Overview
- Patricia Heaton said she kissed Ray Romano during her audition, and Romano said that moment clinched her casting as Debra.
- Creator Phil Rosenthal recalled seeing roughly 200 actresses for Debra before selecting Heaton, praising her on-screen chemistry with Romano.
- Heaton described rushing to the tryout with a babysitting crunch and two young children at home, saying she urgently needed the job.
- Rosenthal and Romano said Doris Roberts immediately stood out for Marie after about 100 tests, and the reunion included tributes to Roberts, Peter Boyle and Sawyer Sweeten.
- Romano reiterated there will be no reboot because three original cast members have died, and CBS aired the 30th-anniversary reunion with streaming on Paramount+.