For years, Eileen O’Neal wanted nothing more than to be the perfect Catholic with the perfect family. She would be the envy of her neighborhood, the talk of the pews on Sunday morning; everyone would marvel at how she was able to keep a lovely home with a lovely marriage and three lovely children. But neither Eileen nor her family are capable of living up to such lofty expectations, as real life happens and people often turn out differently than you might’ve wanted. The O’Neal family might be making due with their new situations, with Kenny becoming more assured in himself and Pat taking steps toward independence, but Eileen just can’t seem to let go of perfection.
On the next episode of The Real O’Neals, Eileen dives head first into the church’s choir competition, hoping to use that to propel her standing amongst her peers and, in a sense, “make up” for her divorce and her son’s sexuality. That competitiveness, driven by her own insecurity and a fierce rivalry with Sheila Demars, manifests itself negatively in her relationship with Kenny, as Eileen gives the coveted solo to Brett, the choir’s newest member. Kenny’s heart was set on getting that little sliver of spotlight and “proving” his faith in front of all those who might’ve judged his coming out (and his family’s subsequent acceptance), so his mother taking away that opportunity undoubtedly puts a strain on their relationship. But out of such a negative moment comes something Kenny might not have expected: a possible love interest in Brett, someone who understands his life as a gay religious teen and someone, shockingly, Eileen might actually approve of.
Elsewhere on The Real O’Neals, Jimmy finds himself tasked with spying on Sheila, while Shannon gives Pat the wrong impression about her Christmas gift to Ethan.
The Real O’Neals airs Tuesdays at 9:30 on ABC.
How will Eileen react to the connection between Brett and Kenny? Will her attention go from winning the competition/beating Sheila to preventing her son from getting to know Brett? What could Shannon give Ethan that Pat takes the wrong way?
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THE REAL O'NEALS - "The Real Christmas" - Eileen will stop at nothing to win the Christmas Choir competition and gives the coveted Christmas Choir solo to their newest member Brett (Sean Grandillo), to Kenny's dismay, while Jimmy is tasked with spying on their toughest competitor, Sheila Demars (Angela Kinsey). But, when Kenny attempts to sabotage Brett's role, he finds a potential love interest. Meanwhile, Shannon accidentally gives Pat the wrong impression about a Christmas present she plans on giving to Ethan, on "The Real O'Neals," airing TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13 (9:30-10:00 p.m. EDT), on the ABC Television Network. (ABC/John Fleenor)MARY HOLLIS INBODEN, RAMONA YOUNG, SEAN GRANDILLO, NOAH GALVIN
