The real o'neals tv show

[Call_me_jorge]

Watched the first episode and it was pretty cute. It had a mixture of modern family and raising hope feel. The star, Noah galvin is friends with Ben platt and the mother of the o'neals is Martha plimpton.

[Jordan Catalano]

One of the strongest, funniest pilots I've seen in years. 

[SmoothLover]

It seemed more inspired by Married With Children. Modern Family is a little bit more grounded but this series has a lot of potential. The title was a bad choice.

[Roscoe]

Felt more like a retread of MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE, but without the great writing and direction, and with the main character being gay instead of a genius.  I like the cast a lot, but without better scripts and a more interesting brother and sister for the main character, it's going to founder.  I did enjoy Jay Ferguson's forlorn look at his beloved kayak before it was set to be sold, though.  And I did appreciate the clear family bonds -- the kid being gay isn't really a problem for them.  Yet.

[SmoothLover]

It is a little over the top. I appreciate the pace but it undercuts any sort of reality. I feel like some of the actors are pushing too much, doing takes instead of having a character reactions.

[Jordan Catalano]

Well, I thought it was hilarious. 

[sabrelady]

Reminds me of The Goldbergs. ( and I like The Goldbergs- tho somebody on the show needs to be called Molly)

[EricMontreal22]

I don't remotely get the Married with Children comparison (really?)

This does seem to be the current ABC formula for comedies--including the voice over narration.  I mostly love the cast (the youngest daughter's dead pan irks me--wasn't she just on a show--and, while I think the leading kid is good his Paul Lynde-style mugging weirds me out), but I think it's just a bit too soft or middle of the road.  Apparently it has a nightmare of people behind it--starting off with the Dan Savage concept which it's gone far away from and ABC hiring a succession of their other producers and writers they've kept on contact to all meddle with it.

In Canada we get new episodes on Tuesday's and this week (a St Patrick's day one with the gay kid going on his first date) was again just so/so.  I like the fantasy sequences and actually, to my surprise, wish they played that up more.  They already seem to have completely dropped the other kids' "secrets" (the older brother is over whatever eating disorder he had and now his issue seems to be too much jerking off in the shower and the daughter's kleptomaniac is likewise gone).  Meh.  If we get some Furguson shirtless scenes though I'll keep with it.

[dramamama611]

I thought it was awfully cute.  Looking forward to tonight's episode.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

I thought tonight's episode was pretty funny. 

[gypsy101]

I haven't seen tonight's episode but saw last week's premiere episodes and thought they were pretty good (much better than I thought it would be). Martha Plimpton is allowed on my TV whenever she wants (I kept up with Raising Hope for the first year or two and loved her on Good Wife). The girl was from The New Normal (which I only saw a few episodes of before it was cancelled). I hope this show stays good.

[dramamama611]

I loved the dream dance sequence more than I can express.  Adorbs.

[SmoothLover]

I don't remotely get the Married with Children comparison (really?)

 

I think because it is very one dimensional. At least they were not bulldozing through the St Pat's episode last night. I think the show might have worked better as a memory piece given that it does not feel current. It might have given it more pathos.

[uncageg]

Still out to lunch on this one but going to go ahead and watch episode 3.

[EricMontreal22]

SmoothLover said: "I don't remotely get the Married with Children comparison (really?)

 

 

 

I think because it is very one dimensional. At least they were not bulldozing through the St Pat's episode last night. I think the show might have worked better as a memory piece given that it does not feel current. It might have given it more pathos.

 

"

Ah, I guess I thought you meant because, like Married With Children, this lacks sentimentality.  Which obviously it doesn't (and that may be one of its problems with tone). 

 

Gypsy--thanks!  She is playing exactly the same girl as she did on The New Normal--maybe that's why she makes me cringe. 

[Tom1071]

I really enjoy this show.  It does make me laugh but I do agree that it does not feel current.  I keep thinking it's a flashback show until they make a present day reference and I'm like, "Oh yeah, this is now."  It feels like it's set in the 90's.  That being said, it's harmless and I'm fine with it.

[Jordan Catalano]

It's the same feel that RAISING HOPE had. Until they pulled out an iPhone or something, it seemed very 80s or 90s. 

[hork]

Just watched the pilot. Sorry, that was bad. I don't like to judge, but I'm actually judging the people who think this is good television. I mean, it used the old "they smell fear" line in reference to children, as a punchline! Bad writing like this makes me want to curl up in a corner and wait to die.

[Alan Henry]

Didn't see this thread butt I've seen 4 episodes thus far and am really liking the show and looking forward to seeing what else they have for us.

[Mr Roxy]

The family portrayed is stereotypical and they make for an easy target . One wonders what would have happened had they tried to satirize any another group . I tried my best to like it but sorry it did not do it for me. If you like it, fine. It is not my cup of tea.

[haterobics]

Mr Roxy said: "One wonders what would have happened had they tried to satirize any another group."

 

You mean like Jews (aka The Goldbergs) or Black (aka blackish) and on and on? As long as you stay away from Muslims you're pretty much free to go for it...

[dramamama611]

Or Asians (aka Fresh Off the Boat).

 

They are a Irish Catholic family....it would be a stereotype if they were heavy drinkers, but they aren't.  They are average shmoes trying to navigate through life with all its hiccoughs.  

 

I miss the days of Norman Lear.   Before we were afraid.  Could we ever get away with an All in the Family now?  You know, tv that made you think?

 

[MrsSallyAdams]

I watched two episodes and thought it was cute. I wanted more darkness but that's ABC for you. I'm hoping they hold on to the tension between the mother and gay son. The "I love you but you're going to hell" relationship is one many have lived through and I'd like to see it explored in a pop culture setting.

[EricMontreal22]

MrsSallyAdams said: "I watched two episodes and thought it was cute. I wanted more darkness but that's ABC for you. I'm hoping they hold on to the tension between the mother and gay son. The "I love you but you're going to hell" relationship is one many have lived through and I'd like to see it explored in a pop culture setting.

 

"

Well don't hope too hard--so far that tension has nearly entirely been dropped.  She's about the least homophobic homophobe I have seen on TV.

[uncageg]

I think I am all in now! Really enjoying it. The porn site thing last night Made me laugh because I know it happens. Not to me, of course.....

[John Adams]

I want to like the show, but it’s difficult. It’s on against “The Flash” and my DVR software can only record one program per time slot. …so there’s that, but I’m not really excited about how unfocused the writing is, which is causing me to choose “The Flash” over TROs.

Although the actors are making the best of some really clunky writing/plot issues, and I LOVE that Noah Galvin is adorkably cute, and funny, and gay in real life, The Real O’Neals don’t seem very “real” at all. For example:
- The oldest son is anorexic. Wait… no he’s not. That evaporated within the first 30 minute episode.
- Mom can’t accept homosexuality because of her religious beliefs.  30 minutes later, she’s “seen the light”.
- Dad’s sleeping in the basement because Mom and Dad are getting a divorce. Wait…Why is that, again? They seem to be a normal married couple who obviously care about each other.
- Kenny feels like he’s never gonna have a boyfriend, yet he’s had two cutie-pies show some major interest in him (completely out of the blue, I might add), only to have those interests evaporate for reasons of… of… Somebody help me here. What was so completely unacceptable that they went cold just as quickly as they’d warmed? I dunno.

I see some glimmers of hope, but I really need the writing to get focused and on track if I’m gonna divert my DVR from “The Flash”. For example:

I liked how older son Jimmy was written this week, and especially how Matthew Shively played him. Jimmy obviously loves his family. Played differently, all of the “no homo” lines he was given this week might have come off as offensive, and telling his Dad (to his face) that he was “an attractive bear” might have seemed a bit creepy. Instead (to my mind, and as they were delivered by Shively), they seemed awkwardly geeky and sweet, like someone trying waaaay too hard to express how they honestly feel, but finding only the wrong (and most awkward) expressions to do so.

That’s what I want to see more of. Unfortunately, these first episodes seemed too “magical”. 

>POOF!<   ...just wait 30 minutes and problem’s solved! No need for explanation.