As long as Ed O'Neill is on the show it'll be worth watching for me. His delivery is impeccable.

I will say I was somewhat disappointed that there wasn't a single reference to "4 touchdowns in 1 game" in this episode.

If you're nit enough to care what quarter they're in the fictive football game in a fictive sitcom, then,

"They wear ascots!?" "No, team mascots"

Just a thought, but maybe the reason they're not starting huge plots for the future is because they need the show to be funny and pay off with viewers NOW.

Maybe after they get renewed and know they'll be able to stick around another season they'll move things along like Arrested Development did.

Setting up plotlines and jokes that don't pay off imediately takes screentime, the writers don't have that luxury until they know there will be upcoming seasons...

I predict they'll move in that direction once they're renewed.

Kinda tired of the faux-documentary style, also the way the show sets up the family discord only to have everything wrapped in a perfect little bow 22 mins later in a TGIF/Full House type way is cliche and boring.

But the cast is good and the show can be funny. Good background noise, would not recommend anyone go out of their way to get their hands on it though.

Eh, I think this is overly critical of taking The Office style mockumentary concept and moving it to a large extended family. (And it's certainly more original than taking The Office style mockumentary concept and moving it to... another work place situation comedy)

With 3 families there are alot of moving parts and the interviews (for me) add alot of information and there are great moments for humor.

The most surprising thing about this series is how great Al Bundy is. Overall I'd give this thing a B to B+ - I don't think it has the potential to be something on the level of AD (and I doubt they're going for something as complex from a storytelling standpoint).

this show has me lol'ing more than anything else on tv right now. this and big bang have the best moments from week to week as far as i'm concerned.

my only beef this week was with how "michael scott" like the doctor scene felt with the fat gay guy being so awkward about the asian doctor and baby.

my top 3 moments:
"how'd they do that? did that come from space?"
in the zinger at the end..."i've got priors"
anytime julie bowen is on screen OMG i'm in love. she is perfect!

The dad trying to bond with the kids after school was hilarious. I can relate...

Tonight's episode was just terrible.

any insight? or is terrible the new word for awesome?

operator: tell your wife to stop screaming
mitchell: that's a man

i am glad i am not you

Didn't think it was their best episode but still enjoyed it. The scenes with Phil/Claire teaching Haley (she looks like a younger Mila Kunis) to drive reminded me so much of when I was 17 and got my drivers permit and drove around with my parents, with my dad trying to play it cool and my mom freaking out every 5 seconds.

"AWAY FROM THE KIDS; AIM FOR THE LAKE!"

they must be playing the eps out of order right? Cause last ep the kids were already in school (where the two boys got into a fight) and this ep was their first day back.

Maybe ABC thought this week was kind of a weak episode (which it was) and wanted to drop it when other shows were all in reruns and most ppl would be watching the world series?

The dad is the weakest character on the show, but he can still be quite funny, especially when paired with gloria ("we all know you'd be fine without underwear").

Still overly formulaic but with funny moments.

Haha wat? Why? I have a vested interested in the series and (so I watched it) and it was very bad, especially by this show's standards (overall solid).

Oh ok, yah, I can explain why I thought it was terrible.

-there was in fact no storyline, no A, no B, no symmetry or connecting storylines between the familes, it was just poorly conceived from the get go

-this is highlighted by the awful "scrubs-like" ending to the episode from julie bowden - she made no sense and it wasn't touching or anything

-the husband can be good but he was just ******ed this episode

-the above is all totally fine (i mean this is just a sitcom) if it's actually amusing - they went for cheap, easy laughs (e.g. the asian doctor jokes), i laughed once I think during the episode (something the fat gay guy did, his character and acting can overcome horrible writing and premise)

-the show is being held to a higher standard because overall it's the best new sitcom offering from the broadcast networks, and til this episode, has been solid

Community is much funnier than this.

I'd compare MF to a milder, less funny Arrested Development that always tries to end on a sweet note.

the logistical nature of the show is that each week won't involve the 3 families actually interacting face to face. yes, when they do we might have greater opportunities at humor, but i think they are handling this fine...in so much as the families do cross paths even when they dont (phone call from mitchell to his sister and then ed o'neill talking about mitchell going to school and getting made fun of/picked on as a warning to gloria).

the ending from JB was definitely corny but i guess we differ in that when i watch a sitcom i'm ok with just laughing throughout and not stressing about the last 2 minutes. then again, u said u didn't laugh, so...

the husband is my favorite character becuase he is so pathetic and i still liked him this ep. so i'll defend him by saying: his ******edness is what makes him good.

care to elaborate?

loved the "dont pull over, i got priors" line.

Uh, sure - think this is rather intuitive but I am one of many people who work in the media industry that has as a touchpoint in our portfolio of assets this particular program.

cool, man

Stomping on the Mexican flute. Awesome.

Cougar Town and Modern Family were pretty awesome this week, both had me laughing a lot.

Just caught up on this, watching all seven episodes in the last few days.

Quite like some of the characters (the old guy, the fat gay guy), and it tends to give me 2 or 3 laugh out loud moments per episode. Generally enjoyable enough to watch. I'll probably stick with it for this season but won't go out of my way to recommend to others.