Television: Modern Family

Modern Family started at 8pm on Wednesday, October 17th, 2012 on the ABC network. This show's genre is a sitcom. In this show there is always multiple plots, and shorelines. The characters in this show are all apart of one big extended family. It starts with the Jay (Grandpa), who is in his 60's and is remarried to Gloria (a much younger Latina women) who already has a younger son named Manny. Jay is the father of Claire and Mitchell. Claire is married to Phil and they have three kids (two girls and one boy) Haley, Alex, Luke. Mitchell is a gay man who is partners with Cameron and they have adopted a girl named Lily. 

(1) In this particular episode the first storyline was Cameron and Mitchell had a role reversal when Cameron gets a job at local middle school teaching the music class, and Mitchell has to take care of the daughter Lily during the day which he is not used to doing. Both of these characters end up having a very hard time doing the opposites job, but throughout the day they are in touch and keep telling each other that it is going great. At the end of the episode they both figure out that they had a very tough doing each others job and their respect for each other increases.

 (2) In the second story line Jay is having a very hard time sleeping because Gloria is pregnant and is snoring "like a water-buffalo." Jay seeks out a good night sleep so he makes up a story that his work is making him go to San Francisco, but in reality he goes to a hotel. When Manny tells Gloria where Jay really is, Gloria calls him and tells him she is in San Fran. When Jay is hurrying out the door to head to San Francisco, Gloria is wait at hit hotel door when he comes out. They argue but eventually come to a resolve when Jay admits he was wrong but just did not want to be rude and tell her she was snoring ridiculously loud. 

(3) The last story-lines are with Claire, Phil, and their kids Luke and Alex. Throughout the episode Alex is being mean to everyone in the house hold. Claire is trying very hard to figure out what is bothering her. Towards the end of the episode Claire has a revelation that it is because Alex usually fights with her sister Haley, but Haley is at college so Alex is taking her anger out on their family instead. Claire sets up a skype date over the computer with the sister to "restore balance to the family."

With Phil and Luke, Phil wants Luke to pursue becoming a magician because Luke is very good and Phil never was. Luke continues to fight it and doesn't want to do it, and finally at the end of the episode Phil says he will support Luke in all decisions that he makes. 

The ads that came on TV were very diverse. They had car ads like Kia and Buick. ABC shows were advertised. Food was also advertised like Carls Jr, and Red Robin. There was also advertising for TJ Maxx, and Old Navy. 

The style that the show gives off is there can be diverse families and can still love each other and live together happily. I think this can relate to many of the audience members because there are so many different "modern family" problems that go on during the show. Whether it be homosexual stereotypes, traditional mother/father problems with their kids, or the younger women marrying a man way older than her. This show connects all these characters nicely and makes for a funny show that many people can laugh at, enjoy, and relate to. 

This show relates to other shows on TV because it is a like a tradition family sitcom. What makes this show unique is that it is mockumentary, meaning that they are being "interviewed" throughout the show. 

I think that the commercials connect to the show and the audience because a lot of the audience is the American families. The ads go perfect because all of them are related to what families do. They buy safe cars for their family, they shop at stores like TJ Maxx and Old Navy, and they go out to eat at food places like the ones advertised. If I was a visitor from out of the country I would see that America is definitely a melting pot. There are so many different kind of people that live in this country and I think this show shows how we can all live together peacefully and happily even if there are problems along the way. 

What I really like about the show is that they do not always have to be dirty to be funny. I think the writers incorporate the stereotypes of the characters really well to put them in situations that are funny for the audience and people can relate to. Well, since this show has won multiple Academy Awards that I would have to agree with the critics and the audiences decisions. I have to admit that I do not watch this show all the time, but I watch occasionally.

What I really like about the show that some people do not know is that the mom Claire... was the very attractive girl in the movie Happy Gilmore with Adam Sandler. This is one of my favorite movies, and Julie Bowen is drop dead gorgeous. 

I do know if I learned anything from this show, but what surprises is how they tie the diversity of the cast together so perfectly to make a great show for the American families.

If you have never seen the show... I think that these videos explain the comedy and the story of this big family very well.