Modern Family(ABC)
Premiere: September 23, 2009
Modern Family is about 3 families, all tied together in one twisted family tree. There's patriarch Jay Pritchett(Ed O'Neill), who marries a young Colombian woman, Gloria(Sofia Vergara), who has a son from a previous marriage, Manny(Rico Rodriguez); they later have a son of their own, Fulgencio, nicknamed Joe. Jay's daughter Claire(Julie Bowen) married real estate agent Phil Dunphy(Ty Burrell), and is the average matriarch of a nuclear family, raising their three children: ditzy teenager Haley(Sarah Hyland), studious Alex(Ariel Winter), and rambunctious Luke(Nolan Gould). Finally, Jay's son Mitchell(Jesse Tyler Ferguson) has married his partner Cameron Tucker(Eric Stonestreet), and together they raise their adopted daughter Lily(Aubrey Anderson-Emmons). The show chronicles the ups and downs of living in one extended family, and the dynamics between each of the family members.
Modern Family is about 3 families, all tied together in one twisted family tree. There's patriarch Jay Pritchett(Ed O'Neill), who marries a young Colombian woman, Gloria(Sofia Vergara), who has a son from a previous marriage, Manny(Rico Rodriguez); they later have a son of their own, Fulgencio, nicknamed Joe. Jay's daughter Claire(Julie Bowen) married real estate agent Phil Dunphy(Ty Burrell), and is the average matriarch of a nuclear family, raising their three children: ditzy teenager Haley(Sarah Hyland), studious Alex(Ariel Winter), and rambunctious Luke(Nolan Gould). Finally, Jay's son Mitchell(Jesse Tyler Ferguson) has married his partner Cameron Tucker(Eric Stonestreet), and together they raise their adopted daughter Lily(Aubrey Anderson-Emmons). The show chronicles the ups and downs of living in one extended family, and the dynamics between each of the family members.
At left, the Dunphy family, clockwise from left: Claire, Phil, Haley, Alex, and Luke. MIddle: the Pritchetts, clockwise from left: Jay, Manny, Joe(Jeremy Maguire), and Gloria. Right, the Tucker-Pritchetts, clockwise from left: Mitchell, Cameron, and Lily.
Best Episodes:
Season 1, Episode 1 "Pilot"
Jay's family tries to function despite the age difference between him and his new wife Gloria. Phil must follow through on an agreement between him and Claire and discipline his son(if Luke shoots someone, Phil must shoot him), while Claire tries to intervene on Haley's date in her room. Mitchell and Cam have adopted a baby daughter, Lily, from VIetnam. They invite the family over to introduce her to the family. Mitch is hesitant when Jay feels that Mitch and Cam will not be responsible parents, but Cam wrecks Mitchell's plan to break it to the family gently by presenting her in a Lion King-esque scene. The whole family ends up accepting the adoption, even Jay.
Jay's family tries to function despite the age difference between him and his new wife Gloria. Phil must follow through on an agreement between him and Claire and discipline his son(if Luke shoots someone, Phil must shoot him), while Claire tries to intervene on Haley's date in her room. Mitchell and Cam have adopted a baby daughter, Lily, from VIetnam. They invite the family over to introduce her to the family. Mitch is hesitant when Jay feels that Mitch and Cam will not be responsible parents, but Cam wrecks Mitchell's plan to break it to the family gently by presenting her in a Lion King-esque scene. The whole family ends up accepting the adoption, even Jay.
Season 1, Episode 5 "Coal Digger"
Luke and Manny get into a fight at school. Everyone is invited over to Jay and Gloria's for football. Mitch tries to learn about the game, but makes things worse for himself. Luke and Manny make up, but things gets sour when Luke reveals that his mom calls Gloria a "coal digger". Phil corrects him and says he means "gold digger". Luke then says his mother has said this repeatedly. Oops. Gloria is furious and shuts herself in her room. Claire apologizes, but Gloria says she will not forgive him until things are even-that is, Claire must jump in the pool with her clothes on, which she ends up doing, and all is forgiven.
Luke and Manny get into a fight at school. Everyone is invited over to Jay and Gloria's for football. Mitch tries to learn about the game, but makes things worse for himself. Luke and Manny make up, but things gets sour when Luke reveals that his mom calls Gloria a "coal digger". Phil corrects him and says he means "gold digger". Luke then says his mother has said this repeatedly. Oops. Gloria is furious and shuts herself in her room. Claire apologizes, but Gloria says she will not forgive him until things are even-that is, Claire must jump in the pool with her clothes on, which she ends up doing, and all is forgiven.
Season 2, Episode 7 "Halloween"
Phil thinks Claire might no longer love him when she is deep in concentration on the haunted house. Everything goes wrong, including Jay being late with the effects and Gloria speaking in a new "English" accent after Manny constantly corrects her accent. Phil follows Claire after she storms out, and Phil asks is she is tired of him. She says they are stuck together as a couple, while the haunted house finishes picture perfect. Meanwhile, Mitch tries desperately to shed his Spider-Man costume at work after a co-worker says that only the uncool guys dress up.
Phil thinks Claire might no longer love him when she is deep in concentration on the haunted house. Everything goes wrong, including Jay being late with the effects and Gloria speaking in a new "English" accent after Manny constantly corrects her accent. Phil follows Claire after she storms out, and Phil asks is she is tired of him. She says they are stuck together as a couple, while the haunted house finishes picture perfect. Meanwhile, Mitch tries desperately to shed his Spider-Man costume at work after a co-worker says that only the uncool guys dress up.
Season 2, Episode 13 "Caught In The Act"
The kids' anniversary breakfast for Phil and Claire is ruined when they are traumatized after walking in on Phil and Claire having sex. An insulting is accidentally sent to Claire by Gloria, and Jay lies about its contents. The email is eventually deleted. Mitch and Cam try to get into a popular new restaurant by arranging a playmate with the son of the owner, who goes to Lily's preschool, but ends up in a snafu with the carpet. FInally, the kids get Phil and Claire the perfect anniversary present: a bedroom lock.
The kids' anniversary breakfast for Phil and Claire is ruined when they are traumatized after walking in on Phil and Claire having sex. An insulting is accidentally sent to Claire by Gloria, and Jay lies about its contents. The email is eventually deleted. Mitch and Cam try to get into a popular new restaurant by arranging a playmate with the son of the owner, who goes to Lily's preschool, but ends up in a snafu with the carpet. FInally, the kids get Phil and Claire the perfect anniversary present: a bedroom lock.
Season 3, Episode 13 "Little Bo Bleep"
Claire prepares for a debate to run for city council. When things go downhill, Phil tries to defend himself, he ends up going viral. Lily has developed a new habit of saying the f-word, and Mitch and Cam clash on how to deal with it. The next day, after the debate, the whole family gathers at a wedding. Despite them preventing Lily, who is the flower girl, from speaking at all in public, she blurts the word out in the middle of the ceremony after seeing Cam crying(believing that the word always him laugh). A horrified Cam rushes her out of the church as everyone laughs.
Claire prepares for a debate to run for city council. When things go downhill, Phil tries to defend himself, he ends up going viral. Lily has developed a new habit of saying the f-word, and Mitch and Cam clash on how to deal with it. The next day, after the debate, the whole family gathers at a wedding. Despite them preventing Lily, who is the flower girl, from speaking at all in public, she blurts the word out in the middle of the ceremony after seeing Cam crying(believing that the word always him laugh). A horrified Cam rushes her out of the church as everyone laughs.