We may earn a commission from links on this page.The family sitcom, once a staple, has become a bit more rare over the past decade or so—but when one hits, as Modern Family did over the course of its eleven seasons, it hits big. Gone but not forgotten, the show continues to remind us that, hey—families DO come in all shapes and sizes, and that's not just fine—it's great actually. In that spirit, here are some other shows that invite us into the lives of big ol' families living the American and/or Canadian dream.Life in Pieces (2015–2019) Like Modern Family, Life in Pieces follows a large extended family (in California, no less) through trials both relatable and zany. Joan (Dianne Wiest) and John (James Brolin) head a family that includes Colin Hanks, Betsy Brandt, and Thomas Sadoski, with the clever conceit that each episode includes four distinct stories looking in on different members of the family; the stories often (but don't always) dovetail, but the format allows us to follow a huge cast of characters without a need for people to constantly be showing up at each other's houses. Clever. Stream Life in Pieces on Hulu. Life in Pieces (2015–2019) at Hulu Learn More Learn More at Hulu Black-ish (2014–2022) One of our most recent great family sitcoms, focuses on a slightly smaller ensemble than that of Modern Family while still dealing with the challenges of a large intergenerational family—it also follows a similar format in that dad Dre (Anthony Anderson) narrates episodes in not-quite mockumentary style. Anderson is joined by Tracee Ellis Ross, playing a pair of successful Black parents at the head of a family dealing with typical stuff while also trying to reconcile staying true to cultural identities while living in the rich white suburbs. Kids Yara Shahidi and Marcus Scribner later split the spin-off Mixed-ish, while Dre's outspoken mother Ruby (the brilliant Jenifer Lewis) steals every scene. Stream Black-ish on Hulu and Netflix. Black-ish (2014–2022) at Hulu Learn More Learn More at Hulu One Day at a Time (2017–2020) This comedy, inspired by Norman Lear’s beloved 1975 sitcom of the same name, quickly became one of the streamer’s most critically acclaimed shows, telling the story of a Latinx family lead by Justina Machado as Lupe Alvarez, an Army Nurse Corps veteran struggling with her return to civilian life and single motherhood (she’s joined by the scene-stealing Rita Moreno as her delightfully plainspoken mother). Aside from that solid Latinx representation, the funny and big-hearted show spotlighted Justina’s lesbian daughter, Elena, and her non-binary love interest, Syd—making for a wonderfully and appropriately modern family. Stream One Day at a Time on Netflix. One Day at a Time (2017–2020) at Netflix Learn More Learn More at Netflix Abbott Elementary (2021–) Quickly establishing itself as one of the great workplace mockumentaries, and ABC's immediate successor to Modern Family in ratings success, Quinta Brunson's Abbott Elementary portrays its cast of (mostly) well-meaning characters running up against an American educational system that doesn't always reward good intentions. Set at work rather than home, the themes are different but the tone is similar, with the staff at Abbott functioning as a goofy tight-knit family, sharing their dreams, frustrations, and sassy commentary with the camera. The 2022 Emmy win for the great Sheryl Lee Ralph became a viral moment, if only because it was so well-deserved for an actress representing an incredibly talented, brilliantly funny cast. Stream Abbott Elementary on Hulu and HBO Max. Abbott Elementary (2021–) at Hulu Learn More Learn More at Hulu Malcolm in the Middle (2000–2006) A bit of a spiritual successor to Roseanne as one of our great working-class sitcoms, Malcolm in the Middle represented the economic reality that had firmly taken hold in the real world—the fact that an office job, once seen as a big a step up, is no longer a symbol of prosperity. It's also a show about how a thoroughly zany and dysfunctional family can love with the same excess that they approach everything else with. The recent follow-up miniseries, Life's Still Unfair, is the rare revival that hits the mark. Stream Malcolm in the Middle on Hulu. Malcolm in the Middle (2000–2006) at Hulu Learn More Learn More at Hulu Kim’s Convenience (2016–2021) The Kims are a Korean-Canadian family running the title convenience store in Toronto, with Paul Sun-Hyung Lee and Jean Yoon leading the cast as the traditionally minded parents, along with a pre-Marvel Simu Liu as son Jung and Andrea Bang as daughter Janet. The show walks a deft line, bitingly dealing with issues facing immigrant families, in particular, but rarely if ever never at the expense of the comedy—mining plenty of laughs from the generation gap between Umma and Appa and the kids. Stream Kim's Convenience on Peacock. Kim’s Convenience (2016–2021) at Peacock Learn More Learn More at Peacock The Middle (2009–2018) Though never exactly buzzy, The Middle ran for an impressive (and remarkably consistent) nine seasons without relying on any particular storytelling gimmick or high concept: just the story of the Heck family, living in the fictional Orson, Indiana. Frankie (Patricia Heaton) begins the show as a salesperson at a used-car dealership before becoming a dental assistant, while husband Mike (Neil Flynn) manages a quarry. The show blends a bit of Malcolm in the Middle-style portrait of a sometimes chaotic family (barely) balancing work and kids with Modern Family's more sentimental leanings. Stream The Middle on Peacock and Prime Video. The Middle (2009–2018) at Peacock Learn More Learn More at Peacock Parenthood (2010–2015) Lauren Graham (Gilmore Girls) plays single mother Sarah, at the head of a large ensemble cast playing members of the extended Braverman family in Berkeley, California. Not a comedy, but not (usually) a heavy-heavy drama, either, involving typical family trials across six seasons. Craig T. Nelson plays the family patriarch with Graham, Peter Krause, Dax Shepard, and Erika Christensen as the four kids, each with families of their own—providing story opportunities that the show mines ably. Stream Parenthood on Paramount+. Parenthood (2010 – 2015) at Paramount+ Learn More Learn More at Paramount+ This Is Us (2016–2022) Where Parenthood is more of a comedy-drama, this is very much a drama-drama, and legendarily one of the most tear-jerking shows of the last decade or so—do not, I beg you, go into this expecting a lot of chuckles. Dan Fogelman's primetime drama was one of the buzziest shows of the late aughts, following the lives of the Pearson family over several decades. Introducing us to siblings Randall, Kate, and Kevin (Sterling K. Brown, Chrissy Metz, and Justin Hartley) in the present, episodes then takes us back to their early lives and those of their parents, Jack (Milo Ventimiglia) and Rebecca (Mandy Moore). Though it's not a match in tone, it's thematically surprisingly similar to Modern Family in that it's a big-hearted family show at its core, with lots of hugging and crying, and one that follows a large intergenerational family through good times and bad. Stream This is Us on Hulu and Tubi. This Is Us (2016–2022) at Hulu Learn More Learn More at Hulu Schitt's Creek (2015–2020) With a cast this impressive—the late, great Catherine O'Hara; Eugene and Daniel Levy; Annie Murphy; Emily Hampshire; etc. etc.—the story here could be entirely incidental but, of course, this who's who of Canadian comedy talent is given plenty to work with. Having been defrauded by a business manager, the once-wealthy Rose family is forced to relocate to the title town and trying to rebuild their lives, living and working in a run-down hotel. Though the Rose family no longer has any reason for snobbery, old habits die hard, and there's comedy gold to be mined from their efforts to fit in. Stream Schitt's Creek on Hulu and HBO Max. Schitt's Creek (2015–2020) at Hulu Learn More Learn More at Hulu