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Is “Modern Family” really that good?

Wed, 03 Oct 2012 16:26:00 +0000

A week and a half ago, “Modern Family” cleaned up at the Emmys, winning best supporting actor and actress in a comedy, best comedy direction and best comedy for the third year in a row. By the end of the telecast, which also included a funny sketch pretending that the child actress who plays Lily is a bratty little diva, it felt like a big party thrown in “Modern Family’s” honor. But as the series begins its fourth season — it premiered last week — “Modern Family” is not the sitcom it once was. Its Emmy victories obfuscate the mean streak running through all the feel-good family comedy.

It’s easy to see why Emmy voters love “Modern Family”: It is neither tragically hip nor unhip. It splits the difference between the old-fashioned, retrograde, popular, anti-wit sitcoms CBS specializes in and the edgy, niche, boundary-pushing, low-rated comedies that the Internet is obsessed with (“Parks & Recreation,” “Community,” “Girls,” “Louie”). “Modern Family” is old-fashioned yet socially liberal, well-watched but actually funny. It’s not particularly innovative, but it is also not “Two and a Half Men.”

Tom Hanks attaches Emmy to his car, because he can

Mon, 24 Sep 2012 17:24:00 +0000

What does a guy who has an entire Wikipedia page devoted to his awards do with an Emmy?

Tie it to his car as a hood ornament, naturally. Actor Tom Hanks tweeted this video to his fans last night, after his Emmy win for producing "Game Change."

Tom Hanks on WhoSay

Dresses of the Emmys

Mon, 24 Sep 2012 16:50:00 +0000

"Modern Family" stole the show in more ways than one: Julie Bowen and Sofia Vergara were among the best-dressed at the red carpet (although Amy Poehler may have upstaged them both). Check out the gallery to some of the best- and worst-dressed ladies from last night's Emmys.

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Dresses of the Emmys

Mon, 24 Sep 2012 14:45:00 +0000

"Modern Family" stole the show in more ways than one; Julie Bowen and Sofia Vergara were among the best-dressed at the red carpet (although Amy Poehler may have upstaged them both). Check out the gallery to some of the best and worst dressed ladies from last night's Emmys.

[slide_show id=13020336]

Must-see morning clip

Mon, 24 Sep 2012 12:56:00 +0000

Though the win was well-deserved, even Jon Stewart poked fun at the Emmys and their predictability for awarding "The Daily Show" its 10th Emmy. But he struck a balance between humor and truth, saying, "We make topical comedy, which has the shelf life of egg salad. Like, nobody cares after five days. So to do this for 15 years and to have tangible proof that what we made wasn't just ephemeral is wonderful."

The no good, very bad Emmys

Mon, 24 Sep 2012 04:28:00 +0000

Well, that was painfully dull. The Emmys, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, proved to be an extremely good night for “Homeland,” “Modern Family,” “Game Change” -- and no one watching at home. Those three programs swept the drama, comedy and miniseries awards, respectively, winning almost every single category they were nominated in and turning the Emmys into a long, boring, predictable coronation.

“Homeland” kept “Mad Men” from winning its fifth straight best drama award in a row, but by the time this award — the second to last of the night — was announced, “Homeland” not winning something, anything, would have been the surprise. As Jon Stewart put it, after beating out “The Colbert Report” yet again, in the future aliens “will find a box [of his Emmys], and find out just how fucking predictable they are.” Or, to put it another way, this year Jon Cryer won best actor in a comedy for his role in “Two and a Half Men.” Oh boy.

Big Emmy wins: “Homeland,” “Modern Family”

Mon, 24 Sep 2012 03:29:00 +0000

"Homeland," which puts the battle against terrorism on American soil, was honored as best drama series at Sunday's Emmys and earned trophies for stars Claire Danes and Damian Lewis. "Modern Family" was named best comedy.

"We feel so lucky, lucky not only to have jobs in these challenging times, but to have jobs that we love with people we love," said Steven Levitan, co-creator of "Modern Family."

The drama "Homeland" stopped "Mad Men" in its tracks, denying the show a record-setting fifth trophy and kept Bryan Cranston from his fourth consecutive best drama award for "Breaking Bad" and "Mad Men" star Jon Hamm an also-ran once more.

The Emmys refused to play it predictably Sunday, with Jon Cryer of "Two and a Half Men" earning a best actor award and Jimmy Kimmel proving a game but uneven host.

"I'm one of those pesky Brits, I apologize," said Lewis, who plays an American in the espionage thriller. "I don't really believe in judging art, but I thought I'd show up just in case."

Danes, eye-catching in a bright yellow dress that gracefully draped the pregnant actress, was effusive.

"My husband, my love, my life, my baby daddy, this doesn't mean anything without you," she said to her spouse, actor Hugh Dancy.

Emmys: Is it finally Jon Hamm’s year?

Fri, 21 Sep 2012 15:41:00 +0000

As if there were not enough going on in the TV universe right now, the Emmy Awards air this Sunday night, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel. This year’s nominations were pretty forward thinking ("Louie"! Lena! Schmidt!), but will the awards themselves be? Or will it be “Modern Family” and “Mad Men” all over again? (Not that I’m complaining about "Mad Men.") Here are some category-specific story lines to look out for on Sunday night.

1.) Best drama, or can “Mad Men” hold off “Downton Abbey” and “Homeland”?

There’s a story in the New York Times today all about how psyched PBS is on “Downton Abbey’s” Emmy hopes. Objectively, Season 2 of the British costume drama was inconsistent — Matthew’s vanishing paralysis! Bates turning into a whiny maybe-murderer! That amnesiac heir covered in bandages!— but it’s got momentum, more viewers than “Mad Men” and an audience who doesn’t really care how bad it can be. Moreover, “Mad Men” has won best drama four years in a row, and no show has ever won five in a row. If “Downton’s” not the show to upset “Mad Men," there’s always Showtime’s far more deserving “Homeland."