Mom and Dad are divorcing.
Oldest son has an eating disorder.
Daughter has some kind of psychological issue.
Youngest son is gay.
Got it, being gay is inferior, a "problem" like having an eating disorder or a psychological issues. Can't be a "perfect" family with a gay kid.
With that intensely homophobic beginning, I gave the first season of The Real O'Neils a miss. But it keeps getting praised by the Trevor Project, so I watched a couple of episodes.
Former teen idol Jay R. Ferguson plays the hapless dad.
Matt Shively, last seen on the Disney Channel, plays the dimwitted older brother.
His problem, and his sister's problem, are not mentioned. The plotlines are about the parents living together and dating other people while divorced, and about the gay son.
His first gay coffee house.
Starting a gay club at school.
Hosting a Halloween party.
Joining a gym.
The flamboyant stereotype son is played by Noah Galvin.
Not too great. Here's why his crush (Sean Grandillo) didn't come out:
"Do you like avocados?"
"Yeah..."
"Why didn't you tell me you like avocados?"
Liking dudes is not nearly the same thing as liking avocados.
People don't want to kill you because you like avocados.
Parents don't kick you out of the house because you like avocados.
You don't have to worry every moment if you will become the victim of a hate crime for liking avocados.
Here's a pic of Sean Grandillo.
But there haven't been that many cringe-inducing moments, and I like the lengths the conservative parents go through to try to welcome their son.
And there's substantial beefcake. Matt Shively and Noah Crawford (left) aren't averse to shirtless shots.
Neither is Chris Pipkin as one of his classmates.
Plus I've noticed an occasional bulge that no one remembered to censor.
See also: The Real Bulges of the Real O'Neals.
