Modern Family (ABC)

MODERN FAMILY traces three very different branches of the same family tree. Patriarch Jay (Ed O’Neill) is recently married to the beautiful Gloria (Sofia Vergara) -- whom people often mistake for his daughter -- and new stepdad to her son, Manny (Rico Rodriguez). Jay’s grown son, Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Ferguson), tries to be patient with his dad’s discomfort over his same-sex lifestyle, but he’s happy with who he is -- and with his long-time partner, Cameron (Eric Stonestreet), and their adoptive daughter, Lily. And Mitchell’s sister, Claire (Julie Bowen), rounds out the picture with her own three kids, her husband, Phil (Ty Burrell), and their struggles with common parenting woes like overscheduled calendars and negotiating teen dating.

Modern Family accomplishes just what it sets out to do: It updates the classic family sitcom to reflect the ever-changing canvas of American family life. Though its primary intent is to entertain -- and it offers plenty of laughs -- the interplay between the characters is often heartwarming, reminding us that family relationships are rarely perfect but always play important roles in shaping who we are.

Because the show's content touches on mature topics like sexuality and divorce and includes some salty language ("hell," "damn," "bitch," etc.) and sexual innuendo, this really isn’t a show for tweens. Much of the humor revolves around Mitchell and Cameron's lifestyle or Jay's unconventional marriage to his much younger bride. But for teens and adults who can put the chuckles into context, Modern Family is a sharp comedy with characters that reflect society's modern definition of "family" -- and might make viewers a little more forgiving of the idiosyncrasies within their own clans.