modern family

Mode Family

Mode Family is a Ame ica family si com elevisio se ies c ea ed by Ch is ophe Lloyd a d S eve Levi a fo he Ame ica B oadcas i g Compa y. I a fo 11 seaso s, f om Sep embe 23, 2009, o Ap il 8, 2020. I follows he lives of h ee dive se family se -ups i subu ba Los A geles, li ked by pa ia ch Jay P i che .

Ch is ophe Lloyd a d S eve Levi a co ceived he se ies while sha i g s o ies of hei ow mode families. Mode Family employs a e semble cas a d is p ese ed i a mockume a y s yle, wi h he cha ac e s f eque ly speaki g di ec ly o he came a i co fessio al i e view segme s.

The se ies was e ewed fo a eleve h a d fi al seaso o Feb ua y 5, 2019, which p emie ed o Sep embe 25, 2019.12 The se ies fi ale ai ed o Ap il 8, 2020.

Mode Family was acclaimed by c i ics h oughou i s fi s few seaso s. I s c i ical ecep io became mo e mixed as i p og essed, bu i mai ai ed a loyal fa base h oughou i s 11 seaso s a d was co i uously popula . The fi al seaso eceived ge e ally posi ive eviews, a d he fi ale episode had 7.37 millio fi s – u viewe s.3 The e ospec ive docume a y ha ai ed befo e he fi al episode had 6.72 millio fi s – u viewe s.

The show wo he Emmy Awa d fo Ou s a di g Comedy Se ies i each of i s fi s five yea s a d he Emmy Awa d fo Ou s a di g Suppo i g Ac o i a Comedy Se ies fou imes, wice each fo E ic S o es ee a d Ty Bu ell, as well as he Ou s a di g Suppo i g Ac ess i a Comedy Se ies wice fo Julie Bowe . I wo a o al of 22 Emmy awa ds f om 75 omi a io s. I also wo he Golde Globe Awa d fo Bes Televisio Se ies – Musical o Comedy i 2011.

The b oadcas sy dica io igh s o he se ies we e sold o NBCU ive sal’s USA Ne wo k, he s a io s of Fox Televisio S a io s, a d va ious o he local s a io s i o he ma ke s fo a fall 2013 p emie e. The success of he se ies led o i bei g he 10 h-highes eve ue-ge e a i g show fo 2012, ea i g $2.13 millio a episode.4

Co e s

P emiseedi

Mode Family evolves a ou d h ee diffe e ypes of families ( uclea , ble ded, a d same-**7**) livi g i he Los A geles a ea, who a e i e ela ed h ough Jay P i che a d his child e , daugh e Clai e a d so Mi chell. Pa ia ch Jay ema ied a much you ge woma , Glo ia Delgado P i che ( ée Rami ez), a passio a e Colombia immig a 5 wi h whom he has a you g so , Fulge cio Joseph Joe P i che , a d a so f om Glo ia’s p evious ma iage,6 Ma uel Ma y Delgado. Jay’s ex-wife DeDe a d Glo ia’s ex-husba d Javie bo h make occasio al appea a ces i he show.

Jay’s daugh e Clai e was a homemake who la e e u ed o he busi ess wo ld, wo ki g as he chief execu ive of he fa he ‘s busi ess, P i che ‘s Close s a d Bli ds. She is ma ied o Phil Du phy, a eal o a d a self-p ofessed cool dad, who is a ama eu magicia , as well. They have h ee child e : Haley, a s e eo ypically di zy ee aged gi l;7 Alex, a i ellige a d e dy middle child;8 a d Luke, he offbea o ly so .9 Haley’s off agai , o agai boyf ie d Dyla is a pe ma e fix u e i he show.

Jay’s lawye so Mi chell a d his husba d Came o Tucke have o e adop ed daugh e , Lily Tucke -P i che , of Vie amese o igi . A he se ies fi ale, hey adop a o he child, a baby boy amed Rexfo d. As he ame sugges s, his family ep ese s a mode -day family, a d episodes a e comically based o si ua io s ha ma y families e cou e i eal life.

Cas a d cha ac e sedi

Mai cha ac e sedi

Family eeedi

The cha ac e s i g ee have egula oles o he show. Do ed li es i dica e a pa e al ela io ship h ough adop io o ma iage, a d dashed li es i dica e a divo ce be wee cha ac e s. † I dica es a deceased cha ac e .

The se ies has also had ma y ecu i g cha ac e s.26 F ed Willa d has gues s a ed as Phil’s fa he F a k; he was omi a ed fo Ou s a di g Gues Ac o i a Comedy Se ies a he 62 d P ime ime Emmy Awa ds bu los o Neil Pa ick Ha is’s pe fo ma ce o Glee.27 Willa d also eceived a pos humous omi a io fo Ou s a di g Gues Ac o i a Comedy Se ies a he 72 d P ime ime C ea ive A s Emmy Awa ds i 2020. Shelley Lo g appea ed i he fi s wo seaso s a d occasio ally he eaf e as DeDe P i che , Jay’s ex-wife a d Clai e a d Mi chell’s mo he .2829

Na ha La e appea s as Came o a d Mi chell’s flamboya f ie d Peppe Sal zma ; he has bee omi a ed h ee imes fo he P ime ime Emmy Awa d fo Ou s a di g Gues Ac o i a Comedy Se ies.303132 Adam DeVi e appea ed as A dy Bailey, Jay a d Glo ia’s ma y (male a y), Phil’s assis a a d Haley’s ex-boyf ie d. Elizabe h Ba ks appea ed as Mi ch a d Cam’s fu -lovi g f ie d Sal; she was omi a ed fo Ou s a di g Gues Ac ess i a Comedy Se ies a he 67 h P ime ime C ea ive A s Emmy Awa ds i 2015.

Developme a d p oduc io edi

I i ial developme edi

As c ea o s Ch is ophe Lloyd a d S eve Levi a e old s o ies abou hei families, hey ealized ha he s o ies could be he basis fo a show. They s a ed wo ki g o he idea of a family bei g obse ved i a mockume a y-s yle show.33 They la e decided ha i could be a show abou h ee families a d hei expe ie ces.34 I was o igi ally called My Ame ica Family,35 a d he came a c ew was o igi ally supposed o have bee u by a fic i ious Du ch filmmake amed Gee Floo je, who had lived wi h Jay’s family as a ee aged excha ge s ude a d developed a c ush o Clai e (while Mi chell had a c ush o him). The p oduce s la e fel ha his compo e was u ecessa y, a d i was sc apped. Lloyd ow p efe s o look a he show as a family show do e docume a y-s yle.36

Lloyd a d Levi a pi ched he se ies o CBS, NBC, a d ABC ( hey did o pi ch i o Fox because of issues hey had wi h he e wo k ove a p evious comedy se ies, Back o You, ha Lloyd a d Levi a also c ea ed a d p oduced). CBS, which was o eady o make a big commi me o he si gle-came a s yle of filmi g, ejec ed he se ies. NBC, al eady b oadcas i g The Office a d Pa ks a d Rec ea io , decided agai s aki g o a hi d mockume a y-s yle show. ABC accep ed he pi ch.37

The pilo episode es ed posi ively wi h focus g oups, esul i g i he e wo k o de i g 13 episodes a d addi g i o he 2009–۱۰ fall li eup days ahead of ABC’s official schedule a ou ceme .38 The se ies was give a full-seaso pickup i Oc obe 2009.39

Filmi gedi

P i cipal pho og aphy ook place i Los A geles.40 Ma y of he ex e io s used a e o he ci y’s Wes side. The Du phys’ house is i he Chevio Hills eighbo hood. As of 2014upda e, Palisades Cha e High School is used fo he ex e io s of Luke a d Ma y’s school.41

Lloyd a d Levi a , whose c edi s bo h i clude F asie , Wi gs, a d Jus Shoo Me, a e execu ive p oduce s of he se ies, se vi g as show u e a d head w i e u de hei Lloyd-Levi a P oduc io s label i affilia io wi h 20 h Ce u y Fox Televisio .40 The o he o igi al p oduce s o he w i i g eam we e Paul Co iga , Samee Ga dezi, Joe Lawso , Da O’Sha o , B ad Walsh, Ca oli e Williams, Bill W ubel, Da y Zuke , a d Jeff Mo o .4042

S a i g wi h he seco d seaso , Levi a a d Lloyd a he show, o as a eam, bu sepa a ely, wi h each show u e supe visi g half he episodes. Ch is a d I a e bo h s o g, opi io a ed people, a d we ve y, ve y quickly ealized i does ‘ make se se o si he e a d deba e each o he a d was e ime, Levi a old The Hollywood Repo e i 2012. We of e come a i f om diffe e poi s of view, so we said, ‘Le ‘s jus swi ch off who has fi al say.’43

Li iga io edi

I he fi s seaso , he adul cas was paid a a ge of oughly $30,000 o $90,000 pe episode.44 As a esul of he show’s success, he cas a emp ed o e ego ia e hei co ac s i he summe of 2012 o ob ai highe pe -episode fees, bu alks b oke dow o he poi ha he fou h seaso ‘s fi s able ead had o be pos po ed. Five of he cas membe s (Ty Bu ell, Julie Bowe , Jesse Tyle Fe guso , E ic S o es ee , a d Sofía Ve ga a) e ai ed he Qui Ema uel law fi m a d sued 20 h Ce u y Fox Televisio i Los A geles Cou y Supe io Cou o July 24, 2012. While o pa of he lawsui , Ed O’Neill joi ed his fellow cas ma es i seeki g aises fo each o abou $200,000 pe episode; O’Neill had al eady bee ea i g mo e mo ey pe episode ha he o he five. The lawsui i voked he seve -yea ule i Califo ia Labo Code Sec io 2855 ( he De Havilla d Law) a d eques ed a decla a io ha hei co ac s we e void because hey we e i viola io of ha ule.45 As of July 28, 2012, he co flic had bee esolved. The five adul cas membe s’ sala ies we e i c eased f om $55,000–$۶۵,۰۰۰ pe episode o $150,000–$۱۷۵,۰۰۰, wi h i c eases eve y seaso , plus a pe ce age of esidual p ofi s.46 O’Neill had al eady bee ea i g $200,000 a episode, so his sala y was lowe ed o pa i y wi h his co-s a s, bu wi h a la ge pe ce age of he back-e d p ofi s.47 La e i he summe , fou of he five child s a s ego ia ed i c eases f om $15,000–$۲۵,۰۰۰ o $70,000 pe episode48 wi h a addi io al $10,000 pe seaso aise.49

Episodesedi

Themesedi

I The New Yo k Times, B uce Feile called a e io o how he show depic s he i c easi g way commu ica io s ech ology shapes he way people pe ceive o he s, eve family membe s. I is su ely he fi s family comedy ha i co po a es i s ow hash ag of simul a eous self-a alysis di ec ly i o he s o yli e, he w i es. Ma k Zucke be g may be a g ea e i flue ce o Mode Family ha No ma Lea .61

The show’s w i e s a d ac o s ag ee. We used o alk abou how cellpho es killed he si com because o o e eve goes o a yo e’s house a ymo e fo ou i e i fo ma io , Ab aham Higgi bo ham old Feile . We emb ace ech ology so i ‘s pa of he s o y. Ty Bu ell d aws o F a Lebowi z’s obse va io ha he e is o i s i u io o he ha media.62 I had his li le flash of Phil—a d me— ha we a e pa si g ou pe so ali y oge he ex e ally f om how people pe ceive us.61

James Pa ke of The A la ic comme ed, How does o e ‘pa e ‘? Who does wha , which ‘ ole’? Is Dad sufficie ly dad-like a d Mom e ough of a mom?63

I a 2014 a icle i Sla e, he si e’s podcas execu ive p oduce , A dy Bowe s, a eside of Los A geles’ Wes side, whe e he show films mos of i s ex e io s, p aised he se ies fo i s ealis ic depic io of life i ha pa of he ci y.41

Recep io edi

Ra i gsedi

Si ce i s p emie e, he se ies has emai ed popula . I i s fi s seaso , he show became he six h-highes a ed sc ip ed show i Ame ica a d he hi d-highes a ed ew show.64 Aided by wi i g he P ime ime Emmy Awa d fo Ou s a di g Comedy Se ies, he show’s seco d seaso became he highes a ed show o Wed esday o p emie e week65 a d also ose 34% f om he p evious seaso amo g adul s be wee he ages of 18 a d 49.66 The show f eque ly a ked as elevisio ‘s op sc ip ed se ies i adul s 18–۴۹ as well.676869

The success of he show has bee posi ively compa ed o The Cosby Show.70 Du i g he 2010–۲۰۱۱ seaso , Mode Family was he highes a ed sc ip ed show i he 18–۴۹ demog aphic, a d he hi d highes a ed ove all si com behi d CBS’s The Big Ba g Theo y a d Two a d a Half Me .7172 The seaso also a ked fi s amo g DVR viewe s.73

The hi d-seaso p emie e became ABC’s op- a ed seaso p emie e i six yea s.74 The se ies’ success i a i gs has also led i o bei g c edi ed fo evivi g si coms.75

I 2016, a The New Yo k Times s udy of he 50 TV shows wi h he mos Facebook likes fou d ha Mode Family’s audie ce pa e is he p o o ypical example of a ci y show — mos popula i libe al, u ba clus e s i Bos o , Sa F a cisco, a d Sa a Ba ba a, Califo ia, a d leas popula i he mo e u al pa s of Ke ucky, Mississippi, a d A ka sas.76

C i ical espo seedi

Seaso 1edi

The fi s seaso was me wi h c i ical acclaim. I sco ed 100%, based o 28 eviews, o eview agg ega o websi e Ro e Toma oes, wi h a ave age a i g of 8.5510 a d he c i ical co se sus: Tha ks o sha p w i i g a d a ecce ic bu exceedi gly likeable cas of cha ac e s, Mode Family sig als he iumpha e u of he family comedy.110 The fi s seaso also sco ed 86100, based o 27 eviews, o eview agg ega o websi e Me ac i ic, i dica i g u ive sal acclaim.111

E e ai me Weekly gave i a A−, calli g i immedia ely ecog izable as he bes ew si com of he fall.112 I Time’s eview, he show was amed he fu ies ew family comedy of he yea .113 I has also bee compa ed o he 1970s se ies Soap because of he mul iple-family aspec . Some have made compa iso s o The Office a d Pa ks a d Rec ea io because of hei mockume a y fo ma s.114 BuddyTV amed he show he seco d bes show i 2009, sayi g, Eve y ac o is fa as ic, eve y family is i e es i g, a d u like ma y shows, he e is ‘ a weak li k.115 Robe Ca i g of IGN gave he seaso a 8.9 calli g i G ea a d sayi g Simply pu , Mode Family was o e of he bes ew comedies of he seaso . He also p aised he e semble cas a d he cha ac e s, calli g hem lovable.116 Acco di g o Me ac i ic, he fi s seaso was he bes eviewed ew b oadcas elevisio se ies.117

Mode Family d ew c i icism f om he LGBT commu i y fo i s po ayal of Came o a d Mi chell as o bei g physically affec io a e wi h each o he . The c i icism spaw ed a Facebook campaig o dema d ha Mi chell a d Came o be allowed o kiss. I espo se o he co ove sy, p oduce s eleased a s a eme ha a seaso wo episode would add ess Mi chell’s discomfo wi h public displays of affec io . Execu ive p oduce Levi a has said ha i was u fo u a e ha he issue had a ise , si ce he show’s w i e s had always pla ed o such a sce e as pa of he a u al developme of he show.118 The episode The Kiss eve ually ai ed wi h he kiss sce e i he backg ou d, which d ew p aise f om mul iple c i ics.119120

Seaso 2edi

The show’s seco d seaso eceived mos ly posi ive eviews f om c i ics. Seaso wo has a a i g of 88% o Ro e Toma oes based o 16 eviews, wi h a ave age sco e of 8.1110 a d he co se sus: Mode Family’s sophomo e seaso si gs wi h i ge ious si com s uc u e a d a e semble i pe fec comedic ha mo y – eve if he u es a e a li le familia .121 Robe Bia co of USA Today gave he seco d seaso fou ou of fou s a s, sayi g No si ce F asie has a si com offe ed such a ideal ble d of hea a d sma s, o p ove i self so effo lessly adep a so ma y comic va ia io s, f om sub le wo dplay o big-laugh slaps ick o eve y hi g i be wee .122 I a la e eview Bia co s a ed as good as i was i i s fi s yea , is eve be e i i s seco d, posi ively compa i g he cha ac e s o he cha ac e s f om The Ma y Tyle Moo e Show, The Cosby Show, a d F ie ds.123 Du i g he seco d seaso , Adweek amed he show o e of he 100 Mos I flue ial TV Shows (98 h ch o ologically).124125 Despi e his, some c i ics we e less favo able owa d he seaso a d desc ibed i as a sophomo e slump.126127 E ic S o es ee ‘s ac i g was widely p aised h oughou he fi s seaso ,116 bu c i icized du i g seaso wo fo bei g oo co ived a d ove – he- op;128129 Ala Sepi wall called Came o Tucke a whi y, ove ly-se si ive diva.128 O he o he ha d, he p aise fo Ty Bu ell’s pe fo ma ce (as Phil Du phy) co i ued.116130131

Seaso 3edi

The hi d seaso was me wi h c i ical acclaim. O Ro e Toma oes, seaso h ee has a a i g of 92% based o 13 eviews, wi h a ave age sco e of 8.3310 a d he co se sus: Mode Family se les i o a well-oiled g oove, co sis e ly delive i g i spi ed fa ce a d maki g i look effo less.132 Sla Magazi e eviewe Pe e Swa so w o e ha while he fi s episode was he ype of wacky-loca io s u ha ‘s usually ese ved fo he fif h o six h seaso of a dyi g si com, he followi g episodes have bee be e … bu hey’ e s ill u eve .133 He also c i icized he w i e s fo elyi g oo much o s u episodes a d celeb i y cameos, like David C oss.133 He ul ima ely gave he seaso 3 ou of 4 s a s.133 James Pa ke of The A la ic said, a he begi i g of he hi d seaso ha Mode Family is ve y, ve y fu y, almos u hlessly so. I ‘s a bi of a mas e class i pace a d b evi y. The w i i g is Vo sp u g du ch Tech ik: hec ically comp essed bu d ama ically elega , p odigal i i s zi ge s a d s o e s bu aus e e i i s co s uc io . He fou d i a excep io o his dislike fo si coms ha do o use a laugh ack.63 Du i g he hi d seaso , New Yo k Times colum is F a k B u i a gued ha gay c i icism of Came o a d Mi chell ac ually showed he p og ess gays have made owa d social accep a ce. A decade ago, he w i es, gays would have balked—a d balked loudly—a how f eque ly Came o i pa icula ips i o limp-w is ed, high-voiced ca ica u e. Bu ow, mos gay people us ha he elevisio audie ce k ows we’ e a dive se ibe, o easily pigeo holed. Mode Family e dows us wi h a so of comic ba ali y. I ‘s a odd ki d of p og ess. Bu i ‘s p og ess o e heless.134

Seaso 4edi

The fou h seaso of Mode Family eceived mixed o posi ive eviews f om c i ics. Ro e Toma oes cu e ly gives he seaso a app oval a i g of 73% based o 11 eviews, wi h a ave age sco e of 7.7510 a d he co se sus: Mode Family s ill has cha m o bu a d boas s a u ifo mly excelle cas , bu he se ies’ subve sive edge has dulled.135 Halfway h ough he seaso , Rachel S ei of Televisio Wi hou Pi y w o e, much as I liked he pai i gs a d some of he dialogue, New Yea ‘s Eve is jus a o he co ived episode of Mode Family we ca ci e whe we alk la e abou how a diffe e show should have wo he 2013 Emmy fo Bes Comedy.136 Dale e Rove s ei of Pas e Magazi e gave he seaso a posi ive eview, bu said a be e seaso was possible.137

Seaso 5edi

The fif h seaso of Mode Family also eceived posi ive eviews. O Ro e Toma oes, seaso five has a a i g of 90% based o 10 eviews, wi h a ave age sco e of 7.5710 a d he co se sus: Mode Family e u s o i s co ve io al oo s wi h g ace i a fif h seaso ha deligh s i p ovidi g eliable laughs a d eki dles he show’s adema k wa m h.138 Reviewi g he seaso ‘s fi s eigh episodes, Ma hew Wolfso of Sla Magazi e w o e ha he show appea ed o have fi ally a ived a he dep essi g a d p edic able low poi owa d which i had bee e di g fo he pas wo yea s. He also we o o say ha he show had u ed i o a sh ill pas iche of s e eo ypical cha ac e iza io s a d supe ficial ba e lacki g bo h feeli g a d wi , assig i g i a a i g of 1.54 s a s.139 Diffe e w i e s fo The A.V. Club a ed, i o al, a majo i y of he fo me -half episodes wi h a B– g ade o less. O e w i e fo he magazi e, Joshua Als o , gave Close Co ’13 a C a d ema ked ha Mode Family becomes a high-wi e ac whe i sepa a es i s cha ac e s i o h ee s o yli es wi h o ove lap be wee hem.140 The seco d half was mo e wa mly eceived, wi h h ee episodes a ed a A– o highe .

Seaso 6edi

The show’s six h seaso eceived ve y posi ive eviews f om TV c i ics, wi h some claimi g ha i was a imp oveme ove he las few seaso s.141 This seaso has a a i g of 100% o Ro e Toma oes based o 7 eviews, wi h a ave age sco e of 7.6710.142 Joshua Als o a d Gwe Ih a The A.V. Club have awa ded he majo i y of episodes a B g ade o highe – wi h pa icula p aise fo The Day We Almos Died a d Close ? You’ll Love I ! – ma ki g a imp oveme ove he epea ed C g ade give h oughou he p evious seaso ‘s fo me half.143 Co ec io Los eceived high c i ical acclaim, wi h ma y p aisi g he episode’s w i i g, o igi ali y a d success i a sce di g wha could have bee a gimicky episode.144145146 I he eview fo Close ? You’ll Love I ! Gwe Ih a of The A.V. Club s a ed ha he episode ep ese s all he easo s why we s ill wa ch Mode Family a d awa ded he episode a A−.۱۴۷ O he same si e, David Kalliso eviewed G ill, I e up ed, sayi g: This seaso p oves ha si coms ca su vive o solid cha ac e s a d solid jokes.148

Seaso 7edi

The seve h seaso eceived mixed o posi ive eviews f om c i ics wi h ma y c i ics calli g i simila o he fou h a d fif h seaso s. O Ro e Toma oes, his seaso is a ed 67% wi h 6 eviews a d a ave age a i g of 6.510.149 Kyle Fowle f om The A.V. Club had a ve y mixed eac io o he seaso , o ly givi g o e episode a A− o highe .150 Fowle fel he seaso was f us a i g, believi g he seaso would be defi ed by i s lack of cha ac e p og ess a d ove s uffed episodes.151

La e seaso sedi

The se ies was e ewed fo a 10 h seaso o May 10, 2017,152 which p emie ed o Sep embe 26, 2018,153

Seaso s 8 a d 9 eceived mixed o posi ive eviews f om c i ics, wi h mai c i icisms di ec ed a he lack of cha ac e developme , ove s uffi g of episodes, a d oo ma y fille episodes pe seaso . While he show co i ued o be p aised fo i s cha m, wi y w i i g, a d he cas ‘s pe fo ma ces, c i icism g ew i hese seaso s, pa icula ly f om eviewe s such as hose a The A.V. Club.

I Ja ua y 2018, S eve Levi a a d Ch is ophe Lloyd a ou ced ha seaso 10 would mos likely be he fi al seaso , du i g he Televisio C i ics Associa io ‘s wi e p ess ou .154 Howeve , i Augus 2018, epo s i dica ed ha ABC was i discussio s o e ew he se ies fo a po e ial eleve h seaso .155

Seaso 10 eceived posi ive eviews f om c i ics, ci i g he seaso as a sig ifica imp oveme ove he las wo. The se ies was p aised fo i s ackli g of Haley’s p eg a cy, he humo of Mi ch a d Cam looki g af e Cal, a d i s deali g wi h cha ge i a posi ive way. Episodes ‘To Be wee Two Love s’, ‘Good G ief, a d ‘A Yea Of Bi hdays’ we e pa icula ly p aised.

The se ies was e ewed fo a eleve h seaso o Ja ua y 7, 2019, which was co fi med as he fi al seaso o Feb ua y 5. The las seaso p emie ed o Sep embe 25, 2019, a d ai ed i s las episode o Ap il 8, 2020.1562

Seaso 11 simila ly eceived mai ly posi ive eviews. The seaso was p aised fo i s hemes of cha ge a d e di g, a d he imp oved humo upo he las seaso s, wi h pa icula a e io o episodes ‘The P esco ‘, ‘Legacy,’ ‘Spuds’ a d ‘Fi ale.’

Mode Family’s fi al episode, Fi ale, ai ed Ap il 8, 2020, a d eceived a B g ade f om Kyle Fowle of The A.V. Club, ci i g ‘ he e’s some hi g ha ‘s sa isfyi g i jus how low-key i is. The fi ale does ‘ ecessa ily shoo fo ou sized emo io s. I s ead, i makes hi gs pe so al. I ‘s a fi ale ha sui s Mode Family as i is i 2020, a show ha ‘s se led i o old age. This is a fi ale ha ‘s bo h idy a d u fi ished, a d ha feels jus igh ‘. The episode was p aised by c i ics a d fa s alike, pa icula ly fo he humo i Clai e a d Mi chell’s ice ska i g sce e, Mi chell a d Cam’s ka aoke sce e, a d The Du phy child e ‘s fi al joke o Luke, wi h TV Fa a ic sayi g, ‘o e of he highligh s of he episode we e he sce es be wee Haley, Alex, a d Luke.’ C i ics also p aised Glo ia fi ally le i g Ma y go, desc ibi g he sce e as b i gi g he wo cha ac e s’ a cs full ci cle. The episode’s message of ‘leavi g a po ch ligh o ‘ was also p aised, wi h fa s a d c i ics exp essi g his e di g o e’s highly emo io al a u e.

Accoladesedi

Mode Family has wo 22 P ime ime Emmy Awa ds a d 6 W i e s Guild of Ame ica Awa ds. The show also la e eceived a GLSEN Respec Awa d fo i s po ayal of posi ive images a d s o yli es ha eflec a dive se Ame ica, i cludi g he depic io of a family headed by a gay couple. I 2010, Mode Family was omi a ed fo five Televisio C i ics Associa io Awa ds.157 To ei fo ce he idea of a e semble cas , he cas all submi ed hemselves i he Suppo i g Ac o a d Ac ess ca ego ies i s ead of Lead Ac o a d Ac ess fo he 62 d P ime ime Emmy Awa ds.158159 The se ies has also bee pu o mul iple c i ics’ lis s. I 2010, he se ies was lis ed 2 d o Time’s Top Te Bes shows of 2009,160 2 d o BuddyTV’s Top Te Bes Shows of 2009,161 Jaso Hughes Bes TV of 2009,162 Mode Family was awa ded a Peabody Awa d i 2009.163 I 2012, he show wo he Golde Globe Awa d fo Bes Televisio Se ies – Musical o Comedy164 a d was omi a ed fo a B i ish Academy Televisio Awa d. Eve y seaso of he show was also amed o e of he op 10 TV seaso s of he yea (f om 2009 o 2012) by he Ame ica Film I s i u e.165

Du i g he 2012 US p eside ial elec io , bo h Fi s Lady Michelle Obama, i a i e view wi h Kal Pe a he 2012 Democ a ic Na io al Co ve io ,166 a d A Rom ey, i a i e view wi h The I side ,167 ci ed Mode Family as hei favo i e TV show.

I Ju e 2013, he W i e s Guild of Ame ica a ked Mode Family umbe 34 o a lis of he 101 mos well-w i e elevisio se ies eve made.168

I Decembe 2013, TV Guide a ked i umbe 43 o i s lis of he 60 Bes Se ies of all ime.169

C i icismedi

Michelle Haimoff of he Ch is ia Scie ce Mo i o c i icized he show fo o ly cas i g he wome as s ay-a -home moms while he husba ds have ve y successful ca ee s: The e is a diffe e ce be wee qui ky, flawed cha ac e s a d o es who a e i capable of p ofessio al success. A d whe he la e is eliably female, i makes fo **7**is elevisio . I also makes fo u ealis ic elevisio .170 La e Nigh wi h Jimmy Fallo w i e Ali Walle asked he Twi e followe s If Mode Family is so ‘mode ‘ he why do ‘ a y of he wome have jobs?171 O he au ho s ei fo ce his c i icism, claimi g ha s ay-a -home mo he s a e o lo ge he o m i oday’s socie y.172 I seaso 4 of he show, he cha ac e Clai e Du phy eveals ha she had bee yi g o fi d wo k ow ha he h ee kids did ‘ eed a s ay-a -home mo he as much a ymo e, bu ha she fou d i ough o ee e he job ma ke af e such a lo g hia us, despi e he holdi g a college deg ee. I seaso 5, Clai e e u s o wo k a job a he fa he Jay P i che ‘s close compa y.

Acco di g o a CNET s affe comme i g o a fi s -seaso episode: The wife a d daugh e a e u able o lea how o use he emo e a d mus be augh by he fa he , while he so is ‘good wi h elec o ics,’ eve hough he is hough of as he s upides membe of he family.173 A ia a Reiche f om Gawke comme ed o he episode Game Cha ge whe e Glo ia hides he skill a chess so he husba d will o be upse a losi g: This mome is a bes a sappy quip abou comp omise i a of e heavy-ha ded se ies, a d a wo s , i ‘s a mome i a show wi h 9.3 millio viewe s, o a e wo k ow ed by Dis ey, which explici ly valida es gi ls a d wome subdui g hei i ellec .174 The show eve ually focused mo e o Clai e’s ca ee p og ess, wi h he u i g fo ci y cou cil, flippi g a home, ge i g a job i he fif h seaso , a d fi ally aki g ove as CEO of Jay’s compa y.

Sy dica io , s eami g, a d i e a io al b oadcas edi

The se ies was picked up fo sy dica io by USA Ne wo k fo $1.5 millio pe episode, alo g wi h bei g offe ed i local sy dica io a he same ime, wi h Fox Televisio S a io s he lead s a io g oup picki g up he se ies.175176177 The se ies is also show o Sky Comedy i he U i ed Ki gdom, Fox i Swede , yes Comedy i Is ael a d S a Wo ld i I dia. I Ca ada, he se ies ai ed o Ci y v fo i s fi s e seaso s.178 The e wo k addi io ally ob ai ed he sy dica ed s ip- igh s o he se ies whe hey became available. Subseque ly, he se ies moved o Global fo i s eleve h a d fi al seaso .179

I a umbe of o he cou ies ou side he US, he se ies is available fo s eami g o Ne flix a d la e Dis ey . All of Mode Family is available o Fox el, Fox el Now a d Bi ge i Aus alia.

The se ies was made available fo s eami g o Hulu a d Peacock i i s e i e y o Feb ua y 3, 2021.180

Adap a io sedi

Po e ial spi offedi

I Ju e 2020, ABC E e ai me p eside Ka ey Bu ke discussed a spi -off of Mode Family ce e ed a ou d Mi ch a d Cam, i spi ed by a idea f om se ies co-c ea o a d execu ive p oduce , S eve Levi a .188 I Ju e 2022, s a Jesse Tyle Fe guso co fi med ha he sc ip fo he show’s spi off is comple ed. “The sc ip ’s ou he e a d i ’s ve y good,” he old. “So you k ow, who k ows? If someo e wa s o p oduce i , maybe.” ۱۸۹

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