Modern Family: The Complete Ninth Season

By the ninth season, Modern Family had settled into familiar rhythms as it continued to follow the extended family as the children grow up and adults shift to new jobs and careers (or in the case of Ed O'Neill’s patriarch Jay, retirement). There are no real surprises here as Claire (Julie Bowen) takes over the company her father built, Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) and Phil (Ty Burrell) struggle to find new jobs, brainy Alex (Ariel Winter) thrives in college, awkward Manny (Rico Rodriguez) reinvents himself as a ladies man as he studies theater, and social maven Haley (Sarah Hyland) gets a job working for a celebrity lifestyle company. Naturally, there are Halloween and Thanksgiving episodes (although no Christmas episode this year) and it all ends with summer break for the kids. The guest cast includes Chris Martin, Terry Bradshaw, and Billy Crystal, who spoof themselves. Although ratings have dropped somewhat over the years, it remains a popular comedy and a very funny show that combines classic sitcom situations with the mockumentary format, while embracing the diversity of the changing American family. Compiling all 22 episodes from the 2017-18 ninth season, extras include a gag reel. Highly recommended. (S. Axmaker)