LOCAL BUZZED
‘ Real O’Neals’ star likes the ‘ intoxicated characters’ of Chicago
Noah Galvin plays a gay Evanston teenager in ABC’s “The Real O’Neals,” but the New York native only recently got to know Chicago.
Galvin visited his grandparents in Evanston as a child and spent about six weeks in Chicago as a 10- year- old while touring with “LesMiserables” in 2004.
But the now 22- year- old says he didn’t really experience the city until this summer, when he accompanied his co- star, former Chicago theater actor Mary Hollis Inboden, while she taught a theater workshop here.
“It was my first time as a person of age in Chicago,” he said. “I feel like that’s when you really get to experience a city— when you get to experience its nightlife. You get to go out to its bars and [ meet] the colorful, intoxicated characters that make up a city.
“I like it very much. It’s like a smaller, cleaner, maybe a little friendlier New York.”
Back in the area over Thanksgiving to celebrate the holiday with his grandparents, Galvin took time out to talk about “The Real O’Neals.”
Loosely based on the life of gay author and activist Dan Savage, “The Real O’Neals” explores the fallout when Galvin’s character, Kenny, comes out to his Irish- American and Catholic family living in Evanston. The sitcom airs at 8: 30 p. m. Tuesdays on WLS- Channel 7.
Episodes explore hotbutton issues as Kenny’s mom, Eileen ( Martha Plimpton) comes to terms with her son’s sexuality and her impending divorce from his dad, Pat ( Jay Ferguson).
The show draws laughs from uncomfortable situations, but maintains honest emotions. This Tuesday’s episode, titled “The Real Match,” takes on homophobia while playing with a gay stereotype or two.
Kenny, who has no interest in sports, joins the high school wrestling team at the behest of his brother, Jimmy ( Matt Shively). With an unorthodox wrestling style, Kenny becomes a star at his school. Hateful reactions from an opposing team crushes Kenny’s enthusiasm for his newfound sport.
“There’s some ‘ West Side Story.’ There’s some homophobia,” Galvin teased. “It’s got a little bit of everything!”
For Galvin, who is gay, playing a gay teen on TV is a “special opportunity” to present a positive gay character and to show that despite obstacles, things get better. In the Dec. 13 Christmas episode, Kenny meets his first boyfriend.
Galvin hopes to expand his LGBTQ- positive message beyond the show.
“The greater goal is to be an advocate. I’m 22, I’m still figuring out my stuff. I’m still learning and making mistakes,” he said. “I’d hope that just because I’m still learning doesn’t mean I can’t help others or lend a hand, or advocate for anyone else.”
Galvin’s learning curve became evident earlier this year when he made controversial comments in an interview with Vulture. He criticized Eric Stonestreet’s portrayal of a gay man in “Modern Family” and slammed how actor Colton Haynes came out.
He later apologized, and also wrote a mea culpa of sorts in Out magazine. He says now the controversy taught him a lesson about being a public figure.
“I very quickly learned that I do have a platform, and that people will listen to what I have to say,” he said. “You should choose your words carefully.”
While Galvin is letting his work on “The Real O’Neals” do the talking right now, he’s currently in the early stages of developing a newsletter or magazine with essays, poems and coming- out stories for gay teens.
“I think right now more than ever it’s important for the younger queer generation to have an outlet or a resource available to them that promotes inclusivity and acceptance.”