Why do we love the Modern Family series so much

The show Modern Family first premiered on the television network ABC in 2009. Ever since, the Dunphy-Pritchett family became an important part of almost every household, especially the wealthy ones. 

Starring Sofia Vergara, Julie Bowen, Eric Stonestreet, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Ty Burrell, Ed O' Neill, Ariel Winter, Sarah Hyland, Nolan Gould, Rico Rodriguez and Aubrey Frances Anderson-Emmons, the show is a mockumentary created by Christopher Lloyd and Stevan Levitan. The series won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series and one of the actors Ty Burrell, who plays the role of a real estate agent Phil Dunphy, won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. The series ran for 11 seasons with 250 episodes.

As the series completes 12 years since it aired its first episode, here are some of the reasons why the American sitcom became so popular across the world. 

Unconventional plotline

It revolves around three dysfunctional but related families in California trying to deal with their kids, jobs and quirky and weird spouses. Their day-to-day lives with rich family problems make for a hilarious ride for the viewers.

Hilarious and lovable characters

The Emmy Award-winning series' characters can get on our nerves sometimes, just like our regular family members whom we cannot do away with or live without. Every character is varied.  

Mockumentary format

The show has a different format than the other family comedy-dramas. With its single-camera and no-laugh-track format, Modern Family uses the mockumentary technique of The Office, in which characters speak directly to the camera. As the title suggests, they are indeed a modern family.

Story and character arcs

The series has Jay Pritchett (Ed O' Neill) as a wealthy businessman who marries a younger immigrant and single mom Gloria (Sofia); his gay son Mitchell Pritchett (Jesse) and his boyfriend (Cameron) who adopt a baby daughter (Aubrey); and a daughter Claire (Julie) who marries Phil Dunphy (Ty) against her father's wishes and has three children. The children (Sarah, Ariel and Nolan) too are strikingly opposite to each other. Each character, including Jay's dog Stella and Cameron's clown alter-ego Fizbo, have their own character arcs and stories, yet they are inter-connected.

Authentic and moving moments

The show pulls on an audience's heartstrings, creating an emotionally rich experience. Each episode of the show ends on a feel-good factor but not in a sappy way. The story and the characters are so well-written that they felt real and relatable, with a few refreshing chuckles. Modern Family has always been there to make us feel good even when we feel low and times are bad. The show beautifully keeps the humour intact while addressing some serious topics like homosexuality, gender issues, age differences, racism, bullying and family values.

Inclusivity

The series made inclusivity fashionable. It would also be safe to say that the show also helped to change the mindset of people without sounding preachy. Families became more accepting of gay relationships. The United States legalised gay marriages, a year after the two characters Cameron and Mitchell get hitched on the show.

Stonestreet had told the portal AARP, "It's amazing to think that 11 years of work could potentially turn into 20 or 30 or 40 years of entertainment for generations of people." And we can't agree more.

Catch the show Modern Family on Disney+Hotstar today.