Modern Family

I have to say that Modern Family is my favorite new show this year. It is funny, witty and even with its outrageous setup, the characters feel real and have heart.

 

I don't think it's very funny, but I'm going to keep watching. It actually feels more like a drama to me for some reason.

 

It also got picked up for a full season.

 

I've tried a couple of episodes of Modern Family. It's not the funniest new comedy of the season. I think that honor should go to NBC's Community. Cougar Town on ABC might be a close second. Haven't tried any other new comedies yet, but I might check out Patricia Heaton's new show next week.

As I've discussed in a separate thread, Modern Family rips off the "mockumentary" angle of The Office. The frequent character interviews and constant presence of a camera seem natural in The Office. In Modern Family, on the other hand, these things seem contrived.

Modern Family goes for the cheap, politically correct laughs. The straight guys on the show don’t come across too well. Phil (Ty Burrell) is bossed around by his wife Claire (Julie Bowen). She has to prod him to demonstrate some fatherly authority. Outside of the home, Phil becomes a complete idiot when he encounters sexually alluring female neighbors. Maybe “complete idiot” is Phil’s default setting. The other heterosexual man on the show (Jay, played by Ed O’ Neill) is a conservative, therefore he’s a jerk and a grouch. I’ll bet he watches Fox News too.

The show is most approving of the two homosexual guys. They are cool for adopting a baby girl from Vietnam. Awwwww. Since this is a sitcom, we’re not supposed fuss over any serious issues that might follow, like whether it’s good for a baby to grow up motherless. That would be sooooo old-fashioned, not Modern. Personally, I’m with Jay, who thought the gay guys should have bought a dog.

 

Meh. I tried the pilot. Got maybe 10 minutes into it, max, before deleting it from my DVR. Simply put, it's not funny. And a "comedy" without even one iota of humor is not worth my time.

 

Yes because it's a proven fact that gays can't raise children that every child needs a mom and dad in the home even when the majority of households in the USA only have one parent.

 

And that having said mother or father is really great when it wasn't, in my case (father hit me way too much, then graduated to hitting mother, which broke up the marriage-dirty little secret that only I seem to remember and know.)

 

It's ok, but I pretty much hate the Phil character to the point I don't want to watch his scenes...

 

I have only watched one episode (just last night) and I thought it was a hoot. I agree with the OP that (at least during this one episode) the characters really do feel real and it did have heart. I mean...I recognized those folks.

I thought Jay was particularly good. He reminds me soooooo much of my dad, in a good way.

We'll see how I feel after I see more, but my first reaction is very positive.
I watched Cougartown, too. It was OK. I thought it was a lot more typical sitcom-ish, though - which may or may not be a bad thing, but it's too soon to tell.

 

It's an amusing little sitcom, cute but not a laugh riot. But I watch because of Sofia Vergara.

 

I think it's hilarious. It's nice to have a new comedy that I actually enjoy, that hasn't happened often the past few years. I still can't get over the "Lion King" scene from the pilot. That was so funny.

 

I like the show but the sixth season is showing its age now. I can't believe they actually went with introducing new "wacky redneck neighbors" for Phil and Claire.

 

I think it's more unbelievable that you bumped a 5 year old topic.

 

Personal preference. I'd rather keep discussions about a particular show to a single thread. I also find it interesting to see what people said about a show at the beginning of a run vs today.

If a more recent thread about MF had come up when I did my search I probably would've bumped that one.

 

What a coincidence! I just bought Season Five at Target today it was only $15 (this is the brand new release too!)

 

Started watching the saw when it aired and still love it!

 

I've noticed with this season that the stories are getting a little predictable, whereas earlier season stories often surprised me with more unexpected moments or fresh plot resolutions.

Ed O'Neil is one of the great comedic actors and I'll watch this show for as long as he stays on it.

 

Ed O'Neil is the only reason the show is watchable. I never really liked it, it shouldn't have won five emmies in a row there are better ones, but he is damn good!

 

I got into the show over the summer through syndication. That said, I've been loving Season 6 just as much as I have the past episodes. I love seeing how the show changes as the child actors come of age.