Ep 3. Frank, the Writer

In "Frank, the Writer," the third episode of the first season of Everybody Loves Raymond, we see a shift from the focus on Raymond's family to the introduction of Raymond's parents, Frank and Marie.

The episode begins with Frank (Peter Boyle) announcing that he has quit his job as a salesman to pursue his lifelong dream of becoming a writer. Raymond (Ray Romano) and Robert (Brad Garrett) are skeptical, knowing that their father has a tendency to start projects and never finish them. However, they decide to support him and offer to help him with his writing.

The next day, Frank presents his family with a short story he has written called "The Ballad of Mountain McClintock." The story is a melodramatic western tale featuring a protagonist named after a brand of frozen food (Mountain McClintock's Frozen Dinners) who saves the day by shooting a band of outlaws. Raymond and Robert are amused by the story's obvious flaws, but they hesitate to criticize it in front of their father.

Meanwhile, Marie (Doris Roberts) is hurt that Frank didn't consult her before quitting his job and is worried about their financial situation. She confronts Frank about his decision, but he brushes off her concerns and insists that he will make it as a writer.

As the episode continues, we see Frank struggling with his writing. Raymond and Robert try to offer him constructive criticism, but Frank becomes defensive and refuses to make changes to his story. Desperate for guidance, he turns to a famous writer named Tom Palmer (guest star Paul Reubens) who he has idolized for years. When he finally gets a meeting with Palmer, things don't go quite as planned.

Throughout the episode, we see the family dynamics at play: Marie fretting over money, Raymond trying to mediate between his parents, and Robert eagerly trying to help with Frank's writing. The humor comes from the family's quirks and bickering, but the underlying tensions between the characters also add depth to the episode.

In the end, Frank's writing dream doesn't quite work out as planned, but the family still rallies around him and supports him in their own unique way. "Frank, the Writer" is a fun and heartwarming exploration of family relationships and the pursuit of creative passions.