Family TV at its Newest

My mom swears I never want to do anything “as a family,” including watch television, and it is my teenage flaw. While this may or may not be true, some of today’s family centric tv shows give me enjoyable replacements for Wipeout reruns that seem to so fascinate the rest of my family. Family centric shows have always been a staple of American television, but they have recently taken a turn for the unusual, and Disney, FOX, and ABC are all following the trend. Not all of them quite hit the spot for me, but some are quite refreshing in their approaches. And all of them are better than Wipeout.

Good Luck Charlie (Disney) - Maybe its because I was grown and fed on Disney, like almost every other kid, but this predictable, feel-good show has become my guilty pleasure. Disney succeeds in creating (some) believable, likeable, and funny characters, and tries to include jokes that target all ages. And little Charlie successfully reminds me of Michelle from Full House, which is never a bad thing. This show is a family pick, approved by both my 11 year old brother and conservative parents.

Raising Hope (FOX) - This show is less about parenthood and more about the crazy characters that inhabit the small town of Natesville. Nevertheless, the show is crudely hilarious without being too disgusting. The characters are endearing, and the backwards suburban feel is comfortable to me. I recommend this show if only to watch old Maw Maw’s various antics, including attempting to use a thong as an eye patch. Remember to approach this one with the sense of humor needed for The Simpson’s.

Modern Family (ABC) - An interestingly odd show, I think Modern Family is the best of the family shows on TV. The acting is quirky yet still endearing and storylines predictable yet enjoyable. Unlike many other shows, Modern Family stereotypes just enough to the point where I’m agreeing with them, and its slightly oversweet lessons learned are balanced out by the funny one-liners. And Sofia Vergara makes me want to say her name over and over in an attempt at her wonderful accent.

I Hate My Teenage Daughter (FOX) - This is a swing and a miss for the most part; while the show is very good at portraying stereotypes, it is nothing I haven’t seen before, only amplified to new levels of irritating. The adults are slightly pathetic and needy, while the daughters are one-dimensional and spoiled. The show’s saving graces are the occasional laugh-out-loud lines, which are far and few between the rehashing of stereotypical teenage antics and mother-daughter interaction. My mom likes it, but her opinion I’m going to be teenage about, and disregard.