‘The McCarthys’ centers on gay son of sports-mad Boston family

CBS already has “The Millers,” but this fall it will shake things up with “The McCarthys,” a multi-camera sitcom about a sports-mad Boston family.

At the center of the series is Ronny (Tyler Ritter), the baby of the family, who is not only uninterested in sports but also is gay. In a refreshing twist, it’s the former trait that truly puts him at odds with his siblings and parents. As for his sexuality, Ronny’s family has embraced that -- mostly.

“The McCarthys,” which began at the network as a single-camera pilot and was repurposed to its current format, is based loosely on the experiences of creator and former “Happy Endings” writer Brian Gallivan, a gay, sports-averse Boston native.

The pilot plays the culture clash between Ronny and his family for laughs, and when asked, Gallivan indicated he does not plan to tackle more serious social issues in the future. “I think it’s probably going to be pretty light; probably my life is just always fun as a gay man,” he said.

The distinct character of Beantown is also a big part of the series, which stars several actors who hail from the city. Jimmy Dunn, who plays big brother Sean, once worked at Fenway Park.

“When somebody from Boston doesn’t know how the Red Sox did last night, that’s really strange to me,” he said.

There’s also former New Kid on the Block Joey McIntyre as Gerard, yet another McCarthy brother. (Incidentally, this makes McIntyre the second New Kid with a show on CBS, after “Blue Bloods” star Donnie Wahlberg.)

“I think Boston is a great town,” McIntyre said. “They get behind their own people, and they cheer for them like you’ve never experienced, until you get too big. And they take you out at the knees, and they make sure you remember where you came from.... It’s a very working-class kind of a town, but, of course, filled with amazing colleges and intellectuals. And it’s a world-class city with a small-town feel. And Joe Perry said that, from Aerosmith.”

Onetime heartthrob McIntyre also brings a certain something to the series. As Jack McGee, who stars as family patriarch Arthur, put it, “As long as Joey McIntyre is there, I think we’ll be fine with the crowds coming in to watch him.

Twitter: @MeredithBlake