8.5/102 votes#1 - The Cult
Season 7 Episode 1 - Aired 9/23/2002
Depressed that Marie and Debra can't seem to resolve their differences, Robert decides to join a support group that the family believes is a cult. After taking the feud between Marie and Debra very hard, Robert's cousin Gerard convinces him to attend a ""Pathway"" meeting – a group seeking the path to inner peace and unlocking one's potential. Although Robert is rejuvenated by his encounter with ""Pathway,"" the family is concerned it's a cult and they convince Ray to go to a meeting to see what Robert's gotten himself into.
Director: Kenneth Shapiro
Writer: Phil Rosenthal
8.5/102 votes#2 - Thank You Notes
Season 8 Episode 2 - Aired 9/29/2003
Marie instantly tries to get the upper hand in her relationship with her new daughter-in-law when Amy and Robert return from their honeymoon, but Debra steps in, determined to stop Marie's meddling once and for all, which horrifies the guys.
Director: Kenneth Shapiro
Writer: Phil Rosenthal
7.0/101 votes#3 - Ray's Journal
Season 5 Episode 14 - Aired 2/5/2001
Ray is mortified when he realizes that Marie used to read the personal journal he kept as a teenager. When Marie blurts out an embarrassing incident from Ray's past, he can't figure out how she could have possibly known that information. That is, until he discovers that she must have broken the secret code he used when writing in his journal. And in the process, his mother has learned about his most personal, and perverted, thoughts.
Director: Kenneth Shapiro
Writer: Mike Royce
7.0/101 votes#4 - Ray's Ring
Season 6 Episode 4 - Aired 10/15/2001
When Ray gets hit on at the airport after losing his wedding ring on a business trip Debra gets jealous and tries to get back at him by going to the supermarket without her wedding ring but her plan backfires on her when nobody pays attention to her.
Director: Kenneth Shapiro
Writer: Mike Royce
7.0/101 votes#5 - Counseling
Season 7 Episode 2 - Aired 9/23/2002
After arguing with Ray over his inability to help her with the housework, Debra becomes intrigued when their friends, Linda and Bernie, mention they've been seeing a marriage counselor. Although Ray is completely against the idea, he quickly adopts a cooperative attitude when they meet the therapist, Pamela, who instantly takes a liking to Ray when he claims that he'll do anything to make his marriage work. Frustrated by the session, Debra accuses Ray of acting phony during therapy. Marie intercedes and conducts a mock ""therapy"" session with them which leads to a breakthrough that leaves even Ray horrified.
Director: Kenneth Shapiro
Writer: Mike Royce
7.0/101 votes#6 - Home From School
Season 8 Episode 3 - Aired 10/6/2003
When Michael stays home from school for two days in a row, Ray suspects he simply has homework he hasn't finished. While everyone in the family has an explanation for Michael's sudden aversion to school, Ray decides the tough love approach is the way to go – making Michael spend the day without television, games or comics. When Michael is forced to watch Ray work in his downstairs office, the sheer boredom leads him to finally confide why he doesn't want to return to class.
Director: Kenneth Shapiro
Writer: Steve Skrovan
7.0/101 votes#7 - Liars
Season 8 Episode 7 - Aired 11/10/2003
Ray and Debra get caught up in telling lies in order to cover up previous falsehoods after Ray fibs to Marie about why he missed a scheduled time with her. When the lies snowball into an out of control degree, Marie picks up the scent and traces everything back to the initial fib. Marie seems to have won – until Frank reveals a damaging lie of her own.
Director: Kenneth Shapiro
Writer: Tucker Cawley
7.0/101 votes#8 - The Bird
Season 8 Episode 9 - Aired 11/24/2003
Robert and Amy convince their families to spend Thanksgiving together. When the Barones arrive at the Pennsylvania home of Amy's parents, they find that their differing family traditions encourage lots of lively conversation. If only the MacDougals owned a television set! Things start to come together when the families separate into Pilgrims and Indians for the annual MacDougal Thanksgiving Family Pageant. All is well until a bird flies into the house and Pat McDougal decides to ""put it out of it's misery.""
Director: Kenneth Shapiro
Writer: Tucker Cawley
7.0/101 votes#9 - The Home
Season 9 Episode 1 - Aired 9/20/2004
Frank and Marie return from a trip down to a retirement home in New Jersey when they tell the family that they plan on moving there. Everyone, besides Frank and Marie, is overjoyed fro hearing the news. Marie and Frank sell their own house to Robert and Amy for $26,000. On they day of their moving, however, Debra reveals some mixed feelings about their moving and doesn't feel right about it.
Director: Kenneth Shapiro
Writer: Tucker Cawley
7.0/101 votes#10 - Angry Sex
Season 9 Episode 3 - Aired 10/4/2004
When Debra and Marie have a big fight, Ray is struck with worry when he thinks Debra's anger will cause her to forget about their sex that night. But, it is the opposite when that anger causes a more intense night with sex. Ray really begins to enjoy it and realizes that the angrier Debra gets at Marie, the better sex they have. When Marie comes over to apologize, Ray makes up a chain of lies to both Marie and Debra so it doesn't ruin his plans.
Director: Kenneth Shapiro
Writer: Lew Schneider
7.0/101 votes#11 - P.T. & A
Season 9 Episode 4 - Aired 10/11/2004
Ray is elected to tell Debra that members of the P.T.A. have problems with the way she dresses.
Director: Kenneth Shapiro
Writer: Tom Caltabiano
7.0/101 votes#12 - Boys' Therapy
Season 9 Episode 6 - Aired 11/15/2004
The women pressure Ray and Frank to accompany Robert to one of his therapy sessions. Instead, they go out to the track, and then put on an act in front of the wives. However, even though they skip the therapy sessions, the three unwittingly get closer.
Director: Kenneth Shapiro
Writer: Phil Rosenthal
6.0/101 votes#13 - Say Uncle
Season 5 Episode 22 - Aired 5/7/2001
When Ray realizes that his kids would rather spend time with their Uncle Robert than with him, he decides to do something about the situation. When Robert makes the observation that, as a parent, Ray finds it boring to be around his kids, Debra couldn't agree more. She then suggests that Ray follow Robert's example and to try to have more fun with his children. But, when her own parenting skills are called into question by Marie, Debra quickly changes her tune and rallies behind Ray, insisting that they are both very involved parents.
Director: Kenneth Shapiro
Writer: Aaron Shure
6.0/102 votes#14 - Marie's Sculpture
Season 6 Episode 5 - Aired 10/22/2001
Ray and Debra are horrified when Marie presents them with an abstract sculpture she made in art class which bears a striking resemblance to a part of the female anatomy. Frank, on the other hand, is totally mesmerized by Marie's creation, though neither he nor Marie have picked up on it's erotic resemblance.
Director: Kenneth Shapiro
Writer: Jennifer Crittenden
6.0/101 votes#15 - Whose Side Are You On?
Season 8 Episode 13 - Aired 2/2/2004
After realizing that Debra places bets with the kids on his questionable behavior traits, Ray is disgusted that his own children now think he's a ""doof."" When reflecting upon his own childhood, Ray remembers that Marie used to complain about Frank in front of him all the time – making him think his dad was a loser. Concerned that his own kids will think of him the same way as Frank, Ray contemplates how to get the kids back on his side.
Director: Kenneth Shapiro
Writer: Mike Royce
6.0/102 votes#16 - Party Dress
Season 8 Episode 15 - Aired 2/16/2004
Ray and Debra disagree over whether they should purchase an expensive dress for Ally to wear to a friend's formal 13th birthday party. Debra thinks they should, but Ray can't see spending $250 for a dress that will be worn only once. The price tag has Ray seething, especially since the mom he loves to hate, Peggy, is hosting the soiree. Naturally, Marie takes her son's side.
Director: Kenneth Shapiro
Writer: Mike Scully
6.0/101 votes#17 - Ally's F
Season 9 Episode 5 - Aired 10/18/2004
After Ally comes home with an ""F"" on her report card, Debra feels she is not paying enough attention. Ray, however, feels it might be the teacher. After a small meeting, Ray goes on how Debra didn't do anything to stick up for Ally and how you should always stick up for your kids. Frank and Marie could relate to Ray's disobediance when he was in high school. But Debra finds out that Ally has a crush on Tommy Sanders, a boy in her class. When Debra confronts the teacher with this, it turns out that the teacher is a mean old bat that doesn't understand the trials kids go through.
Director: Kenneth Shapiro
Writer: Steve Skrovan
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Kenneth Shapiro Ratings Summary
"The Cult" is the best rated episode directed by Kenneth Shapiro. It scored 8.5/10 based on 2 votes. It was written by Phil Rosenthal. It aired on 9/23/2002 and is rated 0.0 points higher than their second-best episode, "Thank You Notes".