Ep 4. Pet the Bunny

In Everybody Loves Raymond season 7 episode 4, titled Pet the Bunny, we see Ray struggling to come up with a story idea for his column at Newsday. However, his father Frank, played by Peter Boyle, has a solution for the writer's block - a bunny that he caught in his backyard. Frank suggests that Ray can use this incident to write a story, which Ray dismisses at first, but eventually, he agrees to pet the bunny for inspiration.

Meanwhile, Debra, played by Patricia Heaton, is upset that Ray has left her to deal with all the household chores. She convinces him to take the bunny to the vet's office, an errand that Ray initially agrees to do alone. But when he is unable to hold onto the bunny in the car, he convinces his father to come along with him.

Once they arrive at the vet's office, they soon realize that they have forgotten the bunny in the car and rush back to retrieve it, resulting in a hilarious sequence of events. The vet, played by Rena Sofer, is not amused by their antics but does manage to examine the bunny and gives them some advice. Ray decides to use some of this information to write his story, but he struggles to make a connection between the bunny and his life.

As the episode progresses, Frank becomes increasingly attached to the bunny and even names it Hoppy. He insists on keeping it as a pet, even if it means driving his wife Marie, played by Doris Roberts, crazy. Marie is not a fan of the bunny but is willing to tolerate it until it starts damaging her beloved yard. This leads to a confrontation between her and Frank, with Ray caught in the middle trying to avoid taking sides.

In the end, Ray is able to use the story of the bunny and its effects on his family to create a compelling column that is well received by his editor. His family life also gets back on track as Frank reluctantly gives up Hoppy, but not before Marie suggests that he could catch a squirrel instead.

Overall, the episode is a hilarious commentary on the challenges of finding inspiration, dealing with family drama, and navigating the finer points of pet ownership. With expertly crafted dialogue and comedic timing, it is a standout episode in the series that will leave viewers laughing out loud.