwide Pants production company, the show starred Romano as Ray Barone, a sportswriter living in Long Island with his wife and children. The narrative famously depicted the comedic challenges of living across the street from his overbearing parents, Frank and Marie, and his luckless, enormous brother, Robert, who eventually marries Amy. The series initially struggled to find an audience, condemned to a Friday night time slot with accordingly miserable ratings. However, a pivotal move to Mondays midway through its first season saw the show gain significant traction, ultimately helping to reverse the flagging fortunes of CBS in the 1990s.

The sitcom ran for nine successful seasons, from September 13, 1996, to May 16, 2005, producing 210 episodes. Throughout its run, “Everybody Loves Raymond” garnered critical acclaim, earning 15 Emmy Awards from 69 nominations, including two for Outstanding Comedy Series in 2002 and 2005. Individual Emmys were also awarded to Romano, Heaton, Garrett, and Roberts. The series also won the comedy ensemble award at the SAG Awards and a Writers Guild of America award for episodic comedy in 2002.

While many of its contemporaries have seen reboots, the cast and creators have often expressed the sentiment that a full series reboot without the pivotal performances of Boyle and Roberts would not be feasible, highlighting their integral role as the heart of the show. Despite this, the series has demonstrated its universal appeal, successfully exporting local versions to several countries, with creator Phil Rosenthal even directing a documentary, “Exporting Raymond,” about the Russian adaptation.

In related news, MeTV announced that “Everybody Loves Raymond” will join its classic TV lineup starting Monday, October 13. The network will air two back-to-back episodes weeknights from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. ET, and again on Sunday nights from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. ET. This addition places “Everybody Loves Raymond” alongside other iconic shows like “M*A*S*H” and “The Andy Griffith Show.” Weigel Broadcasting vice chairman Neal Sabin remarked on the show’s enduring quality, stating, “What makes Everybody Loves Raymond special is that it is truly rooted in the timeless traditions of classic comedy, with standout characters, performances, writing, humor, heart and quality.”