Throughout the series when Ray comes home he calls Debra a different nickname. All of these were improvised by Ray Romano. Sometimes he would have to come up with as many as fifteen names depending on how many takes were required.
Robert's habit of touching his food to his chin was inspired by Ray Romano's brother, who had the same quirky mannerism.
Peter Boyle claims that he was aided in getting the part of Frank Barone by events prior to his audition in New York City. He had gotten lost and couldn't find the location of the audition, so when he showed up, he was agitated and sarcastic.
Ray Romano hated the title of the show so much, the producers made a deal with him that if he could make it a Top 10 show, they would change the name. The day the show cracked the Top 10, Romano went in and said it was time to change the title. He was told, "Well, we can't change it now. It's a Top 10 show."
According to Ray Romano, Patricia Heaton got the part of Debra because "she was the only one willing to kiss me on the lips in the auditions".