雷蒙德·巴隆是纽约一家体育报社的记者。他与妻子戴博拉、四岁的女儿艾利以及一对两岁的双胞胎,迈克和杰夫里,一起住在纽约长岛一栋宽敞漂亮的房子里。雷蒙德在工作上取得的优异成就和宽容风趣的性格让他成为家人的骄傲,以及所有人爱戴的对象;贤妻良母型的全职母亲戴博拉的精心经营更让这个年轻的五口之家成为美国三好家庭的文明典范……Michael is told to write a story and read it out in front of his parents. And when he does read it, they learns the title of his story is "The Angry Family". And they all think he is talking about them. And they go home and wonder if that's the impression they give him of who they are. Eventually they go into counseling.