Editing Normal, Ohio

{{short description|American television sitcom}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox television
| image                =
| image_alt            = 
| caption              = 
| genre                = 
| creator              = [[Bonnie and Terry Turner|Bonnie Turner and Terry Turner]]<br />[[Bob Kushell]]
| based_on             = 
| developer            = 
| writer               = 
| director             = 
| creative_director    = 
| presenter            = 
| starring             = [[John Goodman]]<br />[[Joely Fisher]]<br />[[Anita Gillette]]<br />[[Orson Bean]]<br />[[Mo Gaffney]]<br />[[Charles Rocket]]
| judges               = 
| voices               = 
| narrated             = 
| theme_music_composer = 
| opentheme            = 
| endtheme             = 
| composer             = [[Ben Vaughn]]<br>[[Jeff Sudakin]]
| country              = United States
| language             = English
| num_seasons          = 1
| num_episodes         = 12 (7 aired, 5 unaired episodes) + 1 unaired original alternative pilot
| list_episodes        = 
| executive_producer   = [[Marcy Carsey]]<br>[[Caryn Mandabach]]<br>[[Tom Werner]]
| producer             = 
| editor               = 
| cinematography       = 
| camera               = [[Multiple-camera setup|Multi-camera]]
| runtime              = 30 minutes
| company              = Bonter Productions<br>[[The Carsey-Werner Company|Carsey-Werner Company]]
| network              = [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]]
| first_aired          = {{start date|2000|11|1}}
| last_aired           = {{end date|2000|12|13}}
| related              =  
}}

'''''Normal, Ohio''''' is an American television [[sitcom]] aired on [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] from November 1 to December 13, 2000. The show stars [[John Goodman]] as William "Butch" Gamble, a [[gay]] man returning to his [[Midwestern United States|Midwestern]] home town. The cast also includes [[Joely Fisher]], [[Anita Gillette]], [[Orson Bean]], [[Mo Gaffney]] and [[Charles Rocket]]. The title is a reference to [[Sherwood Anderson]]'s ''[[Winesburg, Ohio]]''.

==Overview==
The original concept for the series was an ''[[The Odd Couple (1970 TV series)|Odd Couple]]''–style situation comedy called ''Don't Ask'', with Goodman as "Rex", sharing his [[West Hollywood, California|West Hollywood]] apartment with college friend David ([[Anthony LaPaglia]]). Although the pilot was well-received, creators Bonnie and Terry Turner felt that the premise was not strong enough for an ongoing series. LaPaglia's character was written out and the series was relocated to Ohio.<ref>Tropiano, Stephen (2002). ''The Prime Time Closet: A History of Gays and Lesbians on TV''. New York, Applause Theatre and Cinema Books. {{ISBN|1-55783-557-8}}. p. 252</ref>

The show was most notable for the divisions it exposed regarding American culture's view of [[homosexuality]]. Gamble is an average [[Blue-collar worker|blue collar]] [[bear (gay culture)|bear]]-type gay man, with many traits typical of American [[masculinity]], including a love of [[American football|football]] and beer, and very few of the traits [[stereotype|stereotypically]] associated with gay men. Nevertheless, his sexuality itself was signified in part by isolated moments of more stereotypically gay behavior, such as singing snippets of Broadway show tunes and helping his sister to color her hair, that were seemingly at odds with the way his character was presented most of the time. As a result, some media outlets dismissed Goodman's role as unrealistic.<ref>{{cite web
 |last        = Maitra
 |first       = Rob
 |title       = Getting Back to Normal
 |publisher   = [[PopMatters]]
 |url         = http://www.popmatters.com/review/normal-ohio/
 |accessdate  = June 24, 2009
 |url-status     = dead
 |archiveurl  = https://web.archive.org/web/20140117011518/http://www.popmatters.com/review/normal-ohio/
 |archivedate = January 17, 2014
}}</ref>

Goodman won the [[People's Choice Awards|People's Choice Award]] for Best Actor in a New Comedy Series, but up against the second half hour of ''[[Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?]]'', it flopped in the [[Nielsen ratings]]. Twelve episodes of the series were made, but only seven were aired before its cancellation.

Goodman appeared on the cover of [[TV Guide]]'s 2000 Fall Preview issue, along with three other actors starring in new sitcoms: [[Geena Davis]], [[Bette Midler]] and [[Michael Richards]]. The magazine proclaimed them a "fab foursome", but none of the shows was a hit. (In the 2001 Fall Preview issue, the 2000 cover was re-printed with thought balloons over the actors' heads, with Goodman's saying, "Even I didn't buy me as a gay dad!")

==Cast==
*[[John Goodman]] as William "Butch" Gamble
*[[Anita Gillette]] as Joan Gamble
*[[Joely Fisher]] as Pamela Gamble-Miller
*[[Greg Pitts]] as Charlie Gamble
*[[Julia McIlvaine]] as Kimberly Miller
*[[Cody Kasch]] as Robbie Miller 
*[[Orson Bean]] as Bill Gamble
*[[Mo Gaffney]] as Elizabeth
*[[Charles Rocket]] as Danny

==Episodes==
{{Episode table
 |background      = 
 |overall         = 5
 |title           = 22
 |director        = 20
 |writer          = 30
 |airdate         = 15
 |prodcode        = 8
 |prodcodeR       = <ref name="U.S.C.O.">From the United States Copyright Office catalog: {{cite web |url=http://cocatalog.loc.gov/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?DB=local&PAGE=First |title=Public Catalog - Copyright Catalog (1978 to present) - Basic Search [search: "Normal, Ohio"] |publisher=United States Copyright Office |date= |accessdate=2017-10-31}}</ref>
<!-- |viewers         = -->
 |country         = US
 |episodes        =

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 1
| Title = Homecoming Queen
| DirectedBy = [[Philip Charles MacKenzie]]
| WrittenBy = [[Bonnie and Terry Turner|Bonnie Turner and Terry Turner]] & [[Bob Kushell]] 
| OriginalAirDate = {{start date|2000|11|1}}
| ProdCode = 101
| ShortSummary = 
| LineColor = 
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 2
| Title = Foreign Affairs
| DirectedBy = Phillip Charles MacKenzie
| WrittenBy = Gregg Mettler 
| OriginalAirDate = {{start date|2000|11|8}}
| ProdCode = 104
| ShortSummary = 
| LineColor = 
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 3
| Title = Caught on Tape
| DirectedBy = Phillip Charles MacKenzie
| WrittenBy = Jimmy Aleck & Jim Keily
| OriginalAirDate = {{start date|2000|11|15}}
| ProdCode = 106
| ShortSummary = 
| LineColor = 
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 4
| Title = A Thanksgiving Episode
| DirectedBy = Phillip Charles MacKenzie
| WrittenBy = Miriam Trogdon
| OriginalAirDate = {{start date|2000|11|22}}
| ProdCode = 102
| ShortSummary = 
| LineColor = 
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 5
| Title = Buyer's Remorse
| DirectedBy = Phillip Charles MacKenzie
| WrittenBy = Brad Walsh & Paul Corrigan
| OriginalAirDate = {{start date|2000|11|29}}
| ProdCode = 103
| ShortSummary = 
| LineColor = 
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 6
| Title = Working Girl
| DirectedBy = Phillip Charles MacKenzie
| WrittenBy = Lynnie Greene & Richard Levine
| OriginalAirDate = {{start date|2000|12|6}}
| ProdCode = 108
| ShortSummary = 
| LineColor = 
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 7
| Title = Just Another Normal Christmas
| DirectedBy = Phillip Charles MacKenzie
| WrittenBy = John Schwab
| OriginalAirDate = {{start date|2000|12|13}}
| ProdCode = 107
| ShortSummary = 
| LineColor = 
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 8
| Title = Pamela's New Boyfriend
| DirectedBy = Phillip Charles MacKenzie
| WrittenBy = [[Bob Nickman]]
| OriginalAirDate = ''Unaired''
| ProdCode = 105
| ShortSummary = 
| LineColor = 
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 9
| Title = Forgotten, But Not Gone 
| DirectedBy = Philip Charles MacKenzie
| WrittenBy = Brad Walsh & Paul Corrigan
| OriginalAirDate = ''Unaired''
| ProdCode = 109 <!-- Note: Prod. Code from Epguides, as U.S.C.O. does not have the title for this episode. -->
| ShortSummary = 
| LineColor = 
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 10
| Title = The Favorite
| DirectedBy = Phillip Charles MacKenzie
| WrittenBy = Kira Arne
| OriginalAirDate = ''Unaired''
| ProdCode = 110
| ShortSummary = 
| LineColor = 
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 11
| Title = He Always Get His Man 
| DirectedBy = Phillip Charles MacKenzie
| WrittenBy = Gregg Mettler 
| OriginalAirDate = ''Unaired''
| ProdCode = 111
| ShortSummary = 
| LineColor = 
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 12
| Title = Charlie's Gamble 
| DirectedBy = Phillip Charles MacKenzie
| WrittenBy = Jimmy Aleck & Jim Keily
| OriginalAirDate = ''Unaired''
| ProdCode = 112
| ShortSummary = 
| LineColor =
}} 
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 0
| Title = Don't Ask (Unaired Alternative Pilot)
| RTitle = <ref name="WGAW">From the Writers Guild of America, West catalog: {{cite web |url=https://apps.wga.org/coveredprojects/default.aspx |title=Signatory Project Confirmation [search: "Normal, Ohio"] |publisher=Writers Guild of America, West |date= |accessdate=2017-10-31}}</ref>
<!-- AltTitle = Don't Ask - note that while EpGuides has an episode with this title, there is nothing else to confirm this, so as per [[WP:V]] it must be left out until [[WP:RS]]-souring can be provided for to confirm this is an alt. title of the pilot... -->
| DirectedBy = [[David Trainer]]
| WrittenBy = Bonnie Turner and Terry Turner
| OriginalAirDate = ''Unaired''
| ProdCode = <!-- 100(?) - no source to verify this Prod. Code -->
| ShortSummary = 
| LineColor = 
}}
}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.carseywerner.net/normal_en.htm Normal, Ohio @ Carsey-Werner]{{dead link|date=January 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
* [http://www.carseywerner.com/shows_about.php?showid=19 Carsey-Werner - Normal Ohio]
* {{IMDb title|0247090}}
* {{Epguides|NormalOhio|Normal, Ohio}}

[[Category:2000 American television series debuts]]
[[Category:2000 American television series endings]]
[[Category:2000s American multi-camera sitcoms]]
[[Category:2000s American LGBTQ-related sitcoms]]
[[Category:American English-language television shows]]
[[Category:Gay-related television shows]]
[[Category:Television series by Carsey-Werner Productions]]
[[Category:Television shows set in Ohio]]
[[Category:Bear (gay culture)]]
[[Category:Television series created by Bonnie and Terry Turner]]
[[Category:Fox Broadcasting Company sitcoms]]