Modern Family: ‘Open House of Horrors’

Last week I had begun to write a review for the new episode of Modern Family, but after the episode was over I realized I had almost nothing positive to say about it and instead decided to skip over the episode instead of criticizing all of its faults. But given that this is the second straight atrocity, and that ‘Open House of Horrors’ is a Halloween episode, usually one the easier and most fun episodes for a sitcom to make in a season, I have to point out the major fallacies.

Although there might have been a salvageable story here if they had gotten some of bugs out, there were three moments that were too cringe inducing for me to get on board with anything else that happened as the episode progressed.

1. The very first joke of the episode, Luke mistakes the giant Halloween decorations  in their front lawn for real lollipops and asks: “Why do they taste like cardboard?” Now I understand that this is a television show and it’s often times humorous to have a character who isn’t all-together there, but this joke crosses the line from oblivious to someone who may have a medical problem. Absolutely no one in their right mind over the age of 5 would make that mistake and it’s simply cheap and lazy writing on the part of the writers.
2. This one also happens in the very beginning of the episode as this has to be the 20^th time the cold open ends with Phil saying something slightly offensive to or about Claire and she gives her “classic” dismissive look at the camera as they roll into the credits. While Phil’s general misunderstanding of what comes out of his mouth is still funny at times, this format has become so formulaic that when it’s presented in this manner we all know that it’s coming and without the surprise it just lacks humor.
3. Speaking of things we've seen way too many times, Gloria gets to be “all Colombian” all over the place in this one. Why can’t the show just let Sofia Vergara be funny with clever jokes and scenes? Why do we have to see her time and time again mispronounce words and get mad at people for not understanding her? Why do we have to see her constantly get upset from being an immigrant and joking about her culture? The writers seem dead-set on keeping this character exactly the same from now until the end of time which is shame because I know there is more there for her.

I’d say that maybe Modern Family has just told all the stories it can tell, similar to The Office, and it’s just time to hang it up. But they haven’t told that many stories, they just keep using the same ones over and over again. On the plus side that means there’s still plenty of potential going forward for a show I once really liked, but with the constant Emmys and good ratings it’s hard to blame the writers much for not trying to fix something that is broken.

What does everyone else think? Am I just being too harsh? Comments are always welcome.

Modern Family: "Schooled" and "Snip"

“Schooled”

Haley goes off to college, Mitch and Cam argue with lesbian mothers, and Jay and Gloria make excuses for their irresponsible parenting skills which I guess we’re all supposed to be okay with?

Going off to college was good moments between the kids and it hit that humor/heart spot we haven’t seen much on Modern Family since the first season.

Phil’s-osophy was a really great gag. If the show makes the book available for sale there’s a good chance I’ll give it a look.

I feel like the writers missed an opportunity with Cam’s name rhyming with rival lesbian Mom Pam, especially after Cam established in the beginning of the episode that he got ridiculed when he was younger for his name rhyming with ham.

“Sing until your lungs hurt. Dance until your feet hurt. Act until you’re William Hurt.” Well said Phil. Well said.

“Snip”

Phil and Claire realize they aren’t ready to close out the children chapters of their lives, Cam realizes it’s time to get back to work, and Gloria comes to the same realization she did literally 30 minutes ago in the last episode.

I guess Skyping in the kitchen is a decent way of keeping Sarah Hyland in the show while she’s off at college, but I do hope we see her pair off with the occasional relative for an adventure on campus. And the Skype convo did give Haley a chance to ask Alex: “don’t you have a raven to train?”

The old debate of whether or not the parents want to know the sex of the baby never gets old. Oh wait, it got old about three weeks after ultrasounds were invented? That makes so much more sense.

All in all I’d say these were two of the better Modern Family’s of the last two years and at least lend some credence to why this show wins Emmy after Emmy. That being said some of storylines tonight were pretty weak and, as they often do, sold out the character for the sake of the joke. But this is certainly a step in the right direction.

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

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.