Best New Show on TV – Modern Family

With all the reality shows out these days, it seems like we’re winding down the selection to pretty slim pickin’s on scripted sitcoms that are any good. The Office is one of the few. I happened to check out Modern Family on ABC a few weeks back, and from the premise I didn’t think I’d like it – but it turned out to be one of the best in years and I see it being a keeper.

The premise – and the reason I didn’t think I’d like it – is a set of 3 families dealing with the modern day troubles of the issues caused by broken families. It seemed too stereotypical – the old guy who has a 30 year old wife, and that wife is technically the mother of his 40 year old daughter. The dad who is just one of the kids who tries too hard, and the gay couple whose dad isn’t too approving. Thought only about 40 minutes of laughs could be squeezed from that premise (if any) and then just rehashing the same awkward jokes over and over.

I was completely wrong, and the show has actually gotten better with each episode. Definitely check it out. I’m not even sure when it comes on, but I know that it’s on Hulu whenever The former Al Bundy is classic, and the show has a lot of heart. Besides all the laughs, each episode deals a lot with the issues families have with acceptance, but not so much for their specific character issues, but more applied to general issues everyone can relate to – whether your family is intact or not. So far as good as the Office in my mind – which is saying a lot.It has some tints of that and Arrested Development, but less edgy with much more plot.

four out of five stars.