Overview
Modern Family is a classic comedy TV show that few people don’t know about. Christopher Lloyd and Steven Levitan are the names behind this ABC title, and it was on the air between 2009 and 2020 – in other words, for eleven full seasons. Some may not know that the last few episodes were syndicated, because the rights were sold to USA Network in 2013.
In essence, Modern Family is a mockumentary style show which focuses on the lives and happenings of a large family living in the suburbs. It is well known as one of the most popular TV shows over the course of the last decade. Not only has it received high viewership ratings, it has been subject to generous critical acclaim and awards. Essentially, Modern Family has remained one of the most popular shows on TV. Furthermore, it has received a number of awards, including an Emmy for each of its first five seasons.
Premise
Modern Family has as its main character Jay Pritchett, who is part of a varied extended family. Pretty much all types of family are included in this setup – a nuclear, same-sex and step-family. The show follows these three separate but interconnected families by using a mockumentary style format.
While this filming style has been used in a number of motion pictures, Modern Family is one of the first popular TV shows (alongside The Office and Parks and Recreation) to use it. It’s one of the factors that helped to make Modern Family unique and therefore gain high levels of popularity. Other factors which contributed to its success include its extensive cast and approach to tackling modern themes.
Jay Pritchett is married to a younger Colombian immigrant, who is his second wife. He has two sons – one with his current wife, and one from his previous marriage. Jay also has a daughter, who is older. She is a businesswoman and is married with children herself. Meanwhile, Jay’s eldest son is married to another man, and they have their own adopted daughter. These characters are the backbone of Modern Family, and you will follow each type of family as they go about their daily lives and evolve, both individually and as a unit.
Modern Family has received critical acclaim for tackling a modern version of family life. If you look at the family tree for Modern Family, it can be quite complicated. Lots of people are in some way related to Jay, who is generally the center of the show. However, the beauty of Modern Family is that all of these people have their own separate storylines and issues. This intricate web of characters and varied storylines are what makes Modern Family so distinguishable.
Cast and characters
- Jay Pritchett – Ed O’Neill
- Gloria Delgado-Pritchett – Sofia Vergara
- Claire Dunphy – Julie Bowen
- Phil Dunphy – Ty Burrell
- Mitchell Pritchett – Jesse Tyler Ferguson
- Cameron Tucker – Eric Stonestreet
Filming locations
Most of the main filming takes place in Los Angeles, California. This shouldn’t be surprising, as most television shows and movies are shot in the area – regardless of the setting they portray.
The main house in the show is located in Cheviot Hills, CA. Many of the other outside shots (exteriors) are filmed in Westside County, Los Angeles.
Trailer
There are a number of different trailers available to view online, including features and preview trailers for upcoming seasons. On YouTube, the trailer with the most views is currently the main one for the show, which has over 1.5 million views. This trailer is actually a repost, as it was uploaded in 2011 – a full two years after the show first came out. The trailer shows a brief outline of the main family with a light-hearted musical backdrop. Other trailers and vignettes are also available.
Production
The show was created by Steven Levitan and Christopher Lloyd. The duo loosely based the show on stories from their own family lives. After a number of different concepts were suggested, they settled on the premise of three interconnected families, shown in a mockumentary style.
Modern Family was originally intended to be called My American Family before the final name was settled on. The show was pitched to a number of different networks including NBC and ABC. FOX was not included, due to previous issues with the network that the creators had with a show named Back to You.
The original pilot was tested on focus groups and was said to have performed well. The show was originally ordered for 13 episodes and then extended to a full season of 24 episodes after that.
One of the biggest stories to come from the original production of Modern Family was the litigation suit filed by the cast after the first season. Most cast members got paid up to $90,000 per episode for the first season, and after its initial success they attempted to renegotiate this figure. Talks were unsuccessful, which led to a lawsuit. Ed O’Neill joined the suit, despite earning more than most of the rest of the cast. This led to actors being paid more for subsequent seasons.
Episodes and reception
Modern Family ran between 2009 and 2020, with eleven seasons in total. There were 24 episodes in the first six seasons, followed by 22 episodes in seasons 7-10. Finally, the 11th season featured 18 episodes.
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Although Prime Video hasn’t been around for as long as Netflix, this doesn’t mean you should expect a less extensive service. Like its main rival, Amazon has placed a large focus on investing in high quality content, as well as its own original productions. Key examples of popular titles include Transparent, Mr Robot, The Tick, The Man in the High Castle and The Grand Tour. If you want the security of knowing a series won’t be subject to rotation due to licensing, you can be sure that all Amazon Originals – like Netflix Originals – are there to stay. Outside of original content, you can expect to stream classics such as The Walking Dead, Desperate Housewives and Grey’s Anatomy, plus exclusives like Lucifer, Vikings and Preacher. (These titles may come and go, but plenty of other exciting ones are sure to replace them!)
Pros and cons
Pros
- Downloading content for offline viewing. Not all streaming services provide this feature, and so those who want the option of watching their favourite TV shows and movies on the go can use Prime Video to download these titles before leaving the house.
- Convenient all-in-one package. Amazon Prime Video is unique in that it offers customers several other perks besides video. Fast shipping, music, groceries and other such services make for a highly effective lifestyle bundle that’s hard to turn down.
- Free trial. You can decide if this service is for you by partaking in a free trial for a full month. Cancelling it before this period is over means you won’t be charged for Prime Video.
Cons
- Library isn’t as extensive. Of course, the downside with focusing on other areas such as groceries and music – as well as the fact that Amazon wasn’t originally a streaming service; it just branched out to be one – means that you won’t get as many titles as you’d expect from big names such as Disney Plus.
- Few titles receive critical acclaim. While services such as Netflix and Disney Plus will be used to putting out content that is widely talked about and shared by consumers, Amazon Prime Video doesn’t have as much luck in this department.
- Hefty price tag. Some are put off by the yearly fee for Amazon Prime if they want to pay upfront. At $119 a year for US customers, it’s a sum that isn’t parted with lightly, and some may question if it’s worth it if they can get more titles for a lower price with another streaming service.
Types of content available
There is a wide range of content available to stream with Amazon Prime Video. Available genres include action/adventure, animated, children, comedy, documentary, family, drama, sci-fi/fantasy, teen, sport and thriller. You can watch Prime originals and exclusives such as Lucifer, The Purge or Homecoming. Titles are also arranged according to what you’ve previously watched, recommending related titles you may enjoy. You can view movies that other customers enjoy, so if people are watching Legally Blonde, 22 Jump Street or The Great Gatsby, these will be available to click onto from the Prime Video homepage. Certain movies are also available to rent, so if you want the latest titles on your compatible device, they are available for just a few dollars each. Some titles are only available for a limited time on Prime, so catch them before their expiry date. Recent movie releases can be bought as well, meaning you won’t miss out if you didn’t manage to see them on the big screen. Other categories on the Prime Video homepage include Highest Rated Movies, Rent or Buy bundles, and Prime Video channels such as Hayu.
Top Amazon Prime Video TV shows and movies
Murder on the Orient Express
This movie features an all-star cast, including the likes of Sean Connery, Ingrid Bergman, Vanessa Redgrave and Anthony Perkins. Albert Finney is the star, and he plays Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot. He is called upon to work out which passenger on the train killed a man. The twist is that everyone had a motive for the crime.
Moonlight
This film depicts a young, gay African-American man’s coming of age in Miami. The storyline is an adaptation of a play by Tarell Alvin McCraney and it was directed by Barry Jenkins. Viewers can enjoy a rich set of characters they can get stuck into and intense dialogue.
Mid90s
Jonah Hill directed this movie, making his debut in this type of role. The plot follows a 13 year old named Stevie who spends a summer in LA, torn between a troubled home life and a group of friends who push him to try out new things beyond his limits. It explores coming of age and the skater culture which was prominent in LA at the time.
Lady Bird
Saoirse Ronan and Laurie Metcalf star in this movie, which examines the relationship between mother and daughter. Ronan is the Ladybird, a woman attending Catholic school who craves the culture promised by a move to New York. Meanwhile, her mother is overbearing and overprotective.
Death at a Funeral
This is a dark British comedy featuring a ton of dry wit and a star cast. The plot involves a man who has to arrange his father’s funeral without any help from his successful brother. When the day comes, the father’s ex-lover blackmails the family with salacious photos and Daniel’s cousin doses her new boyfriend with LSD, thinking it’s Valium.
The Sopranos
This show has several seasons to its name and over 80 episodes. Viewers watch the life of Tony Soprano, played by James Gandolfini, as he goes through life. The only difference is that his workplace is running a criminal organisation, and there’s an Italian family who are just a bit complicated featuring in his life. Many people regard The Sopranos as essential viewing.
Deadwood
Despite having a handful of seasons, this show has created an impressive name for itself. Commonly regarded as one of TV’s best Western series of all time, get stuck into a world where people speak a unique language which incorporates Shakespeare and various profanities. Many characters are based on real historical figures, and you can expect danger, corruption and a whole lot of family drama.
Curb Your Enthusiasm
HBO fans will know all about this show, as it’s been running for quite a while now. The premise focuses on the details of everyday life, with a hefty dose of cynicism thrown in for good measure. The main character is a fictionalized version of Larry David, and it’s received dozens of Emmy nominations.
Downton Abbey
During the first half of the 2010s, all anyone could talk about was this British series. It focuses on an aristocratic family and their mansion full of servants as they go through major historical events such as the First World War and the sinking of the Titanic. Viewers can expect to see plenty of gossip and scandal from the servants’ quarters.
Luther
With a respectable number of seasons under its belt, Luther is a good pick for those who enjoy cop dramas. With an intense storyline and household names such as Idris Elba and Ruth Wilson, fans can watch the story of a genius detective who has trouble keeping his professional and personal lives separate.
Fleabag
Fleabag is the name given to a woman who experiences life and love in London while also trying to deal with a tragic experience. She rejects anyone who attempts to help her as she tries to recover.
Hannibal
An FBI profiler is recruited to investigate a serial killer. This profiler is supervised by a forensic psychiatrist, who is secretly a cannibalistic serial killer and working to manipulate the FBI from the inside.
Goliath
A disgraced lawyer called Billy McBride takes on a wrongful death lawsuit in order to try and get revenge on the firm he had a part in creating.
The Americans
Two married Russian spies with kids pose as Americans while living in Washington DC so they can spy on the US government.
Bosch
A Los Angeles homicide detective called Harry Bosch looks into the murder of a 13 year old boy while he is also undergoing trial for murder charges.
Six Feet Under
Nathaniel Fisher Senior hands over his funeral home business to his two sons before he passes away. However, this leads to the brothers and the rest of the family fighting about the decision.
Justified
Deputy US Marshal Raylan Givens has an unconventional outlook on justice enforcement. He is reassigned to Lexington, Kentucky – an area he grew up in and thought he had escaped for good.
Modern Family
This rockumentary family sitcom explores three different types of family living in LA, who are all interrelated.
Utopia
A group of people who get to know each other online stumble across a manuscript which predicts the disasters which took place over the previous years. They then find themselves being tracked down by an organisation known as The Network.
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