Disclosure- I was invited by Disney to attend this all expense paid press trip but all opinions are 100% my own.
Noah Galvin, Jay R. Ferguson, Matt Shively, Mary Hollis Inboden, and Executive Producers Casey Johnson, David Windsor & Stacy Traub Photo Credit- Coralie Seright from Lovebugs and Postcards
The Real O’Neals- “The Real Retreat” airs Tuesday May 3rd (8:30-9:00 p.m. EDT), on the ABC Television Network
Tonight’s episode of The Real O’Neals is another funny one, probably because they’re all hysterical. We had the opportunity to screen it a few weeks ago when we were in Los Angeles for the #CaptainAmericaEvent and the #ABCTVEvent as well as interview The Real O’Neals Executive Producers Casey Johnson (@trocaseyjohnson), David Windsor (@dwindsor789) & Stacy Traub (@stoocytroob). You can read the first part of our The Real O’Neals cast interviews here.
Here’s a little synopsis of the episode:
When Jimmy is unexpectedly named Faith Leader for the weekend at the Catholic Youth Retreat, a jealous Kenny decides to take on his older brother’s role as ring leader of the bad kids. Home alone without the kids, Pat invites a new lady friend over, and Eileen can’t help but enlist Jodi to spy on them, with surprising results.
NOAH GALVIN, BEBE WOOD, MATT SHIVELY (ABC/Kevin Estrada)
All 3 kids attend a Catholic Youth Retreat in this episode but have very different experiences.
NOAH GALVIN (ABC/Kevin Estrada)
Kenny enjoys being the rebel while Jimmy takes on the role of Faith Leader.
MARTHA PLIMPTON, JAMIE DENBO, JAY R. FERGUSON, MARY HOLLIS INBODEN (ABC/Adam Taylor)
Pat and Eileen fight over their new friend which includes a funny karaoke sing-off. I LOVED THIS PART! I dare you not to sing along!
Executive Producers Casey Johnson, David Windsor & Stacy Traub Photo Credit- Coralie Seright from Lovebugs and Postcards
We had the opportunity to chat with the Executive Producers Casey Johnson, David Windsor & Stacy Traub and here are some things we learned:
Originally the idea came was based on Dan Savage’s life–
The original spark of the idea was based on Dan Savage’s life- Jacob’s Ladder and Savage Love. So he grew up in Chicago in an Irish Catholic family and was gay so we took that idea and expanded it into this show. And then started folding in all of our experiences.We had an amazing staff of writers, a lot of whom were gay. We just wanted to make an impact. We wanted to be as authentic as we could, so we were very careful at putting that stuff together.There are many things- Stacy was divorced, David grew up with two gay dads. So this issue has always been really important to him and to us. We kind of fold in our own personal experience. ~Casey Johnson
Most of the feedback the show has received has been positive-
We feel like most of the negative has been from people who haven’t really watched the show but just know what it’s about or have gone in wanting to hate it. But if you believe tweets, which I do and I’ve been watching the live tweeting every week, the response has been so positive and lovely. Kids seeing themselves in the Kenny character, Moms seeing themselves like oh I had that. I think a lot of moms have like a daughter like Shannon. That smart girl and I know I had that. So they’ll respond ‘oh man I just had a conversation like that with my daughter’ and I’ll be like yeah me too. I feel like people who are open minded and like willing to see it for what it is have been really enjoying it. ~Stacey Traub
They are winning over even the skeptics.
There’s been a lot of people on Twitter especially, saying I wasn’t I wasn’t excited about the show but I recognized someone in my family. Or that’s me. Or it’s making me laugh. It’s been happening more and more. ~David Windsor
There was a review just last week where the guy said, “I went into this skeptical, with skepticism, but after watching a couple episodes, I fell for it.” I think we did have to win a few people over. We’ve also gotten some tweets from some kids who have said I’ve just watched the show and decided to come out to my parents. Which is really gratifying for us, because that was kind of beyond what we saw as the opportunity for story and comedy. We thought this is a show that could help some people. Anything kids that aren’t that far along or aren’t in a safe place where they can do that, at least watching the show I think will help them feel like I’m not alone, you know, I recognize myself in that character. And that’s been so gratifying for us to feel like we’re giving people that. ~Casey Johnson
Also there was a show a few years ago called The McCarthy’s where they also were Irish and the lead was gay and it was about their family. And I think they were like oh it’s just that show again. So some people went in a little skewed. We had certain people that were Catholic and told us that they came to it a little bit wary but then once they saw it, were laughing because they saw themselves in the characters or the priest reminded them of their priest or things like that. So it’s been positive, you know. ~Stacey Traub
The characters and Catholic family portrayed in the show are relatable and not polarizing.
I also really love the Jimmy character. There’s been lots of tweets like ‘I wish I had a brother like that’- underneath it they are difficult subjects, but underneath this his family loves each other, supports each other, and in every episode that’s reinforced.That’s also great, I think for people to see. It’s difficult, it’s not easy but in the end we support each other. ~Casey Johnson
I’m Jewish and I relate, a controlling mother is a controlling mother, it doesn’t matter what religion you are. So what I think is interesting about them being Catholic is it does make it more difficult, what’s happening to all of them. My daughter who’s eleven loves the show, she’s not a boy, you know, maybe she’s gay, I don’t know. But I think kids can also watch this show and see themselves in this character because he’s just a kid who’s trying to figure himself out, figure out who he is in the world. So I think the specificity actually makes it universal. Its what gives it the comedy but I think everyone- any big family or anyone with that kind of mom can see themselves. So no it’s not polarizing. ~Stacey Traub
A few weeks ago I had the unique opportunity to interview some of the actors from the 
ABC’s “black-ish” stars Anthony Anderson as Andre “Dre” Johnson, Tracee Ellis Ross as Rainbow Johnson, Yara Shahidi as Zoey Johnson, Miles Brown as Jack Johnson, special guest star, Laurence Fishburne as Pops Johnson, Marcus Scribner as Andre Johnson, Jr., and Marsai Martin as Diane Johnson. (ABC/Bob D’Amico)
Our tour started in front of the Johnson’s house where as you can see there were lights and other filming equipment along the outside of the house. You can see it in this picture but there is a backdrop on the wall with a backdrop of “the outside” directly to the right of this picture so if an actor opens the front door it looks like they are really looking outside. If the scene is a longer scene with the door open then they digitally add the outside for the scene so there will be movement, people passing by, etc., like you would have in a normal neighborhood.
You will also notice LOTS of familiar household items that make this house seem so real and “lived in”. There were magazines and games in the living room, TONS of photos on the walls, and even juice boxes placed around the house just like you’d find in most houses with children. For the frames with all of the family pictures the actors spent a day shooting these pictures together just to make them more real. There is so much attention to detail in the house that is truly a home.
Here I am posing in some of the rooms of the house. The kitchen is totally my dream kitchen. It’s so BIG!
I LOVE the master bedroom. In the picture above you can see the master bathroom (I LOVE the colors!), Rainbow’s vanity that actually had nail polish remover and other items on it, and Dre and Bo’s bed. Yes, that’s me sitting on the bed that Anthony Anderson and Tracee Ellis Ross sit on!
One of my favorite parts of the house was the master closet. I could LIVE in this closet. It was HUGE! Check out all of Dre’s shoes! The closed closet on the left of this picture is Rainbow’s closet. I love how big and organized it was with so much space for all of her clothes. I dream of having such an amazing closet one day!
The kids’ rooms each matched their personalities. The 2 pictures on the top left are Andre Jr.’s room, the top right are Zoey’s room, and the bottom 4 are from the room that twins Jack and Diane share. I love how they have the room divided in half by wallpaper for the twins. Such a cute idea!
If you haven’t watched `black-ish yet, what are you waiting for?!?! This show is seriously hilarious!!!
Getting All Dolled Up For Dancing With The Stars
We had a chance to take a few photos like the group photo below before we were ushered to our assigned seats.
This is what was on our seats!
It was surreal to look around and see the area where the band sits, the judges’ table, and the dance floor. Our seats were on the second level right across from the judges’ table where we had a bird’s eye view of everything that was going on below us.
While we waiting for the show to start we got to watch some of the dancers warm up and shoot an upcoming promo for the 10 year anniversary. Here’s what our view looked like and a clip of the dancers practicing for the promo. I wish my hips worked like this!
It was so exciting to be at the show live as it was airing. The energy was palpable. My tip for you- if you ever get the chance to attend a live DWTS taping make sure to wear comfortable shoes. There is A LOT of standing up when the show is live and sitting down on commercial breaks. And your hands might hurt from all the clapping. But I wouldn’t change a second of my amazing experience. The music, the dancing, the excitement of waiting to hear the judges’ scores. It was all incredibly exciting! Here are some pictures of the dances from that night.
Alfonso & Witney
Janel & Val
Lea & Artem
Tommy & Peta
Our exciting night didn’t end there. We went to a local restaurant/bar, Mixology 101, and had the privilege of a meet and greet with several of the stars and dancers from the show. We weren’t sure who the special guests would be. Then we looked up and in walked Lea Thompson and her partner 
Lea looked even more beautiful and YOUNG in person. I swear she must have taken a trip in the DeLorean time machine because she looked AMAZING. She was so sweet and down to Earth. A small group of us took a picture with her and when we went to get up to let the next group have time with her, she said,”Wait, aren’t you going to sit and talk to me!”. She sat with us like we were old friends. She told us all about life working on her ABC Family show, Switched at Birth, being on Dancing with the Stars with all the practice that it requires, and being a mom, doing laundry, keeping her house clean, and all her other duties. My husband’s favorite movies are the Back to the Future Trilogy so he was so jealous when he saw my picture:
Our fun and excitement was just starting. In walked Dancing with the Stars contestant and Duck Dynasty reality personality Sadie Robertson and her parents, Willie and Korie Robertson who go to all the DWTS shows to watch their daughter dance. I just had to take a picture with another Cori (she spells it Korie) but it’s not every day that you get photobombed by Willie Robertson. Actually he was supposed to be smiling in the picture and I didn’t know that he was puckering up until after I looked through my camera pictures.
One of my favorite parts of the night was watching Mark, watching his performance with Sadie from that night on the big tv over our heads and seeing his reactions as they danced. Dancing with the Stars is filmed live from 5-7 p.m. PST because it airs live from 8-10 p.m. EST. It then airs at 8 p.m. PST so we were able to watch the show as it aired locally.
Another of my favorite couples is Janel Parrish and Val Chmerkovskiy. They are just so adorable together.
Val was almost unrecognizable with his clean shaven face. It’s funny because I get on my husband all the time to shave but part of me wished that Val had his stubble when I met him. Who am I kidding, he’s a hottie stubble or no stubble. And as a Pretty Little Liar fan, I was so excited to meet Janel who looked exactly like she does on television. She was so sweet and pretty. I could have sat and chatted with them all night.
When I went to Los Angeles last week I had the opportunity to meet the children and creator of ABC’s new hit comedy black-ish. Don’t let the name fool you. This isn’t just a show for African Americans. This show really resonates with and is relate-able to many families of all different races in America today.
The Kids:
Photo credit: (ABC/Rick Rowell) KENYA BARRIS, creator/executive producer of “black-ish”
It was clear right away from talking to the parents of the child actors of black-ish just how humble and proud of their children they are. Legally (and emotionally) each child has to have a parent or guardian on set with them at all times. Both parents of all of the children are very involved in their careers. All 4 sets of parents have all become one big family. They look out for each other’s children and there are usually 4-6 parents on the set at all times. The parents mentioned how they have a say in their child’s wardrobe, story line, etc. and the writers have an open door policy. They receive the scripts beforehand to go over topics with their children that they might need to explain, like masturbation for one episode. Most of the jokes go over the heads of the younger two but sometimes the parents do have to explain some of the more adult content in an age appropriate way. I’ve never interviewed “stage parents” before so it was refreshing that these parents weren’t the stereotypical stage parents. They are all keeping their children grounded and humble by having them keep up with chores at home, going to school when they can (they are tutored on set when they can’t attend their regular schools), and living as normal of a life as possible. Great advice for anyone who has a child who wants to get in the business.
©(ABC/K.C. Bailey)
©(ABC/K.C. Bailey)
