All in the (Modern) Family.

Hello everybody, this is my first ever blog so, please, bear with me. Eensy wit of info about me before I start to spout my opinions: I'm 20 (almost), a girl (in case you couldn't tell), I'm from Massillon, Ohio, but I currently live and go to school in New York City (yes, be jealous). I, in fact, go to acting school at The New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts-so I'm going to bring an interesting perspective to entertainment-not just that of the fan, but also that of a person who is attempting to be on the inside of it.

Now that I'm done boring you with information about me, that I'm sure you don't care about, I'm going to discuss a lovely, new abc sitcom: Modern Family (10/10--you heard me 10!).

Modern Family is a sort of mockumentary style take on a story following three families-but here's the twist-they are all one family as well! I know, it's amazing. An interesting thing I've applied to watching sitcoms now, I learned from a fantastic book called The Eight Characters of Comedy, by Scott Sedita. It's really a book for actors and writers-but if you enjoy sitcoms, it's a really fun and fascinating read. Pretty much the book says that there are 8 characters that pop up in every sitcom-I won't go into it, if you'd like to know more, read the book. My point is, now I am unable to watch sitcoms without automatically thinking which character (or characters) they are. There's "The Logical Smart One", "The Lovable Loser", "The Neurotic", "The Dumb One", "The Bitch/Bastard", "The Womanizer/Manizer", "The Materialistic One", and "In Their Own Universe."

Anyway, so Modern Family's characters are, obviously, the core of the show. There is the patriarch of the family, Jay Pritchett (played hilariously by Ed O'Neill)-he is The Bastard, he is surly and manly and manages to always rub people the wrong way...except for his new, young wife Gloria-he generally tries to rub her the right way (yes...it's a lame innuendo...accept it). Gloria Delgado-Pritchett (the beautiful Sofia Vergada) is Jay's wife of 6 months, a Colombian woman who is much younger than Jay and plays simultaneously The Logical Smart One-always trying to make him see the light and bring everyone together as a family, and even more so In Her Own Universe-coming from Columbia seems to make her...different. Gloria has a preteen son from her first marriage, Manny (portrayed by a precocious Rico Rodriguez II) who is a very special kid-he manages to also be The Logical Smart One (giving his "stepsister" Claire advice about her kids, and spouting wisdom and acceptance beyond his years), and, like his mother, is even more In His Own Universe with his Colombian enthusiasm, such as drinking coffee.

Then there is the more "normal" sect of the family-the Dunphys. Claire Dunphy (played with a wonderful dean pan humor by Julie Bowen) is Jay's daughter-she is the pure Logical Smart One. She attempts to impose order and normalcy, while surrounded by her insane family-especially her child-like, "hip-ster" husband Phil (Ty Burrell). Phil is a Lovable Loser, and a bit of a Dumb One. He is hilarious-he constantly thinks he is better than he is, that he is "cool", he tries so hard and fails so miserably it's impossible not to love him-however it is possible to question his parenting skills at times, but his heart is always in the right place. They have three children: The Manizer (and due to her typical teen-ness probably The Materialistic One) teenaged Haley (Sarah Hyland), The Neurotic (a.k.a. nerdy) younger teenage daughter, Alex (Ariel Winter), and...well....The Dumb One (and perhaps In His Own Universe) Luke (Nolan Gould)-who pretty much makes his humor by doing things like jumping on the trampoline naked.

Finally there is the super "alternative" (but adorable and finally represented and at least somewhat accepted) Pritchett and Tucker family. Mitchell Pritchett (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) is Jay's son, he is The Neurotic One, a snob, a worrier, and...gay. He is beautifully paired with Cameron Tucker (the fantastically funny Eric Stonestreet) who is In His Own (gay) Universe, and the two constantly bicker and challenge each other-and complement the other, especially with the arrival of their newly adopted baby Lily, from Vietnam. There are so many funny moments, plot lines, and character nuances that I look forward to laughing at it for many seasons to come.

Here's a teaser...there is a moment where Cameron brings out baby Lily to be presented to the entire family....to the soundtrack of The Lion King...just...run to hulu right this second and watch it. DO IT!