Philip Rosenthal

“And with regard to the Italian family we portrayed on 'Everybody Loves Raymond' - Italians and Jews do share two traits: all problems are solved with food, and the mother never leaves you alone.”

“If you're in the writer's room, in any writer's room in the world, before you pitch a joke or suggest an idea, you first think it's funny and decide to say it out loud. The next step is for the people around you to accept it or reject it, before it ever sees the light of day, on film or in front of an audience.”

“It's our most underrated value, I think, as human beings is our sense of humor. It's how we choose our friends.”

“Life is about travel, and beauty in life, the love we find, the joy we have the laughs we have together. That's what I'm dedicating the rest of my life to.”

“A good restaurant is like a vacation; it transports you, and it becomes a lot more than just about the food.”

“So, I've got to have food, I've got to have humor. But these things are just the way in to what the show's really about, I think, which is connecting with the people.”

“Food is the great connector, and laughs are the cement. If we go out to eat and have a nice meal, that's one thing. If we can share a laugh, now we're friends.”

“Because you know what happens when you say 'hello' or 'good morning?' You make a connection. And isn't that what being human is all about?”

“I've inherited a Jewish sensibility and sense of humor from my parents and all those who came before me. All the Jewish comedians, character actors and writers I was exposed to also reminded me of my family in their sense of humor.”

“We live life in restaurants, its the center of social life, where we celebrate with family and friends, make new friends, travel without traveling, and of course, eat.”