The Taxi Driver Reference You Likely Missed In Everybody Loves Raymond
"Everybody Loves Raymond" — and so does Travis Bickle.
This strange sentiment was epically proven back in the 1990s during an episode of Ray Romano's iconic CBS sitcom, which featured an easy-to-miss reference to Martin Scorsese's "Taxi Driver." In case you've been living under a cinematic rock, the 1976 classic — which focuses on New York City taxi driver and discharged Vietnam vet Travis Bickle (Robert De Niro) as he struggles with loneliness and post-traumatic stress disorder — has been referenced or parodied countless times over the course of Hollywood history, with Bickle's infamous "You talking to me?" line being one of the most recognizable movie quotes of all time. In fact, it's the 10th Greatest Movie Quote Of All Time, according to the American Film Institute. But what also makes "Taxi Driver" so great is its symbolism and everlasting themes, one of which was famously brought forth by "Everybody Loves Raymond" actor Peter Boyle.
In "Taxi Driver," Boyle plays a veteran cabbie known as Wizard. We hear stories and other things from Wizard throughout the film, including a deep and meaningful conversation between him and Bickle, which wound up being referenced in "Everybody Loves Raymond."
'Don't worry so much'
It's a reference that only the most seasoned cinephile would notice on first watch, with it showing up in Season 2 of "Everybody Loves Raymond" during the 22nd episode "Six Feet Under" (via IMDb). In the episode, Ray Barone (Ray Romano) is having a midlife crisis after finding out that he's no longer 6 feet tall. Not exactly a Bickle-esque situation, but we're on the same wavelength.
Peter Boyle, who plays Ray's dad Frank, sits down with him during the episode and tries to talk about the meaning and circumstances surrounding life, much like he did as Wizard in "Taxi Driver." What results is a hilarious and near-identical conversation between father and son, with Boyle quoting his most famous lines from his convo with Bickle.
"You see, you do a thing, and that's what you are," Boyle's Frank Barone said in the "Everybody Loves Raymond" scene, which was posted online and highlighted by the Cinema Assault U.S.A. YouTube account. "One guy lives in Brooklyn," Frank added. "One guy lives in Sutton Place. Another guy's a lawyer, one guy is a doctor. Another guy dies, another guy gets well, people are born." Looking confused, Romano's Ray said to Frank: "What the hell are you talking about?" To which he replied, "Don't worry so much!" It's the exact advice that Wizard gave Bickle in "Taxi Driver," with his quote from the movie being: "You do a thing and that's what you are...I mean, one guy lives in Brooklyn. One guy lives in Sutton Place. You got a lawyer. Another guy's a doctor. Another guy dies. Another guy gets well. And, you know, people are born...Don't worry so much!"