Shot in the fashionable "mockumentary" style, allegedly compiled by a foreign exchange student from Sweden, "Modern Family" shows three branches of the Pritchett family tree: Pater familia Jay Pritchett has married Gloria, a much younger, beautiful, passionate and outspoken Columbian, who brings her somewhat unconventional son, Manny, into the family with her. Jay's daughter Claire has married real estate broker Phil Dunphy, and they have three children--Haley, a boy-crazy, attitude-rich high school diva; Alex"”short for Alexis"”a gifted, insightful, but somewhat awkward tween cello player; and Luke, who is cluelessly stumbling through life and elementary school. Jay's son Mitchell, an attorney, and Cameron, his gay partner, have adopted a VietNamese daughter, Lily; and they are adjusting to partnership and parenthood all at once. Together, the family struggles through the predictable crises of everyday life. Spectacular writing distinguishes the show, and its perfectly chosen ensemble cast looks and feels like families who live just up the street. In 2010, at the middle of its first record-breaking season, "Modern Family" collected six Emmy Awards, including the much-coveted award for Outstanding Comedy Series. "Modern Family" also collected a Writer's Guild Award, a Peabody Award, a Directors' Guild Award, and a Television Critics Award.

"My Wife and Kids" is a popular American sitcom that aired on ABC from 2001 to 2005. The show follows the life of Michael Kyle, a successful businessman, and his family. Kyle's family includes his wife Janet, and their three children, Junior, Claire, and Kady.

"Our Flag Means Death" is an upcoming American television series that is being produced by HBO Max. It is a comedy-adventure series that is loosely based on the true story of Stede Bonnet, a wealthy landowner who gave up his privileged life to become a pirate. The show will be produced by Taika Waititi, who is known for his work on "Thor: Ragnarok" and "Jojo Rabbit."

Who says symbiosis cannot be funny? Co-dependency typically is tragic; reciprocity generally is wistful and romantic. "Peep Show" affords viewers a rare and privileged glimpse into perfect coincidence and complement. "Peep Show" pairs the proper and respectable, reasonably successful but socially inept Mark Corrigan with Jeremy Lisbourne, an unemployed musician who makes-up in narcissism and self-confidence what he lacks in musical talent. Of course, Jeremy's irrepressible optimism complements Mark's relentless pessimism. Of course, Mark's cynicism and lassitude provoke Jeremy's vaguely manic enthusiasm. Of course, women terrify Mark, encouraging Jeremy to tutor him in the subtle arts of grace and seduction. One could not survive without the other; and in this intricately inter-dependent environment, "Peep Show's" comedy flourishes. Early in 2011, "Peep Show" earned the title "longest-running sit-com on British Television's Channel 4." To the best of our knowledge, they award no nifty statuette for that, but it represents a considerable honour"”at least as big as the show's BAFTA awards. "Peep Show's" style showcases its writers' talents, because it features point of view shots with Mark and Jeremy's thoughts revealed in voice-overs.

As he championed "the new journalism" in the late sixties, Tom Wolfe suggested no one ever would write anything truly compelling"”fact or fiction"”about the suburbs; he asserted, "There is no life there." During the New Depression, however, the suburbs have gone ghetto, suddenly teeming with life and depravity; and television writers are producing all kinds of compelling stuff about what they have discovered beyond the white picket fences. Witness Showtime's smash-hit "Weeds," the life and times of a "proper" suburban widow keeping-up appearances while she deals more dope than a six-pack of Mexican cartels. As in "The Office," the basic premise for "Weeds" is an import from Great Britain, adapted from the British film Saving Grace which showed a widow and her gardener conspiring to maintain the widow's lifestyle by supplying the locals with their favorite herbal refreshment. Critics frequently compare "Weeds" with American Beauty for its exploitation of the idea "Normal is the face we wear to cover how f***ed-up we are." By contrast with "Desperate Housewives," Nancy Botwin, our entrepreneurial heroine, has far more good reason for desperation than her difficulty achieving orgasm; she has a house, a mortgage, two sons, and a reputation. Since Bonfire of the Vanities tanked and "Weeds" flourished, Tom Wolfe may have to consider the distinct possibility that there is no life in Manhattan.

Starring Edie Falco, Showtime's "Nurse Jackie" stands out as arguably the best medical drama on television, because the premium cable network allows writers and producers plenty of latitude for developing all of Jackie's passions"”the quality of her patients' care, the unbearable arrogance of vaguely sociopathic physicians, and the delicious relief of good orgasms and Oxycontin. "Nurse Jackie," both the character and the show, have some issues: The character suffers excruciating pain from a bad back and therefore has developed an addiction to painkillers. Yes, you have seen this dangerous dilemma recently on both "House" and "Southland," where the admirable characters continue doing their wonderworks despite their addictions. "Nurse Jackie," the show, suffers a subtle but unmistakable identity crisis, suggesting opportunities for some of the most brilliant black humor known to American medical drama; but, like a pensive and pretentious nineteen-year-old, it insists on taking itself much too seriously. One critic aptly observes, "'Nurse Jackie' doesn't look like the average network medical drama, but it does follow the formula of many premium cable shows, taking a knowing and at times dark, sardonic look at the classic themes of love, life and work." The critic, however, forgets to mention that nowhere does "sardonic" appear as a synonym for either "funny" or "engaging."