There’s mixed news for fans of The Real O’Neals TV show on ABC. The network has ordered additional episodes for the current second season but they’ve only asked for three more. This brings the season two tally to 16 installments instead of a typical full season of 22 episodes. Is cancellation next for this series?
A single-camera comedy series, The Real O’Neals revolves around an Irish Catholic family that seems to be living an idyllic life. Their lives are turned upside down when the middle son comes out of the closet and the rest of the family members come clean with their own secrets. They then start to live their lives more authentically. The show stars Martha Plimpton, Jay R. Ferguson, Noah Galvin, Matt Shively, Bebe Wood, and Mary Hollis Inboden.
The first season of The Real O’Neals averaged a 1.12 rating in the 18-49 demographic with 3.94 million viewers and could easily have been cancelled last May. The second season has been averaging a 0.97 rating in the demo with 3.14 million.
The sitcom is currently the 13th highest rated scripted series on ABC out of the 19 scripted series that have aired during the 2016-17 season. It’s the lowest-rated ABC comedy on Tuesdays. As a sidenote, fellow Tuesday night comedy American Housewife was recently given a full season order.
This three episode backorder for Real O’Neals echos what ABC did last season with The Muppets TV show. That comedy had just 16 episodes, finished airing in March, and was cancelled in May.
Unless the ratings for The Real O’Neals improve, it seems certain that it will be cancelled as well. ABC has comedies Imaginary Mary and Downward Dog waiting in the wings. These additional episodes of Real O’Neals may have been ordered just to help the network fill the timeslot until ABC is ready to launch one of them. The network has already cut the order for Imaginary Mary to nine episodes.
What do you think? Do you like The Real O’Neals TV show on ABC? Do you think the network should order more episodes or, should it be cancelled instead?
The Real O’Neals is one of the best shows on TV -It is funny, original, and perfectly cast. I don’t think ABC has been doing much to advertise the show. Most of my friends haven’t heard of it at all until I sit them down to watch an episode or two -and then they’re hooked. There’s nothing else like it on the air -Please give it another chance, ABC. Try a different time slot! Try promoting it. Try anything, but don’t cancel it!
We love the The O’Neils and would be soooo sad if it was cancelled! We do not really like the Johsewife show or Imaginary Mary, as they are too typical of other shows on tv. The Real O’Neil’s is so original and should be continued.
Bring back the O’neils