The Real O’Neals – The Real Book Club

Photo c/o: LOVEBUGS AND POSTCARDS

I was able to get a sneak peek at tonight’s episode. After the sneak peek, we were given the chance to interview members of the cast and writers, which was so much fun. We interviewed Jay Ferguson (“Pat”), Noah Galvin (“Kenny”), Mary Hollis Inboden (“Jody”), Matt Shively (“Jimmy”),  and the show’s Producers David Windsor, Casey Johnson, and Stacy Traub.

Noah Galvin (“Kenny”) and Jay Ferguson (“Pat”)

PHOTO C/O: LOVEBUGS AND POSTCARDS

Noah Galvin (“Kenny”) and Jay Ferguson (“Pat”) sat together and it seemed as though they had been best friends for years. They poked fun at one another and shared quite a bit of laughs.

WHEN YOU’RE NOT SHOOTING, ARE THERE JOKES AND FUN GOING ON ALL THE TIME?

Yeah I think that’s an understatement probably. Why, does it show, can you tell, we have a good time together? – Jay

The chemistry reads, we do, we have a good time together. Jay is a big proponent of games, so, it’s hard. When we’re doing these like fourteen hours days and it’s a comedy, you’ve got to like keep it alive, keep it funny, you have to be on for those fourteen hours. – Noah

Yeah, we to try to have as many extra curricular activities as we can while we’re working and then while we’re not working we hang out socially as well. – Jay

They told us that Noah Galvin (“Kenny”) and Jay Ferguson (“Pat”) carpool to work. Noah rents a room on Jay’s property. How amazing is that? They have a great chemistry and it obvious from the show that they really work well together.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE BEST ABOUT THE CHARACTERS YOU PLAY?

Well, a lot of people ask if there are similarities between me and Kenny. I like that he’s more book smart, and I’m a little more street smart. He’s a little naïve. I’d say he’s like a true middle child he has like aspects of both his siblings. He has Jimmy’s naiveté without being a downright idiot, he has Shannon’s like book smarts without being manipulative like she is. You know? – Noah

Pretty much one of the main reasons I was so excited about the show, selfishly for my character, was, a dad that, that didn’t react in what we’ve come to know as kind of the stereotypical way of reacting to these types of situations, namely one of his sons coming out as gay and, how it, he was the antithesis really of what we’ve come to know, he wasn’t angry. He didn’t try to talk him out of it. But really, you know, having a more, what I believe is a more contemporary modern version of what- how fathers do react to that sort of news nowadays in, in this world that we’re living in. And, to see that represented on television is, it’s a, a real privilege to get to, to play that. – Jay

PHOTO C/o: LOVEBUGS AND POSTCARDS

We interviewed Casey Johnson and her writing partner David Windsor, who both wrote the pilot episode! After getting picked up by ABC, they brought on Stacy Traub on board to help on their first show run. 

IS THE SHOW BASED ON SOMEBODY YOU KNOW?

Originally, the original spark of the idea was based on Dan Savage’s life, I don’t know if you’re familiar with him, Jacob’s Ladder and Savage Law. He grew up in Chicago in an Irish Catholic family and was gay and, so we took that idea and expanded it into this show. And then kind of started folding in all of our experiences, we had an amazing staff of writers, a lot of whom were gay. – Casey

The episode where Eileen is standing up for her son and finding out where she’s come from and why she is the way she is. Frances plays that so amazing, I really like that episode. We have a few coming up that are also really great a Prom episode, that the three of us wrote. Uh, which is really-really fun! – David

The Camping episode. And I love the story of Eileen and Shannon the mother daughter, I love them all.-Stacy

 I really love, the real F word episode. That one for me, just the uncomfortable comedy of it, I loved. That and Stacy wrote that! – Casey

Tune into tonight’s new episode, “The Real Book Club” where Eileen faces her book club for the first time after her family’s “outing,” but things take a surprising turn when instead of shunning her the ladies begin opening up – way too much – about their own problems. Kenny’s first trip to the “gayborhood” coffee shop is everything he’d hoped for, until Pat tags along with him to a gay dodge ball match.

You will be laughing out loud! The “Rainbow Grind” Coffee bar scenes are my favorite. And the gay volleyball where Jay gets called out. Don’t miss it!

Watch the REAL O’NEALS Tuesday at 8:30PM EST on ABC

Be sure to watch the show on Tuesdays, or DVR and watch within 3 days to help the ratings of this amazing show!

For more information, pictures, and bios check out The Real O’Neals on ABC

Disclosure: I was invited on an all expenses paid media trip to help cover the show. All opinions are my own!