When Ray’s upper class in-laws come for a visit, he begs his parents to be nice to them and accept their differences even though their lifestyles are worlds apart.

Ray gets tired of being treated like a kid at his father’s poker game, so he ignores his father’s advice, which he quickly regrets.

Debra’s plan to create her own family tradition by serving fish for Thanksgiving is underminded by Marie, who takes it upon herself to make a turkey on her own. Meanwhile, Ray’s idea of a traditional holiday at home becomes even more untraditional when the relatives opt not to watch football, much to his dismay.

When Robert is forced out as captain of Nemo’s basketball team, Ray gets the title and the opportunity to lead his team to victory. Meanwhile, Frank and Marie are upset with Ray for de-throning Robert as captain, and feeling guilty Ray begs Robert to re-join the team.

Ray discovers, after many years, that the autographed Mickey Mantle ball he got as a kid from his father isn’t authentic. Feeling hurt by the fact that his father was not truthful about the ball, Ray decides he’s going to tell Ally the truth about Santa Claus.

When Debra comes down with the flu and is bedridden, inexperienced Raymond must take care of her and the three kids, complicating his plans to meet Terry Bradshaw.

Raymond can’t face the fact that everybody thinks that his brother Robert is classically handsome, while he is merely adorable, like a hamster.

Debra, already annoyed at getting stuck driving the old car Ray bought from his parents, really gets upset when she discovers that it was his old make-out-mobile.

Ray decides to replace the fake diamond on Debra’s engagement ring, not realizing she’d already had it replaced with a diamond of her grandmother’s.

Ray brings home a stray bulldog that reminds him of the dog he had to give up as a boy due to his allergies, but his brother, Robert, bonds with the animal and the siblings then have to decide who gets to keep him.

Ray and Debra remember their days in their first apartment, she discovers she’s having twins, and they decide they need a house. Ray maps a strategy where they are not close enough for everyday visits from his folks but not far enough for overnight stays. Meanwhile, Robert discovers his wife wants a divorce.

Debra is sick and tired of having Raymond’s parents and his brother show up unannounced. With her birthday coming up they try not to let Ray’s parents and Robert to come over, so they can have a nice peaceful birthday party.

First aired: 9/20/1996 Production Code: 9602 When newlywed friends make a public display of their affection, Debra wonders why reticent Raymond has trouble telling her that he loves her.

It seems even dead people love Raymond, as reticent Ray learns when he’s chosen to deliver the eulogy at his great uncle’s funeral. It’s an occasion that serves as a reunion for Ray’s mother and her feuding sister, Alda.

For a criminal-psychology course, Robert issues standard IQ tests to Raymond and Debra and boy, is Raymond smarting when they get the results.

Nemo’s niece, Angelina, takes employment waitressing at his place. When Angelina catches Ray’s eye, he has a lot of explaining to do to Debra, especially when Angelina calls him at home.

When Frank gets a few anecdotes published in Reader’s Digest, he submits his writing samples to Ray’s editor, hoping to get his own column in the newspaper.