Modern Family is one of the funniest sitcoms of the last decade. The entire cast is hilarious. It has one of the best ensemble casts of any show I can remember. Every single character shines and all the actors and actresses were perfectly cast for their roles. This went on for 11 amazing seasons, each one just as funny as the others. It never felt like the show was going stale or over staying it's welcome. Even watching the reruns will make you laugh like it's your first time seeing it. This show has won so many awards over the years and each one was earned. What makes this show so funny is that every family can relate to someone on the show, sometimes all of them. I would definitely recommend this show for anyone looking for a new sitcom.
530 Reviews
So Funny!
Rob133129 September 2022
Modern Family is a documentary style sitcom that follows the lives of a family. There's a reason why this show and it's actors/actresses won so many awards over the years...because it's hilarious! The cast (Ed O'Neill, Ty Burrell, Sofia Vergara, Eric Stonestreet, Julie Bowen, Ariel Winter, Sarah Hyland, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, among others) is one of the best overall casts in sitcom history. There's really not a weak link among them, they're all pretty much equally funny! Of course everyone has their favorites and some are a little better than others but not by much. It's a testament to the writing and the actors that you're favorite character will probably change several times throughout the series.
Near perfection
studioAT16 March 2021
'Modern Family' more than deserves to be recongised as not only one of the best comedies of the 2000's, but also amongst the best ever.
Sharply written (by several 'Frasier' alum no less) and wonderfully performed by a fantastic cast, this show was near perfection for its first 7 years.
Like all good shows though it did decline in later years, while of course still being able to come up with exceptional episodes along the way, but the writers did seem to run out of logical new stories and ways of developing the kids when they grew up.
Overall though, this was a fantastic show, and one I will revisit regularly.
Sharply written (by several 'Frasier' alum no less) and wonderfully performed by a fantastic cast, this show was near perfection for its first 7 years.
Like all good shows though it did decline in later years, while of course still being able to come up with exceptional episodes along the way, but the writers did seem to run out of logical new stories and ways of developing the kids when they grew up.
Overall though, this was a fantastic show, and one I will revisit regularly.
Rewatched it several times
cc00777 August 2022
The show the world needs watching
Sakshijain_10122 March 2020
Modern Family is primarily a comedy that revolves around three families that are held together more by their virtue of acceptance and love than by the blood ties that connect them. Each character has been thoughtfully written out and played to perfection by a slew of actors who take your breath away. A family that is so imperfectly perfect that you draw the expectations for your own family - present or future - from their actions, morals, decisions and values.
It's a show where an old rich man marries a young woman of colour; where a white patriarchal figure accepts, not without his reservations, his openly gay son and his partner; where a gay couple gets its chance at parenting when they adopt an Asian girl; where we have a teenage pregnancy create the foundations of a loving family; where an old couple decides to give parenting a spin in the second innings of their life; where each child grows up emboldened with the confidence that his family is there to support him/her to become their own person.
What the show does impeccably well is throw societal expectations for a toss to underline only one thing - who we are and choose to be does not dictate the rightness or the wrongness of our being. The only this that does is the purity of our hearts. That is it. One episode after the other, we have the writers create interwoven and hilarious narratives into episodes that break stereotypes and societal conventions to showcase the meaningless of their existence.
Despite the seriousness of the central theme, the show is outright hilarious. It is witty - much too witty to understand every joke, every emotion, every retort in just one watch. The writing is spot on. It makes you live the characters and fall in love with each one of them - one episode at a time. It's made me pause the show because I had to laugh so bad. It has also made me pause to make way for a few tears which flowed without announcement, without purpose. The families, despite their eccentricities and unconventional way of being, are ever so relatable in how they love one another. The only way to truly love someone is to let them thrive in their own choices - that's what I learn from this show - every day.
It's unparalleled what this show has done for the people who were too scared to come out of their closets and the parents who were too scared to have a kid who did. I cannot recommend this show enough. You will feel a myriad of emotions when you truly embrace the depth of the stories and therein lies its beauty.
It's a show where an old rich man marries a young woman of colour; where a white patriarchal figure accepts, not without his reservations, his openly gay son and his partner; where a gay couple gets its chance at parenting when they adopt an Asian girl; where we have a teenage pregnancy create the foundations of a loving family; where an old couple decides to give parenting a spin in the second innings of their life; where each child grows up emboldened with the confidence that his family is there to support him/her to become their own person.
What the show does impeccably well is throw societal expectations for a toss to underline only one thing - who we are and choose to be does not dictate the rightness or the wrongness of our being. The only this that does is the purity of our hearts. That is it. One episode after the other, we have the writers create interwoven and hilarious narratives into episodes that break stereotypes and societal conventions to showcase the meaningless of their existence.
Despite the seriousness of the central theme, the show is outright hilarious. It is witty - much too witty to understand every joke, every emotion, every retort in just one watch. The writing is spot on. It makes you live the characters and fall in love with each one of them - one episode at a time. It's made me pause the show because I had to laugh so bad. It has also made me pause to make way for a few tears which flowed without announcement, without purpose. The families, despite their eccentricities and unconventional way of being, are ever so relatable in how they love one another. The only way to truly love someone is to let them thrive in their own choices - that's what I learn from this show - every day.
It's unparalleled what this show has done for the people who were too scared to come out of their closets and the parents who were too scared to have a kid who did. I cannot recommend this show enough. You will feel a myriad of emotions when you truly embrace the depth of the stories and therein lies its beauty.
As Perfect as it Gets
wpirotte10 July 2022
The single most amazing thing about this series is that it never got tired or predictable, never got preachy, and has layers that can only be discovered if you watch it more than once. Okay, that is not a single thing. So sue me. But seriously, folks, the writing here is a study in mixing subtlety and the obvious. Every character is carefully developed and you will find yourself wondering which is actually your favorite after a few seasons. Even the guest stars shine, and the sprinkling of celebrities in later seasons must indicate that the show achieved a special status. It is probably not a surprise that Lloyd used to produce Frasier.
The Evolution of Comedy
heartion15 October 2009
For those still in withdrawal from the cancellation of Arrested Development, let me write you a prescription: Modern Family. The comparisons are obvious and with good reason. The postmodern comedy for the 21 century was ushered in by The Office(UK) and Arrested Development, but I, for one, doubted something could come along and satiate my longing for another truly, original comedy. Albeit, you may initially be wary to see yet another mockumentary-style show, but by the end of the pilot, you'll be smiling/laughing way too hard to stay cynical. Thus far, the plot lines have been really fresh and the characters are so, for lack of a better word, lovable. This show fulfills all my comedy needs, and I feel like I must resort to the listing of relevant adjectives: Witty, dry, smart, outlandish, silly, clever, cute, sarcastic, subtle, not-so subtle. HILARIOUS. I hate to say it, but the laugh tracks and raw goofyness of classic sitcoms like 'Seinfeld' and 'Friends' are obsolete and leave something to be desired. You will find that something in Modern Family. And who knows, maybe some of the more painfully funny and poignant scenarios will reveal insight into the changing dynamics of both the modern family and modern comedy. Great show. Period. And let's get it right this time around: don't cancel good TV shows. Pretty please?
So relatable
steffyruth2 September 2022
The only reason I'm giving 9 and not 10 stars for this brilliant show, is because I do agree with many other reviewers who are saying that it was dragged out too long.
With shows as good as this one we often never want them to end, and neither did the cast and crew it seems after watching the farewell doco... but keeping it going for 11 seasons unfortunately does mean things start to get a bit repetitive and stale.
But in general, I think this show is one of the best comedy sitcoms I've seen in my 38 years. It's easy to watch, hilariously relatable and a nice break from all the extremely graphic blood, gore and sex and that is taking over our screens!
I love the themes of diversity and acceptance that were largely absent in the shows of my childhood, it's great to see these ideas becoming mainstream :)
All in all it's just a wonderful show, great writing, great cast. Loved it :)
With shows as good as this one we often never want them to end, and neither did the cast and crew it seems after watching the farewell doco... but keeping it going for 11 seasons unfortunately does mean things start to get a bit repetitive and stale.
But in general, I think this show is one of the best comedy sitcoms I've seen in my 38 years. It's easy to watch, hilariously relatable and a nice break from all the extremely graphic blood, gore and sex and that is taking over our screens!
I love the themes of diversity and acceptance that were largely absent in the shows of my childhood, it's great to see these ideas becoming mainstream :)
All in all it's just a wonderful show, great writing, great cast. Loved it :)
Wow. Hysterical.
dashfast12 August 2009
Give this show a chance. I really kind of watched it against my will, but figured I'd give it a shot. I bet out of a hundred pilots, I would like maybe one - this was that one. I literally laughed out loud at numerous parts - the way that it comes together is interesting / well-done - each couple has an interesting balance - great dialog (IMDB won't let me spell it with a "ue" at the end) - original characters - I'm impressed.
I don't think I've ever seen ABC come out with something in this vein. Normally their shows are a bit watered down, but this is edgy and as fresh as anything I've seen hit network TV. I know that comparisons to Arrested Development will be frequent, but I think that this has more structure. The characters aren't as wacky, but they're more believable and easier to sympathize with in my eyes. Tremendous acting, great kid actors - I forwarded the pilot to a bunch of people already, and I feel lucky that I got to watch it before it came out officially.
I don't think I've ever seen ABC come out with something in this vein. Normally their shows are a bit watered down, but this is edgy and as fresh as anything I've seen hit network TV. I know that comparisons to Arrested Development will be frequent, but I think that this has more structure. The characters aren't as wacky, but they're more believable and easier to sympathize with in my eyes. Tremendous acting, great kid actors - I forwarded the pilot to a bunch of people already, and I feel lucky that I got to watch it before it came out officially.
Smart and Funny
bob-dow22 October 2009
Modern Family is one of the best shows on TV in 2009.
It's written by smart and funny people. It shares some DNA with Arrested Development and Fraiser, but has a little bit more heart.
6 episodes in and I am still impressed and still laugh out loud.
I usually avoid ABC because their programming in years past has been terrible and vanilla. Happy to see they have taken some chances on this show and hooray for them, it seems to be finding an audience and critics love it too.
I usually hate shows with little kids in the cast... they usually end up getting used as cute crutches when writers run out of ideas, but Modern Family has been giving the kids sharp dialogue to match the grown ups.
The gay Mitchell and Cameron couple are portrayed honestly and they are hilarious.
The very underrated Ed O'Neill is pitch perfect as the grouchy but soft family patriarch. Sofía Vergara who plays his Colombian trophy wife is excellent and very funny in what could have been written as a terrible bimbo role.
I wasn't sold on Ty Burrell as the dad who tries too hard to be cool after the pilot... but he's a slow burn, and now it works.
Julie Bowen as the slightly off kilter mom adds an anchoring charm to the mix.
Every person on this show gets good lines, and the quality is holding up... I hope they win a boatload of Emmys.
It's written by smart and funny people. It shares some DNA with Arrested Development and Fraiser, but has a little bit more heart.
6 episodes in and I am still impressed and still laugh out loud.
I usually avoid ABC because their programming in years past has been terrible and vanilla. Happy to see they have taken some chances on this show and hooray for them, it seems to be finding an audience and critics love it too.
I usually hate shows with little kids in the cast... they usually end up getting used as cute crutches when writers run out of ideas, but Modern Family has been giving the kids sharp dialogue to match the grown ups.
The gay Mitchell and Cameron couple are portrayed honestly and they are hilarious.
The very underrated Ed O'Neill is pitch perfect as the grouchy but soft family patriarch. Sofía Vergara who plays his Colombian trophy wife is excellent and very funny in what could have been written as a terrible bimbo role.
I wasn't sold on Ty Burrell as the dad who tries too hard to be cool after the pilot... but he's a slow burn, and now it works.
Julie Bowen as the slightly off kilter mom adds an anchoring charm to the mix.
Every person on this show gets good lines, and the quality is holding up... I hope they win a boatload of Emmys.
What has happened?
ray-461-37430418 May 2018
Best show in years
lisawilson1120 October 2009
I just want to say that I love this show!! It is good family entertainment. I believe all of us can relate to someone in it or have a relative that can. For those of you who only saw the pilot (which I watched by accident and loved)please don't give up on it, it is really good comedy. I can't decide who my favorite character is, Cam, Phil...all of them, each week another one cracks me up. I rarely watch TV but this one has me hooked. I agree that the format is much like The Office, which I also think is funny, but the shots to the camera, the expressions are some of the best parts. We have all of the shows on dvr because my daughter and I usually can't wait till the next Wednesday to see it again! Again...Best show in years!
Started out great but ended badly
rikkybell3 March 2021
The show was one of the greatest when it started. I loved it so much but they should have ended it around season 8 cos it all started to fall apart. I couldn't even finish the last season, it was pathetic. All the characters had strong parts and suddenly they ruin kids, Alex who was a genius and had some sought of social life turned into a sad lonely woman, Haley who became successful, having it all suddenly turned into a screw up, Lily became a teenage with no personality at all and Luke who was a lady killer suddenly became some kind of over grown moron. The only kid they concentrated on was Manny and somehow made his character flaw (the kid who loved girls to an almost creepy level, with the poetry spewing and constant roaming eyes for older women) even more pronounced. Like they are trying to hit hard on the stereotyping- "brilliant girls end up alone(Alex)" "cool kids end up as losers(Haley)" "charming boys ended up without any girl (Luke)". All the characters were played out. They couldn't come up with anything new. It was just a shame really that one of the greatest comedy shows had such a pathetic ending.
Started out strong
ellakittykat24 April 2020
This show was great for the first 5 seasons, it was original, funny, smart.... then the kids grew up and the writing lost its humour. Season 6 was ok, but after that it just went downhill. It's such a shame they didn't end on a high note rather than drag it out, flogging the horse until it was well and truly dead. Part of the problem was the child actors who were adorable when little but lost their ability to act as they aged!
Wholesome
sabyasachits14 July 2022
With everything's on the media right now, watching something like this does put some ease on my heart. I didn't knew I needed it until my sister made me watch it and i was hooked from the first episode and if not for few sick days i would've easily finished it earlier.
Obviously certain character development are I'm not so sure about but that's what the show is about: embracing flaws. And its such a treat to see all the child actors grow up to be the amazing person they are now.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
Thanks for reading. See you later.
Obviously certain character development are I'm not so sure about but that's what the show is about: embracing flaws. And its such a treat to see all the child actors grow up to be the amazing person they are now.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
Thanks for reading. See you later.
Well written--real laughs
mareller-122 October 2009
When I saw summer promos of this sit com I thought it looked forced and very predictable. As Cam would exclaim, "Surprise!" It is well cast, written, and consistently laugh out loud funny. The documentary camera bit is actually as well done, no, even better than one of the best, The Office. I recognized most of the talented adult cast, they have great chemistry, and it was so hilarious when Shelley Long guest starred as the ex wife. But it is the kid actors on the show who are amazingly well directed in their parts- Manny, as a son, stepson, brother, uncle, and cousin is a hoot: he can wisecrack with the best of them, and then break your heart when dad isn't able to fulfill his promise for the weekend. I always thought Steve Levitan did agreat job with "Just Shoot Me", on NBC and I think he and ChristopherLloyd have got a hit show for ABC. Take a look at this so ABC won't cash in on some more ridiculous reality shows.
The funniest, most believable comedy in years
ToddTee19 November 2009
Because I have not one, but two, DVRs I'm able to give all the new shows a chance, which I did with "Modern Family". Am I ever glad I did!! I have found that everything about this show is believable. Though the situations that occur during any given half-hour show would obviously never all happen in that short a stretch, I have no difficulty in believing that they would all happen. I never feel that anyone's exaggerating to draw a laugh or milking a laugh. It's just the only "laugh out loud for the whole show" on TV today. It is, IMHO, the funniest show since MASH, and that's saying some.
There are some parallels to another of my favorites, the little appreciated "Arrested Development", "Modern Family" has its own unique flavor; and the flavor is . . . hilarious!!!
There are some parallels to another of my favorites, the little appreciated "Arrested Development", "Modern Family" has its own unique flavor; and the flavor is . . . hilarious!!!
They should have stopped after season 8
waterman197627 March 2021
Warning: Spoilers
I haven't seen season 10 & 11 yet, because Prime doesn't show them in my country yet, so my review is not based on the whole series. But....
I've seen this show at least 5 times now and every time I get pulled in right at the start. The cast is perfect, the script is clever and very funny and the addition of the "documentary feel" adds a whole lot to the tongue in cheek humour. There's a lot to say about why this show is great and for me it's for a great part about Ty Burell and Ed O'Neill. The latter, ofcourse, is almost a culthero because of his role in Married with Children, but in MF he's just amazing. His agitated looks into the camera are spot-on and his fear of Gloria is played out great. Burell, in his own right, is a class apart. I wonder if his role could have written in the way is has been written, if it hadn't been played by him. Take away the physical element and his sarcastic undertone and you might end up with an annoying character that insults his wife on a regular base and is constantly dodging responsibility. But this show is about a group and not a lead and everything works. The gayjokes, the sarcasm, the familyfeel... I love it. But...
Somewhere it loses its magic. Not all the children grow up fine in the show. Manny gets annoying, little Joe could have been left out and Haley starts working in my nerves. But I guess this is always a big risk when working with young actors who have to keep playing their chosen role. Also, somewhere around season 7 or 8, the script loses its touch and this is showing in season 9: weird plots, overacting and more crudeness erode the original feel.
And please Hollywood... stop botoxing, lipfilling and plastic surging your actors. People are beautiful when they age in grace.
I've seen this show at least 5 times now and every time I get pulled in right at the start. The cast is perfect, the script is clever and very funny and the addition of the "documentary feel" adds a whole lot to the tongue in cheek humour. There's a lot to say about why this show is great and for me it's for a great part about Ty Burell and Ed O'Neill. The latter, ofcourse, is almost a culthero because of his role in Married with Children, but in MF he's just amazing. His agitated looks into the camera are spot-on and his fear of Gloria is played out great. Burell, in his own right, is a class apart. I wonder if his role could have written in the way is has been written, if it hadn't been played by him. Take away the physical element and his sarcastic undertone and you might end up with an annoying character that insults his wife on a regular base and is constantly dodging responsibility. But this show is about a group and not a lead and everything works. The gayjokes, the sarcasm, the familyfeel... I love it. But...
Somewhere it loses its magic. Not all the children grow up fine in the show. Manny gets annoying, little Joe could have been left out and Haley starts working in my nerves. But I guess this is always a big risk when working with young actors who have to keep playing their chosen role. Also, somewhere around season 7 or 8, the script loses its touch and this is showing in season 9: weird plots, overacting and more crudeness erode the original feel.
And please Hollywood... stop botoxing, lipfilling and plastic surging your actors. People are beautiful when they age in grace.
One of the best TV comedies to hit the air for a while
tetrafunk15 October 2009
I saw the trailer for this show a while back and was instantly intrigued. Shot in a "mockumentary" style it follows the lives of three couples who's various members are related as family members. Although the set-up is slightly cliché, a gay couple, a stereotypical family and a Columbian wife and son (from her first marriage) with her American husband, this is where the standard ends. The dialogue is fantastic and at many points I found myself really laughing quite loudly, something which is very rare for a TV show to accomplish for me personally. The casting is also spot on with the inclusion of Ed O'Neill (the infamous Al Bundy!), Ty Burrell, Julie Bowen and Sofía Vergara, with each actor really bringing something unique to the mix. I strongly recommend this show to anybody who appreciates good comedy, the "to-camera" sections of the dialogue have a very close resemblance to the original UK version of "The Office" and for those who are familiar with this, Modern Family will be a welcomed return. Great show, great acting, great script. Highly recommended.
Laugh-out-loud ensemble comedy; a "The Office"/"Arrested Development" hybrid (almost...)
jimjo121626 October 2009
I decided to check out "Modern Family" after hearing all of the critical praise about it. The show was five episodes in, so I caught up on the action online. And I must say that the acclaim is well-deserved. The show is nothing like what I'd imagined when I read about it. It is not a typical three-camera sitcom and it actually IS as gut-wrenchingly funny as people say.
With any modern TV comedy, people are going to compare it with "Arrested Development", which is highly regarded as one of the greatest shows ever by many. "Modern Family" is not quite "A.D.", but I can see why some people may compare the two.
"Modern Family", like "Arrested Development", is a comedy about a wacky extended family that is filmed in a quasi-documentary style, similar to "The Office". The characters don't acknowledge the camera, but they do contribute "talking head" segments to supplement the action. The show is less cartoony and surreal than "Arrested Development" or "30 Rock", but the comedy can still get pretty off-the-wall.
The ensemble cast is great. There are three branches of a single family. The patriarch (Ed O'Neill) has re-married, bringing a Colombian-born wife and her son into the fold. The daughter (Julie Bowen) and her husband (Ty Burrell) have three kids. The son (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) and his partner (Eric Stonestreet) have just adopted a Vietnamese baby. The show focuses mainly on the parents and how they raise their families and interact with each other in today's society.
My favorite character is Phil (Burrell), who plays the dad who tries to be "hip". He means well, but he's really kind of a wimpy husband. Phil's always putting himself in awkward situations (without always realizing it) and some of his lines are hilarious. He tries so hard to be the "cool dad". Next I like Cameron (Stonestreet), who's gay and proud of it. He's sensible and sensitive and he has some great lines, too.
Although I haven't really connected with the show like I have with some others (just a matter of personal style), there's no denying that "Modern Family" is an above-average comedy. It's written well, with humor sewn throughout the fabric of each episode, and each episode packs some laugh-out-loud moments. And I say this as someone who rarely actually bursts into audible laughter. (Occasionally, with shows like "A.D." or "30 Rock".) This show does it, though. Phil, in particular, has me in stitches.
To give you a comparison, I'd say "Modern Family" is like a cross between "The Office" and "Arrested Development". Presented more like the former, with humor and content drifting more toward the latter. More grounded in reality than "A.D.", though, and without some of the triple-entendres and zingers.
The show finds windows to sneak in some wholesome family morals like togetherness and acceptance, but the episodes always end with a laugh.
But the rumors are true. "Modern Family" IS a very funny new comedy. Check it out on ABC or ABC.com if you don't believe me. (Or wherever else it's available.) It definitely should be on your radar.
With any modern TV comedy, people are going to compare it with "Arrested Development", which is highly regarded as one of the greatest shows ever by many. "Modern Family" is not quite "A.D.", but I can see why some people may compare the two.
"Modern Family", like "Arrested Development", is a comedy about a wacky extended family that is filmed in a quasi-documentary style, similar to "The Office". The characters don't acknowledge the camera, but they do contribute "talking head" segments to supplement the action. The show is less cartoony and surreal than "Arrested Development" or "30 Rock", but the comedy can still get pretty off-the-wall.
The ensemble cast is great. There are three branches of a single family. The patriarch (Ed O'Neill) has re-married, bringing a Colombian-born wife and her son into the fold. The daughter (Julie Bowen) and her husband (Ty Burrell) have three kids. The son (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) and his partner (Eric Stonestreet) have just adopted a Vietnamese baby. The show focuses mainly on the parents and how they raise their families and interact with each other in today's society.
My favorite character is Phil (Burrell), who plays the dad who tries to be "hip". He means well, but he's really kind of a wimpy husband. Phil's always putting himself in awkward situations (without always realizing it) and some of his lines are hilarious. He tries so hard to be the "cool dad". Next I like Cameron (Stonestreet), who's gay and proud of it. He's sensible and sensitive and he has some great lines, too.
Although I haven't really connected with the show like I have with some others (just a matter of personal style), there's no denying that "Modern Family" is an above-average comedy. It's written well, with humor sewn throughout the fabric of each episode, and each episode packs some laugh-out-loud moments. And I say this as someone who rarely actually bursts into audible laughter. (Occasionally, with shows like "A.D." or "30 Rock".) This show does it, though. Phil, in particular, has me in stitches.
To give you a comparison, I'd say "Modern Family" is like a cross between "The Office" and "Arrested Development". Presented more like the former, with humor and content drifting more toward the latter. More grounded in reality than "A.D.", though, and without some of the triple-entendres and zingers.
The show finds windows to sneak in some wholesome family morals like togetherness and acceptance, but the episodes always end with a laugh.
But the rumors are true. "Modern Family" IS a very funny new comedy. Check it out on ABC or ABC.com if you don't believe me. (Or wherever else it's available.) It definitely should be on your radar.
Gets boring and annoying
alreadyseenbeentaken16 March 2019
Warning: Spoilers
After 6 seasons it gets repetitive and annoying.
And the cringy slapstick combined with the bad acting can't support the time between the 1..2 good jokes per episode.
The quality of humor decreased over time and very hard in season six and the writers are still mostly playing the steroetype card.
First 5 seasons were OK and if you're not too demanding and usually laugh about unintelligent humor, i recommend the show.
And the cringy slapstick combined with the bad acting can't support the time between the 1..2 good jokes per episode.
The quality of humor decreased over time and very hard in season six and the writers are still mostly playing the steroetype card.
First 5 seasons were OK and if you're not too demanding and usually laugh about unintelligent humor, i recommend the show.
Entertaining and Funny, But Seriously Flawed, Satire
d-l-polonsky5 May 2012
Scripted shows that employ a documentary format often use the P.O.V. talking-head shot as a gimmick to put more visual variety into the show, and to create a style of story-telling that they hope will keep your attention without having to improve the plot or characterizations. You can tell because they often go back to the interview at the most weakly-written moments. This is one problem, but not the major one, with Modern Family. The aspects that disturb me the most are these: they're supposed to be modern families and there are no working mothers (do the writers misunderstand the term "post-feminist era"?) except for a few temporary jobs in single eps. Also there are no poor or even lower-middle-class characters. Actually, I do remember one character who was poor, but of course he was a one-time character on a Christmas episode. I'm sick of the characters whining about first-world problems like not being able to buy the "perfect gift" for their spouse on their birthday. What's so tragic about buying the iPad the day before or after their birthday? I realize this is a satire, but the writers don't seem to have that much contempt for the people they're satirizing. They don't seem to be TRYING to show how spoiled and self-centered many upper-middle-class are (it just comes out that way). That's not part of the satire, except maybe with the character of Haley (Sarah Hyland). Another thing that bothers me is that Claire (Julie Bowen) comes off as a lot crazier than the writers seem to intend. She's ALWAYS breathlessly freaking out, and it's more irritating than funny. In real life she's be at least an OUTpatient in some psychiatric facility. The gay couple (Eric Stonestreet and Jesse Tyler Ferguson) are gay stereotypes, especially Cameron, but since I hate political correctness and they're actually funny it doesn't bother me much. It would be nice, however, if the show did what it could to improve America's perception of gay people. Since Camoron is a prissy, whining, crying drama queen, the other character, Mitchell, could be the antithesis of a gay stereotype. The comedy could come from people thinking the character is straight. Manny's (Rico Rodriguez's) character doesn't resemble any human being on the planet. He's too cartoonish (sitcoms have always had kids who act like adults and adults who act like kids) and neither funny nor well-acted. On the positive side, Ed O'Neill is amazing as Jay Pritchett. As he was in "Married, With Children", he's like a comedy machine, delivering every line perfectly. To sum up, Modern Family is funny and entertaining but not particularly witty and intelligent, and uses a kind of soft-edged, sentimental satire that flatters, but doesn't challenge, the audience's ability to laugh at itself.
I used to love this show
edith_ps9210 May 2019
Warning: Spoilers
It's hard to believe there was a time when I rated this show 10/10. In the first seasons it was so funny and clever, jokes were not new but it just felt genuine. Somewhere between season 6 and 7 this show should have ended. Characters are just a joke, it makes no sense they are this stupid and plane, that was not them at the beginning. The 10th is just unbearable to watch, I didn't think it was possible but it just gets worse with every episode. It's hard to me to believe in 2009 I waited every week to watch a new episode. Just another show that suffered from wanting to make more seasons than necessary. Watch until season 5 and just stop there. Really.
Great series
jessdelong-2507212 March 2021
I think this is a great series, I think Mitch and Cam are hilarious. And while this show is certainly mostly funny, for me personally it's frustrating how in every episode, they are always lying to each other or hiding things.
So for me, it takes away from the comedy aspect.
Lots shows do however display this kind of behavior towards each other (for drama, obviously) so I'm not very surprised. That goes to say that trying to look past it, the episodes can be funny and sometimes lighthearted. After they apologize for lying to each other for the millionth time.
Awesome Show! (Mostly)
magoomj30 September 2022
I love this show! I agree with others that the first 5-6 seasons were better, but I still enjoyed it immensely...well, most of it. Claire's character is completely off-putting and unlikeable. Every now and then she might have a sweet or amusing moment, but mostly I just want to fast forward through every scene she's in.
Ed O'Neill is a treasure and I love his interplay with the rest of the cast. Great writing (though admittedly less successful the last couple seasons), wonderful job by the actors. Lots of great guest stars as well. I never got around to watching this show when the first few seasons were on the air so I'm glad Hulu has it available.
Ed O'Neill is a treasure and I love his interplay with the rest of the cast. Great writing (though admittedly less successful the last couple seasons), wonderful job by the actors. Lots of great guest stars as well. I never got around to watching this show when the first few seasons were on the air so I'm glad Hulu has it available.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
