We all remember growing up to Growing Pains and Family Ties, but so much has changed since the '80s and '90s. We were in need of a family sitcom that portrays life as we know it today. The new ABC series Modern Family does just that.
The mockumentary comedy (shot in a single-camera, Office style) explores the day-to-day stories of a same-sex couple, Mitchell and Cameron (Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Eric Stonestreet); a couple with three kids, Phil and Claire (Ty Burrell and Julie Bowen); and a multi-ethnic and generational-gap couple who are in both their second marriage, Jay and Gloria, played by Ed O'Neill (Married...With Children) and Sofia Vergara (Entourage).
How are they all connected? Rough, gruff Jay is father to sensitive Mitchell and multi-tasking mom Claire.
ABC picked up the show for a full season, so it's time to get to know the couples and the life and love lessons we can learn from them.
Lesson One: Trust your partner, even in sticky situations. He/she has your best interest at heart—no matter what.
Sensitive Mitchell and oft-dramatic Cameron complement each other perfectly. In one episode, Mitchell is scared stiff in anticipation of his family's response to adopting
a baby girl (the same-sex relationship thing doesn't go over too well with Mitchell's traditional father), Cameron plans a get-together (unbeknownst to Mitchell), at which he presents the baby with arms stretched out above him to the Lion King song, "Circle of Life." (Did we mention he's dramatic?)
Point being, Cameron knew they needed to introduce their new family member and took the initiative to do so. Unsurprisingly, the families come together over the new addition. Problem solved.
Lesson Two: Be yourself. No matter whom you're trying to impress.
Traditional couple Phil and Claire try hard to stay connected to their kids. Phil is especially over-the-top as he tries desperately to talk in teenage lingo to his daughter's BF: "I surf the web, send texts, use LOL... I'm a cool dad. I know all the dances to High School Musical."
Instead of trying to be the cool or perfect parent, be yourself. Your kids will be less embarrassed and confused by your odd behavior, and your spouse will appreciate you more for it. Don't forget, they fell in love with the real you in the first place.
Lesson Three: Support your loved ones, even when it's a challenge.
Middle-aged Jay has a much younger, sexy wife, Gloria, from a small village in Colombia famous for "the murders." Her 11-year-old son, Manny, is a (slightly chunky) born-romantic in love with a 16-year-old girl he writes poetry for. Jay is thoroughly against this putting your-heart-on-your-sleeve mentality, and even offers Manny $50 not to go through with the delivery of his love poems, but Gloria reminds him about the importance of supporting your family no matter what.
Even though Jay isn't in favor of Manny's romantic gesture, in the end, he supports his decision. How does it go over? You won't be shocked to find out that he's denied by his older crush. Good thing he has his parents to lean on for support.
Each of these wildly differing couples brings something to the table, creating a rich, dynamic, supportive environment. Not only are they related, but as Manny says in the song he writes about them, love is what binds them.
