TV Report Card

If there’s one show this season that everyone—from critics to viewers—seems to be cheering about it is ABC’s hilariously heartfelt Modern Family, created by Christopher Lloyd and Steve Levitan. Revolving around an extended family, the comedy series manages to tap into our collective experiences of familial strife and support and its pitch-perfect writing is complemented by the superb talents of its actors, who bring to life portraits of traditional nuclear families, May-December matches, and same-sex commitment with skill and flair. It’s the rare show that makes you roar with laughter and brush away tears, all in the course of 20-odd minutes. Modern Family manages to do that and bring in the viewers as well. Roughly 9 million viewers tune in each week, making it the most successful entry in ABC’s risky comedy lineup and resurrecting the family comedy from mediocrity in the process.