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Storyline
A traditional Irish Catholic family's world is turned upside down in this offbeat comedy when the oldest son reveals he's anorexic, the younger son comes out, their daughter starts questioning her faith, and the parents announce a potential divorce.
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Trivia
This show's premise is very loosely based on the childhood experiences of writer, "It Gets Better" campaign co-creator, and one of The Real O'Neals executive producers, Dan Savage. Savage, like Kenny, grew up as a gay kid in a devoutly Catholic Irish-American family with his father working as a Chicago cop, and his parents divorcing.
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Connections
Referenced in
Jeopardy!: Episode #33.162 (2017)
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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.