TV in Review: Modern Family, “Virgin Territory”

The ABC sitcom Modern Family drew some fire last week because 17-year-old Haley Dunphy is discovered to have succeeded in the sack, despite being named Haley Dunphy. Perhaps she makes her friends call her Haley D?

The episode opens over brunch. So Californian. So white. Speaking of which, have you seen the #3 definition of brunch at the Urban Dictionary?

Brunch.
A group of Caucasian people.
I had dinner with a brunch of friends.

In other news, Boy Luke is mad.

He’s mad because Girl Lily is now the cute kid of the family.

Luke leads Manny in an attempt to besmirch Lily’s oh-so-cute reputation. We all think back to poor Rudy getting muscled aside by Olivia on The Cosby Show.

As for the actual moment of discovery when Phil learns that daughter Haley is not a virgin…to my mind, it was skillfully done, involving wordplay and excellent comedic reactions between dad and both daughters.

Frankly, it’s about time that sitcoms deal with teen sexuality in a more mature manner, such as acknowledging that it exists. Modern Family presents an example of openness and communication in a family that cares. Unrealistic, sure, but not a bad model.

If you worry about kids imitating the poor behavior that they see on television, then you don’t even want to think about all the kids who are now going to steal their parents’ cars in order to impress girls by cruising casually by the lemonade stand.

Manny is my favorite.

See also:
“Modern Family” Incorporates Guns, Sex Talk in Latest Episode
modern family recapping: virgin territory
Modern Family “Virgin Territory” Review
Modern Family – Recap & Review – Virgin Territory