1 00:00:14,836 --> 00:00:29,476 Speaker 1: Pushkin. Hi. I'm Phil Donahue and I'm Marlowe Thomas, and 2 00:00:29,596 --> 00:00:32,556 Speaker 1: we're going on a series of double dates to find 3 00:00:32,556 --> 00:00:40,756 Speaker 1: out what makes a marriage last. Our date in Los 4 00:00:40,756 --> 00:00:44,716 Speaker 1: Angeles with Ray and Anna Romano involved a little more 5 00:00:44,796 --> 00:00:47,636 Speaker 1: staging than we were used to. That asked us to 6 00:00:47,676 --> 00:00:50,076 Speaker 1: meet at a hotel near their home. So we got 7 00:00:50,116 --> 00:00:52,156 Speaker 1: there a few hours early, and rather than sit in 8 00:00:52,156 --> 00:00:55,716 Speaker 1: a noisy lobby, we booked a room, ordered room service, 9 00:00:55,916 --> 00:00:59,036 Speaker 1: and then proceeded to rearrange all the furniture until the 10 00:00:59,116 --> 00:01:02,756 Speaker 1: setting was just right. Once they arrived, we all rated 11 00:01:02,756 --> 00:01:06,036 Speaker 1: the mini bar and everyone ate M and M's while 12 00:01:06,156 --> 00:01:10,116 Speaker 1: Marlowe struggled with the recording equipment. That has to I 13 00:01:10,116 --> 00:01:12,836 Speaker 1: can't believe you're doing it at all. Yeah, those are. 14 00:01:13,076 --> 00:01:15,476 Speaker 1: But then when you press this button, does it like? 15 00:01:15,636 --> 00:01:18,436 Speaker 1: Because it's something supposed to like, but I don't think. 16 00:01:18,516 --> 00:01:24,236 Speaker 1: Let's see here, but you sorted it out like a chance, Yes, 17 00:01:24,636 --> 00:01:27,996 Speaker 1: you had you had it upside down. Okay, well that's funny, 18 00:01:28,156 --> 00:01:33,676 Speaker 1: that's kind of my personality. We finally settled down to talk. Well, 19 00:01:33,676 --> 00:01:37,596 Speaker 1: first of all, you guys met how we worked together 20 00:01:37,636 --> 00:01:40,396 Speaker 1: at a bank bank. We were bank tellers, we were 21 00:01:40,396 --> 00:01:43,196 Speaker 1: really young, and I was bank teller. Oh, I think 22 00:01:43,236 --> 00:01:46,436 Speaker 1: I started there when I was eighteen. He wasn't there yet. 23 00:01:46,796 --> 00:01:49,396 Speaker 1: I started working there when I was twenty five. I 24 00:01:49,436 --> 00:01:52,756 Speaker 1: lived at home till I was twenty nine. Wow. Yeah, 25 00:01:52,876 --> 00:01:56,836 Speaker 1: so I drove my bike to work. I was pretty 26 00:01:56,916 --> 00:02:00,876 Speaker 1: much like not the new stud guy working at the bank. 27 00:02:01,156 --> 00:02:03,356 Speaker 1: Yeah when ye, when he started there, there was a 28 00:02:03,356 --> 00:02:05,836 Speaker 1: bunch of young girls. We all worked there, and we're like, oh, 29 00:02:05,836 --> 00:02:10,036 Speaker 1: there's a young guy starting here, yeah, you know or whatever. Um, 30 00:02:10,116 --> 00:02:12,796 Speaker 1: and then he strolled it on a bike. I was 31 00:02:12,836 --> 00:02:16,836 Speaker 1: just at late by the way, always ten. I should 32 00:02:17,436 --> 00:02:20,676 Speaker 1: back then. It wasn't going to change about two years. 33 00:02:20,676 --> 00:02:24,076 Speaker 1: And I left after two years, right, And then I 34 00:02:24,116 --> 00:02:28,596 Speaker 1: asked her out after I had left the bank. Yeah, 35 00:02:28,716 --> 00:02:32,636 Speaker 1: that's why I wasn't working anywhere. But little footnote she 36 00:02:32,756 --> 00:02:35,316 Speaker 1: was the third girl I asked out at the bank. 37 00:02:35,756 --> 00:02:41,796 Speaker 1: The first two said no, trust you get well, why 38 00:02:41,836 --> 00:02:43,876 Speaker 1: did you live at home? Was that like an Italian thing? 39 00:02:46,076 --> 00:02:48,756 Speaker 1: It was part that, But I think everyone in our 40 00:02:48,756 --> 00:02:52,596 Speaker 1: neighborhood stayed home till they were married, most most of them, 41 00:02:52,596 --> 00:02:56,676 Speaker 1: I would a lot of my buddies didn't move out 42 00:02:56,716 --> 00:02:59,516 Speaker 1: until they got married. I just happened to get married later. 43 00:03:00,436 --> 00:03:03,836 Speaker 1: But also I was kind of nowhere in my career 44 00:03:04,156 --> 00:03:07,556 Speaker 1: or what I wanted to do. I had dropped out 45 00:03:07,556 --> 00:03:11,196 Speaker 1: of college and I was kind of in nowhere land 46 00:03:11,636 --> 00:03:15,116 Speaker 1: until he met me. It all came together, and when 47 00:03:15,116 --> 00:03:17,796 Speaker 1: I met her was the same time I also started 48 00:03:17,836 --> 00:03:20,996 Speaker 1: doing stand up comedy. I always tell her she took 49 00:03:21,036 --> 00:03:23,196 Speaker 1: a gamble because she went out with a guy who 50 00:03:23,236 --> 00:03:25,756 Speaker 1: lived at home and rode a bike to work, and 51 00:03:25,836 --> 00:03:29,836 Speaker 1: now she has her own movie theater. Okay, all right, 52 00:03:29,916 --> 00:03:36,076 Speaker 1: will you deserve it? Yeah? Thank you, believe me. Well, 53 00:03:36,076 --> 00:03:38,796 Speaker 1: what was it about him? I mean, did I want 54 00:03:39,116 --> 00:03:43,556 Speaker 1: with a guy? Yeah? You know, honestly, I think it 55 00:03:43,676 --> 00:03:47,196 Speaker 1: just grew from a friendship into a relationship. So I 56 00:03:47,236 --> 00:03:50,716 Speaker 1: think we were friend he became friends, and he was 57 00:03:50,756 --> 00:03:53,596 Speaker 1: funny and he was kind and sweet. He really was 58 00:03:53,996 --> 00:03:58,116 Speaker 1: an easy personality. You know. We didn't have any expectations 59 00:03:58,196 --> 00:04:01,556 Speaker 1: when we were dating. It wasn't like and we just 60 00:04:01,636 --> 00:04:04,156 Speaker 1: kind of did it. It was like what Rocky says, 61 00:04:04,196 --> 00:04:07,236 Speaker 1: and U what's the home side of Rocky? It fills gaps. 62 00:04:07,756 --> 00:04:10,676 Speaker 1: He was, I got gaps, She got gaps. Together, we 63 00:04:10,756 --> 00:04:15,396 Speaker 1: filled gaps. I think that's true with us. We filled gaps. Yeah, 64 00:04:15,436 --> 00:04:18,036 Speaker 1: and so you didn't. So he looked like he was 65 00:04:18,076 --> 00:04:22,076 Speaker 1: going nowhere, so you could be Yeah, I didn't. I 66 00:04:22,116 --> 00:04:24,356 Speaker 1: didn't care. I guess it didn't matter. I didn't have 67 00:04:24,556 --> 00:04:26,436 Speaker 1: but to be. But to tell you the truth, I've 68 00:04:26,436 --> 00:04:30,476 Speaker 1: always said this, she would be happy if I was 69 00:04:30,516 --> 00:04:36,036 Speaker 1: a plumber, if a plumber made the same amount of money. Yeah, well, 70 00:04:36,196 --> 00:04:42,036 Speaker 1: you weren't looking to fix things up at the time. 71 00:04:42,076 --> 00:04:44,716 Speaker 1: I was like twenty seven. I guess I was about 72 00:04:44,716 --> 00:04:47,276 Speaker 1: a year and a half, two years into my stand up, 73 00:04:47,316 --> 00:04:50,276 Speaker 1: so it's still very early, still very early. I'm still 74 00:04:50,316 --> 00:04:53,676 Speaker 1: I'm still not making a living. I'm doing it at 75 00:04:53,756 --> 00:04:56,596 Speaker 1: night and I'm working with my friend who owns a 76 00:04:56,596 --> 00:04:59,916 Speaker 1: futime mattress company during the day. I never had the 77 00:05:00,036 --> 00:05:02,276 Speaker 1: idea this is going to be my career stand up 78 00:05:02,356 --> 00:05:04,876 Speaker 1: when we started dating, I just love to do it, 79 00:05:04,916 --> 00:05:07,836 Speaker 1: and I just kept doing it. You musn't trusted something 80 00:05:07,876 --> 00:05:10,876 Speaker 1: about him, right, He It was funny and he was 81 00:05:10,916 --> 00:05:14,116 Speaker 1: just kind. You know, he's just a good person. I 82 00:05:14,116 --> 00:05:22,876 Speaker 1: haven't heard the words yet. Did you did it take 83 00:05:22,916 --> 00:05:26,796 Speaker 1: you when you started dating to get married? Two years? Yeah? 84 00:05:26,836 --> 00:05:30,076 Speaker 1: Two years? Yeah, But I think we were both ready 85 00:05:30,156 --> 00:05:35,236 Speaker 1: to be married. I remember one time. I don't know 86 00:05:35,276 --> 00:05:39,236 Speaker 1: what the reason was, but I got jealous somehow. It 87 00:05:39,276 --> 00:05:41,876 Speaker 1: was the first time I felt like this, and I 88 00:05:41,876 --> 00:05:45,916 Speaker 1: don't know, I just felt like it kind of crossed over, 89 00:05:46,076 --> 00:05:53,596 Speaker 1: you know, for me. But I think we just both 90 00:05:53,676 --> 00:05:57,156 Speaker 1: had the same goals without really even talking about it. 91 00:05:57,236 --> 00:05:59,636 Speaker 1: You know, we both wanted kids and family, and that's 92 00:05:59,636 --> 00:06:03,196 Speaker 1: what we really wanted, so everything else was a bonus. 93 00:06:03,516 --> 00:06:07,676 Speaker 1: You know. It wasn't like a It just evolved. It 94 00:06:07,796 --> 00:06:13,116 Speaker 1: wasn't a shocking me proposing in her. No, No, it 95 00:06:13,236 --> 00:06:18,556 Speaker 1: just was a slow realization that that we both agree 96 00:06:19,076 --> 00:06:21,596 Speaker 1: we want to get married. So having lived with your 97 00:06:21,636 --> 00:06:24,276 Speaker 1: mom and dad all that time and he moved in 98 00:06:24,476 --> 00:06:27,356 Speaker 1: for the first time for yeah, I used to do 99 00:06:28,116 --> 00:06:31,276 Speaker 1: stories about that in might stand up. These are jokes, 100 00:06:31,316 --> 00:06:34,436 Speaker 1: but but these were true. Like day one when you 101 00:06:34,476 --> 00:06:39,356 Speaker 1: move in with someone is a crucial day because you 102 00:06:39,356 --> 00:06:41,716 Speaker 1: know there's decisions to be made on day one that 103 00:06:41,756 --> 00:06:44,116 Speaker 1: you don't think are important when you're living on your own, 104 00:06:44,476 --> 00:06:46,916 Speaker 1: like what side of the bed do you get? And 105 00:06:46,956 --> 00:06:49,676 Speaker 1: I thought that was trivial, and then I realized that's 106 00:06:49,716 --> 00:06:53,236 Speaker 1: your side for life right there, And I blew the call. 107 00:06:53,516 --> 00:06:59,116 Speaker 1: I didn't I didn't look at the TV. And yeah, 108 00:06:59,436 --> 00:07:02,076 Speaker 1: I think we were also brought up the same way 109 00:07:02,436 --> 00:07:05,876 Speaker 1: where his mom did you know, took care of the 110 00:07:05,916 --> 00:07:09,756 Speaker 1: man in the mouse. My mother very italian Us, But 111 00:07:09,796 --> 00:07:12,836 Speaker 1: I didn't do a lottle. First little launcher I ever 112 00:07:12,916 --> 00:07:15,036 Speaker 1: did was was when I got the TV show. I 113 00:07:15,116 --> 00:07:17,156 Speaker 1: had to come out of here by myself, and I 114 00:07:17,156 --> 00:07:18,916 Speaker 1: remember having to call you and say where do I 115 00:07:18,916 --> 00:07:22,636 Speaker 1: put the thing and whatever? Yeah. Yeah, so I think 116 00:07:22,636 --> 00:07:24,996 Speaker 1: we had a lot of the same background, so we 117 00:07:25,076 --> 00:07:28,276 Speaker 1: kind of just fell into our roles, which I wish 118 00:07:28,356 --> 00:07:30,796 Speaker 1: we didn't fall into those roles because I do everything. 119 00:07:30,876 --> 00:07:33,396 Speaker 1: But yeah, it wasn't like all of a sudden living 120 00:07:33,396 --> 00:07:36,156 Speaker 1: on my own. It was like I was still being 121 00:07:36,196 --> 00:07:41,276 Speaker 1: taken care of. That's the thing that you know, the 122 00:07:41,316 --> 00:07:43,676 Speaker 1: fact that you're both Italian and my mom was Sicilian. 123 00:07:43,756 --> 00:07:46,116 Speaker 1: My father's lemonade and there was a lot of screaming 124 00:07:46,116 --> 00:07:48,436 Speaker 1: in our house. Yeah. Bill always said in his house, 125 00:07:48,716 --> 00:07:52,596 Speaker 1: everything was very quiet, you know. Yea, his parents didn't fight. 126 00:07:52,956 --> 00:07:55,196 Speaker 1: I was a great shock to him because I'm because 127 00:07:55,196 --> 00:07:56,916 Speaker 1: you're a fighter and gonna hear it right away and 128 00:07:56,916 --> 00:07:58,436 Speaker 1: I'm through with it in three minutes. He on the 129 00:07:58,436 --> 00:08:03,756 Speaker 1: other hand. Yeah, I think that's it too. We get 130 00:08:03,756 --> 00:08:05,996 Speaker 1: mad and then it's over. You know we're done. Well, 131 00:08:06,076 --> 00:08:09,196 Speaker 1: how do you fight? Do you fight the same way? 132 00:08:09,356 --> 00:08:13,516 Speaker 1: We fight the same way? She yells at me normally 133 00:08:13,596 --> 00:08:17,276 Speaker 1: when we have a disagreement, I get loud, you getting 134 00:08:17,276 --> 00:08:20,636 Speaker 1: loud to me. I don't return it because I know 135 00:08:21,196 --> 00:08:24,516 Speaker 1: I'm always the one in trouble, so for me to 136 00:08:24,876 --> 00:08:26,996 Speaker 1: flip it on you, like, I don't think I have 137 00:08:27,036 --> 00:08:33,116 Speaker 1: the right, I'm glad I'm always the one. I think 138 00:08:33,156 --> 00:08:36,356 Speaker 1: she's also very good at um. Like I'm quick tempered 139 00:08:36,356 --> 00:08:38,716 Speaker 1: and I'll get mad and I don't think things through 140 00:08:38,796 --> 00:08:41,076 Speaker 1: and he'll be like, okay, all right, all right, calm 141 00:08:41,116 --> 00:08:43,076 Speaker 1: down for a second. You're the one that comes and 142 00:08:43,156 --> 00:08:45,516 Speaker 1: makes about Do you ever apologize after you've started that 143 00:08:45,716 --> 00:08:47,876 Speaker 1: or No, he's a one that you don't apologize to 144 00:08:47,916 --> 00:08:52,076 Speaker 1: each other a couple of times. I mean, it has 145 00:08:52,116 --> 00:08:54,676 Speaker 1: to be a big fight if it's stupid little fights. No, 146 00:08:55,596 --> 00:08:58,356 Speaker 1: we don't really apologize. We just get over it and that. 147 00:08:58,876 --> 00:09:00,596 Speaker 1: But even like not to go back to my act, 148 00:09:01,556 --> 00:09:04,356 Speaker 1: but it's all about a guy is always trying to 149 00:09:04,356 --> 00:09:08,436 Speaker 1: score points with his wife. And what I've what I've 150 00:09:08,476 --> 00:09:11,476 Speaker 1: realized is this game where we're trying to score points. 151 00:09:12,876 --> 00:09:17,076 Speaker 1: We're always behind. We're always behind. You never feel you 152 00:09:17,156 --> 00:09:19,916 Speaker 1: have to score points with me. I always I guess 153 00:09:19,916 --> 00:09:23,556 Speaker 1: I don't do anything wrong. No, no, it's not that 154 00:09:23,636 --> 00:09:25,836 Speaker 1: you don't do anything wrong. It's not. It's that you 155 00:09:25,916 --> 00:09:29,876 Speaker 1: do so much more good. You know where I feel like, 156 00:09:29,996 --> 00:09:32,236 Speaker 1: if I see the guy selling the flower on the corner, 157 00:09:32,676 --> 00:09:34,276 Speaker 1: you know, let me get it and bring it home 158 00:09:34,316 --> 00:09:36,956 Speaker 1: because it'll score some points. Where she doesn't feel that 159 00:09:37,236 --> 00:09:39,156 Speaker 1: she's a she's a head and points. Well, I think 160 00:09:39,156 --> 00:09:44,316 Speaker 1: that's true. Well, listen when I was doing my show 161 00:09:44,356 --> 00:09:46,356 Speaker 1: and all that, she's the one home with the four kids, 162 00:09:46,356 --> 00:09:48,996 Speaker 1: and she's the one and I'm the one going on 163 00:09:49,076 --> 00:09:51,796 Speaker 1: the road and going to wherever to film and going here. 164 00:09:52,676 --> 00:09:55,756 Speaker 1: Of course she's ahead and points. You know, she's the 165 00:09:55,796 --> 00:10:01,196 Speaker 1: one holding the fort down and I'm paying for the fort. 166 00:10:01,556 --> 00:10:08,076 Speaker 1: But thank god, that will. So trust is a big thing. 167 00:10:08,156 --> 00:10:11,036 Speaker 1: So trust was up a thing you guys had to 168 00:10:11,076 --> 00:10:14,236 Speaker 1: work on. You had that, Yeah, we had that. I 169 00:10:14,276 --> 00:10:18,116 Speaker 1: think for us it was he became the Hollywood star 170 00:10:18,836 --> 00:10:21,116 Speaker 1: and I really was like the stay at home mom 171 00:10:21,236 --> 00:10:23,996 Speaker 1: and I didn't have a career. I didn't have I 172 00:10:24,036 --> 00:10:27,436 Speaker 1: was not in this business. So I stayed in Queens 173 00:10:27,516 --> 00:10:29,836 Speaker 1: for the first season and he moved out. So he 174 00:10:29,876 --> 00:10:32,196 Speaker 1: was living with his single friend who was always looking 175 00:10:32,236 --> 00:10:37,196 Speaker 1: for girls, and I told him to every Raymond, I 176 00:10:37,236 --> 00:10:39,436 Speaker 1: stayed in Queens with my three kids. I didn't we 177 00:10:39,476 --> 00:10:45,636 Speaker 1: only had three. Him he living with this friend of his. 178 00:10:46,196 --> 00:10:47,916 Speaker 1: I told the friend, I go, you're not allowed to 179 00:10:47,916 --> 00:10:50,636 Speaker 1: bring girls up there. I don't care. I don't care. 180 00:10:50,716 --> 00:10:53,756 Speaker 1: We're paying for the apartment. You're not having girlfriends up there, 181 00:10:53,916 --> 00:10:56,916 Speaker 1: you know, because you know, now here's a new celebrity. 182 00:10:56,956 --> 00:10:59,956 Speaker 1: I don't know what it's like. You girls, you know, 183 00:11:00,036 --> 00:11:02,756 Speaker 1: are looking for the next best thing. And I just 184 00:11:02,916 --> 00:11:04,556 Speaker 1: I didn't want. Of course, I don't want. I have 185 00:11:04,596 --> 00:11:07,196 Speaker 1: three little kids, you know. I I think he was 186 00:11:07,236 --> 00:11:12,516 Speaker 1: a lawyer, was very loyal, but still it doesn't even 187 00:11:12,516 --> 00:11:15,156 Speaker 1: matter that you're loyal. I worry about the other women, 188 00:11:15,196 --> 00:11:23,916 Speaker 1: the women, because they may force you to see So anyway, 189 00:11:23,956 --> 00:11:25,716 Speaker 1: there was a little bit of that, and maybe I 190 00:11:25,756 --> 00:11:29,276 Speaker 1: was a little like worried, but not I really I 191 00:11:29,316 --> 00:11:32,076 Speaker 1: trusted him. I really trusted phil la Ren asked my 192 00:11:32,156 --> 00:11:35,036 Speaker 1: husband out to lunch and I said, I don't think so, 193 00:11:35,556 --> 00:11:40,476 Speaker 1: I really do under the purpose. Well, the women in 194 00:11:40,556 --> 00:11:44,916 Speaker 1: my office would claim that if a female cast came 195 00:11:44,956 --> 00:11:49,156 Speaker 1: on to me, I didn't know what was happening. That 196 00:11:49,236 --> 00:11:51,476 Speaker 1: was good, that was a good thing. But he had 197 00:11:52,516 --> 00:11:56,596 Speaker 1: his show. Right the day after the show, she invited 198 00:11:56,676 --> 00:11:59,356 Speaker 1: him to lunch. He called me. I was in New York, 199 00:11:59,356 --> 00:12:01,316 Speaker 1: he was in Chicago. I was working and he was 200 00:12:01,356 --> 00:12:03,676 Speaker 1: working and he said to me, you know, Sophia Laurent 201 00:12:03,796 --> 00:12:06,396 Speaker 1: called me inviting me to lunch. What do you think. 202 00:12:07,596 --> 00:12:10,076 Speaker 1: I said, Well, if she had invited you to lunch 203 00:12:10,436 --> 00:12:13,076 Speaker 1: before she did the show, I'd understand that because that 204 00:12:13,116 --> 00:12:18,556 Speaker 1: means she wants to know. What if she invites you 205 00:12:18,596 --> 00:12:21,196 Speaker 1: to lunch after the show? Yeah, he said, yeah, that's 206 00:12:21,236 --> 00:12:23,116 Speaker 1: what I thought. I get more. The funny thing is 207 00:12:23,116 --> 00:12:25,356 Speaker 1: I get more jealous than she does. And I'm the 208 00:12:25,436 --> 00:12:27,396 Speaker 1: one in the scenes with the women here. They're not 209 00:12:27,436 --> 00:12:31,876 Speaker 1: a lot, but it's on occasion. Yeah. And I had 210 00:12:31,916 --> 00:12:35,636 Speaker 1: to do it with the show Vinyl that I did 211 00:12:35,916 --> 00:12:39,196 Speaker 1: about rock and roll in the seventies. It was on HBO. 212 00:12:39,276 --> 00:12:42,316 Speaker 1: It was like two two years ago, and I had 213 00:12:42,356 --> 00:12:45,316 Speaker 1: to do a scene with the threesome. So too young? 214 00:12:46,036 --> 00:12:49,956 Speaker 1: Are you're going to tell that part that the young girls, 215 00:12:50,796 --> 00:12:54,036 Speaker 1: young naked girls. Yeah, it was HBO, it was Mick 216 00:12:54,156 --> 00:12:56,156 Speaker 1: Jagger was producing it. It was it was on for 217 00:12:56,236 --> 00:12:59,036 Speaker 1: one season. It was about rock and roll in the seventies. 218 00:12:59,076 --> 00:13:03,076 Speaker 1: So I play a music producer or whatever, after which 219 00:13:03,076 --> 00:13:04,556 Speaker 1: she goes, all right, well, what was it like? Tell 220 00:13:04,596 --> 00:13:06,396 Speaker 1: me what the scene was like. I asked a lot 221 00:13:06,436 --> 00:13:09,916 Speaker 1: of details. I needed to hear the details. I told him. 222 00:13:09,916 --> 00:13:12,556 Speaker 1: I said, it's it's it's horrible. There's a guy there 223 00:13:12,596 --> 00:13:15,476 Speaker 1: and there's a boom mic there, and you know, we're 224 00:13:15,516 --> 00:13:22,036 Speaker 1: wearing protective stuff and she's sitting uh here whatever. I 225 00:13:22,116 --> 00:13:30,236 Speaker 1: was like, where's she sitting here? It's so anyway, So 226 00:13:30,316 --> 00:13:32,796 Speaker 1: that ends, and then she was in. It was in 227 00:13:32,836 --> 00:13:34,276 Speaker 1: New York. We filmed it, and then she had to 228 00:13:34,276 --> 00:13:36,396 Speaker 1: fly back to LA and I called her after the 229 00:13:36,436 --> 00:13:38,316 Speaker 1: plane lands and I go, how was your friend? She 230 00:13:38,316 --> 00:13:40,876 Speaker 1: said it was good. I sat next to this actor, 231 00:13:40,876 --> 00:13:45,916 Speaker 1: this young Latino actor, and he wanted me. He found 232 00:13:45,916 --> 00:13:49,796 Speaker 1: out I was your husband, and he gave me his card. 233 00:13:50,316 --> 00:13:52,996 Speaker 1: So right away, now I'm the jail. I'm like, what 234 00:13:53,036 --> 00:13:56,356 Speaker 1: do you mean he gave you his card? Question? She's like, 235 00:13:56,356 --> 00:13:57,876 Speaker 1: what do you mean he gave me his card? Because 236 00:13:57,876 --> 00:14:00,196 Speaker 1: he knows. I'm He goes, but why would he give 237 00:14:00,236 --> 00:14:02,156 Speaker 1: his card? I go and I kept going, and she's 238 00:14:02,196 --> 00:14:04,476 Speaker 1: getting annoyed. I go, what was his name? What was 239 00:14:04,516 --> 00:14:07,676 Speaker 1: his name? And she stops me and she goes, what 240 00:14:07,796 --> 00:14:09,396 Speaker 1: was the name of a girl that sat on your 241 00:14:09,476 --> 00:14:18,436 Speaker 1: coricks them up? Oh god? I did this movie with 242 00:14:18,556 --> 00:14:22,476 Speaker 1: Christmas Stofferson and we're in bed, you know, kissing and 243 00:14:22,556 --> 00:14:27,996 Speaker 1: whatever and whens and the scene was literally four minutes long. 244 00:14:28,036 --> 00:14:30,036 Speaker 1: And when the movie was over, he said, head is 245 00:14:30,036 --> 00:14:32,676 Speaker 1: the longest fucking love scene I've ever seen in my life. 246 00:14:37,636 --> 00:14:51,996 Speaker 1: We'll have more. After a quick break, we're back to 247 00:14:52,076 --> 00:14:56,436 Speaker 1: our conversation with Ray and Anna Romano. They've been together 248 00:14:56,556 --> 00:14:59,676 Speaker 1: for more than thirty years, not an easy thing to 249 00:14:59,716 --> 00:15:03,596 Speaker 1: do in Hollywood. So Marlowe asked, what's the glue that 250 00:15:03,756 --> 00:15:08,596 Speaker 1: keeps them together? It's that we're compatible. She's this person 251 00:15:08,716 --> 00:15:12,716 Speaker 1: on this person. I'm this person who performs, and part 252 00:15:12,756 --> 00:15:15,516 Speaker 1: of me needs attention and this and that that doesn't 253 00:15:15,556 --> 00:15:21,236 Speaker 1: threaten her and she doesn't feel neglected by that, you know, 254 00:15:21,636 --> 00:15:25,196 Speaker 1: and especially in this business, the pieces have to fit 255 00:15:25,356 --> 00:15:28,516 Speaker 1: that way. I feel like he needs that attention from 256 00:15:28,876 --> 00:15:31,956 Speaker 1: other people. All I want is the attention from my family. 257 00:15:32,076 --> 00:15:34,036 Speaker 1: I don't really need it from it and me, and 258 00:15:34,116 --> 00:15:36,356 Speaker 1: she doesn't even get it from me as much as 259 00:15:36,476 --> 00:15:43,196 Speaker 1: I should not yet she you Catholic Italian. Yeah, the 260 00:15:43,276 --> 00:15:48,436 Speaker 1: father and all that. You know, my father was very undemonstrative, 261 00:15:48,516 --> 00:15:50,796 Speaker 1: and it was just hard to show anything like that. 262 00:15:51,036 --> 00:15:52,996 Speaker 1: But you know what, I don't even think it's only 263 00:15:53,036 --> 00:15:56,116 Speaker 1: that because I notice. I think it's genetic. I think 264 00:15:56,156 --> 00:16:00,916 Speaker 1: it's something you're born with me. Maybe my father never 265 00:16:00,956 --> 00:16:03,956 Speaker 1: said he loved me to me. Never, So I go 266 00:16:03,996 --> 00:16:06,596 Speaker 1: out of my way to make sure my kids don't 267 00:16:06,636 --> 00:16:10,356 Speaker 1: feel that. But even when I do, it doesn't roll 268 00:16:10,516 --> 00:16:13,596 Speaker 1: off the tongue. It doesn't come natural. Yes, but I 269 00:16:13,676 --> 00:16:17,156 Speaker 1: do it, but so I feel self conscious doing it. 270 00:16:17,276 --> 00:16:20,596 Speaker 1: So they pick up on that a little bit. You know. Well, 271 00:16:20,876 --> 00:16:26,116 Speaker 1: my kids are now, they now say I love you. Yeah, 272 00:16:26,116 --> 00:16:30,236 Speaker 1: it was hard, hard, Yeah. Yeah. Was it hard for 273 00:16:30,276 --> 00:16:33,476 Speaker 1: you though to tell them? Yeah? Yeah, it's weird of 274 00:16:33,676 --> 00:16:36,196 Speaker 1: just some people. Yeah. The first time you told me 275 00:16:36,236 --> 00:16:39,916 Speaker 1: he loved me, we were in Chicago, near his home. 276 00:16:39,956 --> 00:16:42,836 Speaker 1: We were taking a walk and he said to me, Okay, 277 00:16:42,876 --> 00:16:47,996 Speaker 1: I'm going to play a card here for it, play 278 00:16:47,996 --> 00:16:51,316 Speaker 1: a card here, I said, yeah, he said, I love you, 279 00:16:51,756 --> 00:16:56,036 Speaker 1: I said, that's a card. He's trying to see if 280 00:16:56,036 --> 00:16:58,276 Speaker 1: you're trying to see if I can get it out, 281 00:16:59,476 --> 00:17:02,276 Speaker 1: because his parents never said I can come natural. My 282 00:17:02,356 --> 00:17:05,876 Speaker 1: parents said I love you all the time. We cried. 283 00:17:05,996 --> 00:17:10,636 Speaker 1: My father cried all the time for everybody, very right, right, Yeah, 284 00:17:10,716 --> 00:17:13,116 Speaker 1: it was completely different kind of Well, how about the 285 00:17:13,156 --> 00:17:17,196 Speaker 1: first time we kissed. Yeah, so the first time we kissed, 286 00:17:17,236 --> 00:17:19,916 Speaker 1: he drove me home to my mom's house and we 287 00:17:20,116 --> 00:17:23,596 Speaker 1: made out in the car. So we were done, and 288 00:17:24,556 --> 00:17:25,756 Speaker 1: I don't know what, you know, I don't know what 289 00:17:25,756 --> 00:17:27,596 Speaker 1: to do next week. So I look at him and 290 00:17:27,636 --> 00:17:29,996 Speaker 1: he literally is not looking at me. He can't even 291 00:17:29,996 --> 00:17:36,116 Speaker 1: look at me. He's looking straight straight ahead, and I'm like, um, okay, 292 00:17:36,236 --> 00:17:39,076 Speaker 1: so I'll see you tomorrow. I don't know you'll call me. 293 00:17:39,116 --> 00:17:43,676 Speaker 1: I don't know. It was so awkward. Ye afterwards was awkward, 294 00:17:43,756 --> 00:17:47,276 Speaker 1: but during it was fine. You know, So, what have 295 00:17:47,316 --> 00:17:52,396 Speaker 1: you learned from being married this long that you would 296 00:17:52,476 --> 00:17:57,236 Speaker 1: pass on? Well? I think you shouldn't decide until you 297 00:17:57,716 --> 00:18:00,356 Speaker 1: know the person totally, you know. I think by the 298 00:18:00,396 --> 00:18:03,756 Speaker 1: time we decided, you knew who I was and I 299 00:18:03,796 --> 00:18:05,996 Speaker 1: knew who you were. But we were together two years, 300 00:18:06,076 --> 00:18:08,676 Speaker 1: where some people date ten years, they get married and 301 00:18:08,716 --> 00:18:11,996 Speaker 1: then get supporting. And I never understood showing that, you know, 302 00:18:12,996 --> 00:18:17,676 Speaker 1: so what's the big surprise. Yeah, I don't know. What 303 00:18:17,796 --> 00:18:22,836 Speaker 1: about stress? Who handles it better? We stress over different things. 304 00:18:22,876 --> 00:18:26,116 Speaker 1: That's the problem. Why I'm worse is because I stress 305 00:18:26,196 --> 00:18:29,716 Speaker 1: over things that you really shouldn't. You know, I'm neurotic. 306 00:18:29,756 --> 00:18:34,196 Speaker 1: I'm the neurotic one. I'll stress over you know, what's 307 00:18:34,196 --> 00:18:36,996 Speaker 1: this bump, what's this thing that guy he hates me, 308 00:18:37,196 --> 00:18:40,916 Speaker 1: you know, stuff like that. But constantly all day there's 309 00:18:40,956 --> 00:18:46,356 Speaker 1: something you know I am. I'm neurotic. I'm I'm a hypochondriact. 310 00:18:46,716 --> 00:18:49,916 Speaker 1: I'm a pessimist, and I obsess over things where she 311 00:18:50,156 --> 00:18:55,356 Speaker 1: stresses over things like yeah, I stress over like real things, 312 00:18:55,356 --> 00:18:57,396 Speaker 1: and that's when I am the rational one. I stress 313 00:18:57,436 --> 00:18:59,516 Speaker 1: over the kids, you know, if they're not working, they're 314 00:18:59,516 --> 00:19:03,196 Speaker 1: not going to school, or it's just the real life 315 00:19:03,276 --> 00:19:06,436 Speaker 1: things where he's just obsessed over a little Yeah. Well, 316 00:19:06,436 --> 00:19:09,076 Speaker 1: there's a there's a great saying that a good marriage 317 00:19:09,276 --> 00:19:11,596 Speaker 1: people don't go crazy at the same time. We go 318 00:19:11,636 --> 00:19:16,116 Speaker 1: crazy at the same time. So when he panics, I panic, 319 00:19:16,116 --> 00:19:18,756 Speaker 1: and when I panic, key panics and I've been trying 320 00:19:18,756 --> 00:19:22,076 Speaker 1: to really work on that, which is when he panics, 321 00:19:22,476 --> 00:19:25,716 Speaker 1: I really try very hard not to and he tries 322 00:19:25,876 --> 00:19:27,516 Speaker 1: not think we do that. I think we do that 323 00:19:27,556 --> 00:19:31,596 Speaker 1: pretty good. Interviewing other people about marriage is really interesting 324 00:19:31,756 --> 00:19:33,636 Speaker 1: because every time we do, we get in the car 325 00:19:33,636 --> 00:19:35,316 Speaker 1: and say, well, do we do that? Do you do? 326 00:19:35,476 --> 00:19:37,716 Speaker 1: You know? One of the things we were thinking through 327 00:19:37,956 --> 00:19:42,756 Speaker 1: is about what we really get from the other that 328 00:19:42,796 --> 00:19:45,196 Speaker 1: we just can't get anyplace else, and not love and 329 00:19:45,276 --> 00:19:48,396 Speaker 1: sex and those things, but other emotional things. And I'm 330 00:19:48,436 --> 00:19:52,316 Speaker 1: a very self reliant person. I'm very resourceful and tough 331 00:19:52,356 --> 00:19:55,276 Speaker 1: and all that. But when I get blue or down, 332 00:19:56,636 --> 00:19:59,836 Speaker 1: only one person can make it better, and that's Phil. 333 00:20:00,156 --> 00:20:03,076 Speaker 1: He will talk me out of where I put myself. 334 00:20:03,076 --> 00:20:04,916 Speaker 1: And one of those people who always feels I said 335 00:20:04,956 --> 00:20:07,876 Speaker 1: the wrong thing somewhere and did you see that person's face? 336 00:20:07,876 --> 00:20:09,956 Speaker 1: I mean, I really, why did I say that then? 337 00:20:10,116 --> 00:20:12,836 Speaker 1: Because are you kidding? You're the most interesting person at 338 00:20:12,876 --> 00:20:15,916 Speaker 1: the party. Are you crazy? You know? He'll just bring 339 00:20:15,916 --> 00:20:19,596 Speaker 1: me all the way from zero up. So I'm trying 340 00:20:19,596 --> 00:20:22,796 Speaker 1: to figure out how that If there's that in U guys, 341 00:20:23,036 --> 00:20:26,116 Speaker 1: I think, well, I get what I get from her 342 00:20:26,316 --> 00:20:29,076 Speaker 1: is the truth. You know, in this business where everyone 343 00:20:29,116 --> 00:20:32,716 Speaker 1: either is phony or kissing her ass. You know, I 344 00:20:32,756 --> 00:20:36,076 Speaker 1: know that's not going to happen with her. She's just 345 00:20:36,116 --> 00:20:39,236 Speaker 1: gonna tell me the truth and not be mean about it. 346 00:20:39,276 --> 00:20:41,836 Speaker 1: But it's exactly what I want. You know, you can 347 00:20:41,916 --> 00:20:46,196 Speaker 1: count on it. Yes, perfect example. And when Everybody Loves 348 00:20:46,276 --> 00:20:50,196 Speaker 1: Raymond premiered, I was in LA and she was home 349 00:20:50,236 --> 00:20:52,916 Speaker 1: with the kids, and so to celebrate, we were going 350 00:20:52,956 --> 00:20:55,716 Speaker 1: to go to Vegas, me and Kevin James, my buddy. 351 00:20:56,316 --> 00:20:58,716 Speaker 1: And when I told her We're going to Vegas, she was, oh, 352 00:20:58,716 --> 00:21:01,236 Speaker 1: you're going to Vegas. I'm meantime, I'm home with the kids. 353 00:21:01,516 --> 00:21:03,476 Speaker 1: I go, but my show premiered, and I was kind 354 00:21:03,476 --> 00:21:07,556 Speaker 1: of being mockingly cocky, you know, I was saying, do 355 00:21:07,596 --> 00:21:11,876 Speaker 1: you understand what is happening right now? I'm being broadcast 356 00:21:11,956 --> 00:21:15,276 Speaker 1: in front of the whole United States? Okay, thirty million 357 00:21:15,316 --> 00:21:17,036 Speaker 1: people are going to see me tonight. You know, I'm 358 00:21:17,036 --> 00:21:21,756 Speaker 1: just trying to be annoying whatever. I'm going to be 359 00:21:21,756 --> 00:21:25,036 Speaker 1: a star tomorrow, And to which she said, You're still 360 00:21:25,076 --> 00:21:34,956 Speaker 1: the dick I married. That was so wonderful. We had 361 00:21:34,996 --> 00:21:37,956 Speaker 1: such a great time with ray and Anna. After we 362 00:21:38,036 --> 00:21:41,596 Speaker 1: wrapped up. We realized we had completely forgotten to ask 363 00:21:41,636 --> 00:21:44,796 Speaker 1: about one very important experience that they had gone through together. 364 00:21:45,556 --> 00:21:48,276 Speaker 1: Days later, we called them on the phone to hear 365 00:21:48,356 --> 00:21:52,916 Speaker 1: the story. So, were you alone when you got the news, Anna, 366 00:21:53,116 --> 00:21:55,116 Speaker 1: or were you was rayed with you with the doctor? 367 00:21:55,236 --> 00:21:59,316 Speaker 1: How did it happen? Well, the kind of caused this 368 00:21:59,436 --> 00:22:02,436 Speaker 1: found a lump, So we did a mammogram and they 369 00:22:02,516 --> 00:22:05,636 Speaker 1: found something. I picked up the phone. You were crying 370 00:22:06,916 --> 00:22:09,836 Speaker 1: and I thought immediately thought it was my father because 371 00:22:09,876 --> 00:22:14,836 Speaker 1: my father was was close to to leaving our Yeah, 372 00:22:14,916 --> 00:22:19,196 Speaker 1: and then you told me that ye yeah, yeah, yeah, 373 00:22:19,196 --> 00:22:22,076 Speaker 1: I got I was very upset. And then you went 374 00:22:22,076 --> 00:22:24,316 Speaker 1: for the biopsy. Yeah. We had to wait a whole 375 00:22:24,316 --> 00:22:26,796 Speaker 1: weekend to get the results. And then when we got 376 00:22:26,796 --> 00:22:29,836 Speaker 1: the results, it was like Monday morning. At night, Monday morning, 377 00:22:29,876 --> 00:22:32,276 Speaker 1: we were together because we were waiting for him for 378 00:22:32,316 --> 00:22:34,796 Speaker 1: them to call. You know, yeah, we called from the bathroom. 379 00:22:34,796 --> 00:22:36,636 Speaker 1: I remember, we were in the bathroom. You know, it's 380 00:22:36,756 --> 00:22:39,356 Speaker 1: very nerve, you're nervous. All weekend. We were hosting a 381 00:22:39,476 --> 00:22:44,516 Speaker 1: Super Bowl party. That weekend. We had fifteen fifty at 382 00:22:44,596 --> 00:22:47,156 Speaker 1: least people over our house and we just had to 383 00:22:47,356 --> 00:22:52,316 Speaker 1: you know, uh, through it. That's sure. That was very scary, Yeah, 384 00:22:52,596 --> 00:22:55,156 Speaker 1: very very But we were first trying to say, look, 385 00:22:55,796 --> 00:22:58,916 Speaker 1: let's not let's not think it's anything until we know 386 00:22:58,996 --> 00:23:01,436 Speaker 1: it's something. You know that. I think it was like 387 00:23:01,596 --> 00:23:04,316 Speaker 1: nine am on a Monday they called us. You know, 388 00:23:04,596 --> 00:23:09,836 Speaker 1: first we kind of got emotional and um, but then 389 00:23:09,836 --> 00:23:12,756 Speaker 1: we immediately wanted to didn't want to waste any time, 390 00:23:12,956 --> 00:23:15,716 Speaker 1: you know. I remember I had to call my manager 391 00:23:15,796 --> 00:23:18,756 Speaker 1: and cancel. It kind of hit me then when I 392 00:23:18,756 --> 00:23:21,676 Speaker 1: had to tell him why, Um, I was in my member, 393 00:23:21,716 --> 00:23:23,196 Speaker 1: I was in the closet, and I got a little. 394 00:23:23,556 --> 00:23:26,676 Speaker 1: I got a little. It overtook me a little bit. 395 00:23:27,076 --> 00:23:29,356 Speaker 1: So at that moment when you got the phone call, 396 00:23:29,996 --> 00:23:34,316 Speaker 1: they said, um, so it is breast cancer. And of course, 397 00:23:34,636 --> 00:23:37,836 Speaker 1: you know whatever, I'm going to get emotional. I know, 398 00:23:39,076 --> 00:23:42,036 Speaker 1: wouldn't I'm getting emotional listening to it. I don't know. 399 00:23:42,076 --> 00:23:45,996 Speaker 1: I think when you get the news just well, I 400 00:23:46,076 --> 00:23:49,436 Speaker 1: think I was all weekend just trying to convince myself, 401 00:23:49,796 --> 00:23:51,756 Speaker 1: well it's not it's not going to be that. You know. 402 00:23:51,916 --> 00:23:55,516 Speaker 1: I hadn't mind you. Ray is such a hypochondriac. He's 403 00:23:55,556 --> 00:23:57,756 Speaker 1: always like, I think I have stomach cancer. I think 404 00:23:57,796 --> 00:24:01,356 Speaker 1: I have this cancer. It's funny, because it's not funny. 405 00:24:01,356 --> 00:24:03,316 Speaker 1: But I did say to him, I go, you're the 406 00:24:03,396 --> 00:24:06,276 Speaker 1: one who always thinks who have cancer. I never do, 407 00:24:06,436 --> 00:24:08,916 Speaker 1: and I'm the one who gets it, you know. But 408 00:24:09,396 --> 00:24:11,316 Speaker 1: I'm glad it was me and my youth because at 409 00:24:11,356 --> 00:24:14,756 Speaker 1: least I guess I'm stronger maybe in that, I don't know. 410 00:24:15,396 --> 00:24:19,156 Speaker 1: It was a very emotional period because the also the 411 00:24:19,236 --> 00:24:21,916 Speaker 1: day you had your surgery was the day my father 412 00:24:22,036 --> 00:24:25,956 Speaker 1: passed away. And I remember, Yeah, we were driving to 413 00:24:26,036 --> 00:24:29,036 Speaker 1: the hospital, you know, at like I don't know, six am, 414 00:24:29,196 --> 00:24:32,516 Speaker 1: and my mother in law called us to day they 415 00:24:32,556 --> 00:24:34,996 Speaker 1: think today is going to be the day that he passes. 416 00:24:35,316 --> 00:24:38,796 Speaker 1: I don't know. And while you were getting prepped, my 417 00:24:38,876 --> 00:24:40,556 Speaker 1: mother called me and told me he passed away. And 418 00:24:40,556 --> 00:24:43,196 Speaker 1: then and then I saw you before you went in, 419 00:24:43,276 --> 00:24:45,636 Speaker 1: but I didn't tell you. He said, how'd you father? 420 00:24:45,796 --> 00:24:47,956 Speaker 1: But I didn't want to tell you then. But then 421 00:24:47,996 --> 00:24:52,316 Speaker 1: we kind of, you know, we made like a connection 422 00:24:52,436 --> 00:24:57,516 Speaker 1: and a feeling that my father kind of went to 423 00:24:57,596 --> 00:25:02,836 Speaker 1: a place where he could look over you. Yeah. Now 424 00:25:02,876 --> 00:25:06,636 Speaker 1: I'm getting emotional and make sure that everything goes well 425 00:25:06,716 --> 00:25:11,516 Speaker 1: for you. You know, it's a lovely thought. Wow, I 426 00:25:11,636 --> 00:25:16,516 Speaker 1: learned how strong she is, you know, and and I 427 00:25:16,596 --> 00:25:21,116 Speaker 1: learned you know, I'm not the most tremonstous demonstrative man. 428 00:25:21,916 --> 00:25:26,476 Speaker 1: Um Anna knows this about me. Yeah, but yeah, when 429 00:25:26,556 --> 00:25:29,396 Speaker 1: something like this happens and you face the fact that 430 00:25:29,436 --> 00:25:36,076 Speaker 1: you may lose someone like this, it's kind of uh, 431 00:25:36,436 --> 00:25:39,076 Speaker 1: it shines a light on how much you love this person, 432 00:25:39,156 --> 00:25:45,116 Speaker 1: and U and I should say it. I should. Yes. 433 00:25:46,116 --> 00:25:51,156 Speaker 1: The reason this marriage works is because thankfully, um she 434 00:25:51,396 --> 00:25:54,276 Speaker 1: knows I love her. And you know, some women who 435 00:25:54,516 --> 00:25:56,756 Speaker 1: have to hear it out loud, it's not gonna go. 436 00:25:56,916 --> 00:25:58,596 Speaker 1: It's not gonna go that well when you're married to 437 00:25:58,596 --> 00:26:03,156 Speaker 1: a guy like me, you know. Well, it's pretty clear 438 00:26:03,196 --> 00:26:05,916 Speaker 1: how well it is going between Ray and Anna Romano. 439 00:26:06,476 --> 00:26:09,156 Speaker 1: And it was such fun hanging out with them. It 440 00:26:09,276 --> 00:26:13,516 Speaker 1: sure was. Until next time. I'm Phil Donahue and I'm 441 00:26:13,556 --> 00:26:17,556 Speaker 1: Marlo Thomas. Did you start telling her you loved then? 442 00:26:18,356 --> 00:26:27,836 Speaker 1: Now a couple more times? Double Day is a production 443 00:26:27,876 --> 00:26:31,716 Speaker 1: of Pushkin Industries. The show was created by US and 444 00:26:31,796 --> 00:26:36,996 Speaker 1: produced by Sarah Lilly. Michael Bahari is associate producer. Musical 445 00:26:37,036 --> 00:26:41,196 Speaker 1: adaptations of It Had to Be You by Cellwagon, Simfinette, 446 00:26:41,716 --> 00:26:46,036 Speaker 1: Marlo and I are executive producers, along with Mia Lobell 447 00:26:46,276 --> 00:26:51,836 Speaker 1: and Letal Molad from Pushkin. Special thanks to Jacob Wiseberg, 448 00:26:52,156 --> 00:26:58,476 Speaker 1: Malcolm Gladwell, Heather Faine, John Snars, Carly Migliori, Eric Sandler, 449 00:26:58,796 --> 00:27:05,276 Speaker 1: Emily Rostek, Jason Gambrel, Paul Williams, and Bruce Klucker. If 450 00:27:05,276 --> 00:27:09,676 Speaker 1: you like our show, please remember to share, rate, and review. 451 00:27:10,636 --> 00:27:11,556 Speaker 1: Thanks for listening.