'Modern Family' Checks In With A Crazy Sixth Season Premiere

Evan Slead ’16 / Emertainment Monthly Staff Writer

The reigning king of primetime comedy, Modern Family, returned to ABC for its sixth season! Viewers were caught up on the summer experiences of the Dunphy’s, Mitch (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) and Cam’s (Eric Stonestreet) post-wedding life, as well as Jay (Ed O’Neill) and Gloria’s (Sofia Vergara) navigation of attraction through style. The wonderful part of Modern Family overall is the ability it possesses to make viewers feel like part of that crazy, modern family. This premiere was no different.
Claire (Julie Bowen), Phil (Ty Burrell), Haley (Sarah Hyland) and Luke (Nolan Gould) all seemed to have had the perfect summer. The kids actually got along, helping one another with baking and chores. Haley’s fashion blog reached over fifty thousand subscribers. Claire is actually loving Phil’s constant attempts at magic. Even the plums taste “Oh God!” worthy; every single one! Alex (Ariel Winter), on the other hand, was gone on a humanitarian trip building houses. When she returns early, that blissful and perfect summer quickly comes crashing down on the Dunphy’s, like a raincloud creeping in on a summer day. Of course, everything in the house goes back to normal with the fighting and annoyances once Alex brings them down to reality.

The successful aspect of Modern Family is their ability to execute seemingly subtle occurrences within families and make them relatable and paralleled among the characters. There’s always that one person in the family that just sucks the fun out of every situation, it seems. When they’re not there it’s like summer every day! However, the truth behind it all is that those people are needed to make the family a functioning whole. Haley really learns the secret to her online success is the uninvited peep show from her camera. Claire left a book in the oven overnight to air it out. Luke and Phil left the leaves of the rhubarb in the pie. Alex brings them away from their bliss, yes, but also saves them. Aren’t all families the same?
On the flip side there is Mitch and Cam living the honeymoon life. In this case, Mitch is the seemingly negative one who needs a little less loving from Cam’s constant balloon and fairy surprises. It’s not that he doesn’t appreciate them; he’s just the realist in the couple. In most real relationships there is a Mitch and there is a Cam. Some like dancing with their spouse at work meetings, and some just don’t; once again, tying in to the real world application that the characters that make up this family are a part of the modern reality. It’s all about the balance, just like with the Dunphey’s, to create that perfect unit. Mitch and Cam realize that they need to give a little to their weaknesses.

Jay and Gloria were the highlight of the episode. Jay had an embarrassing interaction with some young guys at Barney’s (because he likes to stay current of course) and decided that embracing his age was the only way to avoid it happening again. Bust out the Martin Scorsese spectacles and you can imagine how Jay looked. Gloria of course wants her man to dress like the sexy, confident man she fell in love with. Before he can admit why he really is dressing like Sophia Petrillo, Gloria decides to match him at his own game. She channels grunge, smearing lipstick around her lips like the newest cast member of American Horror Story: Freakshow. Any chance Sofia Vergara gets to pay homage to Lucille Ball is a good thing. Jay and Gloria are the modern Lucy and Ricky and it never fails to impress. Even with five seasons and five Emmy’s under their belt, Modern Family still continues to channel its original concept. Congrats to a new season you crazy, beautiful people.
Modern Family airs Wednesday’s at 9/8c on ABC.