Ryan and Tatum: The O'Neals
Encyclopedia
Ryan and Tatum: The O'Neals is an American reality television show that began airing in June 2011 on the OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network. The series focuses on actors Ryan
and Tatum O'Neal
and the reconciliation process as the two have begun to redevelop their father/daughter relationship after twenty-five years.
after twenty-five years of living in New York City
with the desire to reconcile her estranged relationship with her father, Ryan. Ryan, who has lived in the same home for forty years, is trying to rebuild his life after the death of his longtime partner Farrah Fawcett
.
The show also includes Fawcett's and Ryan's son, Redmond O'Neal, who lives with his father. Ryan's other sons, Patrick
and Griffin O'Neal
, are not featured in the show because of an estranged relationship with their father prior to and during filming, although Griffin is heard speaking to Tatum on the telephone in the first episode. Additionally, there is very little mention of Tatum's ex-husband, John McEnroe
; however, one of their three children, Sean, lives in Los Angeles and has a relationship with Ryan. John McEnroe stated on The Wendy Williams Show
that he hoped his adult children do not participate in the series. He stated, “two of them won’t and I think that none of them agreed to be on it.” McEnroe felt, “I think this (the show) is an accident waiting to happen”.
To coincide with the series, Tatum also released a memoir, Found: A Daughter's Journey Home. The memoir chronicles her family, her childhood, her struggles with substance abuse, and her reconciliation with her father.
In September 2011, it was reported that the reconciliation did not take and it was only for show and not in life. Ryan blamed Oprah Winfrey
for further distancing him from Tatum, alluding to Oprah's lack of support by stating, "we're further apart now than we were when we started the show. So thanks, Oprah, for all your help." Representatives of Ryan stated the quotes were taken out of context and he and Tatum were still working on strengthening their relationship. However, Ryan told Access Hollywood
that he did not foresee a second season, adding, "did I open up? I tried. Does Tatum like me any better? No. So what's the point?"
Ryan O'Neal
Charles Patrick Ryan O'Neal , better known as Ryan O'Neal, is an American actor best known for his appearances in the ABC nighttime soap opera Peyton Place and for his roles in such films as Paper Moon , Stanley Kubrick's Barry Lyndon , A Bridge Too Far , and Love Story , for which he received...
and Tatum O'Neal
Tatum O'Neal
Tatum Beatrice O'Neal is an American actress best known for her film work as a child actress in the 1970s. She is the youngest to win a competitive Academy Award, at the age of 10, which she won for her performance as Addie Loggins in Paper Moon opposite her father Ryan O'Neal...
and the reconciliation process as the two have begun to redevelop their father/daughter relationship after twenty-five years.
Synopsis
Described by OWN as a "docu-series", the eight-episode series began with Tatum moving back to Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
after twenty-five years of living in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
with the desire to reconcile her estranged relationship with her father, Ryan. Ryan, who has lived in the same home for forty years, is trying to rebuild his life after the death of his longtime partner Farrah Fawcett
Farrah Fawcett
Farrah Fawcett was an American actress and artist. A multiple Golden Globe and Emmy Award nominee, Fawcett rose to international fame when she first appeared as private investigator Jill Munroe in the first season of the television series Charlie's Angels, in 1976...
.
The show also includes Fawcett's and Ryan's son, Redmond O'Neal, who lives with his father. Ryan's other sons, Patrick
Patrick O'Neal (sportscaster)
Patrick O'Neal is a studio host and reporter for Fox Sports West/Prime Ticket in Los Angeles. Most of his appearances come during pregame and postgame shows of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angeles Kings, as well as the Los Angeles Lakers.In 2005, he was a sideline reporter on several telecasts...
and Griffin O'Neal
Griffin O'Neal
-Early life:O'Neal was born in Los Angeles, California, the son of actor Ryan O'Neal and the late actress Joanna Cook Moore . He has one sister, Tatum, and two half brothers, Patrick and Redmond. His grandfather was novelist/screenwriter Charles "Blackie" O'Neal.-Films:Griffin O'Neal appeared in...
, are not featured in the show because of an estranged relationship with their father prior to and during filming, although Griffin is heard speaking to Tatum on the telephone in the first episode. Additionally, there is very little mention of Tatum's ex-husband, John McEnroe
John McEnroe
John Patrick McEnroe, Jr. is a former world no. 1 professional tennis player from the United States. During his career, he won seven Grand Slam singles titles , nine Grand Slam men's doubles titles, and one Grand Slam mixed doubles title...
; however, one of their three children, Sean, lives in Los Angeles and has a relationship with Ryan. John McEnroe stated on The Wendy Williams Show
The Wendy Williams Show
The Wendy Williams Show is a syndicated talk show hosted by Wendy Williams that premiered on July 14, 2008, as six-week sneak peek, in Detroit, Dallas, Los Angeles, and New York City. The test run was picked up for a full season that began its run on July 13, 2009 in over 70% of the country in...
that he hoped his adult children do not participate in the series. He stated, “two of them won’t and I think that none of them agreed to be on it.” McEnroe felt, “I think this (the show) is an accident waiting to happen”.
To coincide with the series, Tatum also released a memoir, Found: A Daughter's Journey Home. The memoir chronicles her family, her childhood, her struggles with substance abuse, and her reconciliation with her father.
In September 2011, it was reported that the reconciliation did not take and it was only for show and not in life. Ryan blamed Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey is an American media proprietor, talk show host, actress, producer and philanthropist. Winfrey is best known for her self-titled, multi-award-winning talk show, which has become the highest-rated program of its kind in history and was nationally syndicated from 1986 to 2011...
for further distancing him from Tatum, alluding to Oprah's lack of support by stating, "we're further apart now than we were when we started the show. So thanks, Oprah, for all your help." Representatives of Ryan stated the quotes were taken out of context and he and Tatum were still working on strengthening their relationship. However, Ryan told Access Hollywood
Access Hollywood
Access Hollywood is a weekday television entertainment news program covering events and celebrities in the entertainment industry. It was created by former Entertainment Tonight executive producer Jim Van Messel, and is currently directed by Robert Silverstein. In previous years, Doug Dougherty and...
that he did not foresee a second season, adding, "did I open up? I tried. Does Tatum like me any better? No. So what's the point?"
List of episodes
| Episode Number | Title | Airdate | Plot |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "A Home Coming" | June 19, 2011 | For the series premiere, Tatum moves from New York City to Los Angeles to repair her relationship with her father by inviting him to her birthday party. |
| 2 | "He Said, She Said" | June 26, 2011 | Tatum talks Ryan into seeing a therapist to deal with his anger issues. Meanwhile, Tatum sees a therapist to deal with her past. |
| 3 | "It's Only a Paper Moon" | July 10, 2011 | Ryan and Tatum attend a screening of their movie, Paper Moon Paper Moon (film) Paper Moon is a 1973 American comedy film directed by Peter Bogdanovich and released by Paramount Pictures. The screenplay was adapted from the novel Addie Pray by Joe David Brown, and the film was shot in black-and-white. The film is set during the Great Depression in the U.S. states of Kansas and... . |
| 4 | "Sobering News" | July 17, 2011 | Ryan's therapist suggests joint sessions with Tatum to better understand her struggles with sobriety. |
| 5 | "For the Love of Farrah" | July 24, 2011 | Ryan and Tatum participate in ceremonies honoring Farrah Fawcett Farrah Fawcett Farrah Fawcett was an American actress and artist. A multiple Golden Globe and Emmy Award nominee, Fawcett rose to international fame when she first appeared as private investigator Jill Munroe in the first season of the television series Charlie's Angels, in 1976... . Tatum remembers the sense of abandonment she felt when Ryan fell in love with Farrah in 1979. |
| 6 | "At a Crossroad" | July 31, 2011 | After the ceremonies for Farrah, Ryan and Tatum do not speak until Tatum resumes the reconciliation process by arranging a therapy session for herself and Ryan. |
| 7 | "A Page Turner" | August 7, 2011 | Emotional therapy sessions, as well as, Ryan's thoughts about Tatum's book, Found: A Daughter's Journey Home, are deteriorating the reconciliation. |
| 8 | "To Begin Again" | August 14, 2011 | In the season finale, Ryan and Tatum are at an impasse as the release of Found: A Daughter's Journey Home nears publication. |