"Modern Family" Goes to Hawaii

"Modern Family" goes to Hawaii for Jay's birthday celebration.  Follow them tonight on ABC.  Meanwhile, check out ABC's video with Steven Levitan and the whole cast of the show talking about their unforgettable experience filming the episode "Hawaii".

(Source: TV Guide Magazine)

Fred Willard on His Appearances in "Castle", "Modern Family", and "Chuck"

[Photo: ABC]

Entertainment Weekly's Pop Watch has this interview with legendary comedian "Fred Willard" on his upcoming TV guestings.  Here are some of the highlights of the interview:


“I’ve found over the years that for some reason, people either are big fans and have to use me, or they don’t quite understand what I’m doing,” Fred Willard once told EW. Good news for those of us who love seeing the 70-year-old actor, best known as a member of Christopher Guest’s movie troupe, in action — it’s the former these days. He guest stars on ABC’s Castle tonight (ABC, 10 p.m. EST), returns to ABC’s Modern Family on April 28, and drops by NBC’s Chuck on May 3.

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: On Castle, you play the sidekick to a murdered late night host (Tom Bergeron). It’s actually a more serious role than we’re used to seeing you in. Looking back at your career, have there been other serious roles you’ve wanted, didn’t get, and still think you’d have done a great job with?

FRED WILLARD: No… I did a show called Lois & Clark, it was about Superman, years ago. They wanted someone to play the president of the United States. The plot was the president got kidnapped by a group, and they made a clone of him who was very irresponsible and silly. And they said, “We know Fred can do that. We’re not sure he can play the president.” So, I insisted on them letting me come in and read, and I knew I was the only one in my category who could do both parts. And of course, I did it well.

You’re reprising your role of Phil’s father, Frank, on Modern Family. Frank shows up in an RV with a little four-legged friend?

Yes, yes, it’s his dog that his wife is allergic to, so he’s driven across country to give it to his son. So there’s some touching moments in that as well.

You worked with the creators of Modern Family and Ty Burrell on Fox’s Back to You. That’s what made them think of you? It’s such great casting.

I never think I’m old enough to play someone’s dad, even though I have a daughter of my own and a grandson. But yeah, Steve Levitan and Chris Lloyd did Back to You and thought of me. And I guess Ty Burrell kept saying, “Gee, we should get Fred Willard on.”

The first time we saw Frank, it was just on a web camera. What will we learn about him now that’s actually visiting in-person?

He’s just kind of a silly character who loves corny jokes, but also has a serious side, a sentimental side.

Do you have scenes with Ed O’Neill this time?

I do. I did Married… With Children years ago with him, and he’s just the most marvelous guy you’d ever want to be with, just a regular blue-collar guy…. There’s a musical scene that’s done in a real club that’s just really wonderful, where Cam bulls his way into playing the drums [for Dylan's band]. We’re part of the group watching and amazed at the, we’ll call it the drum solo. [Laughs] It’s a hysterical scene.

Any plans to return for future episodes?

The problem is, my character lives in Florida. When I left, I said, “I see the whole family going to Disney World in Florida.” “Hey! That’s a great idea!” As with most great ideas, I haven’t heard much more about that. But they did request a photo of me to put in the hallway [of Phil and Claire's home]. So I haven’t been eliminated from the inner circle. They said, “You’re one of the family now, so we need a photograph.” I don’t know if you get paid for that, but there’s my picture.

And what will you be playing on Chuck?

That was an interesting one, because I play a part I’d always thought I was right for — a spy. I’m with Swoosie Kurtz on that, we’re a bickering spy couple, kind of like Robert Wagner and Stefanie Powers played [on Hart to Hart], and we’re showing the ropes to the young Chuck and his partner. And it’s like a real did we double-cross them or did we triple-cross them? That was a lot of fun.

I read that you’re being honored April 19 at The Theatre School at DePaul University’s 2010 Awards for Excellence in the Arts.

Yeah, that’s interesting, isn’t it? I’ll find out what that’s about. It’ll be a nice trip to Chicago, and I love Chicago. I spent a year at Second City there. And I’ll think of something intelligent to say.

I was going to ask if you’d prepare a speech or trust your improv skills?

I usually like to prepare a speech, and then when you get there, a lot of times things change. Someone will say something that you already planned to say, things pop up. I assume they don’t expect too long a talk from me. Ben Vereen is another honoree. I was mentioned in a Broadway theater column, so I said, “That’s great. I’m up there with the Broadway people.”

Last question: Always have to ask if there’s anything new on the horizon with Christopher Guest?

Not that I know of. Although I did hear a rumor that Christopher and Eugene Levy might be planning a movie right now. I have plenty of ideas for ‘em, but I find that Chris likes to go with his own ideas. And his ideas are usually very good, so I just sit back and hope that he has one and that he calls me.

(Source: EW)

Modern Family: A Look Through the Eyes of Steven Levitan

 [Photo: ABC]

The JewishJournal.com has clearly described how Steven Levitan, co-creator of ABC's dysfunctional yet sensitive and witty "Modern Family", has become successful in continuously deriving his raw material from the everyday experiences in his life.  This also became the reason why anyone who watches the show will surely find themselves in.


“All of our stories come from real life,” Steven Levitan, co-creator and executive producer of ABC’s “Modern Family,” told 1,200 fans at a recent Paley Center for Media event in Beverly Hills.  Asking his wife, Krista, to stand, he told the PaleyFest group that she really did smash his expensive television remote control into a thousand pieces and left it by their front door for him to find. He then introduced their son, Griffin, whom he was obliged to shoot with a BB gun after Griffin shot his cousin; and daughter, Hannah, whose video chat with her friends caught him wearing nothing but his underwear.

All raw material for a guy hailed as a savior of the half-hour television comedy for the über-hit he created with longtime collaborator Christopher Lloyd.

The show revolves around three disparate branches of a dysfunctional tribe headed by Jay Pritchett (Ed O’Neill of “Married ... With Children”), a lovable update on “All in the Family’s” politically incorrect curmudgeon, Archie Bunker. Jay is as flummoxed as he is delighted by his second marriage to the much younger, explosive Colombian woman, Gloria (Sofia Vergara), who came into his life with her overly sensitive 11-year-old, Manny (Rico Rodriguez). Jay’s own son, Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Ferguson), meanwhile, is an uptight, gay workaholic who, with his partner, Cameron (Eric Stonestreet), has just adopted a baby girl from Vietnam. There’s also his formerly wild daughter, Claire (Julie Bowen), now a stressed-out mom married for 17 years to a dorky Realtor named Phil (Ty Burrell).

In one episode, Claire insists that her husband sternly lecture their son about viewing Internet porn. Phil’s response is to clandestinely show the boy how to delete browser history on the family computer.

Some secular Westside Jews may recognize a number of their own concerns being played out on the series. Levitan is an MOT who lives in Brentwood; like Phil, he has been married for 17 years,  has three children and views himself as a “cool dad” to his unimpressed kids.

If some of his own Jewish sensibilities make it to the screen, it’s not in the way that early television writers used to “write Yiddish, cast British,” as Neil Simon put it. “Modern Family’s” multicultural milieu is perhaps more similar to a show like “Everybody Loves Raymond,” which melded the Italian sensibilities of namesake star Ray Romano and Jewish co-creator Phil Rosenthal.

In an interview, Levitan credited the success of “Modern Family” to its blending of diverse points of view.  Levitan says he has “no filter” for his emotions; Lloyd, in his opinion, is reserved. Levitan believes that his own cultural sensibilities at times trickle down to the writing, while Lloyd sees no Jewish or religious sensibilities on the show.

“We certainly don’t delve into religion — second, after politics, on the list of show-killing topics - nor do we have any intention of doing so,” Lloyd wrote in an e-mail.

“Personally, I have never understood what a ‘Jewish sensibility’ is. I understand what being Jewish is, and what many of the tenets of the religion are — having a Jewish wife is an asset here — but I have never understood what people mean when they speak of a Jewish manner. We are skating on the edge of stereotyping here, for my money.”

“I think Jews tend to wear their emotions on their sleeves,” Levitan said.  “My experience is that families are loud and emotional, and you don’t leave things in or have an unexpressed thought.


(Source: JewishJournal.com)

Ed O'Neill on Being the Father of "Modern Family"

I consider Ed O'Neill as the Father of "Modern Family" because he is the head of the Pritchetts.  And he gave birth to two more families who are crazy but lovable.  Here is what he says to TV Squad about the funniest and most loved comedy show, "Modern Family":

When you got the script for this show, it obviously was a little different than the comedy experience you previously had
Completely different, yes.

Was that what attracted you to the role of Jay, because it was so different from Al Bundy, and so different from the dramatic roles you've played?
Not so much different from Al, because everything is. But I liked the ensemble nature of the show. That attracted me right away. That the show, there's a lot of go-to people on the show. So it takes a lot of pressure off, you know? And also it becomes, for me, less boring. You know, you see that person all the time. Especially when you're doing it every week. It just gets old fast. But this show seemed to have more comedic potential because of the three separate but interconnected families.

When the show first started, they really tried to keep it a secret from us that the families were interconnected.
And only announced it before the pilot.

Were you happy that they did that? Because it seemed like they kind of made the decision mid-way through to kind of change their minds...
No. I wasn't personally happy. I wasn't outraged. But I thought well, they made the decision, I guess they feel that it'll draw more people. And then when I watched it, I don't think it hurt.

How has Jay changed over the first... how far are you guys into the season? About 2/3 of the way through now?
(to Steven Levitan) Are we 2/3rds in Steve? Into the season?

Steven Levitan: In the season? That's about right. 2/3...that's about right.

So how has Jay kind of changed and shifted since the start?
Well, they're making him more of a prick. And the thing I look at...

Levitan: Why are we inspired to do that? Where is that coming from? I'm not sure...

(laughing) You know what he's saying. I think that there's always a change when the actual actors begin to work with each other on a regular basis and you become friendly... hopefully...you start to like one another. In between takes, you start to share stories and such.

And then there's this sort of a melding, which I love that process, because that's likethe honeymoon, really. And then things begin to become a little warmer, a little more comfortable. You can do things with a little look instead of, you know what I mean? It becomes more real. That's how it changes.

First of all, how interesting is it that a lot of the cast of 'Married... With Children' are all sprinkled through the primetime schedule? Christina (Applegate) had her own show for a couple years, and now Katey (Sagal) is on 'Sons of Anarchy.'
Yes, yes. I like it because it kind of shows that there was some talent in that cast, you know, and some staying power.

Now that it's been off the air for thirteen years, do you think it's going to be looked back on fondly as a family sitcom even though it's a little twisted? Especially considering the TV landscape these days?
I really don't know. I mean, I don't know where it's going to land in the scheme of things as they look back on it. I think it's gonna be, certainly it was a bit of a ground-breaker. How good or how... I don't know. I mean, I think that it was funny, and that goes a long way. And that's all I know. I don't know. You know, it's hard to judge your own kind of thing anyway.

Alright, just how is it working with Sofia Vergara in most of your scenes?
I love playing with her. I really love working with her. I think she's extraordinarily funny. Of course, she's not hard to look at. I love the idea that the different culture, and it's hard enough to understand a woman, you know, in a marriage, in the same culture. And you take a Colombian woman, beautiful, young, and so there's always the surprises for Jay, things he didn't quite bargain on, I would imagine, when he married her. Obviously, she was beautiful, and that was thrilling. And now that he's married,
there are puzzling aspects.

in the pilot, it was kind of the joke that you were trying to be younger, and they've eased that off on that
Yeah, yeah, I'm glad. I think it works anyway without the crazy clothes and stuff. You know, they dress me now very nicely. And not... this is the way I dress... but they have the $600 shirts with the jeans, you know, out. But I think that that and the nice car, and obviously he's got money, and he's with the young woman. Obviously he's gotta try to stay (youthful).

Right, keep up with her, yeah. But not as comically though as the pilot.
No. And I don't think you have to do that. I think that plays itself, you know?

(Source: TV Squad)

Spoilers for Next Season's "Modern Family"

 [Photo: Starpulse.com]

Though Season 1 of "Modern Family" hasn't finished yet, their creators are already planning for the next seasons castings and story lines. Definitely, other family members will be visible in the show, which is interesting in a way that there's additional fun.  One suggestion is Delta Burke as Cameron's mother, let's see if and when it pushes through.  Read on:

Next season, ABC’s Modern Family plans to introduce the Tuckers, the down-home, fun-lovin’ country parents of Eric Stonestreet’s gay papa, Cameron. While Kathy Bates was once thought of for the role, Eric tells me, “her casting on The Office kind of made it not as exciting for us.” Now he’s campaigning for one of his personal faves: Designing Women veteran Delta Burke. “Wouldn’t she be great?,” asks Eric. “She possesses that sort of kind, Southern quality I think Cameron’s mom would have. And Delta seems like a real sweet lady.” The show’s creator, Steve Levitan, agrees, telling me, “We like that idea. We think that could be good.”

(Source: TV Guide Magazine)

Spoiler Alert: Modern Family's Aloha Trip

[Photo: ABC]

Major spoiler here at Modern Family TV Series.  The Hawaii trip was the topic during the 2010 PaleyFest held recently.  You will never imagine what the cast has revealed regarding their summer vacation.  I think that this will be super fun and it will really mark the legend that is, "Modern Family".  Here it is from William Keck at TV Guide Magazine:

At the annual PaleyFest’s Modern Family panel, the cast of ABC’s comedy hit talked up their upcoming Hawaii episode, which finds the Dunphy and Pritchett families getting their Aloha on. Here’s what to expect from the very special episode.
 

“We’re celebrating Jay’s birthday,” says Ed O’Neill, who plays Grandpa Jay. “So everybody goes.”
 

The trouble starts with a phone call from Jay’s brother, whom Ed says, “points out that I’m the same age our dad was when hedropped dead. With that news, I start to go to the spa more and start to overdue it trying to get in shape.”
 

 When Jay fails to show for the big birthday dinner luau, concerned son-in-law Phil goes looking for him and finds grandpa in a hammock, felled by a sore back. “I can’t get out so he tries to help me out,” says Ed. “Then he falls in, it flips and we end up upside down together.” (Sounds almost like the Moon Landing Jay experienced in the gym locker room with Cam.)
 

“I can’t wait for that!,” explains Ty Burrell (Phil), who amazingly has never been to Hawaii and is looking forward to consuming massive quantities of seafood. “I have been loving the physical stuff and I love working with Ed. But we’ll both have to brush our teeth before that scene.”

Meanwhile, gay dads Cameron and Mitchell will be exploring Maui’s lavender farm. “I’m trying to pull Cameron away from the pool to come with me to this farm,” says Jesse Tyler Ferguson, who plays Mitchell. “And we might have a similar situation to where we locked baby Lily in the car.” This time: she’ll likely be left in an elevator! 

Julie Bowen, who may also use her time there to turn up on Lost as Jack’s estranged wife Sarah, just hopes the vacation episode doesn’t come off looking too ‘Very Brady’.

“We find a tiki tiki,” Julie kids of the episode, which will be shot on the grounds of Maui’s Four Seasons.

(Source: TV Guide Magazine)

Pics of Modern Family Cast at the 2010 PaleyFest

Here are some of the photos taken on the 2010 PaleyFest by Getty Images.  Enjoy these pics especially the shots of Sofia Vergara and Julie Bowen.

(Source: Zimbio)

Steven Levitan at the 2010 PaleyFest

Here is Korbi Ghosh's one-on-one interview with Steven Levitan at the 2010 PaleyFest.  A lot of spoilers from this video for future episodes of "Modern Family".  One of them is that Cameron will play in Dylan's band.  Cam is so versatile, he's really a "renaissance man" as what Levitan says.  Cam can do anything.  What can you say about this?

(Source: Zap2It)

Modern Family Cast on 2010 PaleyFest

[Photo: Getty Images]

 

Here are some of the highlights of 2010 PaleyFest which starts with the cast of the newest and one of the best comedy shows, "Modern Family":

An early screening of the episode "Fears was shown to the audience.  Some spoilers for the episode on Wednesday were revealed.  Phil (Ty Burrell) and Luke (Nolan Gould) are in for some treasure-hunting underneath their house (skeletons?). Haley (Sarah Hyland) tries to get her driver's license for the third time (with some car-crashing) and Mitchell(Jesse Tyler Ferguson) and Cam(Eric Stonestreet) invites Lily's pediatrician for brunch and it turns out to be their worst nightmare.  In one of the next episodes, Julie Bowen will get into a brawl with a security personnel at the Grove shopping plaza in Los Angeles.

In the panel, a Cam Show was demonstrated, Sofia Vergara and Ty's comedic skills were all applauded.

Click here to read the details of Paley Festival.

(Source: EW.com)

Modern Family Goes "Hawaii"

[Photo: ABC]

This exciting scoop will really mark the ingenuity of the initial season of Modern Family.  Here is the latest from Michael Ausiello:

It’s the biggest thing to happen to the Aloha State since Vincent Price terrorized the Brady boys back in 1972: Modern Family is heading to Hawaii!

Executive producer Steve Levitan confirms that the entire cast will fly to Maui next week to shoot an episode slated to air in May.

“We’re going to show them on a family vacation,” reveals Levitan, adding that the trip coincides with Jay’s birthday. “Jay thinks that he and Gloria are going by themselves for this romantic getaway, and she surprises him by inviting the entire family.”

Wait, it gets better!

The first part of the two-part episode will be set entirely at the airport as they set off on their big trip. “Initially, we were just going to do [the airport episode],” explains Levitan. “And then as we were shooting it we decided that [viewers] would be somewhat disappointed if we didn’t follow through on the [actual] trip. So now the entire family is going to Hawaii.”

(Source: EW.com)

Steven Levitan and "Modern Family" at the WGA Awards

[Photo: Getty Images]

At the 2010 WGA Awards night, Steven Levitan revealed that the final episode for the first season of "Modern Family" will be set in Hawaii.  A finale vacation treat for the whole family.  Though many guests have graced the show, Steven expressed his trust and confidence in his cast.  He wants "Modern Family" to be watched, not because of the guest stars but because of the talent and creativity of his cast.  "Modern Family"'s success lies in the team's hard work and everybody contributes generously to the development of the show.

(Source: Inside TV)

Modern Family Wins 2010 WGA Awards

 [Photo: ABC]

Kudos! Congratulations to "Modern Family" for winning the outstanding achievement for Television's New Series in the 2010 Writers Guild of America Awards.  The writers for "Modern Family" include Paul Corrigan, Sameer Gardezi, Joe Lawson, Steven Levitan, Christopher Lloyd, Dan O'Shannon, Brad Walsh, Caroline Williams, Bill Wrubel, and Danny Zuker of ABC.  Aside from this, the "Pilot" episode, written by Steven Levitan and Christopher Lloyd of ABC has also won outstanding achievement for Television's Episodic Comedy together with "30 Rock's" episode "Apollo, Apollo", written by Robert Carlock of NBC.  Many writers of comedy sitcoms have been inspired by "Modern Family's" continuing success.  Good luck to future comedy sitcoms and I wish that "Modern Family" will still continue to shine in the limelight.


Click here for the complete list of winners.

(Source: WGAW)

Modern Family on PaleyFest 2010

 [Photo: ABC]

Creators Steven Levitan and Christopher Lloyd will be in Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills together with the cast of "Modern Family", Ed O'Neill, Sofia Vergara, Julie Bowen, Ty Burrell, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, and Eric Stonestreet, for the PaleyFest 2010.  They will sit down on February 26 in a panel on stage to talk about the show, cast, and the whole creative team.

Stay hooked up for the details on this event.  Get ready because they might have some spoilers for the next episodes to come. 

(Source: Paley Center for Media)

Steven Levitan on Gay Couple Mitchell and Cameron

 [Photo: ABC]

The creator of "Modern Family", Steven Levitan was interviewed by Greg Hernandez on the debatable and controversial topic of gay marriages.  Steven talks about how "Modern Family" changed and is continually changing the minds of people about gay couples.  I understand that when humor is injected in serious topics like these, gives lightness and hope for change.  Reality bites but sometimes laughter makes the aches less painful.  Here are some of the important details of their talk:

 
“I think once people watch the show, those are two characters who are very, very hard not to like and I think that has probably diffused any of the negative energy that people were feeling,” co-creator and executive producer Steven Levitan told me this week when we chatted before the start of the Hollywood Radio and Television Society luncheon.

Compared to the days when two men in bed on Thirtysomething caused threats of advertiser boycott 20 years ago, it’s amazing that there has been little or no controversy about a gay couple being part of this family comedy.

“We haven’t had much pushback on it,” Levitan said. “There’s always a fringe element that before the show came out, you know, ‘let’s boycott ABC,” and it was probably like 20 guys in a cellar someplace.

Mitchell Pritchett (Ferguson) and Cameron Tucker (Stonestreet) were introduced to audiences in the first episode bringing home their adopted baby.  Mitchell’s dad, Jay Pritchett, is played by Married With Children alum Ed O’Neill who sometimes still has his struggles with his son.

Said Levitan: “We have an episode that will air in January in which Jay is with a bunch of his buddies and he runs into Cameron and he introduces him as a friend of my son and Mitchell takes great offense at that. And through dealing with that issue, I think they come to a better understanding. It’s a very funny episode that’s really about something.”

Ferguson is an openly gay actor who previously played a straight character on the CBS comedy The Class while Stonestreet is straight and among his many roles was a recurring part on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.




(Source: Greg in Hollywood)

Modern Family - Nominated at the 16th Annual Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards

 [Photo: ABC]

Our comedy Wednesday's family, Modern Family TV series is  nominated in the 16th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards for the category Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series.  A show that is so new, fresh, yet funny, natural, and practical.  Not all new shows are given a chance to reach this point, not to mention that this is a comedy show.  Modern Family is not just pure luck but it is a pool of talents that make viewers laugh their hearts out.  The difference of this award giving body is that, actors in their own field are also the ones who vote on who gets to win.  Congratulations to Christopher Lloyd and Steven Levitan for this nomination.

(Source: Screen Actors Guild Awards)

Modern Family - Nominated in 2010 Writers Guild of America Awards

[Photo: ABC]

Yes, "Modern Family" fans!  Our very loved comedy show is nominated in the New Series, Comedy Series category for the 2010 Writers Guild of America Awards.  In addition, the "Pilot" episode is also nominated for an Episodic Comedy Award.  Winners will be announced on Feb. 20, 2010.  Series creators Steven Levitan and Christopher Lloyd are surely delighted by these nominations.  We all are.  Here are some of the nominees:

DRAMA SERIES

Breaking Bad
Dexter
Friday Night Lights
Lost
Mad Men

COMEDY SERIES

30 Rock
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Glee
Modern Family
The Office

NEW SERIES

Glee
The Good Wife
Hung
Modern Family
Nurse Jackie

EPISODIC DRAMA

"Broken, Part 1 and Part 2," House
"Come, Ye Saints," Big Love
"The Grown Ups," Mad Men
"Guy Walks Into an Advertising Agency," Mad Men
"I Will Rise Up," True Blood
"Phoenix," Breaking Bad

EPISODIC COMEDY

"Apollo, Apollo," 30 Rock
"Broke," The Office
"Chapter 1," Eastbound & Down
"Gossip," The Office
"Pilot," Modern Family
"Reunion," 30 Rock

COMEDY/VARIETY

Real Time With Bill Maher
Saturday Night Live
The Colbert Report
The Daily Show With Jon Stewart
The Tonight Show With Conan O’Brien

LONG FORM—ORIGINAL

Georgia O’Keefe
Grey Gardens
Pedro

LONG FORM—ADAPTATION

America
Taking Chance

ANIMATION

"The Burns and the Bees," The Simpsons
"Eeny Teeny Maya, Moe," The Simpsons
"Gone Maggie Gone," The Simpsons
"Take My Life, Please," The Simpsons
"Wedding for Disaster," The Simpsons

COMEDY/VARIETY—MUSIC, AWARDS, TRIBUTES

Film Independent's 2009 Spirit Awards
We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial

DAYTIME SERIAL

All My Children
As the World Turns
One Life to Live
The Young and the Restless

(Source: WGAW)

Modern Family is One of the Best TV Shows of the Year

[Photo: ABC]

Viewers of Modern Family are very happy to know that it is considered as one of the best TV shows this year.  Though it's a new sitcom, viewers have appreciated this TV series.  Every Wednesdays, the night is certainly complete because of Modern Family.  Don't forget this Wednesday, the Christmas special and the last episode for the year.  We will certainly miss our fave TV show and prepare for its comeback next year. 



(Source: Starpulse)

More of "Modern Family" in 2010

[Photo: ABC]

ABC network has ordered the full-season for Modern Family and other comedy shows that passed the ratings and performed well during the launch of the Fall premiere.  Thank God for comedy Wednesdays!  See the full story in Michael Ausiello's Files at EW.

(Source: Ausiello Files)

Modern Family Starts Tonight on ABC

Finally, we will all be hooked up on one show that we can see ourselves in.  Even USA TODAY will be following the Modern Family on ABC.  Here is an article bye Robert Bianco:

Finally, ABC gives us a 'Modern Family' we can relate to
By Robert Bianco, USA TODAY
It's about time.

After years in the comedy wilderness, much of it spent in a futile attempt to clone NBC's snarkier, more ironic sitcom style, ABC is finally returning to its family roots — and in gloriously funny fashion. You get The Middle next week and Cougar Town later tonight, both terrific sitcoms. But the best of the bunch, and the best new series of the fall, comes first.

CALENDAR: In-depth look at the fall TV schedule

Modern Family, created by Steven Levitan and Christopher Lloyd, smartly updates ABC's Home Improvement/Roseanne tradition for a new TV generation. True, the shooting style borrows the faux-documentary approach made popular by a rival, The Office. But the down-to-earth tone of this good-natured comedy, and its bighearted embrace of its characters, harks back to ABC and Disney at their comedy peak.

Times, however, have changed, and families have changed with them. The show does pivot on a sitcom-familiar home mix, a mom and dad (Julie Bowen and Ty Burell) who take a comedically different approach to raising their two kids. But Mom has an extended family, and they're the "modern" part of the title: Her father (Ed O'Neill) has just married a hot young single mother from Colombia (Sofia Vergara), and her brother (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) and his partner (Eric Stonestreet) have just adopted a Vietnamese baby girl.

That gives Modern Family a lot of territory to cover, but it also gives it a lot of room in which to play — and tonight's pilot takes full advantage of that gift. Each family member is treated with respect, but each is also tweaked and given some funny business to play, from O'Neill's sitcom-pro chagrin at his stepson's romantic notions, to Bowen and Burell's method of dealing with a misused BB gun, to Ferguson's flustered reactions to Stonestreet's flamboyance.

Like the best sitcoms, Modern Family also varies its comic approach. There are moments of wry observational humor any family will recognize. (When the sister offers to "explain" their father's comment, her brother says: "That's not what Dad's saying. That's what you're saying, and it's insulting in a whole different way.") But there are also outsized moments that are laugh-out-loud funny without violating the laws of possibility.

Mockumentaries can quickly become cold and distancing, and that's a pitfall Modern Family will have to work to avoid. But if it can fulfill its promise, it could just be the show ABC needs to spark a sitcom renaissance.

Time will provide the answer. But let's hope that answer is yes.

(Source: USA TODAY)

Modern Family: One of TV Bloggers' Fave

[Photo: ABC]

USA Weekend asked some TV bloggers for their top picks on What TV shows are worth watching.  Luckily,  Modern Family is one of the shows that add laughter and entertainment.

Modern Family (ABC, Sept. 23) "Hands down, this is my favorite new series so far," says Jace Lacob, writer/editor of "Televisionary." This mockumentary about three families "has a winning combination of quirkiness, witty banter and heart. It explores how the post-nuclear family ticks and how universal bonds of love and frustration keep it all together."

(Source: USA Weekend)

Here is the full story on USA Weekend.  Will you be watching?  Speak your mind!