Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Reviews: Modern Family and The Neighbors


Modern Family: Bringing Up Baby

Modern Family is kicking off its fourth season and another Emmy win,(*) and the family is going to be getting even bigger when Gloria gives birth to her and Jays’ new baby. Was the 9 month jump at the end a tease for the end of season or we just glossing over a year? I’m guessing the latter based on Dylan moving out at the end but I would loved to see him living with the Dunphy’s for an entire year.

(*) Really Emmy voters? I’m sorry but there is no way Modern Family was the best comedy last year. In fact, after a quick run-through in my head, it wasn’t even in the top ten. Just because you gave them one Emmy, it doesn’t entitle them to the rest of the Emmy’s for the rest of time.

At this point in its run we know what Modern Family is going to give us every week: Phil acting immature, a funny sight gag revealed after the camera pans back to see the whole picture, and the mushy-gushy family moment at the end to tie it all together. It’s a formula that keeps the show very consistent and results in few laughs every week. But, we’re never going to have that great, surprisingly awesome episode of Modern Family and for that reason I don’t understand its’ Emmy justification.

Some other thoughts and funny moments:
  • “Can we name him Larry?”
  • “Sort of a Jon Hamm in-between projects beard.”
  • Does anyone else find it weird that the actor who plays Manny hasn’t grown in four years?
  • The stuffed animal scenes with Mitch and Cam would have been funnier if it made any sense whatsoever why they didn’t just put them in their trunk.
  • I love how Dylan’s cousin is also named Dylan.

The Neighbors


What was that? Is this a pilot for a show that ABC had developed to sandwich in-between former primetime sitcoms Full House and Step by Step? Okay I don’t actually mean that. Those shows had more cleverness to them than whatever the heck this was. I had to actually rewind one scene four times to make sure I correctly heard one of the characters say: “Oh dear. I’m afraid our little dick may have exposed himself again.”

The premise of the show is that a normal suburban family has found the neighbors in their new community to be none other than aliens! What a crazy and hilarious premise!  It’s revealed to our heroes early on that these very strange neighbors are in fact visitors from another planet. And while they’re freaked out at first, they quickly realize that although they may not be the same race, they have the same kind of family problems. Awww.

My “favorite” moments:
  •  “God, please make the neighbors normal” – says the Dad before they move into their new home.
  • All of the aliens have named themselves after famous athletes: Larry Bird, Reggie Jackson, and of course Dick Butkus.
  • “Definitely European” – Dad trying to explain all the weird behavior before finding out they’re aliens.

I have a feeling that actual aliens wouldn’t violate a human they abducted nearly as much as ABC and the creators of The Neighbors just did to the viewing public. I’d try to give suggestions here for show improvements, but it would basically boil down to me creating a completely new show because there was absolutely nothing salvageable here. Can’t wait to see who gets cancelled first between this and Partners over on CBS.

Comments are certainly welcome, whether they are for agreement, disagreement, or indifference.

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