Starring standup comedian Ray Romano in the title role, the series revolves around Ray Barone, a successful sportswriter living on Long Island with his wife, Debra (Patricia Heaton), 4-year-old daughter, Ally, and 1-year-old twin sons, Geoffrey and Michael. That's the good news.

The bad news? Ray's meddling parents, Frank (Peter Boyle) and Marie (Doris Roberts), live directly across the street and embrace the motto "Su casa es mi casa," managing to infiltrate their son's home to an unparalleled extent. Frank's favorite expression, "Holy Crap!" is shouted at regular intervals and Marie's cooking and cleaning "advice" is less than appreciated by Debra. Ray's brother, Robert (Brad Garrett), a police sergeant, has finally moved out of his parents' house and married Debra's best friend, Amy (Monica Horan). Amy's uptight parents and anti-social brother make the family mix even more entertaining -- except for Ray and Debra, who just wish someone would knock.