From the dawn of TV comedy, the family sitcom has been a staple of the genre. You know the drill: the parents, three kids and the neighborhood weirdo, all in a soundstage-created living room. But as most people know, that isn’t how things work these days. Family life — and sitcoms — have evolved.
One of the most talked about sitcoms of the fall season, “Modern Family,” is the anchor of ABC’s new Wednesday night comedy block. Although most of the other sitcoms rehash the same old family units, Christopher Lloyd’s new comedy takes on the family sitcom with a few, well, modern twists.
“Modern Family” is set up as a mockumentary, chronicling the lives of three families. There are Claire and Phil, the typical suburban husband and wife, and their three kids. Despite lamenting this setup, it works for the show because it is relatable and expands the standard house confines. There are Jay (played by sitcom veteran Ed O’Neil) and his much-younger Colombian wife Gloria and her son from a previous marriage. The third family is is a gay couple and their newly adopted Vietnamese baby named Lily.
The way the show is arranged is enough to evolve the scope of the family sitcom, but the big twist is that all three of these families are related. The relationship between the units has yet to offer up much comedy, but there is hope that the series creators will touch on this dynamic as the show evolves.
With ABC’s over-promotion of the show so far, most of the good content has been shown during commercials. Still, the jokes are fresh.
“Modern Family” explores humorous life lessons and family relationships in subtle and obvious ways. It also plays up its various situations with a convincing embrace of the faux-documentary.
Shows like the office and “The Office” and “Arrested Development,” pull off the mockumentary format a little better than “Modern Family,” but it feels fresh when inserted into a more standard sitcom setup.
Some critics have hailed “Modern Family” the sitcom per season. But judging the show’s laughs-per-minute, the critics’ claim is untrue (that honor goes to NBC’s “Community”). However, the show does manage to hit one out of the park at least two or three times per episode.
The somewhat sardonic tone of humor mixed with modern issues, such as misinterpreting texting lingo or dealing with soccer parents, offers laughs for people young and old. Whatever your age or humor preference, “Modern Family” is must-see comedy, especially considering all the new sitcoms that hit the same old notes.
