Modern Family (TV series)
"Modern Family" is a popular American sitcom that premiered on September 23, 2009, on ABC, quickly achieving critical acclaim and a strong viewer base. Created by Steven Levitan and Christopher Lloyd, the show showcases a diverse cast, including Ed O'Neill and Sofía Vergara, and centers around the extended Pritchett family, whose lives are depicted as part of a documentary. The series highlights the complexities of modern family life through the relationships of its central characters: patriarch Jay Pritchett, his young Colombian wife Gloria, their son Manny, and Jay's adult children Claire and Mitchell, along with their respective families.
The show addresses contemporary issues such as blended families, same-sex parenting, and transracial adoption, reflecting the evolving dynamics of American society. Over its run, "Modern Family" received numerous accolades, including five consecutive Emmy Awards for Best Comedy Series, and remained ABC's top comedy as of 2018. Despite some decline in ratings in its later seasons, it remains a significant cultural touchstone that redefined the family sitcom genre for the twenty-first century. The series concluded with its eleventh season, affirming its lasting impact on television.
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Modern Family (TV series)
Identification: Television mockumentary about the members of an extended family
Executive Producers: Steven Levitan (b. 1962); Christopher Lloyd (b. 1960)
Date: Premiered on September 23, 2009
When Modern Family premiered in 2009, it became an instant success. The show debuted to high ratings and attracted a growing audience in its first months on the air. Viewers were drawn in by the sitcom’s cast of characters and its accurate portrayal of American family life in the twenty-first century.
Modern Family premiered on the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) television network on September 23, 2009, to an audience of 12.7 million viewers and widespread acclaim from critics. Created by Steven Levitan and Christopher Lloyd, the family sitcom has featured a diverse cast, including television veteran Ed O’Neill of Married with Children fame and Colombian actress Sofía Vergara. The show centers on patriarch Jay Pritchett (O’Neill) and the members of his extended family, who are being filmed as the subjects of a television documentary.
The sitcom’s suburban setting is typical of American life in the 2000s and 2010s; the Pritchett family members’ various life circumstances are also familiar. Jay, who is divorced from his first wife, has married a young and beautiful Colombian woman named Gloria (Vergara) and has become stepfather to her twelve-year-old son, Manny. Jay’s adult daughter, Claire (Julie Bowen), and her husband, Phil (Ty Burrell), have three children—Haley, Alex, and Luke—and very different attitudes toward parenting. Claire’s attempts at being strict are countered by Phil’s desire to be easygoing. Jay’s adult son, Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Ferguson), who is gay, has adopted a daughter from Vietnam with his partner, Cameron (Eric Stonestreet). Episodes of the show focus on the experiences of the three interconnected families as the adults attempt to raise their children and navigate their relationships with their significant others. Throughout its seasons, the sitcom has attracted high-profile guest stars, including Nathan Lane and Greg Kinnear.
In February 2019, it was announced that Modern Family had been picked up for its eleventh and final season.
Impact
Since the early years of television broadcasting, the traditional American family has been a popular subject for TV sitcoms. Throughout the twentieth century, divorce, transracial adoption, blended families, and same-sex unions began to redefine the American family. Households that were once considered unconventional became common and accepted. Modern Family reflects the changing profile of the American family and updates the family sitcom genre for the twenty-first century. Despite the gradual decline in viewer ratings and critics' concerns that the unique dynamics of the first season were beginning to be sacrificed to formulaity, the show went on to join Frasier (1993–2004) as the only sitcom to win five consecutive Emmys for best comedy series in 2014. The show was ABC's top comedy in 2018.
Bibliography
Bellafante, Ginia. “‘I’m the Cool Dad’ and Other Debatable Dispatches from the Home Front.” New York Times. New York Times, 22 Sept. 2009. Web. 4 Sept. 2012.
Bianco, Robert. “Finally, ABC Gives Us a ‘Modern Family’ We Can Relate To.” USA Today. Gannett, 23 Sept. 2009. Web. 4 Sept. 2012.
Levin, Gary. "Hit Comedy 'Modern Family" to End in 2020 After 11 Seasons on ABC." USA Today, 5 Feb. 2019, www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2019/02/05/abc-comedy-modern-family-end-2020-final-season/2778039002/. Accessed 12 Mar. 2019.
Paskin, Willa. "Is 'Modern Family' Really That Good?" Salon. Salon Media, 3 Oct. 2012. Web. 6 Feb. 2015.
Poniewozik, James. “Yes, We Kin.” Time. Time, 28 Sept. 2009. Web. 4 Sept. 2012.
Writers of Modern Family. Modern Family: Wit and Wisdom from America’s Favorite Family. New York: Hyperion, 2012. Print.