Pasadena, Calif. – The news that comedian-actor Brad Garrett has split from his wife of seven years puts a whole new spin on his upcoming sitcom on Fox.
Garrett, who co-starred for eight years as the put-upon brother in “Everybody Loves Raymond,” stars in “‘Til Death,” premiering Thursday (7 p.m., KDVR-Channel 31). It’s about an old married couple (Garrett and Joely Fisher) who become neighbors of a pair of dewy-eyed newlyweds.
Garrett’s comically rueful take on marriage on the show reflects his own, he admitted. “Me talking about marriage would be like asking Bush to read the Constitution,” said Garrett, unhinging his long legs as he perches on a maroon sateen chair with cherry wood arms.
“If I told you everything I know about marriage we’d be here 12 seconds. I think Larry King has a better take on marriage than I do.
“He has the experience. If you’re good at marriage then you’re good at being able to give half of everything and move on because if you love her and care about her, you will leave,” he joked.
“It’s a blending of neuroses, a good marriage. I am by far not an expert, but then again you don’t have to be an expert to play one on TV. I played a big, dumb guy on ‘Raymond’ and I didn’t have to be one, but it helped,” he said.
The character, Eddie, he plays on “‘Til Death” is much more like him than his character on “Raymond,” he said.
“I have kind of a dark sardonic look about marriage and life and compatibility and everything. But I have a humor about it, and I am very honest. I realize what it is. Growing up I watched both of my parents get married several times and I learned a lot about that too.
“The pilot just rang true – that wonderful bliss of being a newlywed to the 20-year couple that is bound by the ankles,” said Garrett.
“First of all, nobody in a comedy wants to watch people getting along,” he says. “It’s not fun, and it’s not funny. So Eddie and Joy have their strengths and weaknesses. He’s a flawed man as I am. I’m not easy but I’m ‘out’ about it. I’m the first to tell it.”
Garrett said he had a drinking problem while he was touring as a stand-up comic, but he quit drinking because he wanted to have children.
“I got to the point in life where I said, ‘I’m a good guy and I want to stop hurting myself.’ Just me being honest and saying, ‘I’ve gotta grow up. It’s time.’ I wouldn’t be honest if I didn’t say I enjoy a few belts at dinner. But a few belts become six, seven belts and when you’re 6-foot 8, 250-pound guy it takes a few belts to get you there.
“I knew I am not the type of dad who could put my kid to bed at night with booze on my breath.”
Garrett, 46, and his estranged wife, Jill, have two children: Max, nearly 8, and Hope, 6 1/2.
“I met Jill and I started to have kids and April will be 10 years of never drinking. … My fatherhood is something I’m more proud of than anything. I have a lot of work to do in that area; you’re never perfect at it. It’s like comedy.”
