The 2009 fall television season is a blessed one. Not only do we have one great new comedy, we have TWO! Crazy, right? And not only are they good, but by some strange circumstance, people are actually watching them! Well, enough people are watching them for us to think they'll both be back next year.
The comedies in question, of course, are ABC's Modern Family and NBC's Community, both of which have served as defibrillators for the terminally-ill network sitcom.
But is anyone content with just saying there are two great new comedies on the air? No! There can only be one BEST new comedy, and we're going to find out which one it is, right now, with the help of TV.com's patented SitCometrics System. We'll examine each show in five different categories, then award a point to the program that performs best in each. Finally, using first-grade math, we'll tally the points and declare a winner.
The Contenders:
Modern Family (Wednesdays at 9 pm on ABC). A mockumentary look at three "regular" American families. Easily compared to Arrested Development and Christopher Guest movies. Best episodes: "Coal Digger," "Pilot," and "The Incident."
Community (Thursdays at 8pm on NBC). A lawyer enrolls in community college after learning he was a few credits short of earning his law degree. Best episodes: "Introduction to Statistics," "Advanced Criminal Law," and "Debate 109."
Off we go!
Cast: This critical category is a tight one. Community boasts Chevy Chase, the man who once played Fletch, and Joel McHale, the man who could play him today. Add fall's freshest faces—Danny Pudi and Donald Glover—and you're looking at TV's most surprising new motley crew of a cast. But Modern Family has Ed O'Neill, who is looking like an Emmy candidate right now, and adding Ty Burrell, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Eric Stonestreet, Sofia Vergara, and a bushel of funny child actors only seals the deal. Point: Modern Family.
Guests/Recurring Actors: Like sexually frustrated couples, comedies need to throw others into the mix to spice things up. Shelley Long in ModFam's "The Incident" was hilarious. It was nice to see Diane Chambers get absolutely lubed on booze and destroy a wedding. Unfortunately, Ed Norton's appearance as Spandau Ballet's bass player was a disaster, despite the "Fandau" gag. Elizabeth Banks was so-so, but just reminded us how much we'd rather watch Cam and Mitchell instead. On Community, John Oliver's portrayal as Jeff's nemesis/friend (frienemesis?) is hysterical, and I don't care what anyone says, Ken Jeong as Senor Chang is muy awesomo. Fred Willard's upcoming role as Phil's dad in Modern Family could change our minds, but for now, it's Point: Community.
Future: Why waste time on a show that's going to hit a wall, creatively, in its second season? If a show is built on a premise, what happens when that premise eventually runs out? Case in point: Community. How long can the writers keep Jeff in community college? Isn't he going to get his credits and get out of there as fast as he can? Or will he be faced with some some BS storyline about needing to stay another year? Likewise, with Modern Family you have—actually, family never gets old. Point: Modern Family.
Intangibles: Sometimes, you like a show for the little things. Maybe it's Sofia Vergara's cleavage, maybe it's Abed's Batman impression. Modern Family has this way of wrapping up each episode with so much heart, it just warms your soul and makes you want to call your mom and tell her you love her. Heck, sometimes even I call your mom after watching Modern Family (if she isn't over at my place already—zing!). But Community has something that's so important to television and that I can never, ever get enough of: diversity. Here's an ensemble cast with two African-Americans, an Indian-American (who happens to be half Polish), an Asian-American, and *gasp* a Brit! It's like Lost, but with less time travel and more Econ 101! Plus, Abed's Batman was reaaaaallllly funny, which has nothing to do with intangibles, but hey, I needed a tie-breaker (no offense to Ms. Vergara's cleavage). Point: Community.
Consistency: Like a good restaurant, all we want from a comedy is to know what we'll be putting into our various cranial orifices. Modern Family has operated on a check-plus level almost each and every episode, ending its streak only last week with the worst episode of the season so far (by its own standards). Other than that one bump, it's been comedy gold. The same can't be said for Community, which has bounced back and forth in quality. When it's good, it's great, when it's bad, it's only okay. Point: Modern Family.
The Winner: Just a second as I count the votes... it's Modern Family by the official score of three to two! But let's face it, we're all winners here! Except for Community, which is slightly less of a winner. But in this race, there's no shame in second place. Let's just be happy we actually have "best new comedy" candidates this season. Modern Family, stop by the TV.com offices anytime to pick up your trophy.
A clip from Modern Family:
A clip from Community:
Community beats the crap out of Modern Family.
i am such a community fan! i think it's so much better than modern family!
Obviously this article was written before the paintball episode, otherwise things would be different ;)
Gah, so I somehow stumbled on this article a year after it was written, but I can't help but point out a flaw in your "Community will run out of premise too soon" argument. It will eventually run out but in 4 years, not 2. The character of Jeff points out more than once he's get a Bachelors and he is on a strict 4-year plan. I thought all community colleges were 2-year associates degrees or certificate programs. But googling it, apparently some community colleges offer 4 year BA degrees too. I hope NBC supports Community for it to get through it's natural 4 years and then ends it there. For one thing, to try to stretch the premise would feel fakey, but also the best shows still get old eventually, and I'd rather see it go out on a high note in a natural wrap-up after 4 seasons. Scrubs? remained funny as long ad JD was there, but really had gotten overly campy and the characters shallower after the 4th/5th season. Even Arrested Development had gotten sloppy in the 3rd season and jokes that had been subtly funny became overexplained cheap gags. Buffy was fun and unique for a few seasons then became desperate in trying to make things interesting and was too much of a soap. Daria was brilliant for a few seasons and then lost steam, becoming the type of teen dramady it used to mock. Roseanne just got bizarre in later episodes. That 70s show couldn't have even still been the 70s in the end based on when the first season took place. I could go on and on, but in short, all good things come to an end - whether the basic premise of the show comands it or not. So I'd rather see 4 awesome seasons of Community and say goodbye, than 8 mediocre seasons of Modern Family where the relationships and storylines have been worn too thin.moreless
I absolutely enjoy and look forward to Modern Family each week. A great cast and funny story lines. I prefer Modern Family over Community, I could not warm up to Community and have stopped watching it.
community is easily better. the cast can actually act and saying ed o'neill is a reason to give a point is ridiculous. if he is up for an emmy then chevy chase is gonna win one & joel mchale will be nominated. the only funnyish parts about modern family are the manny/jay scenes & that gets old quick. community shakes it up every week & really makes people laugh out loud. modern family gets boring really easily & i hate how people compare it to arrested development. the bluth family was disfunctional & the modern family is nothing compared to them. they aren't even in the same orbit of awesome. the community cast is just funnier & the concept isn't the same old song and dance. i feel like i've seen modern family's concept done so many times & it just doesn't work for me. community only gets funnier as the show goes on.moreless
Just two? I think P&Rec is getting there, and I really don't have a problem with Cougar Town. It's pretty funny (in places).But yeah, out of the two greats, Definitely Modern Family. I have seriously not laughed that hard in a long time.
i like modern family better and community is going to end soon because of its ratings
I don't find Modern Family funny at all. it bores me. so for me, it's Community, but if it got cancelled I wouldn't really mind. there's only so far you can go with the "I have to go back to community college" plot, right?
Community is for me better than Modern Family although both are shows that if axed I will never miss. They have good actors but lame writers.
ive been a fan of both since day one. There equally funny in different ways, chevy chase's presence alone makes me laugh but the writing on modern family is phenomenal i have to say modern family has the upper hand here.
Community's the funniest show on TV right now, there hasn't been a weak episode yet (besides maybe the pilot, but even then).
I'm actually not that big on Modern Family, can't shake the Office ripoff feeling
I watch both, but if I missed Modern Family, I'd be upset...
Yey love Modern Family!!!
Modern Family ROCKS!!
Community is funnier by far.
both but Modern Family i think it's the best of these two ! . and community make laugh hard !!
Community is better.
The Troy-Abed bits at the end of episodes are something to look forward to.:)
Just because Ed 'Neil is in a show doesn't mean it should get a point really I mean Married with Children was a classic in my house but thats not fair
I love both shows -- undecided which I love more. Ken Jeong's a series regular, per credits. John Michael Higgins (Prof. Whitman) is still my top guest star on the show. The guy who plays Vaughn is good too, but what they do with the character is just hilarious in the first place.
I gave Modern Family a chance, and now I love it. Good show.
Modern Family
I love both but the community makes me laugh out loud more than modern family :)
Are you kiddin'?!I'm not gon'na enjoy show more than others just'cuz there's a diversed cast!That's racist!
Community is a much better show. "Modern Family" is trying way to hard, but achieving very little--certianly nothing new. And as far as TV.com's "points," well, you can't give points just for "Cast" --that's so dumb. Give points for "ACTING." Community is a better acted show, I don't care what the actor's name happens to be.
You forgot a category, "Which one makes you laugh!". Point Community. There now its a tie and they are both number one.
Community is great b/c it keeps pairing up different cast members and they all work together and bring new dynamics to the show.
"People Are Judging Us!" I can watch this over and over again.
I would rank Cougar Town ahead of Community.
How did Modern Family get 3 votes against Community? Put it against Parks and Rec then it'll be fun to read that neither show got a point.
I tried checking out Modern Family and I just... Didn't find it funny at all. It feels like a carbon copy of The Office, which I don't like either. Community on the other hand only gets more and more amazing by the episode, it's probably one of my current favorite series even, when the cripple threw himself out of the wheelchair to prove human kindness, I actually had to pause the episode to catch back my breath... Still not close to Arrested Development, which had those moments all the time.
And I just can't get into shows like Modern family and Arrested development I don't know why they just turn me off
I love Community more than I can even say its an amazing show not only because of my Hero Joel McHale but the story-lines are crazy the cast is great and NO mention of the Spanish rap or Vaughn's lovely songs above!
For me this is difficult because I have a complicated (read: dysfunctional) family dynamic AND I am a jaded, yet oddly proud community college drop-out. So, I am just glad they are on two seperate nights! Love em both!
I am desperately trying to like Community but I love Modern Family without reservation.
Modern Family! Hands down. I find Community a tad annoying, though I'm sticking with it. I'm completely over Jeff and Britta. Make it the Troy and Abed show, and I might have to reconsider...
I find Community hysterical and even funnier than my current favorite comedy, The Office, as far as this season goes. I agree, I don't know where it's going, but for now it's hilarious. Senor Chang is amazing and I always love with John Michael Higgins makes a guest spot (something the article failed to mention).
both suck and are full of errors just like the title of this article
As much of a fan of Joel McHale as I am, Modern Family is much funnier.
So far I choose neither..
Modern Family has more likable characters and thus wins!
Community for the win. But Modern Family is not too far behind.
I enjoy both shows! But community is not nearly as inconsistent as people claim it is :S pretty much every episode has been really good
mODERN fAMILY fOR tHE wIN!
I love both shows. Community is getting better each episode, and Modern Family is great from the beginning. I hope they both get a second season.