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. The series was renewed for a second season on May 12, 2016, which premiered on October 11, 2016.
On May 11, 2017, ABC canceled the series after two seasons.
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 Jimmy Kimmel as himself Garrett Clayton as Ricky Madison Pettis as Chloe Perrente Caroline Morahan as Maleficent (Kenny's "shoulder devil") Frances Conroy as Grandma Agnes Phil LaMarr as Archie, Pat's partner Ian Gomez as Michael-Gregory Noah Crawford as Drew Scott Menville as Gangbanger ("Pilot") and Tony ("The Real Halloween") Cheyenne Jackson as Mr. Peters Marija Omaljev-Grbić as Dream Woman Jordin Sparks as herself Tim Gunn as himself RuPaul as himself Tyler Oakley as himself Lance Bass as himself Jane Lynch as herself Gus Kenworthy as himself Robbie Rogers as himself Antonia Lofaso as herself Alex Guarnaschelli as herself Graham Elliot as himself
Episodes
Series overview
Season 1 (2016)
Season 2 (2016–17)
Ratings Season 1 No. Title Air date Rating/share(18–49) Viewers(millions) DVR(18–49) DVR viewers(millions) Total(18–49) Total viewers(millions) 1 "Pilot" 1.8/6 6.33 2 "The Real Papaya" 1.9/6 6.01 3 "The Real Lent" 1.1/4 3.99 4 "The Real F Word" 1.0/4 3.47 5 "The Real Spring Fever" 1.0/4 3.75 6 "The Real Man" 1.0/4 3.67 7 "The Real Grandma" 1.0/4 3.65 8 "The Real Book Club" 0.8/3 2.98 9 "The Real Wedding" 1.0/4 3.46 10 "The Real Retreat" 0.9/3 3.29 11 "The Real Other Woman" 0.9/3 3.15 12 "The Real Rules" 0.9/3 3.25 13 "The Real Prom" 1.1/4 4.21
Season 2
Reception Ratings Season Time slot (ET/PT) Episodes Season premiere Season finale TV season Rank Viewers(in millions) Date Viewers(in millions) Date Viewers(in millions) 1 Wednesday 8:30 pmWednesday 9:30 pmTuesday 8:30 pm 13 March 2, 2016 6.33 May 24, 2016 4.21 2015–16 #106 4.46 2 Tuesday 9:30 pm 16 October 11, 2016 3.76 March 14, 2017 2.67 2016–17 #118 3.71
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". 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."
Awards and nominations
Year Award Category Nominee(s) Outcome2016Dorian AwardsLGBTQ Show of the YearThe Real O'NealsUnsung TV Show of the YearThe Real O'Neals2017Humanitas 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.
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.
References
External links