Behind the Scenes With ‘Modern Family’
ABC News has an article and a video about their visit to “Modern Family” studio. Here are some highlights from the article:
“We are trying to sort of capture slices of life,” Ferguson says. “The writers really write from their own families, and they are incorporating a lot of our stories as well. And they wanted to feel very real. Not farcical. I think they are doing a pretty good job of balancing that real wackiness with that really subtle sweet humor.”
His partner on television, Eric Stonestreet, agress with the assessment and describes himself in real life as “openly straight.”
“People like to laugh. That resonates first. But I think also we are holding up a little bit of a mirror each week for people to take a look at. Because so oftentimes in life we just breeze past [moments] and don’t acknowledge them, we just sweep them under the rug. … On this set we celebrate them. We celebrate the awkwardness. We celebrate the dysfunction,” Stonestreet says.
“I have been told over and over that no one watches TV anymore, and no one watches comedies. But someone is watching,” Bowen says.
“This show is a lot of fun. And rare,” O’Neill says, knowingly. “They don’t come a long like this often. Now we have to keep this up. That is our job. And [it's] stressful. When you come out of the gate like this you have expectations. Can we keep this up? But it is better to come out like this than to come out limping.”
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=f60b94b8-d6d7-4fb5-99d1-2ceaaa3850fd)
Modern Family Ratings
With most of its competition in repeats, Fox’s “Glee” hit a season high last night, dominating what’s become one of the most competitive slots on broadcast.
“Glee” averaged a 3.6 adults 18-49 rating, according to Nielsen overnights, its best rating this season and up 13 percent over its season average of 3.2.
The reason for the bump wasn’t hard to gauge. It was the least competitive Wednesday night in months, with ABC’s “Modern Family” and “Cougar Town” and NBC’s “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” in reruns and CBS preempting usual timeslot winner “Criminal Minds” for a Grammy nominations special.
CBS was first at 8 p.m. with a 3.8 for “Rudolph,” followed by Fox with a 2.3 for “So You Think You Can Dance.” ABC was third with a 1.9 for a “Modern Family” rerun and a new “The Middle” (2.0), NBC fourth with a 1.8 for “Christmas in Rockefeller Center,” Univision fifth with a 1.4 for “El Nombre del Amor” and CW sixth with a 0.4 for a repeat of “Gossip Girl.”
Fox took the lead at 9 p.m. with a 3.6 for “Glee,” while CBS slid to second with a 2.3 for “Grammy Nominations Concert Live!” ABC and NBC tied for third at 2.0, ABC for repeats of “Modern” and “Cougar” and NBC for an “SVU” rerun, with Univision fifth with a 1.7 for “Sortilegio” and CW sixth with a 0.5 for a repeat of “The Vampire Diaries.”
Source: Media life magazine
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=c4811f78-fe9b-4193-888d-dc9763f8a094)
First-year show creators, producers hope for Golden Globe nomination
“Modern Family,” “Glee,” “Community” and “The Good Wife” are some of the breakout shows that could get a nod.
It’s no wonder the Golden Globes have a reputation for being more fun than the rather stately affairs that usually bring out Hollywood’s A-list. After all, broadcasting live from the Beverly Hilton on Jan. 17 and keeping the Champagne flowing is bound to loosen things up. But the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn.’s biggest night is also known for being ahead of the curve when it comes to honoring first-season TV shows — partly because of being the first TV-related ceremony of the calendar year and partly because of its envelope-pushing attitude.
This season offers a ballroom full of potentials that could strike the fancy of the HFPA’s 83 voting members — among them “Modern Family,” “FlashForward” and “The Good Wife.”
On the comedy side, ABC’s “Modern Family” seems to have put a spring in the steps of critics. Although executive producers Steven Levitan and Christopher Lloyd are modest about the show’s success, Levitan is happy for the recognition. “One of the reasons that it might be striking a chord is because there’s a sense of optimism,” Levitan says. “We don’t try to dodge emotion.”
Lloyd, who went to many an Emmy ceremony during his years on “Frasier,” says that seeing the show nominated as a whole would be a thrill. “There are lots of individual awards that come and go, and they’re wonderful, but they can have the effect of making people feel just a bit left out. Because [the Globe] recognizes everybody who works on the show, that’s one that you can really rally behind.”
Read the full story at LA Times.
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=f199cef4-813e-4bd2-b6ce-873d8d83103c)
Modern Family – One of the Top 10 TV series of the decade
Barry Garron from Reuters selected Modern Family as one of the top 10 TV series of the decade:
Every decade has its landmark TV shows, and there will or should never be complete agreement on which 10 series belong at the top of the list.
10. MODERN FAMILY
* ABC, 2009-present
It’s a little risky to pick a new show as one of the best of the decade, even after seeing about a dozen episodes. In the case of “Modern Family,” the risk is minimized by the track record of its creators, Steven Levitan and Christopher Lloyd. At a time when most new shows are just finding themselves, this one has been so consistently funny, smartly produced and crisply written that it has all the earmarks of a classic in the making.
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=4455c9af-829e-4d08-9a5c-f39885673d2c)
Modern Family Ratings
- Image via Wikipedia
Fast National ratings for Wednesday, November 25, 2009.
Airing new episodes on the night before Thanksgiving led to series-low ratings for programs like “Modern Family,” “Cougar Town,” “Eastwick” and “Glee.” The pending holiday had no negative impact on CBS’ “Criminal Minds, though,” which celebrated its 100th episode and helped give CBS easy Wednesday wins in most key measures.
Among adults 18-49, CBS averaged a 2.6 rating, beating NBC’s 2.4 rating and the 2.0 rating for FOX in the key demographic. ABC’s 1.7 rating was fourth, with The CW trailing with a 0.4 rating.
Overall, CBS averaged an estimated 11.03 million viewers to go with a 6.7 rating/12 share. NBC was a distant second with a 4.1/7, followed by FOX’s 3.3/6 and the 3.2/6 for ABC. The CW’s 0.8/1 was fifth.
NBC began the night in first with a 4.6/8 for a “The Biggest Loser: Where Are They Now” special, which also won the hour in the key demo with a 2.6 rating. CBS’ “The New Adventures of Old Christine” and “Gary Unmarried” had a 4.1/7 for second, with ABC’s “Modern Family” repeat and a new “The Middle” doing a 3.5/6 for third. FOX’s “So You Think You Can Dance” results episode was fourth with a 3.0/5. The CW aired the movie “Gracie” and finished fifth.
CBS moved into first at 9 p.m. with an 8.2/14 for “Criminal Minds,” which also won the hour with a 3.1 rating in the key demo. NBC’s “Biggest Loser” special was steady in second. ABC finished third with “Modern Family” and “Cougar Town” plummeting to a 3.7/6 overall and a 2.2 rating in the demo. Also proving the danger of airing new episodes on a holiday eve was “Glee,” which had a 3.5/6 overall and dropped to a 2.5 rating in the demo. The CW’s movie had a 0.8/1.
[Source: Hit Fix]
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=c2a363d7-a15c-48a4-8f1c-32c73539958a)
First Look: Fred Willard on Modern Family
The funniest new sitcom of the season will then take a week off and return on December 9 with a new installment. On that episode, “Modern Family” episode 10, Fred Willard comes aboard as Phil’s dad, as the Dunphy kids face the possibility of no Christmas this year.
TV Fanatic uncovered a photo of Willard in the role:
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=759ed9d4-f210-4ba9-99b6-cbe6cf680336)
New Comedy Throwdown: Community vs. Modern Family
TV.com has both Community and Modern Family has the best new comedies of the season, but they are trying to decide which one of them is the best. Here are some of their thoughts:
Cast: This critical category is a tight one. Community boasts Chevy Chase, the man who once played Fletch, and Joel McHale, the man who could play him today. Add fall’s freshest faces—Danny Pudi and Donald Glover—and you’re looking at TV’s most surprising new motley crew of a cast. But Modern Family has Ed O’Neill, who is looking like an Emmy candidate right now, and adding Ty Burrell, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Eric Stonestreet, Sofia Vergara, and a bushel of funny child actors only seals the deal. Point: Modern Family.
Guests/Recurring Actors: Like sexually frustrated couples, comedies need to throw others into the mix to spice things up. Shelley Long in ModFam’s “The Incident” was hilarious. It was nice to see Diane Chambers get absolutely lubed on booze and destroy a wedding. Unfortunately, Ed Norton’s appearance as Spandau Ballet’s bass player was a disaster, despite the “Fandau” gag. Elizabeth Banks was so-so, but just reminded us how much we’d rather watch Cam and Mitchell instead. On Community, John Oliver’s portrayal as Jeff’s nemesis/friend (frienemesis?) is hysterical, and I don’t care what anyone says, Ken Jeong as Senor Chang is muy awesomo. Fred Willard’s upcoming role as Phil’s dad in Modern Family could change our minds, but for now, it’s Point: Community.
The Winner: Just a second as I count the votes… it’s Modern Family by the official score of three to two! But let’s face it, we’re all winners here! Except for Community, which is slightly less of a winner. But in this race, there’s no shame in second place. Let’s just be happy we actually have “best new comedy” candidates this season. Modern Family, stop by the TV.com offices anytime to pick up your trophy.
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=ad5f597a-6663-40a4-9b45-1ab876dc3def)
1-on-1 with…MODERN FAMILY’s Eric Stonestreet
Jim Halterman has an interview with MODERN FAMILY’s Eric Stonestreet. Here are some of the questions he asked:
Jim Halterman: How are you getting used to all the attention that the show is getting and, more importantly, that you’re getting?
Eric Stonestreet: The one thing I was taken by surprise by was how fast it was. We were on one week and it went from people looking at me and thinking they saw me somewhere or I went to school with them to now people definitely quickly know me as Cameron from Modern Family, which is amazing and I was pretty blown away by how fast it works.
JH: Are people assuming you are Cameron?
ES: [laughs] When you meet me I think it’s pretty clear that I’m pretty different from Cameron but we’ve had conversations about that. I don’t care if people think I’m gay. People ask me all the time ‘Aren’t you worried about people thinking you’re gay?’ If I was worried about that I wouldn’t be doing the character. There are actors that may not want to do this character for that reason but I don’t happen to be one of them. I joke around and say that I was more worried that people would think I was a killer because I killed three people on TV last year. [laughs]
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=5f3df2f2-002a-42d4-8fb4-9a1de3e18b52)
Sneak Peeks – Modern Family 1.09 “Fizbo”
Here are some more sneak peeks into Modern Family Episode 9 , courtesy of TV Over Mind:
LUKE GETS THE ULTIMATE BIRTHDAY PARTY AND EVERYONE HAS A SAY EXCEPT FOR MAYBE LUKE, ON ABC’S “MODERN FAMILY”
“Fizbo” – Nothing is too big when Phil and Claire decide to throw Luke the biggest and best birthday party a boy could ever want. But when Cameron shows up as Fizbo, the Clown, it sets of a chain of events that ends with someone in the hospital, on “Modern Family,” WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25 (9:00-9:30 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.
“Modern Family” stars Ed O’Neill as Jay Pritchett, Julie Bowen as Claire Dunphy, Ty Burrell as Phil Dunphy, Sof’a Vergara as Gloria Delgado-Pritchett, Jesse Tyler Ferguson as Mitchell Pritchett, Eric Stonestreet as Cameron, Sarah Hyland as Haley Dunphy, Nolan Gould as Luke Dunphy, Ariel Winter as Alex Dunphy and Rico Rodriguez as Manny Delgado.
Guest cast include Reid Ewing as Dylan, Margo Harshman as Tanya and Kaitlyn Dever as Bianca.
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=9532576e-81a6-41b5-b8c8-cb0504fdfd77)
Modern Family and Screen Actors Guild Awards
Repeat nominees are the rule of thumb at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, where the eligibility period is the calendar year—rather than the TV season, as is the case with the Emmys. So, new shows are traditionally given short shrift, as they’ve had only a few months of airtime, compared with the whole 12 of the returning series. But this year may be different, considering breakout shows such as “Modern Family,” “The Good Wife,” and “Nurse Jackie” have emerged as contenders.
“This has been an awfully good fall,” says USA Today’s TV critic Robert Bianco. “And I hope the trend would be that some of the new
work from the summer and fall will be recognized this year.” In addition to Bianco, Back Stage spoke with TV scribes Michael Ausiello of Entertainment Weekly; Chris Beachum, contributor to TheEnvelope.com; and Barry Garron of The Hollywood Reporter to get their picks.
Here is were “Modern Family” has potential for nominations:
Male Actor in a Comedy Series
Ed O’Neill of “Modern Family” (“So different from what he was doing on ‘Married With Children’ “) and Garron cites Jesse Tyler Ferguson, the gay son on “Modern Family”: “He’s the best of equals on that show. They’re all very strong, but if I have to single out one actor who owns his part, it would be him.”
Female Actor in a Comedy Series
Garron goes for Julie Bowen of “Modern Family.” “She ends up reacting to a lot of characters, so she may not be the obvious choice, but she provides the glue that holds a lot of episodes together,” he says.
Ausiello Sofia Vergara of “Modern Family.”
Ensemble in a Comedy Series
Ausiello, Bianco, and Garron hope freshman series “Modern Family” will make the cut. “It’s an incredibly strong ensemble. You look at all the characters and the actors and hope some for recognition coming to them for it,” Bianco says. Ausiello agrees: “The one shakeup will be the addition of ‘Modern Family.’ It’s too funny, too critically acclaimed to get ignored.”
The SAG Awards will air Jan. 23, 2010, on TNT and TBS.
[Source: Backstage]
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=e0d7724d-86e3-4e44-8deb-915dbf95ed65)
Going to a wedding?
-
-
-
