TV's 25 best other 'modern families'

So just how modern are "The Simpsons," really? The fact that they are not perfect and none of their children is alike is proof enough. For 31 seasons now, "The Simpsons" have always been honest. They've shown that dysfunction is found in every family, of course maybe not to the extent of what Homer's been responsible for doing. Perhaps most important, "The Simpsons" are about unconditional love, a family trait that will never go out of style.

This Frankie Muniz hit has not been on the air in original form for more than a decade, but catch a rerun and you'll still see why this particular family dynamic remains relevant today. Malcolm's mom (Jane Kaczmarek) is the boss, while his dad (Bryan Cranston) is a lovable goof. And when we get right down to it, they might not really like their children most days.Yet, their devotion is pretty wonderful and a perfect example of being in it together.

Families with quirky siblings and less-than-responsible parents make for quite an entertaining piece of television comedy. That's the Bluths. However, in real life, the laughs might be few and far between in those cases. Yet there are plenty of real-life families that are able to live through the dysfunction, perhaps thanks to that one grounded family member (like Jason Bateman's Michael Bluth), who keeps everything in check. 

A family scraping to get by, essentially living paycheck to paycheck remains a modern-day reality for a majority of Americans. "The Middle" might have offered the most honest depiction of that life. The quirky, outcast son and looking-to-fit-in daughter only add to the dynamic that can easily be found in households across the country — and around the world. The collective frustration parents show with their lot in life is very real and relatable to many.

If often takes a village — or in this case an eclectic variety of family members —  to help raise a child. Martha Plimpton starred as a former teenage mother who is helping to take care of the daughter of her 23-year-old son, Jimmy. The Chance family did not have much, but they worked hard to get by. It was a real portrait of so many Americans doing the same thing.

This was a rather successful adaptation of the popular 1989 Ron Howard film. Sure, there were a lot faces to keep track of three generations of the Braverman Family. However, if fortunate, multi-generational relationships can be the lifeblood of a family, especially one that is close in proximity. "Parenthood" offered that in a modernized, more dramatic way when put on television.

An adaptation of the famed British television series, "Shameless" can be overwhelming and sometime nauseating for the viewer to keep up with the highly dysfunctional and poverish Gallagher clan. The antics of this family, especially alcoholic patriarch Frank (William H. Macy), are often cringe-worthy, but they are just trying to survive from day to day. And sometimes one must be creative in doing so. This is slated to be the series' final season.

Another family-themed animated comedy that has enjoyed a decent shelf life. Bob Belcher's clan might not be as over-the-top as other animated TV families like the Simpsons or Griffins, but they've generated an above-average amount of laughs while trying to balance running a burger joint, the home front and growing up and getting older. Its genuine and engaging approach to reality has allowed the show to remain successful. 

Though "Trophy Wife" lasted just one season, the concept was worthy enough to make this list. The show received primarily positive reviews during its solo season, mostly because there was a high level of believability between Pete (Bradley Whitford) and his much younger, attractive and up to the challenge, wife, Kate (Malin Åkerman). Together, along with Pete's children and two ex-wives, the family dynamic is quite unique and should have been given a little more time to develop.

Mom and Dad work for the KGB, posing as an ordinary American couple. How much more modern can we get? "The Americans" will go down as one of the great television dramas of all time, and the intense and unforthcoming family dynamic was a big reason why. A "modern family" is not limited to diversity, the number of extended family involved or maneuvering a generation gap. Work, and politics to a certain extreme, also are factors worth delving into. 

A lesbian couple - Stef (Teri Polo) and Lena (Sherri Saum) - were parents to five kids, four of whom are adopted. Not to mention, police officer Stef's partner on the force, Mike, who also happened to be her ex-husband. That made for quite the multi-ethnic, blended family. But it was both endearing and authentic while working on Freedom (formerly ABC Family) for five seasons.

Golden Globe-winner Gina Rodriguez shined in the title role as a Latina virgin who was inadvertently artificially inseminated during a visit to her gynecologist. Jane had plenty of people in her life (boyfriends, exes, her father), most notably her outspoken mother (Andrea Navedo). It went from being the little-show-that-could to a monster hit with a telenovela feel, and ingenious premise and unique family portrayal. 

"Black-ish," to some, might seem like a modern-day version of "The Cosby Show" — an upscale African-American family living their life. But it's arguably a more spot-on approach to today's kind of family living — regardless of race. Parents Dre (Anthony Anderson) and Bow (Tracee Ellis Ross) are far from perfect, and in a lot ways their children are smarter than they are in. Most parents will tell you that tends to be true.

The fictional tales of comedian Jerrod Carmichael's family lasted just three seasons but was one of the more underrated projects on network TV. Dealing with parents, a sibling and a significant other is nothing new for television. However, Carmichael provided a modern twist while balancing important society situations and family values in this first-rate comedy.

The first sitcom with an all-Asian-American cast to generate more than 100 episodes, "Fresh Off the Boat" was also pretty relatable to most families of any nationality while still celebrating their own heritage with comedic flair. Diversity remains a staple in television, whether comedy or drama, something that obviously was not the case 30 years ago. "Fresh Off the Boat" might be off the radar for some but should be celebrated for a solid depiction of an ethnic family succeeding in America.

Not all children need to be intensely close to their family to make it through life. Meet "Fleabag" (Phoebe Waller-Bridge). As this somewhat misguided British young adult tries to find her place personally and professionally, she's somewhat close to her pretentious sister and begrudgingly associates with her out-of-touch father. Truth be told, Fleabag's life is a mess, but that's the case for some in their late 20s or early 30s, who still need help with direction.

For three seasons, "Speechless did solid job of depicting a family dealing with the disability of one of its members. And it did a rather good job of not overly showcasing oldest-son JJ's cerebral palsy. His parents (Minnie Driver and John Ross Bowie) don't seem to care what people think, which makes for more than a few laughs. It proved to be relatively relatable to those living their real lives in similar ways.

The Ottos don't have the bank account to live in toney Westport, Connecticut, but they certainly are the most entertaining family in town. They moved there to receive educational help for youngest daughter Anna-Kat (played brilliantly by Julia Butters), who is dealing with an obsessive compulsive disorder. Not many shows are able to build quality comedy around a mental illness, but "American Housewife" does.

Multi-talented Donald Glover does it all with this FX hit that follows Atlanta cousins immersed in the Atlanta rap scene. Extended family is not always given first-class treatment on television, but it's reality nonetheless. Glover's Earn is on a quest to improve himself in the eyes of his parents, rapper cousin Al (Brian Tyree Henry) and the mother of his child. Family approval remains a modern-day predicament. 

This critically acclaimed NBC smash has been lauded for its unique multiple time frame method of storytelling. However, it's the relationship of the Pearson siblings (aka "The Big Three) — Randall (Sterling K. Brown), Kate (Chrissy Metz) and Kevin (Justin Hartley) — that is most refreshing about the show. Not all brothers and sisters hate each other or have lingering issues among them. But these kids, whether shown as children or adults, have a deep bond and unconditional love that's great to see.

Like we see with "This Is Us," sibling love can be strong. And there should always be a place for it on television. This Oprah Winfrey Network hit offers that but not in a rah-rah sense. Each of the Bordelon siblings — Nova (Rutina Wesley), Charley (Dawn-Lyen Gardner) and Ralph (Kofi Siriboe) — is different and troubled in a different way. They lead lives amid timely and important subjects like addiction, racism and second chances.

The original version from the 1970s and into the '80s told the story of a single mom raising two teenage daughters in a small Indianapolis apartment. Today's web series takes the same premise and infuses some diversity with a Cuban-American family at the forefront. It's also a far more edgier comedy than the original, tackling issues of PTSD, immigration and racism. Plus, it features the great Rita Moreno.

This Zach Braff vehicle lasted just 10 episodes, but its premise of a father quitting his job to start his own podcast company is a representation of what is currently going on in the work world. There are plenty of Americans striking out on their own, and the "gig" workforce is on the rise, though is currently amid challenging times. Too bad more viewers did not give it a chance. 

Even before Roseanne Barr's antics got the "Roseanne" redux canceled, the latest version of this popular sitcom essentially still has daughter Darlene (Sara Gilbert) indirectly ruling over the father's place while also raising her own child. Children often end up taking care of their parents, whether for health reasons or because they are just incapable of taking care of themselves. Doesn't get much more modern than that. 

One of the more underrated cable shows, Starz's "Vida" brilliantly taps into the Latinx scene while touching on topics like gentrification and bisexuality. Sisters Emma (Mishel Prada) and Lyn (Melissa Barrera) come together to keep their deceased mother's bar open while also trying to get a grip on their own semi-dysfunctional lives. Many people come in and out of the Hernandez's sisters affairs, so family is more of an extended concept in this fresh take on millennial life.