Manny Delgado

                                                                 Manny Delgado

            In the hilarious show "Modern Family," Rico Rodriguez's depiction of Manny as an unintentionally hilarious, naive and kind little boy adds a uniquely adorable character to the cast list. Manny is the son of Gloria, who is married to Jay, the patriarch of the "modern family." He's a round character, displaying a variety of traits which make him a realistically complex person. This child is sort of a foil to the other kids; he acts like an adult and is unusually responsible for a thirteen year old. These traits transform him into a special, memorable character.

            Manny is a riotous boy, yet he's completely unaware of the comic relief he brings to his family. He fantasizes about an older girl he thinks he's in love with, describing her as "like a dream, wrapped in a wish, poured into jeggings." Other funny displays of maturity are shown when he is sitting next to Claire, sipping a cup of coffee. Claire vents to him about her day and children as if he is a peer, and he empathizes with her, saying, "Ugh kids, you don't have to tell me, my school is full of 'em." When his stepfather attempts to dance, Manny is right by his side to make another innocent joke: "Stop marching, you're dancing not invading Poland!"

            This young gentleman's naivety is incredibly amusing. He presents a hand-crafted centerpiece. Of course Gloria beams with pride, despite it, naturally, looking like it was put together by a kid. He believes that it is a masterpiece (until Jay points out how ridiculous it looks.) In another painful moment when Manny's precious soul is crushed by a girl, he says, "I gave her my heart and she gave me a picture of an all time sheriff. That was pretty stupid of me, wasn't it?" Manny, like many children, naively believes in truths which adults hate to know are falsehoods. When his biological father is on a winning streak he exclaims, "I love gambling, it's so easy!" believing that one must simply look into the eyes of a horse to determine whether or not it will win a race.

            Manny is a small guy with a big heart. After claiming his cash prize from his lucky break at the racetrack, he hands Jay some cash and tells him, "Here's a little something for gas." His real dad is treated to a cappuccino by the charming fellow. He also is boasted about by his son, who tells Jay all kinds of wild stories about his brave father who once killed a bear. Other tales include the reason "why he can drink as much as he wants"-- he was struck by lightning. This modest little guy took pride in his father's bogus stories, like any kid this compassionate and cute would.

            Every character in "Modern Family" will incite euphoric laughter at some point in any given show. Manny produces this humor with his staggering confidence and insight. His innocence is natural and expected, but combined with the contrasting maturity and intellect, it creates an enjoyable effect. Manny Delgado is a clever kid who will make people of any age laugh out loud.