Ep 21. The Model

Ray Romano stars as Ray Barone, a sports newspaper writer and family man living in Long Island, New York, in the hit sitcom "Everybody Loves Raymond." He's married to Debra (Patricia Heaton), and they have three kids: Ally (Madylin Sweeten), Michael (Sullivan Sweeten), and Geoffrey (Sawyer Sweeten). Ray's parents, Frank (Peter Boyle) and Marie (Doris Roberts), live across the street, and his brother, Robert (Brad Garrett), is a police officer who often feels overshadowed by Ray's success.

In season 8, episode 21, titled "The Model," much of the episode centers around Ally, Ray and Debra's teenage daughter, who dreams of becoming a model. She's excited when she gets scouted at the mall by a modeling agent, and even more thrilled when she's invited to a casting call in the city.

Debra is worried about the whole thing, though. She's concerned about the shady reputation of the modeling industry, and she doesn't want Ally to be taken advantage of. Ray, on the other hand, is more focused on the potential fame and fortune that could come with modeling.

As Ally prepares for her casting call, she becomes increasingly obsessed with her appearance. She goes on a juice cleanse, dyes her hair and borrows Debra's clothing in a bid to impress the casting directors. Meanwhile, Debra is annoyed that Ray doesn't seem to be taking her concerns seriously, and is instead feeding into Ally's obsession.

Things come to a head when Ally is offered a job and told she needs to lose some weight and tone up to fit into the clothing. Debra is furious, feeling that this is exactly what she was worried about: Ally being told she's not good enough and being put under pressure to change her body.

Ray, however, is excited about the job offer, and pushes Ally to take it. Debra and Ray argue about it, with Debra insisting that they need to protect Ally and not let her be sucked into an industry that's full of pressure and unrealistic expectations.

Eventually, Ray sees Debra's point of view, and they have a heart-to-heart about their differing attitudes towards Ally's modeling aspirations. They decide to support Ally in a way that's healthy and positive, and to help her understand that her worth isn't solely based on her appearance.

Meanwhile, Robert is dealing with his own insecurities about his job. He's been passed over for a promotion yet again, and feels like he's stuck in a rut. He's not sure what to do, but after some encouragement from Ray, he decides to apply for a job as a detective.

Overall, "The Model" is a classic episode of "Everybody Loves Raymond" that touches on issues and themes that are still relevant today. It's a humorous take on the world of modeling, but also an insightful look at the pressures that young people face when it comes to body image and self-worth.