EVERYTHING you need to know about Modern Family

Get caught up on the Dunphys et al

Modern Family cast

by Laura Donaldson |
Published on

Are you a Modern Family fan? If yes, hello there! You probably know most of what we're about to tell you but read on and enjoy just incase we've uncovered something juicy for you. If not...1) WHAT have you been doing? And 2) you've come to the right place - here is absolutely everything you need to know about the genius that is Modern Family.

Modern Family premise

Modern Family is an American television mockumentary that premiered in 2009. It follows the lives of Jay Pritchett and his family who all live in suburban Los Angeles. Pritchett's family includes his second wife, Gloria, his stepson, Manny, and infant son, Joe. Also in the show is his adult son Mitchell - along with his husband Cam and their adopted daughter Lily - and daughter Claire, her husband Phil and their children Hayley, Alex and Luke.

The series is presented in mockumentary style, with the characters frequently talking directly into the camera. Episodes are 30-minutes long - including those pesky ads.

The cast of Modern Family

Ed O'Neill - Jay Pritchett

Ed
Ed

Sofia Vergara - Gloria Pritchett

Sofia
Sofia

Julie Bowen - Claire Dunphy

Julie
Julie

Ty Burrell - Phil Dunphy

ty
Ty

Jesse Tyler Ferguson - Mitchell Pritchett

jesse
Jesse

Eric Stonestreet - Cameron Tucker

Eric
Eric

Sarah Hyland - Haley Dunphy

Sarah
Sarah

Ariel Winter - Alex Dunphy

Ariel
Ariel

Nolan Gould - Luke Dunphy

Nolan
Nolan

Rico Rodriguez - Manny Delgado

Rico
Rico

Aubrey Anderson-Emmons - Lily Tucker-Pritchett

Aubrey
Aubrey

Plots in Modern Family

The early seasons of Modern Family centred around the family's relationship with patriarch Jay's new, much younger, Columbian wife Gloria. We also saw the gang adjusting to the arrival of Mitch and cam's adorable baby Lily and how the new parents coped themselves.

Throughout the series the adults have grown up as much as the kids as we see them grapple with new jobs, new babies and old family rivalries.

There's someone of every age to relate to and the characters deal with very real problems like going to college, starting school, finishing school, sibling rivalry and young love.

What's next for Modern Family?

In October 2015 US network ABC announced that the show was being renewed for an eighth series which is expected to hit screens this September.

Executive producer Christopher Lloyd, and co-creator Steven Levitan have previously spoken about the show's eventual end, agreeing that while they're not quite there yet the show's conclusion is on their minds.

"We'd like to think we're still maybe a couple years away," said Lloyd.

"I think about it all the time...A lot of it is going to be take it year by year."

"We want to keep it going for as long as possible," Levitan continued. "But we very much also want to protect the show's legacy. We want to go out strong."

Is Modern Family on Netflix?

Modern Family was unfortunately cruelly removed from UK Netflix back in 2014 - just as it began to get SO GOOD as well! Luckily most of the seasons can be bought at a fairly decent prize on Amazon.

What awards has Modern Family won?

Modern Family has won 21 Primetime Emmy Awards and 6 Writers Guild of America Awards. The show has also received a GLSEN Respect Award for its portrayal of "positive images and storylines that reflect a diverse America, including the depiction of a family headed by a gay couple."

Jesse Tyler Ferguson, who plays Mitch, is gay in real life but Eric Stonestreet, who plays Cam, is not. Eric has said he feels “more on the front lines of what it means to stand up for people’s equality” since joining the cast. “I’m just more active in that community and I feel a little bit more responsible for people’s words and actions,” he said.

Why is everyone obsessed with Modern Family's Phil Dunphy?

Phil Dunphy is possibly one of the greatest TV characters of all time - as demonstrated in the video below.

If you need more proof, read our guide on how to be more like Phil Dunphy from Modern Family

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