Ep 20. Blabbermouths

Ray and Debra frantically try to put a lid on a sensitive family matter when they learn that Ray's family has been gossiping about them. When Debra finds out that Ray's mother, Marie, has been talking behind her back, she starts to worry about other members of her family's opinion of her as well. Ray admits to Debra that he thinks it's funny when people gossip, but starts to reconsider after it hits close to home.

The episode begins with Ray and Debra sitting in the park, discussing a present they're going to give Frank and Marie for their upcoming anniversary. Suddenly, their friends Gianni and Fred walk up to them and start teasing Ray about his childish sense of humor. They start making fun of Ray's dad jokes, which leads to Ray telling them the story of the time his dad, Frank, tried to teach him about the "birds and the bees." The story is inappropriate for the kids all present, so Debra interrupts and tells them to change the subject. Gianni and Fred start whispering to each other, and Debra can tell they are up to something.

At the grocery store, Debra runs into Marie and can tell that she's avoiding her. She confronts her, and Marie reveals that she's heard from "someone" that Ray and Debra are having marital problems. Debra is shocked, and Marie says that it was just a "silly rumor" that she heard from one of her friends. Debra tries to convince herself that it's not a big deal, but Ray is furious when he finds out. He confronts Gianni and Fred, who admit that they started the rumor. Ray realizes that the people he thought were his friends have been gossiping about him and his family.

As Ray and Debra try to figure out what to do, they start to wonder who else has heard the rumor. They start to worry about the opinion of Ray's family, who are known for gossiping about each other. They decide to go to Marie's house to try and clear things up, but Marie is still hesitant to talk to them. Finally, Ray's dad, Frank, reveals that he's heard the rumor too. Debra is mortified, and Ray starts to realize that gossip isn't as harmless as he once thought it was.

The rest of the episode follows Ray and Debra as they try to keep their family's dirty laundry from being aired in public. They are constantly worried about who knows what, and the tension between Ray and his family increases. Ray starts to understand how much damage gossip can do, and he and Debra make a vow to never let their friends or family be the subject of their jokes again. In the end, they are able to patch things up with Ray's family, but the experience has left them both shaken.

Overall, "Blabbermouths" is a hilarious and heartwarming episode of Everybody Loves Raymond that tackles the issue of gossip head-on. Ray and Debra's struggle to keep their family's problems private is both relatable and funny, and the episode does a great job of showing the negative effects that gossip can have on relationships. The episode is a great reminder that our words have power, and that we should always be careful about what we say about others.