Review: New sitcom ‘The McCarthys’ isn’t Boston strong

SHARE Review: New sitcom ‘The McCarthys’ isn’t Boston strong

Second City veteran Brian Gallivan created this CBS sitcom loosely based on his life as a gay son in a big, boisterous, sports-obsessed Boston family.

Tyler Ritter is Ronny (who’s really Brian), the 29-year-old child of a doting mother (Steppenwolf Theatre ensemble member Laurie Metcalf) and a rough-around-the-edges high-school basketball coach father (Jack McGee).

RELATED: Former Second City star gets his biggest break yet with ‘The McCarthys’

Mom and Dad aren’t necessarily upset about their son’s sexual orientation; they just don’t seem to understand it. This leads to a lot of gay jokes that feel past their sell-by date in a 2014 TV show.

The pilot has a few funny moments, mostly courtesy of Metcalf. Ronny’s siblings come off less like real people and more like caricatures. And too much of the humor relies on Ronny not fitting in — a gag that starts to feel stale after just one episode.

“THE MCCARTHYS”

8:30 p.m. Thursday, WBBM-Channel 2

Rating: [s3r star=2.5/4]

Follow @lorirackl

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