Modern Family Should Learn from Gervais's After Life

Modern Family writer's may want to
take a look at Ricky Gervais's  After
Life on how to write for younger
actors.

Pictured is the wonderful  Tommy
Finnegan who played George, the
nephew of  Gervais's Tony Johnson.

Tommy played George, like a normal
seven year kid, quite shy, the kid was
a cheerful kid who had to deal with a
bully.

There was a natural acting ability from
Tommy in his portrayal of George and that
came from the writing and directing.

The same can't be said from the last few
seasons of Modern Family.

Modern family's first few seasons were up
there with the very best of  Television,  MASH
Seinfeld and The Office.

The last three season though are more on the level
of Mrs  Brown's Boys and the worse of Everybody
Loves Raymond.

One of the reason why Modern Family is struggling 
now is the writing for and the directing of child
actor,  Jeremy Maguire who plays Joe.

The actor  thru no fault off his own comes off as
a Child actor and not the little boy he playing.

It's like Disney are grooming him to be the next
big kid star, and that they want the viewing audience,
to be saying, "He's the cutest kid ever"

I know it's a mock  documentary, but Jeremy breaks
the third wall in nearly ever scene he is in. His scenes
also seem to have been directed by his agent, it's not
for storyline sake, but to have his client known and loved.

Go back to the early seasons of Modern family, the writing
and directing for the kids were excellent,  Luke, Manny and
Lily were like kids are suppose to be, nervous worrying about
their place in the world and all of them being a bit of a smart
ass.

With Joe though, the kid actor comes across as we are suppose
to care about who he is in real life instead of the person  he
plays.

Again it's not Jeremy Maguire fault, he is only seven, but
with  his parents consistent   posting of him on social media
on wearing tuxes and three piece suits and him pulling faces
you would expect from a 16 year old taking selfies on facebook,
one does begin to wonder are the adults around him turning this
wee child into a Narcissist, but I guess that is another post.

The scenes with Joe are cringe worthy, and hard to watch
and it's harming Modern Family's legacy.

I  hope the wirters have taken a look at After Life and Tommy's
performance as a genuine wee kid, and I hope they learn from it,
as they head into  Modern Family's 11th and final season.

Time will tell.