Everybody Loves Raymond, still: TNT's adult drama 'Certain' scores

By April MacIntyre Dec 8, 2009, 18:28 GMT

Love love Ray Romano - © Albert L. Ortega / PR Photos

Take three middle-aged men, all caught in their own bear traps of life, saddled with deep personal flaws and irksome work issues - combine this premise with thoughtful casting - add solid writing that resonates with the audience and voila!... a new network hit is born.

TNT and Ray Romano have delivered the good with "Men of a Certain Age" - a melancholic and humorous slice of that mid line of life: 50.

The premiere drew 5.4 Million viewers and scores as the top new series launch of 2009 among that key 25-54 group.

After receiving strong reviews from critics across the country, including Monsters and Critics, the series proved equally popular with viewers Monday night. 

“The response from viewers and critics to Men of a Certain Age has been amazing,” said Michael Wright, executive vice president, head of programming for TNT, TBS and Turner Classic Movies (TCM).  “I’m proud of everyone involved with this wonderful series, especially its creators, Ray Romano and Mike Royce, and the great cast headed by Ray, Andre Braugher and Scott Bakula.”

Overall, Men Of A Certain Age was watched by 5,397,000 viewers.

The show focuses on Joe (Romano), a friendly, 48-year old, slightly neurotic, recently separated father of two who struggles with gambling issues and owns and runs a party store.  He has two best friends: Owen (Braugher), an over-eater family man who is a car salesman at his dad’s dealership; and Terry (Bakula), a vain, commitment-phobe still-struggling-to-make-it actor.