It was the Pritchett family, and their antics on “Modern Family,” which ran for 11 seasons from 2009 to 2020, that redefined the sitcom family dynamic. Jay Pritchett was there, along with his new bride Gloria and their stepson Manny. Both Claire and Mitchell, when they reached adulthood, started families with their respective partners, Phil Dunphy and Cameron Tucker. Collectively, the three families exemplified a modern take on the concept of the American nuclear family.
The first season of “Modern Family” was an instant success in the ratings and with critics. The show was lauded for its nuanced treatment of a wide range of issues that affect modern families, including those with nuclear members, those with multiple partners, and those who identify as same-sex. The show’s creators, Christopher Lloyd and Steven Levitan opted for a mockumentary style that deftly combines heartfelt moments with comedic ones. In this article, we will discuss shows like modern family.
Malcolm In The Middle
From 2000-2006, “Malcolm in the Middle” practically developed the model for comedies about dysfunctional American families with its first-person narrative, quirky and fundamentally flawed main characters, and lack of a laugh track. Exploring the transition of sitcoms from the ’90s to the ’00s, “WandaVision” naturally chose to pay homage to “Malcolm in the Middle” and “Modern Family” in back-to-back episodes. A shows like modern family.
Arrested Development
“Arrested Development” has achieved a level of cult fame that very few comedies have. In the first episode, the patriarch of the Bluth family, a real estate magnate, is caught on corruption charges and sent to prison, throwing the entire family into turmoil. Michael Bluth (Jason Bateman), the family’s most reasonable member (which isn’t saying much), must now attempt to restore the Bluths’ financial stability. Michael’s efforts are hampered by his family’s unwillingness to curb their lavish spending and by his own difficulties in coping with his father’s incarceration and his son’s upbringing in such trying conditions. A shows like modern family.
The Goldbergs
Although many comedies, such as “Modern Family,” focus on the present, others follow in “The Wonder Years'” footsteps by focusing on the past. This includes Adam F. Goldberg, Seth Gordon, and Doug Robinson’s “The Goldbergs,” which debuted in 2013. In the program, Goldberg plays a younger version of himself, which is based on his own childhood memories and family life in the 1980s.
Murray Goldberg (Jeff Garlin), Beverly Goldberg (Wendi McLendon-Covey), their children Erica (Hayley Orrantia), Barry (Troy Gentile), and Adam Goldberg (Adam Goldberg), and their extended family live in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania in an alternative 1980s (Sean Giambrone). Adam, the youngest child, uses the family’s trusty video camera to record the family’s trials and tribulations while grandfather Albert “Pops” Solomon (George Segal) drops by to offer advice from time to time. A shows like modern family.
Schitt’s Creek
Produced and starring the father-and-son team of Eugene and Dan Levy, “Schitt’s Creek” begins with the once-wealthy Rose family in shambles. The Rose family loses everything when their business manager tries to steal money from the company, and they are forced to move to Schitt’s Creek, a small town they joked about buying because of its name. Members of the Rose family, who have recently moved into a motel, must adjust to their unprecedented lack of financial resources. The first two seasons of “Schitt’s Creek” saw low ratings, but the show’s popularity skyrocketed after it was purchased by Netflix and premiered with a third season that featured a more active social media presence. A shows like modern family.
The Office
While “The Office” and “Modern Family” aren’t the first comedies to use the “mockumentary” style, they are certainly the most well-known. Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant’s first series ran on the BBC from 2001 to 2003. Greg Daniels adapted it for American television in 2005; the ensuing nine seasons aired over seven years, making stars of its performers, especially Steve Carell and John Krasinski. A shows like modern family.
Frasier
Christopher Lloyd’s career as a head writer and showrunner for “Frasier” gave him invaluable experience before he teamed up with Steven Levitan to create “Modern Family,” another sitcom revolving around humorous misunderstandings between family members that are resolved, often touchingly, by the end of the episode. From the creators of “Cheers,” “Frasier” follows Dr. Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer) as he returns to his hometown of Seattle to start a new life as the host of a radio advice show. Frasier wants to mend fences with his ex-cop dad Martin (John Mahoney) and his younger brother Niles (David Hyde Pierce), who is also a psychiatrist. A shows like modern family.
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
The show’s main characters face really sad or unpleasant events with fortitude and optimism, which provides much of the show’s heart and humor. The Netflix sleeper smash “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” produced by Tina Fey and airing for four seasons from 2015 to 2019, features a similar brand of comedy, and an interactive special based on the show will premiere on May 12, 2020. Kimmy (Ellie Kemper) is the main character and a survivor of a doomsday cult that kept her hidden in a bunker for most of her life. Kimmy, now free, is desperate to prove that she is more than a victim, so she goes to New York to start again, away from any associations with the cult. A shows like modern family.
The Good Place
Today’s comedies are distinct from their predecessors in several ways, one of which is their willingness to tackle serious topics in a lighthearted manner. The show “Modern Family” frequently dealt with the heavy subject matter, including homophobia, adoption, and the loss of a loved one. From 2016-2020, “The Good Place” carried on this legacy by investigating the origins of evil and asking what it means to be a good human being.
Although Eleanor Shellstrop (Kristen Bell) never made an effort to be a decent person in life, she is unexpectedly transported to a paradisiacal afterlife known as “The Good Place” upon her death. In order for Eleanor to continue living in paradise, her friends must assist her in truly bettering herself. However, as the show unfolds, Eleanor learns that the path to “goodness” is considerably more convoluted than she had first thought. A shows like modern family.
For more articles like this stay tuned with newsconduct.com
