“Modern Family” was one of those shows I saw for the first time that immediately captured my attention. It was something about the realness of the dialogue and the hilarious way in which this sitcom portrays the family dynamic that really resonated with me.
If you are like me, and you sometimes feel bombarded with images and examples in the media of how the American Family “should” look, you just might find this sitcom on ABC to be refreshing; that is if you haven’t already seen it. Chances are though, that you have. Now in its third season, “Modern Family” can boast 11 Emmy wins among numerous other awards and its popularity is only growing.
Filmed in a “mockumentary” style the viewer is privy to each characters’ thoughts through the occasional direct dialogue with the camera. “Modern Family” follows three families who are all related to each other through the patriarch of the family, Jay Pritchett. His two children Claire and Mitchell are grown and have families of their own. Claire is married to Phil and they each have three children, Haley, Alex and Luke. Mitchell has adopted a little girl from Vietnam named Lily with his partner Cameron and Jay himself is remarried to a much younger woman (younger even than his daughter Claire) named Gloria who is originally from Columbia and has her own son from a previous relationship, Manny.
It is refreshing to be able to laugh at real life family situations. So many times we are left struggling to see how our lives fit into the portrayals of family life on television and in movies. You look around and think why doesn’t my family fit into these molds? But “Modern Family” is paving the way for a new “American Family.” One that encompasses all types and that “family” doesn’t have to be a Mom a Dad 2.5 kids and a dog to be OK. And, Modern Family does this in a way that isn’t preachy. It’s hilarious. The speed of the episodes will keep your attention and the back and forth between the characters will have you fall-over-in-your-chair laughing. When it is all over they leave you filled with warm fuzzy feelings.
Why? Because it is family. What is that old saying? Can’t live with ‘em, can’t live without ‘em. They push your buttons…heck, they are responsible for the creation of those buttons! No matter who you are or what family you come from, this sitcom will have you laughing. It’s funny, because, its true!