Modern Family Midseason Report Card: B

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It's piled up a number of Emmy Awards, but how does Modern Family fare when it really counts?

That's the question Leigh Raines answers below, as this TV Fanatic writer tackles the ABC sitcom in the latest edition of a Midseason Report Card. Read on and see if you agree with her season three assessment...

Jay Down!

Best Character: Phil Dunphy. Buffalo Phil, the male cheerleader, is the eternal optimist. This season, we've learned he can give a man a mean massage, walk a tight rope and will survive getting tasered!

Worst Character: Claire Dunphy. I know Julie Bowen won an Emmy for this role, but 95% of the time I find her character to be annoying. She’s always so down on everyone and everything. Claire is her best when she throws out the rulebook.

Best Episode: “Go Bullfrogs.” As I mentioned above, Claire needs to loosen the heck up. See how fun and hilarious she can be? Sexy guest star Gilles Martini, Cam and Mitchell’s concern over their potpies and Prius and a special father/daughter bonding trip just rounded out the perfect episode.

Worst Episode: “Punkin Chunkin.” It had a good intention with the theme that the realists and idealists balance each other out, but, ultimately this one just fell short. It wasn’t funny. Too much nagging and not enough laughing.

Favorite Quote: It’s so tough to choose, but Cam’s “It’s ironic, like ‘The Gift of the Vagi” line when he was hitting on Leslie Mann was pretty classic. Speaking of, can we please bring back Leslie Mann?

Surprising Development: Haley and Alex are so fun when they team up together! I’m glad to see they’re venturing out of the “I fully hate you” sister zone and into the “There’s a thin line between love and hate” sister zone. Nobody get away with busting your balls like your sister.

Hopes for 2012: More Jay! Jay secretly has this huge heart and I love when we get to see that side of him. Hmmm... what else? Claire letting loose, maybe a boyfriend for Alex, Phil just being Phil, and Gloria still wearing tight clothes (fellas, that one’s for you.)

Overall Grade: B. Modern Family is so well written, but sometimes it just pigeonholes its characters. Also, the nagging has gotten boring to watch.

Agree? Disagree? Weigh in with your own grade now!

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Modern Family Quotes

You could pretend to get sick at the table. You know cough, stomachache, dealer's choice, I don't care just sell it.

Mitchell

Thank you Uncle Manny!

Haley