Bill Donohue comments on why “The Real O’Neals” is faltering:
ABC is in a jam and they know it. Even they must admit that last night’s episode of “The Real O’Neals” was just plain stupid. The ratings show it: once again, it trailed the competition on CBS and NBC. After all, only the intellectually challenged would find it entertaining to see a gay pride flag in the vice-principal’s office of a Catholic school.
The show is in trouble. A story posted by E! Online says the jury is out whether “The Real O’Neals” will be renewed next season: no decision has been made. But things don’t look good. The other family shows on ABC, “The Goldbergs,” “Modern Family,” “Black-ish,” and “Fresh Off the Boat” have been renewed; the latter made its debut this year. More important, “The Voice” on NBC is killing “The Real O’Neals,” and CBS has announced that “NCIS” has been renewed for two more seasons.
The biggest problem facing ABC is the hit that Disney-ABC is taking to its reputation for airing a show based on the life of a bigot, Dan Savage. The man is an unrepentant anti-Catholic, which is why the Catholic League blasted Disney-ABC in the New York Times for embracing him.
Savage has been told by the corporate boys to shut his mouth. Just last week he lashed out at Hillary Clinton for citing Nancy Reagan’s effort to bring the AIDS crisis to the attention of the American people. As usual, he resorted to an obscenity. But he has said nothing about the Catholic League’s statements about him. How revealing.
Savage is not the only person associated with the show who has a troubled past. Martha Plimpton, who plays the mother, is now touting her two real-life abortions. Indeed, she said a few days ago that her abortions “made it possible for me to live out my dream and do what I really wanted to do with my life.” Too bad her babies weren’t given the same chance.
Contact Ben Sherwood at Disney-ABC: ben.sherwood@abc.com
