Two-time Emmy winner Rory Rosegarten sat down and chatted with this journalist at Landmark Diner on Long Island about his career in the entertainment business, and being a talent manager in the digital age.
Confucius once said: “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” This quote applies to Rory Rosegarten.
Rosegarten has served as an executive producer of the multi-Emmy award-winning comedy series “Everybody Loves Raymond,” and he is the long-time manager of such veteran comedians as Ray Romano, Tom Green, Gary Valentine, and Brian Regan, among others.
The digital age
On being a talent manager in the digital age, he said, “It’s interesting! There are a lot of changes and you need to stay ahead of the curve.”
“I go home on Friday and I know everything, and then, some 16-year-old kid invents a new thing on Saturday, the whole business changes, and there’s a new thing on Monday. So, you need to stay on top of everything or at least try to,” he elaborated.
Technology in his daily routine
Regarding his use of technology in his daily routine, he shared, “First of all, I am on the computer like everybody else. I use Zoom; I don’t make phone calls anymore, I just don’t do it.”
“I prefer the intimacy of talking to somebody and seeing them. I find that the meetings are better, and they are more enjoyable. It works well,” he noted.
Career-defining moments
On his career-defining moments, he responded, “I have been very fortunate and very thankful to have had the career that I’ve had. I’ve been lucky and I’ve been good at my job. You have to be in the right place at the right time. For anybody that tells you otherwise; they are lying.”
“I can tell you the story about ‘Everybody Loves Raymond’, which is the perfect example,” he revealed. “Les Moonves, who was then the president of CBS, took our tape home to watch over the weekend, and he ended up watching it with his family, and his family loved it.”
Rosegarten continued, “Les said, I’ll place you on Friday nights at 8:30 p.m. because it was the only spot that he had, and now you need to keep delivering the goods.”
“If Les had an argument with a producer on Friday, or got mad at someone he worked with, or simply forgot and never brought the tape home, I might not be sitting here right now,” he acknowledged.
“So, luck has a lot to do with it. Being in the right place at the right time,” Rosegarten acknowledged.
Rosegarten on his two Primetime Emmy wins
On his two Primetime Emmy wins for “Outstanding Comedy Series” for “Everybody Loves Raymond,” Rosegarten said, “I am very humbled by that. I don’t brag about them. They sit in my office. I look at them every day and I still can’t believe it.”
Rosegarten noted that these Emmy wins were a team effort. “It wasn’t just me! The Emmy wins were a real team effort. It was Phil Rosenthal, as well as Ray Romano, of course, and everyone involved. It was lightning in a bottle,” Rosegarten said.
“It was one of those shows that ran for nine years, everybody liked everybody, and there were no fights or drama,” he said.
“Ray is the greatest guy,” he exclaimed. “Ray is great in show business and all of that, and that really had a lot to do with why the show was so good. Phil Rosenthal, who was the showrunner, was extraordinary, and it was just a great group of people; it really was.”
Rosegarten on the possibility of an ‘Everybody Loves Raymond’ reboot
When asked if there would ever be an “Everybody Loves Raymond” reboot, Rosegarten said, “There will be no reboot. Pete Boyle is gone, Doris Roberts is gone, and it would never be as good. Imagine that the cast had the time with each other when it was on.”
Rosegarten continued, “I think it would be a cash grab if we did a reboot, and much to Ray and Phil’s opinion, they don’t want to do that. Phil once said, ‘you want to get off the stage’ before someone says ‘hey, get off the stage’ and that was a very interesting and good point.”
Advice for hopefuls who wish to go into the entertainment industry
For hopefuls that wish to get into the entertainment industry, Rosegarten said, “It’s a hard business now. It is going through a lot of changes. It is very exciting, if you are willing to move and boogie a little bit with the changes.”
“Also, be a little more patient,” he said. “Show business always finds its way. It always does, and it will find its way. There are a lot of new technologies, the streamers have changed everything, and cable is becoming obsolete (with one foot in the ice, and one foot in the grave).”
“When I first started, it was show business, and now it’s show industry,” he admitted. “Everyone is afraid, concerned, and everyone is being very careful, which makes sense, of course. In the long run, the public likes to be entertained.”
“Everybody likes to be entertained… everyone likes a comedy club or a great movie. Everyone likes the escape it brings. What ultimately happens is that you need to provide that to the people; however, it has changed how they do it,” he elaborated.
“Right now, they are trying to find the footing in what the next step is. Nobody watches TV like they used to. Five years ago, you could name the Top 5 shows, but you can’t do that now. So, build a better mousetrap; that’s all,” he explained.
AI on the future of the entertainment industry
Rosegarten shared his thoughts on artificial intelligence (AI) on the future of the entertainment industry.
“I think it’s healthy,” he said. “Again, I’m an older person. I think that people like to be entertained. It is a basic love. There is always a guy that hates movies and a woman that hates TV but generally, I think it’s very good and exciting.”
“I am always curious to see what is next and what is coming around the corner. Everybody is always scared about what they don’t understand, but AI is going to be like a tissue. It is going to be a part of your life. AI is inevitable,” he elaborated.
Rosegarten on his longtime working relationship with Ray Romano
He opened up about his long-term working relationship with acclaimed actor and comedian Ray Romano.
“I’ve been with Ray Romano now for 39 years, and I’ve never had an argument or a fight with him. I’ve known him longer than I’ve known my wife. Ray is a great guy; he is family to me. He is like a brother to me, and I love him. I have strong feelings for him,” Rosegarten said.
“Also, I’ve been with Brian Regan six months longer than I’ve been with Ray Romano,” he added.
Rosegarten on Ray Romano working with Sebastian Maniscalco
On Ray Romano working with Sebastian Maniscalco, Rosegarten said, “Ray did a cameo in Sebastian’s comedy series ‘Bookie.’ Sebastian had been in Ray’s movie ‘Somewhere in Queens,’ which came out two summers ago. Ray is pretty extraordinary.”
“Ray has the best grasp of material out of anybody I’ve ever seen,” he said. “When Ray makes a movie, he has an incredible way of working.”
“When Ray chooses to do a movie, he writes a backstory for his character: where he came from, where he went to school, and who his parents were because that helps him grab the character. Ray is very methodical and he attaches emotions to the character,” he explained.
Favorite motto to live by
On his favorite motto to live by, he shared, “I love life; I really do. I’m very fortunate. Show business is what I do, it’s not what I am. I love what I do and I love doing it but I do it because I want to live my best life with my family.”
Stage of his life
Regarding the title of the current chapter of his life, Rosegarten revealed, “Still Going.”
“I am never going to retire… ever,” he said. “I might slow down and do a little less, but I don’t think I’ll ever retire. I like it too much.”
“Of course, there are days that suck, there are days that I can’t wait to end, but then again, I always say ‘the only thing that is terrible about a Monday is that it’s not a Friday’,” he elaborated.
Best thing about being his age
On the best thing about being his age, Rosegarten said, “I have grandchildren and they are young. One is almost three, and the other is almost one year old. I love my family, I love my kids and my grandchildren.”
“I love my love and I am very fortunate,” he underscored. “I have an incredible wife, and she is the biggest person I know, as well as my biggest fan and my biggest critic. She’s the only one I listen to.”
Key to longevity in the industry
Regarding the key to longevity in the entertainment industry, Rosegarten said, “I like show business. I think of it on a day to day basis, not a decade to decade basis. I am a little amazed that I’ve been doing this for 42 years.”
Rosegarten defines Success
Regarding his definition of the word success, Rosegarten said, “Success is enjoying what you do and having a good time doing it. That’s success to me.”
“I have a life I never dreamed I would have,” he explained. “I’ve been able to do things I never dreamed I would be able to do. I am lucky, and I know that I am lucky. I never forget that I am lucky, and I am grateful that I am lucky.”
“Remember, it’s show business; it’s not cancer surgery. I don’t have to tell somebody that ‘they are going to die.’ It’s a different ball game. The fact that I get paid to do what I do is pretty extraordinary to me,” he explained.
Closing thoughts for the ‘Everybody Loves Raymond’ fans
For the fans and supporters, Rosegarten said, “The fans are very, very loyal. They are very dedicated and really nice people. They are passionate and they know so much about the show; they know things that I’ve forgotten, and that’s amazing to me, I am humbled by that. I am grateful for the ‘Everybody Loves Raymond’ fans.”
“The last episode of ‘Everybody Loves Raymond’ was on CBS back in 2005. We are working on our 30th anniversary special. How about that? I know there are legions of fans that love the show,” he revealed.
“The intimacy of that sit-com is what made it so wonderful,” he admitted. “The actors came into your house for half an hour every week, and they performed for the fans, and Ray is very thankful.”
“Ray will never do anything that — in any way — makes the show less than what it was. Ray always has very high standards to begin with, and he is a wonderful guy,” Rosegarten concluded.
To learn more about Rory Rosegarten, follow him on Instagram, and check out his IMDb page.
