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‘Real O’Neals’ producer on new ABC comedy
Divorce, coming out, religion mix on new sitcom
Noah Galvin, left, as Kenny and Matt Shively as Jimmy on ‘The Real O’Neals.’ (Photo by Nicole Wilder; courtesy ABC)
ABC has struck ratings gold with quirky, off-beat family sitcoms dealing with serious issues in a comedic way such as “Modern Family,” “Blackish” and “Fresh Off the Boat.” Make way for “The Real O’Neals,” as it joins its fellow messed-up, yet endearing, families on the network.
From the outside, the O’Neals appear to be the perfect Irish Catholic family living in Chicago. But parents Eileen (Martha Plimpton) and Pat (Jay R. Ferguson) reveal they’re getting divorced, older brother Jimmy (Matt Shively) has anorexia, little sister Shannon (Bebe Wood) is a kleptomaniac questioning her faith in God and younger brother Kenny (Noah Galvin) drops the biggest bombshell of all — he’s gay. (The Blade interviews Galvin here.)
The show, which airs on Tuesdays at 8:30 p.m., is loosely based on sex columnist and It Gets Better founder Dan Savage’s life. The Blade spoke with producer Stacy Traub about Savage’s role as executive producer, casting the role of Kenny and toeing the line between Catholicism, gay identity and humor.
WASHINGTON BLADE: When casting for the character of Kenny, executive producer Todd Holland wanted the actor to be gay in real life. Why was that so integral to the show?
STACY TRAUB: I think it’s obviously better if the actor can bring their own personal experience to something. It was such a specific thing and a 15-year-old coming out in that way hadn’t been on TV. I think finding someone who was gay was very important to all of us. When you’re casting, you can’t ask somebody when they sit down. We really all loved Noah and he was cast because he was the best person for the role. The fact that he was gay, just for us, was an amazing bonus. He had his own story to share and it just brought an extra level of something. Like that kid on “Glee” who was in a wheelchair, but wasn’t really in a wheelchair. I understand that, but to have someone who has actually had that experience themselves just brings an extra layer to the role.
BLADE: How many episodes have been green lit and shot? How many scripts do you have written?
TRAUB: We’ve finished production for now. We did 13 episodes total, including our pilot. We’re waiting to hear about a potential next season.
BLADE: Kenny coming out to his conservative family is a big part of the show, but once he’s out, where is his character development going to go from there?
TRAUB: It’s kind of a coming-of-age story for the entire family because they’re all experiencing new things. We’re looking at it like he’s a 16-year-old kid dealing with the same things other 16-year-old kids are dealing with; he just happens to be gay. We’re trying to really normalize it. I think at home is where it’s most difficult because of his conservative family, and especially his mother, but at school we’re trying to tell stories about what kids go through at that age but with a twist.
BLADE: Like you said, the show is about the whole family and how they’re very religious and conservative, but have their faults. It’s very specific subject matter. Did you worry that having such a narrow focus, audiences might struggle to connect with it?
TRAUB: What I think ABC is really good at is the more specific the comedy, the funnier it is. Weirdly, I think it’s more universal because people can see themselves in these characters. Half of the country is divorced, or has had their parents divorce, so the fact that the parents are getting divorced is very relatable to people. So we just kind of come at it that way. I tweet and I watch along on Twitter and seeing the response is amazing. The amount of people who say “Oh my gosh, I’m Kenny” or “I have someone like Aunt Jodi in my life.” You realize it is specific but it’s somewhat universal.
BLADE: With Dan Savage as the executive producer, how involved was he creatively and were any of the storylines inspired by his real-life events?
TRAUB: It all kind of started with him and ABC wanting to do a story based on his childhood. Then when David (Windsor) and Casey (Johnson) came on, it became a step removed because anytime a new writer comes on they bring their own stuff to it. It is based on his coming out, but he came out 30 years ago, so it’s much different than today. But he lived in Chicago, his dad was a cop, so there are certain elements that are based on his life. Then there are a million things that all the writers we had on the show brought to it and made it their story as well. There’s one specific episode that was based on a story that he came to the room and told us. It was about a play that he was in. So we did a story that was specifically based on that. But then we have other stories that all the writers in the room share and then we have a bunch of gay writers, lesbian writers, people from Chicago, people who are Catholics, people who are divorced. So everyone adds their personal stories.
BLADE: Dan Savage has had some controversy over comments he’s made and some people have accused him of being transphobic. Was there a worry to have a family sitcom associated with him?
TRAUB: Most of that fear just had to do with his brand and “Savage Love” and we always knew that was not part of the show. We’re much more coming from the “It Gets Better” brand and I think people who don’t agree with Dan were immediately wanting to dismiss the show or say negative things about it, and those were people who hadn’t even watched the show. They’re talking about things he had said or things he had written. So I’d say across the board, the majority of people who watch the show are like, ‘Oh this isn’t the Dan Savage tone’ because he’s not a writer on the show in a day-to-day way.
BLADE: Given the show’s subject matter, it’s been called bigoted and anti-Catholic. How do you find the right tone? How do you know how far to take the jokes?
TRAUB: We think it’s a faith-affirming show. None of the stories are about the religion being silly or unnecessary. It is such a part of their lives. It’s the family grappling with how can we be Catholic and believe in these things and also accept Kenny and also get divorced. Many Americans today do have to struggle with those things. When you look at Jesus, we’re never making fun of Jesus. Jesus is someone Kenny turns toward to get advice from and we think that’s really a positive image of Jesus, not negative.
BLADE: With Kenny, part of the joke seems to be that he is a gay character. Was that a concern for you at all?
TRAUB: Because Kenny is so young, any kid that age is just trying to figure out who they are and how they’re going to represent themselves in the world. Girls go through it too. We weren’t looking at it thinking we want him to be distinctly gay. His coming out is a real coming out in that he’s trying to figure it out himself. What kind of person am I? How am I going to dress now that I’m out? Beforehand, when he was in the closet, nobody knew. It wasn’t like everyone thought he was gay and was waiting for him to come out. It was his own secret. So now that he is out, he is trying to figure out himself, how he’s going to be in the world and a lot of the episodes deal with that.
BLADE: Do you hope that this show can help a child growing up in a conservative household find a connection within the show?
TRAUB: That is really my greatest hope. That is what I truly love about the show. While we were making it we were trying to have fun and tell funny stories. It’s a comedy first and foremost. But the thought of a kid watching and seeing Kenny, relating to him and feeling heard or feeling brave enough to come out. Or a parent watching and recognizing their child in Kenny or recognizing themselves in the Eileen character and saying, “Wow maybe I’m being too close-minded” or “Look at how the family is handling all this crazy upheaval in their lives and they’re handling it with humor and underneath it all with love.” That is the most inspiring thing about the show, and really what I’m most proud of.
The cast of ‘The Real O’Neals’ from left are Noah Galvin, Bebe Wood, Martha Plimpton, Matt Shively and Jay R. Ferguson. (Photo by Nicole Wilder; courtesy ABC)
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Rainbows in Revolt on a mission to make LGBTQ artists’ voices heard
Rainbows in Revolt on a mission to make LGBTQ artists’ voices heard
Last month’s Pride celebration in D.C. was so fun. Walking around my first Capital Pride with a $15 lemonade I was loving the madness and the color. Artists and small businesses battling banks you’ve never heard of collecting your personal information so you can spin a wheel to snag free merch. Great music blaring, people actually smiling and enjoying themselves, the “Great” American State Fair could never!
The Monument Stage was on Pennsylvania Avenue, directly in front of the National Gallery of Art and I can’t think of a better venue to see live music. How does someone get on the lineup for Pride? How do we accelerate the visibility of the most talented voices in our community to perform in places like this?
There is certainly not a talent gap, but there is a visibility gap. Chappell Roan went from playing for two people in a parking lot to owning the main stage at Coachella in one year. Whether it is shadowbanning or bias in AI, algorithms have been shown to suppress queer artists. In a digital age, how can queer people break through and show the world how talented they are?
Allison and Matt of Rainbows in Revolt are on a mission to make openly LGBTQ+ artists’ voices heard. Their goal is to find “musicians whose queerness is central to their identity as an artist,” and accelerate them to a place where they can actually reach fans.
The only time queer events seem to be in the spotlight is June, but this should be year round, according to Allison and Matt. Rainbows in Revolt wants to act as a “nucleus” for different sub-communities, finding common ground in the universal language of music.
Matt and Allison founded Rainbows as a way to make cheaper, higher quality merchandise for queer artists. While Rainbows has already pledged 20% of their profits to the LGBTQ+ community, with 10% to Whitman-Walker Health and 10% to LGBTQ+ organizations in need, this is just the beginning of the work that they do.
Rainbows “does the dirty work” that artists normally struggle to do on their own with limited resources. Interviews, artist profiles, social promotion, playlist discovery, radio outreach, and merch-funded support. This work is normally expensive, time consuming, and requires lots of different skills. Musicians don’t want to be editing clips to post online. Standup comedians don’t want to make graphics for their tour dates. They want to write more. They want to focus on their craft.
In addition to helping artists find their audience, Rainbows has built other digital tools to help queer people connect, including an interactive Safe Space Map for most major cities. It is hard to know which places are truly safe and supportive just from a simple Google search. Attitudes and actions change, and there should be a simple way for queer people to find other places that align with them. The Safe Spaces Maps are all up to date, and are tagged and filterable. Instead of relying on forums and word of mouth, Rainbows has created a centralized way to find authentic community quickly.
I had a chance to talk with Allison and Matt at Pride where Lily Erin, one of their signature artists, was performing on the Monument stage. Lily Erin is a folk singer who is familiar and forging her own path. Her bittersweet sound echoes through Acadia, and her garb mirrors the New England athletes I grew up with. Gorp Core meets streetwear. A graphic tee, hiking shorts, and creamsicle Jordans.
Her debut single, “Bus Stop,” tells a sad story about unconditional love, and the conditions that still seem to come with it. Graduating into lockdown, Erin needed a new way to connect with herself and others. Lily made “Bus Stop” without an intention to share it, but doing so was a liberation. People have been responding to her honesty around queer-ness, family, and the “ghosts which haunt us” even in the daytime.
Rainbows in Revolt has helped Lily Erin go from bars and backyards to The Monument Stage at Pride. This is a meteoric rise, and a testament to both Erin’s talent and the work of Rainbows to promote her. “A little encouragement goes a long way with early artists,” and by “planting a seed” Rainbows is already seeing their artist garden grow. Community is power, and Erin is a perfect example of how effective simple modern techniques of promotion can be.
A next step for Rainbows is putting on shows themselves. On Oct. 3, Rainbows in Revolt will host an Evening with Ray Boltz at the National City Christian Church. Boltz grew up in the Catholic Church and for many years was the soundtrack to many services, youth camps, and church groups. He was celebrated by millions until he came out in 2008. Allison remembers her community “never playing his music again.”
Rainbows in Revolt is helping him to return to the church, and proving that identity does not need to be exclusive. We live in a complicated world with complicated lines being drawn. Boltz proves that these lines don’t exist, and will be breaking down barriers to bring together communities. To Allison, “a trans woman standing next to a straight white man in church is a powerful teacher.”
The Safe Space maps bridge all types of spaces, and one of the unlikely ones is, perhaps, churches. Matt said that “BYU has only nine safe spaces around their campus and seven of them are churches.” Not all churches are anti-gay, and many times they are the only place for people to find community.
Rainbows in Revolt is just getting started bridging gaps and building community.
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Summer in the City: Free exhibits, movies, more fill D.C.’s calendar
America 250 celebrations continue
From late-night museum visits and outdoor jazz concerts to free movie screenings and America250 exhibitions, Washington’s summer calendar is packed with events that don’t charge admission. Here’s a look at some of the free activities happening across the District through September and beyond.
Museum exhibitions
The Renwick Gallery is presenting State Fairs: Growing American Craft, an exhibition that looks at unique and unconventional crafts from the 19th century to the present. It will run until Sept. 7, and admission is free.
The Arts and Industries Building, located next to the Smithsonian Castle, is presenting the exhibition Voices and Votes: Exploring Democracy Across America. The exhibition features the development of American independence and what that has meant over time, beginning with the Revolutionary War. Admission to the museum is free, and the exhibition runs until Sept. 7.
The National Gallery of Art presents Dear America, an exhibit featuring more than 100 pieces of work, including letters, photographs, and drawings that depict American landscapes and depictions of freedom. The exhibition will run until Sept. 20.
The National Museum of Women in the Arts is exhibiting Burnished: Pueblo Pottery until Sept. 27. The exhibit features pottery from the Southwest, and while most of the pottery belongs to women artists, a few also reflect those who have advocated for women.
Extending past this summer, the exhibition ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa will be at the National Museum of the American Latino until July 2028. The exhibition shows how Afro-Cuban music has become a staple in the U.S. Admission is free.
The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library will feature the exhibition District Vibes / American Pride: How DC Changed American Culture, which will highlight all of the ways D.C. has impacted American life. The exhibit will run until Sept. 27.
At the Folger Shakespeare Library, the exhibit Imagining Shakespeare: Mythmaking and Storytelling in the Regency Era will be on view through Aug. 2. All the portraits on display come from the Boydell Shakespeare Gallery in London.
The United States Botanic Garden will be open until 8 p.m. on Aug. 20 and Sept. 17, as part of America’s State Flowers: An America250 Celebration. The evenings will include live music, mocktails, ice cream, and snacks.
The National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden will have extended hours, staying open until 8 p.m. Wednesday to Saturday until Sept. 3.
Live performances
On Aug. 7, the postgame Nationals concert series will continue with Jordan Davis performing. To see the concert, guests just need to buy tickets to the Nationals game.
Jazz in the Garden will run each Friday until Aug. 14. The event has free admission, but those interested have to enter a lottery due to the high demand for the event.
From May to October, Capital Harvest Market occurs every Wednesday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center. The market features fresh foods, crafts, and recipes for unique dishes. A full list of vendors is available on Capital Harvest’s website.
Live! Concert Series on the Plaza will feature live performances at Woodrow Wilson Plaza until Sept. 25. The performances run Monday to Friday from 12-1 p.m. Admission is free to the performances.
DowntownDC Live! at Anthem Row is running until July 30, with free performances every Thursday from 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The final performance will feature HUE and a vintage flea market hosted by Get Flee Marketplace.
Located in Adams Morgan, AdMo Vibe will present live performances every Thursday at 6 p.m. in Kalorama Park. Guests are encouraged to check out Adams Morgan before and after shows, and it is an event for all ages.
Other events
Union Market is hosting drive-in movies on Aug. 8, featuring “Monsters, Inc.”, and Sept. 12, featuring “Wicked.” On Aug. 8, the parking lot will open at 7:30 p.m., with the movie starting at 8:25 p.m. On Sept. 12, the parking lot will open at 6:35 p.m., and the movie will start at 7:30 p.m.
Sunset Cinema at the Wharf will also be available one day a month. On Aug. 12, “10 Things I Hate About You” will premiere, and on Aug. 26, “Project Hail Mary.” No tickets are necessary.
The Library of Congress will also show movies. On Aug. 6, guests are invited to watch “Apollo 13.” The movie will be shown at 8 p.m., with additional live performances beginning at 7 p.m.
For fans of Asian media, the Okaton convention will be at Walter E. Washington Convention Center from July 31-Aug. 2. Festivities will include cosplay contests, skits, live music, and panel discussions.
Washington Spirit’s season also begins in August. The Spirit is Washington’s National Women’s League, with matchups occurring between the San Diego Wave, the North Carolina Courage, the Orlando Pride, and the Bay FC.
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Summer in D.C. brings sports, Restaurant Week, festivals, and more
Summer in D.C. just hits different. Congress is out, school is out, the sun is out, thighs are out. With the skies clearing from Canadian smoke, here are a few ways to stay entertained.
Dining
Summer restaurant week: The Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) is once again hosting Summer Restaurant Week, Aug. 18-24. This weeklong dining experience showcases the dynamic dining scene of the DMV, including 2026 RAMMY Award-winning favorites (the annual D.C. food awards show that took place June 29). Participating restaurants will offer three-course brunch and lunch selections for $25 or $35 per person, and three-course dinners for $40, $55 and $65 per person.
New Restaurants: A handful of new spots have opened, so the summer is a great time to check them out:
- Oribu: A new Mediterranean-Japanese restaurant in the Grand Hyatt hotel, which just underwent a remodeling effort. The sleek restaurant brings upscale charm, with dishes like Wagyu beef tartare with potato pavé and caviar.
- The Oak Room: A snazzy old-school American grill has just opened in Georgetown, alongside its sister upstairs supper club (Bernadette’s) restaurant, in the old El Centro space.
- Uchi: This showy Japanese sushi-forward chain has landed in Dupont with a chef’s tasting menu of favorites like fatty tuna.
- Kathmandu: Recalling the capital of Nepal, this warm, buzzy subterranean restaurant right in the heart of U Street brings spice, flair, and rare ingredients to its dishes (see: buffalo burgers) and drinks.
Sports
- Washington Spirit Pride Night OUT: On Sunday, Aug. 23, head to Audi Field for a massive, high-energy game following the exciting month of World Cup. The designated Pride Night OUT game promises boisterous crowds plus pre- and post-game community engagements.
- Washington Tennis Open – Now called the Mubadala DC Open, this annual tournament is only combined mens’ and womens’ 500-level tennis tournament in the world. The open is one of D.C.’s longest-standing sports traditions, and will take place at the Rock Creek Park Tennis Center July 25-Aug. 2. Naomi Osaka, Venus Williams, Ben Shelton, Frances Tiafoe, and others are expected to play.
Festivals
- Afro Plus Fest: This huge, three-day Afro-Caribbean Hip-Hop Festival brings together headliners Davido, Alkaline, and Wizkid, plus Tems and Ayra Starr. The event moves from RFK to the Northwest Stadium Complex for three days, Sept. 4-6.
- Capital Fringe Festival: Running from July 11-21, this massive celebration features dozens of live theater, comedy, dance, and boundary-pushing nighttime performances across multiple DC neighborhoods.
- The National Book Festival returns, with headliners like Cynthia Erivo, and Martin Scorsese. The one-day festival, Saturday, Aug. 22, brings together bookworms and word nerds under the theme “America 250: It’s Your Story.” There are talks, workshops, musical sessions and more.
- All Things Go: A three-day festival Sept. 25-27 at Merriweather Post Pavilion featuring Mitski, Hayley Williams, Brandi Carlile, MUNA, Zara Larsson, Ethel Cain, and many, many more artists. There are single-day and three-day tickets. Featuring and highlighting female artists, the festival has turned into a must-see for many LGBTQ audience members.
- Fuchsia Fest: The inaugural Fuchsia Fest is a new multi-day celebration created to celebrate LGBTQ community and expression, bringing together a mix of community gatherings, entertainment, and nightlife. The event takes place Sept. 18-20 and is hosted by Capital Pride.
Art and Music
- United We Dance: A high-energy rave with house, techno, bass, and festival music, on Aug. 1 at the 9:30 Club.
- The Fray. On Aug. 14, this American rock band famous for How To Save A Life is at Merriweather Post Pavilion.
- Kesha: Kesha’s high-energy The Freedom Tour comes to the D.C. area on Aug. 14 at Jiffy Lube Live.
- ALOK: On Sept. 3 at Lincoln Theater, ALOK (they/them) performs. The poet, comedian, and actor is putting on a new comedy show.
- 2charm, the emerging Australian electronic club-pop duo popular with the queer community, which blends hyperpop and dance music, comes to the Atlantis.
- Sapphic Dance Party: a vibrant, inclusive nightlife and social event designed specifically for queer women, lesbians, bisexuals, trans individuals, and nonbinary folks, at Atlantis on Aug. 21.
- Jazz in the Garden: The most quintessential of D.C. activities returns Friday evenings through Aug. 14. This season’s theme, “American Sounds,” is a nod to the nation’s 250th anniversary. Tunes themes range from Appalachian and Americana to Creole jazz, Hill Country blues, contemporary jazz, and more. Tickets are available through a lottery system a week before each event.
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