We Love "Modern Family" So Much That We Named Our Dog After The Show

It didn't take long for my wife and I to be hooked on Modern Family (ABC, Wednesdays).  For me, I think it was about 10 minutes into the first episode I watched.  For my wife, it was the following day, after she watched the same episode from our DVR.

So how much do we love the show?  Enough to name our dog after the show.

Let me explain.

We got a new dog in March of this past year.  We found the dog online about a week before we met him and ultimately picked him up.  During that week, we went through possible names that we liked... Woody... Lincoln... Rocky... Otis... Archie... Grady... Barney...

I really liked Grady.

And then about a day before we were going to meet this dog, my wife and I were talking about Modern Family.  I mentioned something about the Phil Dunphy-isms.  "Hmm... Dunphy would be a good dog's name", my wife said.

And the decision was made.  Dunphy.

Naming a pet after a TV character was not completely a novel idea.  Our previous dog of 7 years, "Monty", was loosely named after Montgomery Burns from The Simpsons.  In fact, a few of the names on our list could be linked to TV shows: Woody (Cheers), Archie (All in the Family), Grady (Sanford and Son), and Barney (The Simpsons).

So I guess our silly little tradition continues...

How I Got Hooked On Modern Family

Modern Family (ABC, Wednesdays) has quickly become one of the hottest shows on television in just its first season.  Its fourteen Emmy nominations makes it one of the most nominated shows for this year's awards.  Almost the entire adult cast was nominated in the "best supporting" category.  (Ed O'Neill was the only regular who wasn't nominated - too bad for Ed, but hard to imagine 4 actors from one show being nominated for the same award.)  Personally, I think this is the best show (comedy) on TV for at least the last 10 years.

So how did I get into the show?  It was an accident.  Seriously.

What's your favorite Modern Family quote?

Modern Family, Ty Burrell | 'Modern Family': 20 Quippy Gems! | Photo 1 of 21 | EW.com

EW has 20 funny quotes from the first season of Modern Family. Here are couple of additional ones:

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Jay: The new maid keeps mixing up my underwear with Manny's. I put on the first thing I grabbed, it was like a crotch tourniquet.

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Gloria: Babe, I'm going to go to the gym to work out a little bit, you want to come with me?

Jay: I just ordered an extra long straw to avoid accidentally doing a situp.

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Phil: Yes, I should have told Claire about the dog. And I was going to. But I was just waiting for her to be in the right mood. Actually, I did get one right mood a couple nights ago, but I cashed that in for something else.

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Phil: I always felt bad for people with emotionally distant fathers, it turns out I'm one of them. It's a miracle I didn't end up a stripper.

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What's your favorite?

Who is the best actor on Modern Family?

My favorite show on TV by far, and probably for about the last 10 years, is Modern Family. Great writing, and I love the camera work (this style is not new, but sometimes it's like the camera is a silent character in the scenes), but the biggest thing that makes it stand out (in my opinion) is the casting. OUTSTANDING! There is no clear lead actor, it's almost like a show filled with supporting actors. Which got me thinking... who's the best actor on the show?

As for the men...

Ed O'Neill? I think he's perfect for his character. Aging guy who marries a younger Latin women, his world has been a bit rocked by being a father again to step son Manny, but maybe he sees this as his chance to get fatherhood right. Love him in this part, I don't think he's the best on the show.

Jesse Tyler Ferguson? The uptight, needs everything in its place character... Ferguson is great for it. But not the best.

Ty Burrell? My favorite character is Phil Dunphy. Trying too hard to be the perfect dad and husband. He's dorky but doesn't know it (flashback to when he was a cheerleader, and in one episode he references not playing a sport (basketball?) to focus on his magic). But as for the best, keep going.

Eric Stonestreet? Yes! The big gay guy with the higher voice, and the hand gestures, and the funny quips and one-liners (he says in one episode how he wants to go back to being the trophy wife... too funny). He nails it. I hope he wins an Emmy.

As for the women... this one is easier for me, only because there are fewer choices. (I'm leaving the kids out of this one.)

Sofia Vergara? Cast very well for this part. She's had quite a career in the Latino world prior to coming to the US. And she's awesome in this part. Plus, she's drop-dead gorgeous. But I think the best is...

Julie Bowen. The sometimes narotic mom, dealing with kids who are growing up, and being married to clueless Phil. I think she's so believable in this part.

What do you think???