The Real O'Neals
GenreSitcom
Creator
Developer
  • David Windsor
  • Casey Johnson
Starring
NarratorNoah Galvin
ComposerTranscenders
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Num seasons2
Num episodes29
Executive producer
Producer
  • Pixie Wespiser
  • Kent Zbornak
Cinematography
  • Joaquin Sedillo
  • Walt Fraser
CameraSingle-camera
Runtime22 minutes
Company
NetworkABC
First airedMarch 2, 2016
Last airedMarch 14, 2017

The Real O'Neals is an American single-camera sitcom that aired on ABC from March 2, 2016, to March 14, 2017. The series, based on an idea by Dan Savage (who also served as an executive producer), was picked up to series on May 7, 2015.[1][2][3] The series was renewed for a second season on May 12, 2016,[4] which premiered on October 11, 2016.

On May 11, 2017, ABC canceled the series after two seasons.[5]

Plot

This series follows the turbulent day-to-day life of a dysfunctional yet close Chicago Catholic family as their formerly exemplary reputation suffers in their community when it is learned that matriarch Eileen and her husband, Pat, are seeking a divorce. Their oldest son, Jimmy, is anorexic. Their middle child, Kenny, is gay. Their youngest, Shannon, is questioning her faith.

Cast and characters

Main

  • Martha Plimpton as Eileen O'Neal, the matriarch of the O'Neal family. She is a judgemental perfectionist and is obsessed with her family's image in their Irish Catholic community. She struggles to loosen her controlling nature over her family.
  • Jay R. Ferguson as Pat O'Neal, a Chicago Police Department officer. He is more laid-back than Eileen and often struggles with her obsessive need for control. He moves into the basement of their house during their separation.
  • Noah Galvin as Kenneth "Kenny" Christopher Sebastian O'Neal, the 16-year-old middle child who comes out to his family as gay. His voice-over to the series comes from his internal thoughts and often features surreal fantasies.
  • Matthew Shively as James "Jimmy" O'Neal, the eldest child of the three O'Neal siblings. He is a wrestler who struggles with anorexia. Jimmy is a simple-minded and positive person.
  • Bebe Wood as Shannon O'Neal, the 14-year-old youngest child and the only daughter who is questioning her faith. She admits to being a kleptomaniac in the pilot episode.
  • Mary Hollis Inboden as Jodi O'Neal, Pat's ex-sister-in-law and closest friend.

Recurring

  • Matt Oberg as Vice Principal Clive Murray, Eileen's boyfriend and Pat's friend
  • Ramona Young as Allison Adler-Wong, Kenny's lesbian friend and the other member of the school's LGBT club
  • Hannah Marks as Mimi Waxberg, Kenny's ex-girlfriend
  • Sean Grandillo as Brett Young, Kenny's first boyfriend
  • Sarayu Blue as Marcia Worthman
  • Brian Huskey as Father Phil
  • Caleb Pierce as Stuart
  • Madison Iseman as Madison
  • Kaylee Bryant as Lacey
  • Laura Napoli as Bebe Wood
  • Jeremy Lawson as Jesus (Kenny's "shoulder angel")
  • Angela Kinsey as Sheila DeMars, Eileen's rival
  • Jessica-Snow Wilson as Gloria, Pat's colleague and love interest
  • Christopher Avila as Ethan, Shannon's boyfriend
  • Ray Ford as Steve the Colorist, Jodi's colleague
  • Lizzie White as Claire, Shannon's friend

Guest

Ratings

Season 1

No.TitleAir dateRating/share
(18–49)		Viewers
(millions)		DVR
(18–49)		DVR viewers
(millions)		Total
(18–49)		Total viewers
(millions)
1"Pilot"March 2, 20161.8/6[8]6.33[8]
2"The Real Papaya"March 2, 20161.9/6[8]6.01[8]
3"The Real Lent"March 8, 20161.1/4[9]3.99[9]
4"The Real F Word"March 15, 20161.0/4[10]3.47[10]
5"The Real Spring Fever"March 22, 20161.0/4[11]3.75[11]
6"The Real Man"March 29, 20161.0/4[12]3.67[12]
7"The Real Grandma"April 5, 20161.0/4[13]3.65[13]
8"The Real Book Club"April 19, 20160.8/3[14]2.98[14]
9"The Real Wedding"April 26, 20161.0/4[15]3.46[15]
10"The Real Retreat"May 3, 20160.9/3[16]3.29[16]
11"The Real Other Woman"May 10, 20160.9/3[17]3.15[17]
12"The Real Rules"May 17, 20160.9/3[18]3.25[18]
13"The Real Prom"May 24, 20161.1/4[19]4.21[19]

Reception

Ratings

SeasonTime slot (ET/PT)EpisodesSeason premiereSeason finaleTV seasonRankViewers
(in millions)
DateViewers
(in millions)		DateViewers
(in millions)
1Wednesday 8:30 pm(episode 1)
Wednesday 9:30 pm(episode 2)
Tuesday 8:30 pm (episodes 3–13)		13March 2, 20166.33[8]May 24, 20164.21[19]2015–16
  1. 106
4.46[20]
2Tuesday 9:30 pm16October 11, 20163.76[21]March 14, 20172.67[22]2016–17
  1. 118
3.71[23]

Critical reception

The series received a generally favorable response from critics. On review aggregator site Metacritic, The Real O'Neals has a metascore of 62 out of 100 based on 22 critics signifying "generally favorable reviews".[24] On another review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes, the show has a 67% approval rating, based on 27 reviews, with an average rating of 6.4/10. The site's critical consensus: "Funny writing and a solid cast save The Real O'Neals from traditional sitcom perils."[25]

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryNominee(s)Outcome
2016Dorian Awards[26]LGBTQ Show of the YearThe Real O'Neals
Unsung TV Show of the YearThe Real O'Neals
2017Humanitas Prize30 Minute Network or Syndicated TelevisionEpisode: "The Real Grandma"
Primetime Emmy AwardOutstanding ChoreographyThe Real O'Neals

Controversies

News of the series' pickup

The news of the series' pick-up attracted attention and controversy before its debut. On May 12, 2015, the day it was announced that the series had been added to the ABC network schedule, Christian right groups such as the American Family Association and the Family Research Council called for a boycott and petitioned to prevent the series from airing. They also cited Savage's views on religion, sexuality, and same-sex marriage, which they believed had been infused into the series due to it being based on his life, but Savage claimed that the concept went in a different direction since he was not involved in the writing.[27]

Bisexual joke

The second-season episode "The Real Acceptance" featured a joke regarding bisexuals, in which Kenny, who is openly gay, compared being bisexual to having "webbed toes" or "money problems". Bisexual actor Sara Ramirez, who played the bisexual character Callie Torres on Grey's Anatomy, criticized ABC and the series, finding the joke offensive.[28]

References

  1. ^ "Development Update: Thursday, May 7 – Three New Comedies Heading to Series at ABC". The Futon Critic. May 7, 2015. Retrieved May 12, 2015.
  2. ^ Wagmeister, Elizabeth (May 7, 2015). "'The Muppets', Comedy from 'Community' Star Ken Jeong Among ABC Orders". Variety. Retrieved May 12, 2015.
  3. ^ Porter, Rick (November 16, 2015). "ABC winter/spring 2016 premieres: 'The Family' to Sundays, long breaks for 'Scandal,' 'OUAT'". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on November 17, 2015. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  4. ^ Welch, Alex (May 12, 2016). "'The Real O'Neals' renewed for season 2 at ABC for 2016–17". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on May 13, 2016. Retrieved May 12, 2016.
  5. ^ Snierson, Dan (May 11, 2017). "Dr. Ken and two more comedies canceled by ABC". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 11, 2017. ABC also took out sophomore sitcom The Real O'Neals and freshman comedy Imaginary Mary.
  6. ^ "Jordin Sparks to Guest-Star on 'The Real O'Neals' — Exclusive". Entertainment Weekly
  7. ^ Wagmeister, Elizabeth (September 29, 2016). "'The Real O'Neals' Casts Kenny's First Boyfriend (EXCLUSIVE)". Retrieved September 30, 2016.
  8. ^ Porter, Rick (March 3, 2016). "Wednesday final ratings: 'The Goldbergs' adjusts up". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
  9. ^ Porter, Rick (March 9, 2016). "Tuesday Final Ratings: 'Limitless' and 'NCIS: New Orleans' rerun adjust up". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on March 10, 2016. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
  10. ^ Porter, Rick (March 16, 2016). "Tuesday Final Ratings: 'Crowded' adjusts down". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on March 18, 2016. Retrieved March 16, 2016.
  11. ^ Porter, Rick (March 23, 2016). "Tuesday Final Ratings: 'The Voice' adjusts up". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on March 26, 2016. Retrieved March 23, 2016.
  12. ^ Porter, Rick (March 30, 2016). "Tuesday Final Ratings: 'The Voice' adjusts up, 'Chicago Fire' and 'Beyond the Tank' adjust down". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on April 2, 2016. Retrieved March 30, 2016.
  13. ^ Porter, Rick (April 6, 2016). "Tuesday Final Ratings: 'The Voice' adjusts up, 'Chicago Fire' adjusts down". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on April 7, 2016. Retrieved April 6, 2016.
  14. ^ Porter, Rick (April 20, 2016). "Tuesday Final Ratings: 'NCIS' and 'The Flash' adjust up, 'Containment' adjusts down". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on April 21, 2016. Retrieved April 20, 2016.
  15. ^ Porter, Rick (April 27, 2016). "Tuesday final ratings: 'The Voice' adjusts up, 'Containment' adjusts down". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on April 28, 2016. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
  16. ^ Porter, Rick (May 4, 2016). "Tuesday final ratings: 'The Flash' and 'Beyond the Tank' adjust up, 'The Real O'Neals' adjusts down". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on May 5, 2016. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
  17. ^ Porter, Rick (May 11, 2015). "Tuesday final ratings: 'NCIS' and 'NCIS: New Orleans' adjust up". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on May 12, 2016. Retrieved May 11, 2016.
  18. ^ Porter, Rick (May 18, 2015). "Tuesday final ratings: 'NCIS' and 'Chicago Fire' finales adjust up". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on May 19, 2016. Retrieved May 18, 2016.
  19. ^ Porter, Rick (May 25, 2015). "Tuesday final ratings: 'The Voice,' 'The Flash' and 'The Real O'Neals' finales adjust up". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on May 27, 2016. Retrieved May 25, 2016.
  20. ^ "Full 2015–16 TV Season Series Rankings". Deadline Hollywood. May 26, 2015. Retrieved May 26, 2015.
  21. ^ Porter, Rick (October 12, 2016). "'The Voice,' 'NCIS,' 'Flash' and ABC comedies adjust up, 'No Tomorrow' adjusts down: Tuesday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on October 13, 2016. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  22. ^ Porter, Rick (March 16, 2017). "'This Is Us' finishes with season highs: Tuesday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on March 17, 2017. Retrieved March 16, 2017.
  23. ^ "Final 2016–17 TV Rankings: 'Sunday Night Football' Winning Streak Continues". Deadline Hollywood. May 26, 2017. Retrieved May 26, 2017.
  24. ^ "The Real O'Neals Season 1 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved March 5, 2016.
  25. ^ "The Real O'Neals: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved March 5, 2016.
  26. ^ "The Dorian Awards". GALECA : Gay & Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association : Home of The Dorian Awards. Archived from the original on January 18, 2017. Retrieved March 14, 2017.
  27. ^ Nguyen, Tina (April 10, 2015). "Conservative Groups Vow to Quash Dan Savage's ABC Sitcom Pilot". Mediaite. Retrieved February 26, 2017.
  28. ^ N'Duka, Amanda (February 16, 2017). "Sara Ramirez Blasts ABC & 'The Real O'Neals' For Bisexual Joke". Deadline Hollywood. Archived February 18, 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 23, 2017.