We hope you’re hip to the Modern Family experience, because if you aren’t — well, what the heck are you waiting for? This freshman sitcom was by no means wet behind the ears when it comes to writing or acting. The jokes are smart and come in rapid succession, and each member of the cast brings something to the table, no matter their age or years of experience.
And the proof is in the pudding, as Emmy voters made their voices heard, rewarding the show with 14 nominations, including nods for Outstanding Comedy Series, Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series and five nominations for its regular cast members. And it’s the cast that really makes the show, so in honor of the show that this writer thinks is the best comedy since Arrested Development, here are Tonic’s 10 reasons to love Modern Family — the characters.
1. Jay Pritchett — Ed O’Neill plays the show’s father figure and is the reason I started watching the show in the first place, because Al Bundy had returned to his glorious comedic roots. How O’Neill managed to be the only regular adult cast member not nominated for an Emmy is beyond me, but there’s always next year.
2. Claire Dunphy — After displaying her comedic chops on Ed, Julie Bowen‘s Claire is the very picture of partly managed frustration in having to deal with four children — her three actual children and her husband, Phil.
3. Phil Dunphy — Phil, played masterfully by Ty Burrell, is a lovable goofball who makes you think he has no idea what he’s doing, as a husband or a father. Ninety percent of the time, that’s a safe assumption, and that’s where so much of his humor lies.
4. Mitchell Pritchett — Claire’s brother, Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Ferguson), is the more reserved, uptight half of the show’s gay couple, but that doesn’t mean he’s any less funny than his more free-spirited boyfriend, Cameron. In fact, it just means that, for example, when he’s running away from a pigeon who happened to get into the couple’s house, it’s that much more entertaining.
5. Cameron Tucker — It’s tough to choose between Cameron (Eric Stonestreet) and Phil as the best character on the show, so I’ll just go out on a limb and say both are. As Mitchell’s long-time boyfriend says about himself, “I’m sort of like Costco. I’m big, I’m not fancy and I dare you not to like me.” ‘Nuff said.
6. Gloria Delgado-Pritchett — Jay’s much younger wife (played by Sofia Vergara) is all about passion, something she’s passed along to her son, Manny. In addition, if it’s on her mind, she’ll say it — or do it, as Phil found out during the “Kiss Cam” at a Los Angeles Lakers game.
7. Luke Dunphy — It’s possible Nolan Gould‘s Luke could’ve suffered a head injury when he was younger, or maybe he’s just spent too much time with his dad, but whatever the case may be, he brings the laughs when given the opportunity.
8. Haley Dunphy — Haley (Sarah Hyland) shares her brother Luke’s dim gene, but she’s had a few more years to cultivate it, and then coupled it with a nice dose of confused teen angst.
9. Alex Dunphy — Ariel Winter’s Alex, the Dunphy sibling who at times seems smarter than the other two combined, uses that intellect to her advantage, either by torturing her brother and sister or doing her best to get them into trouble.
10. Manny Delgado — Manny (Rico Rodriguez) is comically mature for a pre-teen, whether it be drinking coffee or dispensing relationship advice, as well as a rather frustrated Casanova who gets his passion from his mother, Gloria. And, much like the show itself, it all works.
Photos via ABC MediaNet.