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.
Modern Family
- Thread starter Tom Hendricks
- Start date
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.
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.
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.
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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.
Dusty Ayres
Commodore
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.)
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.
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.
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 know, right?
I love Modern Family, and saw this thread and checked it out. The OP is talking about his "favorite new show", and I'm totally confused!
I hate it when that happens.
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.
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 one of the great comedic actors and I'll watch this show for as long as he stays on it.
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