Modern Family: Difference between revisions

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[[File:modernfamily_7069.png|frame|One big (straight, gay, multicultural, traditional) happy family.]]

 

{{quote|''"We're from different worlds yet we somehow fit together. Love is what binds us."''}}

 

 

The Dunphys, traditional two-parent, three-child set with Ty Burrell as Phil aka the "cool dad", and Julie Bowen as Claire, an overprotective mom and [[Former Teen Rebel]]. Their kids are Haley, Alex, and Luke.

At the end of the pilot, it's revealed that [[First Episode Spoiler|all three families are related (Claire and Mitchell are Jay's children from a past marriage) and cross over into one another's stories.]] Episodes tend to rely on standard family comedy tropes and plot lines, in a [[Incredibly Lame Pun|modern]] setting. The show uses the Docucomedy format popularized by ''[[The Office]]'', and to great effect. But despite all these gimmicks, ''Modern Family'''s greatest strength is its excellent writing and acting.

 

 

[[Crowning Moment of Awesome|Received the 2010 and 2011 Emmy for Best Comedy.]]

* [[Book Dumb]]: In contrast to her under-performance in school, Haley has proven to be quite the strategist.

* [[Book Ends]]: "Manny Get Your Gun" has this.

** Played straight most of the time with Haley, though she still manages to trick her parents into losing their family's contest in who can the longest without using computer and phone technology so she could win. She also manages to fool her family into thinking she has a job as a waitress. She also was (briefly) able to teach Alex how to get popular. In short, Haley may be book dumb but she is also fairly creative and socially savvy.

** Discussed by Claire and Gloria. Gloria feels others treat her like this... but also feels that others treat her only as this and nothing more, rather than seeing her as someone who can actually do things. Also deconstructed in the same episode in that the one person who has a reason to think this (a male character) doesn't.

* [[Fetish]]: Haley sends a picture of her feet to a prospective boyfriend in "Egg Drop".

* [[Forbidden Fruit]]: In Season 1 Episode 12 "Not In My House," after Claire mistakenly believes Luke has been looking at porn online, not knowing it was Phil, Phil uses that as his cover story and explains Luke's behavior to Claire using this mentality.

** Season 3 Episode 1 "Dude Ranch" has this overlap with [[Dating What Daddy Hates]] when Jay tells Claire not to try keeping Haley from seeing Dylan because it will only drive her into his arms faster.

* [[Former Teen Rebel]]: Claire.

** Barry, the handsome {{spoiler|and homeless}} aspiring "Reiki" master in ''Slow Down Your Neighbors".

* [[Hidden Depths]]: In "See You Next Fall", Haley talks Alex out of her [["The Reason You Suck" Speech|mean-spirited]] middle-school graduation speech by admitting that she is actually very anxious about whether she'll graduate from high school with her own class or not.

* [[Hoist by His Own Petard]]: In the second-season finale "The One That Got Away", Phil is shopping with Gloria, who has Lily in a stroller. He realizes everyone passing, particularly the men, think Gloria's ''his'' wife. Since he has seen an old college friend and romantic rival around, one he has always unsuccessfully tried to one-up, he does little to discourage the perception. But when the friend finally sees him with Gloria, {{spoiler|he says he'd always thought Phil would end up with Claire, whom he thought was the most beautiful girl Phil ever dated}}.

* [[Hollywood Nerd]]: Alex is a Type 2. It's a little difficult to believe any of Haley's comments about her having issues with boys when she's played by [http://www.google.com/imgres?q=ariel+winter&um=1&hl=en&safe=off&sa=N&tbm=isch&tbnid=S_Fy9Rk3iQyoPM:&imgrefurl=http://desistarsclub.blogspot.com/2011/03/teen-actress-and-singer-ariel-winter.html&docid=qoBvp0__o9coDM&w=788&h=1000&ei=SFR-TpygFJSBsgKHz7Qi&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=493&vpy=53&dur=4762&hovh=253&hovw=199&tx=100&ty=176&page=3&tbnh=112&tbnw=88&start=31&ndsp=16&ved=1t:429,r:12,s:31&biw=1025&bih=420 Ariel Winter].

** Cameron too.

{{quote|'''Cameron:''' She raised four kids, two barns, and a whole lot o' hell.

'''Mitchell:''' [[Captain Obvious|Cam loves his mom.]]}}

* [[Mood Whiplash]]: A recent episode goes from a serious discussion and realization of girls growing up quickly to Manny trying to impress a girl by slowly driving Mitch's car.

* [[Vacation Episode]]: To Hawaii.

* [[Vignette Episode]]: The pilot seems to be one of these, until the reveal at the end.

* [["Well Done, Son" Guy]]: Phil to Jay.

** Season 1 Episode 3 [[Frank Sinatra|"Come Fly With Me"]] has Phil trying to be friends with Jay at Claire's request, as well as be accepted by Jay. Jay responds by eventually [[Crowning Moment of Funny|flying a toy airplane into Phil's face.]]

[[Category:The New Tens]]

[[Category:Dom Com]]

[[Category:TV Series]]