Common Sense Media Review
By Emily Ashby
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Poignant comedy series has mature content, stereotypes.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Modern Family
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 76 parent reviews
Parents say that the show provides a mix of humor and heart, appealing to both older children and adults, though some reviews caution about its inclusion of adult themes, including sexual references and flawed role models. While many families enjoy its comedic take on diverse family structures, others express concern over content that might not be appropriate for younger viewers, stressing the importance of parental guidance in choosing which episodes to watch.
- diverse characters
- flawed role models
- adult themes
- parental guidance
- suitable for teens
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 386 kid reviews
Kids say the show is a hilarious and touching portrayal of family life, appealing to a range of ages but containing many adult themes that may not be suitable for younger viewers, such as sexual references and some strong language. While many enjoy its humor and diverse representation, parents are advised to watch it with their children or at least be aware of the more mature content to facilitate discussions about its themes.
- funny family portrayal
- adult themes
- diverse representation
- recommended for teens
- parental guidance advised
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
MODERN FAMILY centers on the daily lives of three different but related families. There's Jay (Ed O'Neill) and his second, much younger wife, Gloria (Sofia Vergara), and her son, Manny (Rico Rodriguez). Jay's grown daughter, Claire (Julie Bowen), lives nearby with her husband, Phil (Ty Burrell), and is a full-time mom to their three teens. Claire's brother, Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Ferguson), and his life partner, Cameron (Eric Stonestreet), are raising their adopted daughter a stone's throw away from the rest of the family. The series chronicles the ups and downs of parenting, marriage, and family relationships. Later seasons have seen developments such as Claire and Phil's oldest daughter leaving for college, Mitchell and Cameron's attempts to adopt another child, and an unexpected baby on the way for Jay and Gloria.
Is It Any Good?
This show is well scripted, the cast is superb, and it doesn't shy away from a down-and-dirty look at family life. It's no surprise that Modern Family has picked up several accolades since its debut in 2009. Balancing the good times and bad times isn't always an easy task in a comedy, but this series always ends on a heartwarming note that reflects the beautiful imperfection of family relationships. At the same time, it offers a contemporary picture of the modern American family in its presentation of three very different -- but equally loving -- household structures.
That said, Modern Family isn't for everyone. There are a lot of stereotypes to weed through, and the plot often deals with sex, which is discussed openly in teens' company, as well as other mature themes such as death, divorce, and, to some degree, prejudice. Much of the humor revolves around Mitchell and Cameron's life together and Jay's unconventional marriage to his young Colombian wife. Take into consideration your family's values before opting into this series, but if you do watch with your teens, know that its ultimate message is one of tolerance and the lasting connection among family members of all manner of backgrounds.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Modern Family compares to other family-centered shows. Does the content seem more or less realistic than others'? Do the central relationships seem nontraditional to you? How are they different from other sitcom families?
How does your family compare to the characters in this show? What aspects of your family might be considered nontraditional? How do the characters change over the course of the series? In what ways does this show emotional growth on their part?
How does the media portray relationships in general? Is it ever appropriate to use stereotypes as a way of portraying them? Why do you think topics such as unplanned pregnancy, divorce, sex, and sexual identity are dealt with so frequently on TV shows and in movies?
How do the characters in Modern Family demonstrate communication and humility? Why are these important character strengths?
TV Details
- Premiere date : September 23, 2009
- Cast : Ed O'Neill , Jesse Tyler Ferguson , Julie Bowen
- Network : ABC
- Genre : Comedy
- Topics : Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Friendship
- Character Strengths : Communication , Humility
- TV rating :
- Awards : Common Sense Media Award , Emmy - Emmy Award Winner , Golden Globe - Golden Globe Award Winner , Kids' Choice Award , NAACP Image Award - NAACP Image Award Nominee
- Last updated : December 11, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
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