The Real O'Neals

We just saw the first and fourth episodes of this at a screening and since the audience loved it and were laughing like crazy I have to say that I am suspicious of a few of the eleven revues I see here. It seems that the Catholic League and the Hundred.....er... 'Million Moms' have a problem with it so I can't help but wondering if they are using IMDb to try to scuttle it.

It's a very funny comedy which deals with timely and serious issues. If you think that a young gay character should not be depicted on broadcast TV or that the Catholic Church is a sacred institution about which nothing humorous can ever be said or even implied than I suggest you steer away from this show.

However, I have to say that I thought the pilot one of the best I have ever seen. If I had any problem with the show it was that the Catholic School that he was attending wasn't dealing with him the way that the Catholic League is dealing with this show, in other words going on the attack with reckless abandon.

All five members of this family were a bit over the top but I liked them all. The relationship between the mother and the son was especially unusual in my experience with sitcoms so I'm not sure where the notion that this series is 'nothing new' is coming from?

Looking at the five 1*star reviews that are present , as I am writing this, two were from members who have never reviewed anything before, one from a reviewer whose only recent reviews were "Trash" and "Terrible" and one from someone who loved "Paul Blart: Mall Cop II" saying "This is the kind of film we need more of in America. No profanity, no homos"..... So if that's where you're coming from stay away from The Real O'Neals. Otherwise, I suggest you give it a try.

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.

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.

When I first saw the trailer few months back, i was too excited. Now i can't wait for the next episode. Its funny, subtle and hilarious with stereotypes. I loved every bit of it.

Noah's acting, voice modulations, dance, expressions are damn near perfect. No wonder he is in theater.

Bebe wood is all grown up since i saw her in the new normal.

Sarayu rao in guest role is icing on cake. Princess Panjali has actually become a women.

Everybody else has put great amount of acting. I just don't want to give any spoilers.

Well done!!! Bravo!!!

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.