The Real O'Neals

The O'Neals are a traditional Irish-Catholic family in Chicago. Eileen (Martha Plimpton) tries to keep up appearances but her marriage to Pat (Jay R. Ferguson) falls apart. On top of that, their son Kenny (Noah Galvin) comes out of the closet. The brutish oldest son Jimmy (Matt Shively) reveals his anorexia. The youngest Shannon (Bebe Wood) is smarter than all of them and questions her faith. There is family friend Jodi (Mary Hollis Inboden) and Eileen starts dating Vice Principal Murray (Matt Oberg).

This is structurally a traditional sitcom except it piles on all the non-traditional elements. I like almost everyone except sometimes Kenny gets whiny. His effeminate manner only accentuates that aspect. It keeps me from fully embracing him. Sometimes, I really like him and root for his struggles. Other times, I want him to be above it and be the bigger person. This was canceled after two seasons.

After watching three episodes of this series, I want to support this show and see more. Having a an almost teenage daughter I want her to feel loved and supported. All the characters in the show have their "secrets" and are figuring out how to deal with their new changes and yet still love and support each other. The mom with her religious beliefs working it out with the dad who she is divorcing and "secrets" she found out about her kids, the dad still trying to be a dad to his kids, the older brother being supportive of his younger brother and of course Kenny, dealing with his "coming out". This is probably the least interesting to me. I like the family dynamics and overall the warmth and love of the family.

Noah Galvin reminds me of a young Matthew Broderick, circa "Ferris Bueller's Day Off". In fact even the use of self-narrations are similar. I'm surprised more people haven't noticed or mentioned this as they both are quite similar.

It would have been better casting to see Broderick as the father, would have looked more like Galvins dad. Their similar comedic mannerisms and expressions would have played off one another very well. Martin Short would have made a hilarious school principal.

Anyway I like this series so far. Will see how it goes as its too early to tell.

The central idea is interesting, but once in season 2 the limitations of the show are evident.

There's not much that works beyond the gay jokes that seem repetitive by now. The secondary character are too conventional, too stereotypical sitcom material.

One of the many LGBT-themed shows of the 21st century is about a seemingly perfect Irish-American family in Chicago whose veneer gets shattered when the son comes out as gay and the parents announce plans to divorce. The rest of the run is about how the brood deals with this. "The Real O'Neals" manages to be simultaneously funny and serious at the same time, addressing real-world issues is a relatable way.

I think that the cast member who deserves the most praise is Martha Plimpton. Far removed from her "cute" days as a Brat Packer, she plays the matriarch as a stern gal forced to accept her family's reality. I'd say that Plimpton is one of the best actresses of her generation.

Like "Six Feet Under", "Ugly Betty", "Modern Family", "Glee", "American Horror Story", "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt" and "Pose", this is a show that has helped promote tolerance of queer people on the small screen. Too bad it got canceled after only two seasons.