Russian 'Raymond' adds 60 episodes

LONDON -- The Russian love affair with "Everybody Loves Raymond" is about to enter a new, more intense phase. Sony Pictures Television has greenlit a complete season of 60 bespoke Russian episodes of the U.S. laffer known locally as "The Voronins." This marks the first time a full season of the format will be written and produced outside the U.S., with the storyline extending beyond the original series, according to SPT. SPT has already adapted all 210 episodes of "Everybody Loves Raymond in Russia" for local web, CTC. The U.S. scripts ran out toward the end of the last season. Russian and Yank writers will collaborate in Moscow on the new shows, also destined for CTC. Team involves Jeremy Stevens, who worked on the U.S. version. Production is expected to bow in the first half of 2012, with an anticipated fall broadcast. Other international adaptations of "Everybody Loves Raymond" are produced in the Middle East, Poland and Israel. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com