The McCarthys
By Emily Ashby,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Mediocre show mines sexual identity, family for laughs.
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The McCarthys
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What's the Story?
THE MCCARTHYS centers on Ronny McCarthy (Tyler Ritter), a high school guidance counselor who's an anomaly in his Boston-grown family for two reasons: He's gay, and he knows little -- and cares even less -- about sports, despite his family members' obsession with every Boston athletic franchise. So it's little wonder that he starts thinking of expanding his horizons beyond the city block that separates him from his parents (Laurie Metcalf and Jack McGee) and his siblings: acerbic Gerard (Joey McIntyre), dim Sean (Jimmy Dunn), and aimless Jackie (Kelen Coleman). But when a surprising offer arises from his dad, Ronny rethinks the value in giving up his proximity to his meddlesome, but ultimately devoted, family.
Is It Any Good?
This series mines common comedy threads such as overbearing parents and the generation gap for its laughs, but in so doing, it falls back on too many clichés and feels predictable and stale. Ronny's sexuality is an unnecessarily dominant plot point, which makes the related stereotypes (particularly the one about gay guys and their athletic insufficiencies) even more prominent than they otherwise would be. The characters around him are similarly typecast: the judgmental father, the coddling but manipulative mother, the high school jock who hasn't grown up, and so on.
Of course, you don't have to be the Cleavers to represent modern family values, and for better or worse, the McCarthys are a bonded group that pulls together when the chips are down. In particular, Ronny's relationship with his mom is touching, if a bit overwhelming at times. But while teens might see the humor in the stereotypes, they're also filled with cumbersome mixed messages. The bottom line? There are better options out there for family sitcoms than The McCarthys that don't come with so much baggage.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how The McCarthys presents being gay. Where do the stereotypes come from? Are they at all fair? Do you think they're offensive? Where do you think the line exists between a stereotype being funny and hurtful?
Teens: Have you ever felt compelled to look or act a certain way to fit in with a particular group of people? How does changing yourself to meet someone else's needs affect your self-esteem? Is peer pressure a concern for you?
To what degree has the family structure changed in recent decades? Can we define a family now? Should that matter? Is this progression a reflection of a more accepting society, or is it something different?
TV Details
- Premiere date: November 6, 2014
- Cast: Tyler Ritter, Laurie Metcalf, Jack McGee
- Network: CBS
- Genre: Comedy
- Topics: Brothers and Sisters
- TV rating: TV-14
- Last updated: October 14, 2022
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