# Modern Family \[SPOILERS\]

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-family-spoilers/511080>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [September 22, 2009, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-family-spoilers/511080 "2009-09-22T13:51:52Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 3

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\
**Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-family-spoilers/511080/41 "2009-11-20T17:37:31Z")

</div>

> [@Merijeek](#):
>
> Okay, I’ve only see a couple minutes of the show, but I’ve got to ask…
> 
> Who plays the blonde neighbor lady with the huge rack?

[Brandy Ledford](http://www.imdb.com/media/rm493916160/nm0496555)

Yes, I had to look that up. Thank you for giving me the excuse.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\
**Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-family-spoilers/511080/42 "2009-11-20T17:51:21Z")

</div>

This was not the best episode, but I have come to like this show quite a bit.

The gay couple seems to get the best lines, and while the bit with Elizabeth Banks was so-so, they are still my favorite part of the show.

I had not heard of Julie Bowen before Modern Family, but she was a contestant on Celebrity Jeopardy last night and did pretty well, and she is also a very attractive young woman, while still being believable in her role…

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Avarie537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/48db29/32.png) [@Avarie537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avarie537)\
**Post date:** [December 15, 2009, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-family-spoilers/511080/43 "2009-12-15T15:51:17Z")

</div>

Any more love for this show? We adore it, and just caught up on the last three episodes over the weekend. Cameron is my favorite character!

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![fiddlesticks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddlesticks/32/18129_2.png) [@fiddlesticks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fiddlesticks)\
**Post date:** [December 15, 2009, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-family-spoilers/511080/44 "2009-12-15T16:20:08Z")

</div>

My favorite new show of the season. It was nominated for a Golden Globe for Comedy Series, though no acting awards. Ed O’Neill deserves one in my book. Maybe he needs to do a Bryan Cranston (whose work as Hal on Malcolm went unrewarded) and get a juicy dramatic role to get some awardage.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ShelliBean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f9ae1b/32.png) [@ShelliBean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShelliBean)\
**Post date:** [December 15, 2009, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-family-spoilers/511080/45 "2009-12-15T18:02:49Z")

</div>

My favorite ep so far was the one where Manny’s dad never shows up. I’m always a little surprised when Ed O’Neill’s character does something nice - I mean, he helped raise a family and people must like him for some reason ($$) so I guess it shouldn’t but it’s still a warm fuzzy when he does something sweet. Innocente!

One of my favorite lines, though was from the birthday ep (and this is paraphrasing):

Jay: You want advice on a woman and you’re coming to me?  
Manny: Well you seem to have done well (pointing to his mom)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![pancakes3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ba9def/32.png) [@pancakes3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pancakes3)\
**Post date:** [December 16, 2009, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-family-spoilers/511080/46 "2009-12-16T20:42:02Z")

</div>

maybe it’s the newness but i think this show is funnier than the office as of right now. sadly it is likely that it will be arrested in its development.

quality ensemble acting though… and doesn’t kill its golden goose (Ed O’neil imo but probably intended for the michael scott dad) with overexposure of a single character.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\
**Post date:** [December 17, 2009, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-family-spoilers/511080/47 "2009-12-17T01:05:06Z")

</div>

I believe the show is a big hit. I wouldn’t worry about cancellation. It just got a full season pick up.

–Cliffy

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\
**Post date:** [December 17, 2009, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-family-spoilers/511080/48 "2009-12-17T17:30:10Z")

</div>

> [@fiddlesticks](#):
>
> My favorite new show of the season. It was nominated for a Golden Globe for Comedy Series, though no acting awards.

The Screen Actors Guild nominations just came out, and the show was nominated for Best Ensemble.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\
**Post date:** [December 17, 2009, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-family-spoilers/511080/49 "2009-12-17T18:12:53Z")

</div>

I love this show too. A few weeks ago I was catching Community on Hulu when I noticed this show on the list. I spent the rest of the afternoon laughing at every episode.  
I don’t even remember hearing about it before. Of course I don’t really watch a lot of television to see commercials these days.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![kevja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/aeb1de/32.png) [@kevja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kevja)\
**Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-family-spoilers/511080/50 "2009-12-18T02:44:37Z")

</div>

the first time i saw it was last night. i’m an instant fan.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![tr0psn4j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@tr0psn4j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tr0psn4j)\
**Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-family-spoilers/511080/51 "2010-02-05T04:26:49Z")

</div>

Anyone see this last episode? Towards the end, they mentioned Rick Astley during a family dinner. Perfect chance to RickRoll the entire TV audience and they passed it up!

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Uncle\_Brother\_Walker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f08c70/32.png) [@Uncle\_Brother\_Walker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncle_Brother_Walker)\
**Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 8:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-family-spoilers/511080/52 "2010-02-05T08:51:20Z")

</div>

I love this show.

That means it will be cancelled after this year. ☹

I like all the characters. I totally dig Alex’s superiority to her sister, Manny’s adult wisdom (he and Claire sharing coffee; his trying to tell lawyer boy details on the sly), even Phil the dad trying too hard to be cool while still managing to hit the mark once in a while.

I can only see it getting better from here.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\
**Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-family-spoilers/511080/53 "2010-02-05T14:07:59Z")

</div>

“Don’t tell me that was your first moon landing.”

“You’ve got a name for it?”

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![PoorYorick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecccb3/32.png) [@PoorYorick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PoorYorick)\
**Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-family-spoilers/511080/54 "2010-02-05T14:51:38Z")

</div>

I love the show, but I have a bit of a problem with the father (the one who wore the mustache). He reminds me a bit of Steve Carell in _The Office_ in that his cluelessness is almost too excruciating to watch sometimes. Last night, though, gold. What was the line?

“I was just conducting some business. Very successfully, I might add.”

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\
**Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-family-spoilers/511080/55 "2010-02-05T14:55:18Z")

</div>

> [@PoorYorick](#):
>
> I love the show, but I have a bit of a problem with the father (the one who wore the mustache). He reminds me a bit of Steve Carell in _The Office_ in that his cluelessness is almost too excruciating to watch sometimes. Last night, though, gold. What was the line?
> 
> “I was just conducting some business. Very successfully, I might add.”

Yeah, he’s often just a Michael Scott clone. There have been two episodes that reversed roles between him and Claire though - the anniversary gift episode and the programmable remote control episode. Those have mostly made up for it. Plus the second had Claire walking around in her underwear, which makes up for just about anything.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![tr0psn4j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@tr0psn4j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tr0psn4j)\
**Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-family-spoilers/511080/56 "2010-02-05T16:17:00Z")

</div>

> [@Uncle\_Brother\_Walker](#):
>
> I love this show.
> 
> That means it will be cancelled after this year. ☹
> 
> I like all the characters. I totally dig Alex’s superiority to her sister, Manny’s adult wisdom (he and Claire sharing coffee; his trying to tell lawyer boy details on the sly), even Phil the dad trying too hard to be cool while still managing to hit the mark once in a while.
> 
> I can only see it getting better from here.

Manny is a hilarious little kid. 🙂

Although, his behaviors are a little scary at times.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\
**Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-family-spoilers/511080/57 "2010-02-05T16:32:53Z")

</div>

> [@muldoonthief](#):
>
> “Don’t tell me that was your first moon landing.”
> 
> “You’ve got a name for it?”

“If it happens when you’ve just gotten out of the shower, it’s a ‘splashdown’.”

Love this show; we’ve been catching the reruns in the last month or so.

Phil rattles off five things he’s love to get as gifts, then “oh- yogurt maker!”

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\
**Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-family-spoilers/511080/58 "2010-02-05T18:36:13Z")

</div>

I guess once “Parks and Recriations” hit the scene, the mockumentary format was up for grabs, (not that it wouldn’t be if it wasn’t the case, but has nothing to do with Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, ‘The Office’ creators). Part of me feels that it’s format resembles ‘The Office’ too much… But the show’s good, and I love Ed O’Neil.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Rucksinator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/898d66/32.png) [@Rucksinator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rucksinator)\
**Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-family-spoilers/511080/59 "2010-02-05T20:12:20Z")

</div>

> [@MyFootsZZZ](#):
>
> I guess once “Parks and Recriations” hit the scene, the mockumentary format was up for grabs, (not that it wouldn’t be if it wasn’t the case, but has nothing to do with Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, ‘The Office’ creators). Part of me feels that it’s format resembles ‘The Office’ too much… But the show’s good, and I love Ed O’Neil.

[hijack] You know, I’ve been wondering if Ricky Gervais is to credit for the “mocumentary” format that seems so pervasive now. Obviously, what they’re doing now is much more subtle than the (British) Office was, but did it all start there? [/hijack]

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\
**Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-family-spoilers/511080/60 "2010-02-05T21:02:59Z")

</div>

> [@Rucksinator](#):
>
> [hijack] You know, I’ve been wondering if Ricky Gervais is to credit for the “mocumentary” format that seems so pervasive now. Obviously, what they’re doing now is much more subtle than the (British) Office was, but did it all start there? [/hijack]

I wondered that after posting…  
I can only THINK of episodes of TV shows, that may were fake documentary’s.

Nothing off the top of my head comes close to ‘The Office’. It’s just that they didn’t bother doing anything to distinguish it’s style, that’s all.

I know the stories are different, but it seems like it could be the same crew that follows around the people in an The Office. I guess I’m more forgiving of Parks’ due to it’s writer’s origins with the American version of ‘The Office’. That doesn’t keep me from watching because I know it’s silly. It would be difficult to find ways to make it different.

[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-family-spoilers/511080.md?page=2)

[Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-family-spoilers/511080.md?page=4)
