Modern Family is the Funniest Show on TV [Review]

Every once in a while, a sitcom is a culture impacting triumph. The 70's had All in the Family. In the 80's, Cheers ruled. And in the 90's sitcom heyday we had "Must see TV" with shows like Seinfeld and Friends, while Will & Grace bridged the late 90's to early 2000's.

The mid 2000's came along, with more forgettable flops (Cavemen, anyone?) than comedic successes. Then, in 2009, ABC debuted a new sitcom called Modern Family. It borrowed the "mocumentary" style that made The Office so successful since 2005, and followed an extended family through their daily trials and tribulations.

There's Jay, the family patriarch (played by the late 80's and early 90's most disgusting TV dad Al Bundy, Ed O'Neill) and his South American trophy wife, Gloria, along with her "old soul" 11 year old son from her previous marriage, Manny. Jay's daughter Claire and her family (doofy husband Phil, clueless oldest daughter Haley, brainy middle girl Alex, and chip off the ol' block son Luke). And Jay's son Mitchell and his partner Cameron, with their adopted Vietnamese infant, Lily.

The formula starts with something for everyone; upper class patriarch Jay is a successful businessman, Claire and Phil appeal to middle class families going through the struggles of daily life, and same-sex couple Mitchell and Cameron add diversity to the family unit.

Where the show really shines is with the writing. It's silly without getting ridiculous. It's sweet without getting sappy, and it's serious when it needs to be. The show took home it's first Golden Globe for Best Television Series - Musical or Comedy last night (after 2 previous nominations), and the project already has 11 Emmy awards on the mantle.

I have to imagine that Modern Family will be remembered along with the likes of All in the Family, Cheers, and Friends years from now. If you haven't jumped on the Family bandwagon yet, there's no better time to start than now.

So what do you think? Are you a Modern Family fan? What are some of your favorite classic sitcoms? Leave us a comment below and chime in!