.Modern Family is an American mockumentary comedy TV series.^ Eric Goldman August 25, 2009 - One of the fall's best new comedies, ABC's Modern Family uses the mockumentary format to follow the lives of three different family structures.

• IGN: Sofia Vergara Introduces Modern Family 22 September 2009 23:28 UTC tv.ign.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

^ (UPI) -- U.S. actor Edward Norton has signed up to guest star in an upcoming episode of the new TV comedy series "Modern Family," ABC said.

• Norton set for 'Modern Family' stint: PHOTO 22 September 2009 23:28 UTC celebrifi.com [Source type: General]

^ Sofia Vergara Joins An American Family New comedy one of several new ABC pilots.

• IGN: Sofia Vergara Introduces Modern Family 22 September 2009 23:28 UTC tv.ign.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

.The half-hour series, which was created by Christopher Lloyd and Steven Levitan, is produced by Fox Television Studios.^ Hollywood Reporter ) Clint Black will executive produce anthology series American Storytellers from ITV Studios, which transforms country music songs into one-hour drama installments.

• Televisionary: Channel Surfing: Elizabeth Banks Joins "Modern Family," Shawn Ryan to "Ridealong" with FOX, Tina Fey Talks Emmys and "30 Rock," and More 22 September 2009 23:28 UTC www.televisionaryblog.com [Source type: General]

^ Actually, it wasn't so much that anyone let the information accidentally slip, explained executive producer Steven Levitan ("Just Shoot Me" and "Back to You").

• TCA press tour: The secret of 'Modern Family' | Show Tracker | Los Angeles Times 22 September 2009 23:28 UTC latimesblogs.latimes.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

^ "Sal is their old running buddy," executive producer Steven Levitan told Keck.

• Televisionary: Channel Surfing: Elizabeth Banks Joins "Modern Family," Shawn Ryan to "Ridealong" with FOX, Tina Fey Talks Emmys and "30 Rock," and More 22 September 2009 23:28 UTC www.televisionaryblog.com [Source type: General]

.The mockumentary follows the families of Jay Pritchett (Ed O'Neill) his daughter Claire Dunphy (Julie Bowen), and his son Mitchell Pritchett (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) who live in Los Angeles.^ In recent years, Ferguson has worked steadily on series televison, and this fall, he's part of the new ABC sitcom Modern Family , alongside Ed O'Neill, Julie Bowen, Ty Burrell, Eric Stonestreet, and Sofia Vergara.

• Jesse Tyler Ferguson: Modern Family Man: The Broadway star and television veteran hopes his new ABC sitcom proves the third time's the charm.Feature on TheaterMania.com - 08/25/2009 22 September 2009 23:28 UTC www.theatermania.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

^ Eric Goldman August 25, 2009 - One of the fall's best new comedies, ABC's Modern Family uses the mockumentary format to follow the lives of three different family structures.

• IGN: Sofia Vergara Introduces Modern Family 22 September 2009 23:28 UTC tv.ign.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

^ The story's central character is Fatima Abdullah, an 85-year-old Lebanese immigrant who raised 10 children in Detroit before she left her stoic husband to live with her gay actor grandson in Los Angeles.

• 1,001 nights with modern family twist | StarTribune.com 22 September 2009 23:28 UTC www.startribune.com [Source type: General]
• 1,001 nights with modern family twist | StarTribune.com 22 September 2009 23:28 UTC www.startribune.com [Source type: General]

.Claire is a homemaker mom in a traditional family, married to Phil Dunphy (Ty Burrell); they have three children.^ One is a traditional family with a working dad, homemaker mom, and their two kids; one is a gay couple who have just adopted an Asian baby; and the third is an older man married to a much younger Latina woman.

• Free iTunes Downloads: [video] Modern Family - Behind the Scenes 22 September 2009 23:28 UTC freeitunessongs.blogspot.com [Source type: General]

^ In the November episode, Norton will play the bassist of a famous band whom Claire (Julie Bowen) hires as an anniversary surprise for husband Phil (Ty Burrell).

• Norton set for 'Modern Family' stint: PHOTO 22 September 2009 23:28 UTC celebrifi.com [Source type: General]

^ Claire is having trouble with her own family, especially with her husband Phil, who thinks he can be hip with his three kids.

• Modern Family at TV.com 22 September 2009 23:28 UTC www.tv.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

.Jay is married to a much younger woman, Gloria (Sofía Vergara), and is raising a pre-teen stepson.^ Jay has just recently married his younger, Colombian wife, Gloria, but he's having trouble keeping up with her and her son Manny.

• Modern Family at TV.com 22 September 2009 23:28 UTC www.tv.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

^ One is a traditional family with a working dad, homemaker mom, and their two kids; one is a gay couple who have just adopted an Asian baby; and the third is an older man married to a much younger Latina woman.

• Free iTunes Downloads: [video] Modern Family - Behind the Scenes 22 September 2009 23:28 UTC freeitunessongs.blogspot.com [Source type: General]

^ This winning series follows the lives of three diverse families: there's Jay (Ed O'Neill), an older man who has taken a younger bride in Gloria (Sofía Vergara) and become a reluctant father to her idealistically romantic young son Manny (Rico Rodriguez).

• Televisionary: Pilot Inspektor: An Advance Review of ABC's "Modern Family" 22 September 2009 23:28 UTC www.televisionaryblog.com [Source type: General]

.Mitchell and Cameron (Eric Stonestreet) are a gay couple who have adopted a Vietnamese baby, Lily.^ TV Guide Magazine 's William Keck is reporting that Banks will play Sal, a close friend of gay couple Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) and Cameron (Eric Stonestreet), in an October episode and that she came to the project via her real-life friendship with Ferguson.

• Televisionary: Channel Surfing: Elizabeth Banks Joins "Modern Family," Shawn Ryan to "Ridealong" with FOX, Tina Fey Talks Emmys and "30 Rock," and More 22 September 2009 23:28 UTC www.televisionaryblog.com [Source type: General]

^ Ferguson's character, Mitchell, and his partner, Cameron (talented newcomer Eric Stonestreet ), just adopted a baby girl from China, and Bowen's Claire has a traditional family: one silly husband and two rebellious teenage kids.

• Fall TV Preview 2009: Modern Family - E! Online 22 September 2009 23:28 UTC images.eonline.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

^ Elizabeth, who previously had a recurring role on Scrubs , will be playing Sal, a character described by executive producer Christopher Lloyd as "the fag hag" friend of gay couple Mitchell and Cameron.

• Norton set for 'Modern Family' stint: PHOTO 22 September 2009 23:28 UTC celebrifi.com [Source type: General]

The show premiered on ABC on September 23, 2009 to critical acclaim.^[1]

On January 12, 2010, Modern Family was renewed for a second season by ABC.^[2]

.The show revolves around three families that are interrelated through Jay Pritchett and his children, Claire Dunphy and Mitchell Pritchett.^ Family follows three sections of a semi-dysfunctional, but loving family just trying to get through life.

• Norton set for 'Modern Family' stint: PHOTO 22 September 2009 23:28 UTC celebrifi.com [Source type: General]

The families meet for family functions, around the neighborhood, and cross-family bonding.

.Some episodes begin with members of the family being asked a specific question, which forms the wraparound for the entire episode.^ Some scholars are beginning to investigate ageing and dying in families already visited by divorce.

• Death and the modern family is grief's new frontier - Opinion - smh.com.au 22 September 2009 23:28 UTC www.smh.com.au [Source type: News]

.The show then follows the antics, adventures, and mishaps of the three families as they deal with events of a particular day.^ Family follows three sections of a semi-dysfunctional, but loving family just trying to get through life.

• Norton set for 'Modern Family' stint: PHOTO 22 September 2009 23:28 UTC celebrifi.com [Source type: General]

.Episodes may focus on the role of a father, how the children in each family are doing, etc.^ 'FAMILY TALK' SHOWS HOW PARENTS USE LANGUAGE TO BALANCE CONFLICTING ROLES AT HOME AND AT WORK < html > < pdf > 6.

• newsletter 22 September 2009 23:28 UTC www.marial.emory.edu [Source type: Academic]

^ Storytelling May Be Key to Resilient Children, Healthy Working Families 3.

• newsletter 22 September 2009 23:28 UTC www.marial.emory.edu [Source type: Academic]

.Episodes typically close out with a voice-over, where one of the members of the extended family provides their opinions as an answer.^ Shared grief offers comfort and can draw remaining members of the family into a new kind of closeness.

• Death and the modern family is grief's new frontier - Opinion - smh.com.au 22 September 2009 23:28 UTC www.smh.com.au [Source type: News]

^ Edward Norton Brings Out His Musical Side on Modern Family Fight Club star Edward Norton is set to guest in a November episode of Modern Family , TVGuide.com has confirmed.

• Norton set for 'Modern Family' stint: PHOTO 22 September 2009 23:28 UTC celebrifi.com [Source type: General]

.Other episodes do not have a wraparound but may follow an event that links all three families, such as the Ohio State-Illinois game in "Coal Digger" or Luke's birthday party.^ So here it is -- all three of the families are related.

• Talkin' TV: ABC Reveals Modern Family Secret 22 September 2009 23:28 UTC blogs.buffalonews.com [Source type: General]

^ Family follows three sections of a semi-dysfunctional, but loving family just trying to get through life.

• Norton set for 'Modern Family' stint: PHOTO 22 September 2009 23:28 UTC celebrifi.com [Source type: General]

.The series quickly became a priority for ABC after the pilot episode tested high with focus groups, resulting in the network ordering 13 episodes and adding it to the 2009–2010 fall lineup days ahead of ABC's official schedule announcement.^ (UPI) -- U.S. actor Edward Norton has signed up to guest star in an upcoming episode of the new TV comedy series "Modern Family," ABC said.

• Norton set for 'Modern Family' stint: PHOTO 22 September 2009 23:28 UTC celebrifi.com [Source type: General]

^ But he added that ABC changed its mind about keeping the secret after it did audience testing.   .

• Talkin' TV: ABC Reveals Modern Family Secret 22 September 2009 23:28 UTC blogs.buffalonews.com [Source type: General]

^ Ryan, who said that the project won't be as gritty as The Shield , indicated that the series will focus on episodic cases "but something will happen in the pilot that will have overarching (ramifications) that we deal with over time.

• Televisionary: Channel Surfing: Elizabeth Banks Joins "Modern Family," Shawn Ryan to "Ridealong" with FOX, Tina Fey Talks Emmys and "30 Rock," and More 22 September 2009 23:28 UTC www.televisionaryblog.com [Source type: General]

^[3][4][5] The series was given a full season pickup on October 8, 2009.^[6][7]

.On January 12, 2010, ABC Entertainment President Stephen McPherson announced that Modern Family had been renewed for a second season.^ (UPI) -- U.S. actor Edward Norton has signed up to guest star in an upcoming episode of the new TV comedy series "Modern Family," ABC said.

• Norton set for 'Modern Family' stint: PHOTO 22 September 2009 23:28 UTC celebrifi.com [Source type: General]

^ Hollywood Reporter ) ABC Entertainment President Steve McPherson confirmed that comedies The Goode Family and Surviving Suburbia have been canceled and won't be returning to the schedule.

• Televisionary: Channel Surfing: Elizabeth Banks Joins "Modern Family," Shawn Ryan to "Ridealong" with FOX, Tina Fey Talks Emmys and "30 Rock," and More 22 September 2009 23:28 UTC www.televisionaryblog.com [Source type: General]

^ Edward Norton visits ABC's 'Modern Family' Edward Norton will guest star as a musician on an upcoming episode of ABCs new comedy Modern Family.

• Norton set for 'Modern Family' stint: PHOTO 22 September 2009 23:28 UTC celebrifi.com [Source type: General]

^[8]

Former Cheers comedian Shelley Long appeared in episode 4, "The Incident", as Jay's ex-wife. .Edward Norton and Elizabeth Banks appeared on the November 18, 2009, episode, "Great Expectations".^[9] Norton played Izzy LaFontaine, the fictional bassist of Spandau Ballet, whom Claire believed to be Phil's favorite band; Banks portrayed Sal, Mitchell and Cameron's old friend and reputed party girl, who they meet for a night on the town.^ In the November episode, Norton will play the bassist of a famous band whom Claire (Julie Bowen) hires as an anniversary surprise for husband Phil (Ty Burrell).

• Norton set for 'Modern Family' stint: PHOTO 22 September 2009 23:28 UTC celebrifi.com [Source type: General]

^ "Mitchell and Cameron decide they need a night out on the town, so they call her up."

• Televisionary: Channel Surfing: Elizabeth Banks Joins "Modern Family," Shawn Ryan to "Ridealong" with FOX, Tina Fey Talks Emmys and "30 Rock," and More 22 September 2009 23:28 UTC www.televisionaryblog.com [Source type: General]

^ TV Guide Magazine 's William Keck is reporting that Banks will play Sal, a close friend of gay couple Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) and Cameron (Eric Stonestreet), in an October episode and that she came to the project via her real-life friendship with Ferguson.

• Televisionary: Channel Surfing: Elizabeth Banks Joins "Modern Family," Shawn Ryan to "Ridealong" with FOX, Tina Fey Talks Emmys and "30 Rock," and More 22 September 2009 23:28 UTC www.televisionaryblog.com [Source type: General]

Fred Willard guest starred as Phil’s (Ty Burrell) father on the December 9, 2009, episode, "Undeck the Halls". Benjamin Bratt appeared as Gloria Delgado-Pritchett's ex-husband in "Up All Night". Comedian Mo Collins guest starred as Denise the nurse, who is the caretaker of Caroline, a little girl Manny defeated in a fencing match, in the episode "En Garde." Chazz Palminteri guest starred as Shorty, a friend of Jay's who may or may not be gay, in the episode "Fifteen Percent". Kristen Schaal guest starred as Whitney, a woman Manny met online and believes he will take out on a date. Minnie Driver appeared as a friend and former co-worker of Claire's in "Moon Landing". David Brenner appeared as himself in "My Funky Valentine".^[10] Judy Greer appeared as an ex-girlfriend of Phil’s.^[11] Justin Kirk appeared as an owner of a clothing line, which Mitchell starts to work at.^[12]

The first season has been met with mostly positive reviews. It received a 'critically acclaimed' Metacritic score of 86 out of 100.^[13] Entertainment Weekly gave it an A-, calling it "...immediately recognizable as the best new sitcom of the fall...".^[14] In Time's review the show was named "the funniest new family comedy of the year."^[15] It has also been compared to the 1970s series Soap, in regards to the multiple family aspect, as well as Arrested Development. .Some have made comparisons to The Office and Parks and Recreation, due to their mockumentary formats.^ Unlike NBC's Parks and Recreation , which doesn't quite know how to use the mockumentary format to its advantage, Levitan and Lloyd employ the usual tricks of the trade: hand-held cameras, talking heads, etc.

• Televisionary: Pilot Inspektor: An Advance Review of ABC's "Modern Family" 22 September 2009 23:28 UTC www.televisionaryblog.com [Source type: General]

^[16]

.Seasonal rankings (based on average total viewers per episode) of Modern Family on ABC.^ Modern Family airs Wednesdays at 9 pm ET/PT this fall on ABC. .

• Televisionary: Pilot Inspektor: An Advance Review of ABC's "Modern Family" 22 September 2009 23:28 UTC www.televisionaryblog.com [Source type: General]

^ The network is offering the sneak peak of "Family" only to members of a special online fan base it's built called ABC Inner Circle .

• ABC Tests 'Twitter Effect' With a TV Series | The Wrap 22 September 2009 23:28 UTC www.thewrap.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

^ Elizabeth Banks ( Scrubs ) has signed on guest star on ABC's upcoming comedy series Modern Family in a potentially recurring role.

• Televisionary: Channel Surfing: Elizabeth Banks Joins "Modern Family," Shawn Ryan to "Ridealong" with FOX, Tina Fey Talks Emmys and "30 Rock," and More 22 September 2009 23:28 UTC www.televisionaryblog.com [Source type: General]

Not to be confused with the BBC Four documentary series of the same name.