Inaction on ‘Raymond’ Set
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – Production got under way on the upcoming season of CBS’ “Everybody Loves Raymond” on Monday as two more co-stars called in sick and Brad Garrett remained on strike.
Patricia Heaton returned to work after calling in sick last week, an absence that forced the start of production to be delayed one week. Garrett has gone public with his contractual dispute with CBS and “Raymond” producers; the actor’s representatives confirmed last week that Garrett will not return to work unless he receives a salary increase.
Garrett, whose salary of about $160,000 per episode is significantly less than that of prominent co-stars on other hit sitcoms, had already been written out of the new season’s premiere episode because of the salary strife.
Meanwhile, despite Heaton’s return, work on the new season was still hampered Monday by the absence of co-stars Peter Boyle and Doris Roberts, both of whom called in sick.
Their absence spurred speculation that the actors also were tussling with CBS over money. But Dale Olson, a spokesman for Roberts, said the actress was still grappling with pain from a knee injury she sustained Aug. 7 during a photo shoot for Glamour magazine at her Hollywood Hills home.
Roberts reported to work as scheduled last week and informed producers at that time that the knee would require physical therapy, Olson said.
“She has nothing to do at all with what else is going on there,” Olson said. “It is just unfortunate timing.”
Representatives for Boyle did not return calls seeking comment, but a source close to the show said that the actor has been struggling in recent months with adverse reactions to a prescription drug.
A source close to show said producers expected Roberts and Boyle to return to work Tuesday. CBS declined to comment.
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