So Just How Bad Was Last Night’s Episode Of Modern Family?
1 October 2009, 1:24 PM. By Alex Alvarez
I'm looking at this right now and I still can't be bothered to remember their names.
So we wanted to capture our intense hatred for last night’s episode of Modern Family in the heat of the moment, right after the episode aired. But, now that some time has passed and our drunken rage has subsided slightly, we can delve a little more into why this show is probably beyond saving, despite our willingness to be proven wrong after the pilot.
1. The characters all continue to be very typical sitcom archetypes, with the writers or producers or someone in charge not giving the audience anything really new or revolutionary or insightful. The Powers That Be at work on this show clearly do not respect their audience and, really, why should they? Two and a Half Men, Everybody Loves Raymond and King of Queens are all massive hits with viewers, while CERTAIN FINELY CRAFTED AND EXPERTLY ACTED SHOWS WHICH SHALL NOT BE NAMED get cancelled because no one could be bothered to rub enough brain cells together to understand the concept of a pun. So, hey. Maybe this is a brilliant move on the part of the show.
2. The acting is ok, but not great, and the characters don’t really seem to have chemistry with one another, save for, really, the gay couple. Everyone has a name like “Jane” or “Steve,” yet we haven’t been able to care enough about any of them to remember these.
3. At least 2 characters - Cool Dad’s daughters - were dropped entirely for this episode. Is the three families’ storylines idea too much for this show to handle effectively without making it feel cluttered or like three separate sitcoms smashed up together?
4. If we were a betting kind of ladygirl, we’d put money down on the claim that Sofia Vergara’s character was written by a 14-year-old male with a boner and no understanding of subversive humor. Or humor at all, really.
We mean. Please:
Were some of the jokes funny? Sure. Were they anything you can’t imagine Carlos Mencia braying after stealing them from another comic? Not really.
We want funny, insightful, smart shows about regular people. We want to see Latinos on TV who do not happen to be a hot tamale, or a maid, or a shirtless gardener. Or, if they are, we want the writers and producers and actors to make sure we know that they know that we’re more than that. We want a show to wink and nudge and present xenophobia in a way that shows how absurd it all is, while not being preachy or obvious.
Is that too much to ask for?
We’re starting to think we’ll just go ahead, write a spec script ourselves and send it to ABC wrapped in a plantain leaf.
But let’s think positively. For once. Let’s go ahead and say this show can still be saved. What improvements or character modifications or story lines would you include to help it out?
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Trying to find the pilot episode online. Any suggestions? I hate to watch sitcoms out of order. Or is this it?
The pilot should still be on ABC’s site and on Hulu as well. These clips are from the second episode.
http://watch-series.com/serie/modern_family
here you go
Ah, okay. Thanks.
I didn’t think it was too bad.
I liked the bicycle part with cool dad and son. That was cute.
If I’m being honest, I think a lot of my loathing for Cool Dad stems from the fact that he reminds me of my ex. So. I might be biased in hoping he gets run over by a truck next episode.
Don’t date dorky white boys anymore. ;)
I also liked the fact that Al Bundy made the real dad of the lil boy not look like the total dick wad that he is to spare the kids feelings.
ROFL!
lol - I learned…My only ex novio that was white reminds me of Jack’s gay lover on a few Will & Grace episodes. lol
Just finished watching the pilot and I have to say that I like the show, so far, very funny and smart, well written. Don’t how it’s as bad as you make it out to be, though it maybe it regresses in later episodes. I’ll see. The young boy, Manny, reminds me so much of myself in my younger days — pedantic, pudgy (fat), brown, hopelessly in love with an older woman. And speaking of older women, Sofia Vergara is still hot.
Just watched the second episode and it is not that bad. I laughed out loud a couple of times. Didn’t pee my pants or nothing, but still.
You must really, REALLY, hate that ex-of yours. Do you need a limpia or something?
I actually like this show. Granted, we’re not talking Arthur Miller here, but it’s a sitcom, and a well-done one at that…it even says so here: http://tinyurl.com/yc24vkq
I finally had the chance to watch the second episode yesterday on Hulu and I have to say I like this show. I find the characters endearing and fun. Last but not least, we have to support the lovely Sofia Vergara………it seems like ABC has only one other Latino in their primetime line-up (Eva Longoria). So let’s watch the show and help ABC fulfill their part in equal opportunity/affirmative action.
Alex don’t be hating. Writing a sitcom isn’t as easy as getting great work out there, on a network show you have to whore yourself and become the corporate head’s little putita to secure advertising spots, don’t worry when guanabee grows bigger it can start whoring itself : )
I have and always will be a whore. Thank you very much.
I know some screenwriters who have done ok for themselves. And they may be whores, but not with the goal of securing ad spots. I’m sure my career will be fine without requiring that I be a putita or putona, corporate or otherwise.
Boy Alex is a different story. And God bless him for it.
Just trying to provide some insight from behind the camera no insult intended. The producers are the pimps when it comes to abc…
None taken! No worries.
You are totally cracking me up with this thread!