Modern Family may be the hottest comedy to hit network television in recent memory. Since its debut in 2009, the show has quickly garnered near-iconic status and continues to capture new faithful fans every week. Viewers just can’t get enough of the sharp writing, spot-on casting and clever gimmicks that make the show unique.

The story line revolves around three quirky but loveable Los Angeles area families that are all connected through Jay Pritchett and his children Claire and Mitchell. Want to know a secret? The characters are based on the real-life families of Executive Producers Christopher Lloyd and Steven Levitan.

Jay Pritchett, the patriarch of this Modern Family, is played to dorky perfection by Ed O’Neill of Married with Children fame. His much younger Colombian wife, Gloria (Sofia Vergara) is a Latin spitfire raising a pre-teen son, Manny (Rico Rodriguez). Claire (Julie Bowen) is a married housewife with three kids and Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) and his gay partner Cameron (Eric Stonestreet) have adopted a Vietnamese baby, Lily.

Hilarity reigns when the branches of this family tree get intertwined in one ridiculously dysfunctional situation after another. And the gimmick of the characters pausing to speak directly to you, the viewer, keeps audiences coming back for more! If you don’t want to be the odd-person out during water cooler chats in the office, better get on top of things and check out Modern Family!