“Raymond” special joins the nostalgia flurry

Somehow, situation comedies have become cozy artifacts.
They once ruled television. Now they provide fond memories, sort of like your grandpa’s checkers set.
The latest example is “Everybody Loves Raymond: 30th Anniversary Reunion,” from 8-9:30 p.m. Nov. 24 on CBS and Paramount+. That’s a Monday, putting it against a nostalgia show on CW … and a flurry of nostalgia networks.
At their peak, sitcoms had eight shows in the annual top-10 of the Nielsen ratings. This fall, there are (cartoons excluded) only sitcoms total, on the broadcast networks.
But the memories linger, including CW’s “TV We Love,” at 8 p.m. on eight Mondays. It will start Oct. 13 with “I Love Lucy” and include four other sitcoms (“Cheers,” “Happy Days,” “Brady Bunch,” “The Honeymooners”), plus “Dynasty,” “Love Boat” and “Touched By an Angel.”
In addition, old shows are on cable, streaming (“Raymond” is on Peacock and Paramount+) and digital sub-channels. And now comes the anniversary show, which will include outtakes, conversations with the cast and memories of the late Doris Roberts and Peter Boyle (shown here with Brad Garrett and Ray Romano).
“Raymond” debuted in 1996 and grew gradually. Its third and fourth seasons were No. 11 and 12 in the Nielsen ratings; then its final five were top 10.
As the show ended, producer Phil Rosenthal joked that he would like this to be the end of all comedy. At times, it seems like he got his wish.