"Modern Family" is a Laugh-Out-Loud Mockumentary

Over winter break I spent one very lazy afternoon with a friend of mine. She had downloaded the entire first season of ABC's "Modern Family" on her computer and was in the middle of watching it. I joined in and we ended up watching probably ten back to back episodes all in one day. I'm very glad that she introduced me to this family sitcom because it's the best one they've created in years.

Not only does it depict the modern day struggles of parenting, but it also portrays a gay couple with an adopted Asian daughter, and today's frequently seen older rich man married to a much younger vixen. They are all part of one family, and the best part? It's hilarious. Each character brings something different to the show.

We have the overly controlling mother, Claire Dunphy, and her lovable screw-up of a husband, Phil, who says things like, "I'm the cool dad, that's my thang." The two of them have three kids, Haley, Alex, and Luke, each of which couldn't be more different from each other. Claire's brother, Mitchell Pritchett, has a personality similar to hers. He is in a relationship with Cameron Tucker, a very fun-loving, and flamboyant gay man, and the two of them fawn over their adopted baby, Lily, the most docile child in the world. As long as I have been watching the show, she has never made a peep. Jay Pritchett is the father of Claire and Mitchell and is married to his second "trophy" wife, Gloria, a very beautiful, loud Colombian woman with a rich accent. Gloria brings her son Manny, a very self-assured and mature young boy into the marriage, and into this very dysfunctional, yet adorable family.

In terms of the way the show is filmed, it has a similar feel to "The Office." It is as if we are watching their lives unfold in a home movie. The characters also take turns giving mock interviews into the camera, a style of television that has become quite popular.

Each of the three subsequent families represent a different aspect of today's conventional lifestyles. Hence the show title. The storyline is fresh, the writing is comical, and the acting is fantastic. Overall, this is definitely a half-hour sitcom worth watching. In fact, in 2010, "Modern Family" won the Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series. If you haven't already, I suggest tuning in.