Re: (Mis?)appropriations of the Ninth

Vivian Ramalingam (vivian@me.umn.edu)
Thu, 8 Apr 1999 10:21:54 -0500 (CDT)

In message <Pine.OSF.3.93.990407234301.374A-100000@broadway.gc.cuny.edu>
Theresa Muir writes:
>
> On the sitcom "Everybody Loves Raymond" (Yes I watch it! Gotta problem
> with that?) a particularly orgiastic iteration of "Ode to Joy" is used for
> the program theme. The running joke of the program is Raymond's invasive
> family. The theme is heard while he and his wife frantically try to
> conceal their presence from an advancing invasion of his mother, father,
> and brother.

"Everybody Loves Raymond" is IMO one of the finest, most nuanced comedies
airing today. The superb Halloween episode was rebroadcast last week
(featuring Peter Boyle, who played Raymond's father as dispenser of
"largesse", in a subtle reprise of his role as the Frankenstein Monster
of Gene Wilder's "Young Frankenstein"), the Thanksgiving episode
(tofu turkey and broccoli, anyone???) soon to follow, and (hopefully)
the Vacation Cruise episode after that. The "Ode to Joy" theme is here
placed in the aspect of a very heavyhanded irony/sarcasm, for which no
other musical icon could function as neatly:

"Your family is on the way over." "Oh, JOY."

OK, I suppose they COULD have used the first song of "Dichterliebe" . . .

-- Vivian R.

vivian@me.umn.edu Vivian S. Ramalingam

(651) 636 - 1042