I think Modern Family jumped the shark tonight

[FindingNamo]

Gloria sold out Manny unforgivably.

The nanny is Cousin Oliver only more annoying.

Everything else was just stupid and in several cases inadvertently (?) homophobic.

I think it's over.

[Reginald Tresilian]

We were just saying it was the most bizarre episode ever!!!

[Reginald Tresilian]

I don't think it's over, but they need to recover, stat.

Given their lazy-assness in not doing a Halloween episode, they need to nail Christmas (if you'll forgive the mixed liturgical metaphor).

[bwaylyric]

I thought they jumped the shark when Gloria had a baby. Whatever happened to that baby anyway?

[FindingNamo]

Have they ever used just a voice over to explain an uncharacteristic and unmotivated action like they had Gloria do as she ruined Manny's project?

I know new babies are often signs of shark jumping, but I didn't mind this one. Even hiring the help for one episode made sense to me. But to have him on regularly is a terrible idea, they've already run the mannyManny thing into the ground.

[Sutton Ross]

Modern Family hasn't been funny in two years. But the line "Ref, that's the worst call since they cast Russell Crowe in Les Mis!" was pretty good.

[suestorm]

The new waiter on 2 broke grls is way funnier

[Reginald Tresilian]

Yeah, I didn't mind the new baby, though there hasn't been much in the way of added value yet.

I've enjoyed the rest of this season. I hope last night was an aberration.

[FindingNamo]

I thought the naming the baby episode was really funny. The Cam and Mitch proposal was as good as anything they've done.

But last night Alex knew there's no Utah sea coast?

[Reginald Tresilian]

Right?! Great example. It was as if the writer(s) had never seen the show before.

[iflip4musicals]

I thought the first two episodes this season were great, but after that I've found it a bit lazy and not that funny.

The Russell Crowe line was genius though.

[brdlwyr]

Did not see it, but the Russell Crowe comment is hilarious!

[JoeKv99]

I think I'm sick of Modern Family. Seems like three or four nights a week USA network is running a block of it as well as it's nightly airing. Too much!

[NYadgal]

It's in syndication, as well.

USA tried to model the success TBS has had with 'Big Bang Theory', but the ratings haven't delivered.
The feeling is that the TBS viewers weren't the same as the CBS viewers, so the show was finding a new audience, which then led to audience growth for the originals on CBS.

The USA/ABC model hasn't worked out the same way. USA is also known primarily for dramas, and isn't top of mind for sitcoms, the way some TBS nights of programming are, so the acquisition hasn't been the best fit.

A mis-calculation on USA's part. At least at this point.

[Marianne2]

They are trying to air it way too much in syndication. I was excited to see it on because I really hadn't regularly watched it before the current season. Then they end up repeating the same episodes multiple times a week and that's where it has lost me a little.

[Addison D.]

It's an interesting dilemma for the writers--and one that they are not resolving with too much flair.

The initial rationale was this family that was, frankly, a roster of cliches, determined to find a way to love and support each other despite their krayzee idiosyncrasies and lovable foibles. It could have been total dreck (i.e.: "The New Normal"), but some great, heartfelt and insightful writing combined with a terrific ensemble made magic.

At this point, though, it's all repetitive drudgery--"Uh oh! Cam is having a lip-quivering melt-down! Gloria is worried that Jay is going to be angry about something but--Surprise!--it just makes him love her more." Yawwwwn... They've all adapted to each other's whacky traits and are just living with them.

There are still some great lines and moments ("Bank it!!!" has permanently entered our household as shorthand for "I was way out of line, but I know you'll do something before too long which will retroactively justify my horrible behavior") but it takes landmark events--the passage of Marriage Equality--to create authentically new situations.

I hope that they can find a path back to greatness, but I **really** hope it doesn't involve too much more screen time for Pepper.

[NYadgal]

The writing has been, for the most part, brilliant - which is why I love the show.

But fully agree that this week's episode missed the mark.
The Manny thing needs to end. Just so not funny.


(ps - Marianne, it's airing a "regular" syndication pattern. You may be seeing all of the repeats on USA...?)

[DAME]

I agree with most. This weeks episode really was bad. the Manny storyline is bad and tiresome. I don't think the show has jumped the shark. They usually have one or two very bad episodes and then spring back. At least I hope that is the case.

[FindingNamo]

I think back when the show debuted I "liked" it on Facebook. These many years later I make it a policy not to "like" any corporations or corporate products, because as much as I don't want to know that friends x, y and a "like" Wal-Mart, I don't care to be an inadvertent shill for anything other than small business underdogs. The past two weeks, Modern Family has really laid the posts on too thick. "What was your favorite moment at the fair on tonight's episode?" "Hashtag Happy Anniversary Phil & Claire!" This morning when they asked the non-rhetorical "Why is Alex mad at Hayley on the upcoming Modern Family?" I was driven to unlike the show.

[DAME]

I have stopped "liking" stuff on FB for that very reason. I am also down to only 100 or so FB friends. Trying to make FB a different thing for me. All everyone does is self promote in one way or the other.

[EricMontreal22]

For whatever reason, 3 camera traditional sitcoms seem to run a lot better in syndication than shows like Modern Family. I don't think it has anything to do with the content, it's just the format. Maybe a part of it is that usually with syndicated shows you (or at least I) have them on when I'm doing something else -- making dinner, or finishing up work or working out -- and single camera comedies need you to actually sit down and pay attention. Same reason dramas do so poorly in syndication (unless it's something like Law and Order...)

[broadwayjim42]

I'm with Sutton Ross...I haven't been able to watch this for the past two seasons. It became, in a word, annoying. I actually always felt that way about Cam, but the whole air of can we top this in terms of plot contrivances, embarrassing situations and whatnot became a turnoff.

[GoSmileLaughCryClap]

There's talent on the show, but the whole Brady Bunch with the adults as kids concept bugged me from the very beginning.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

I still love the show. It's not as good as it was in its prime, but it's still one of the funniest comedies on TV. I laugh every week, which is more than I can say for most "comedies" on TV nowadays. I think it's far from "jumping the shark," it's just not as consistently clever as it once was.

[NYadgal]

Loved it tonight.

[Reginald Tresilian]

I thought they were back on track tonight. Lots of really funny detailed stuff and a couple of genuine belly laughs.

And I love Celia Weston as Cam's mom. Glad to see her back.