It’s hard to imagine that it has already been five long years since Modern Family ended in 2020. The Emmy-winning show continued for 11 seasons and perfectly presented a mix of heartfelt plotlines and sharp humor.
For the majority of the audience, the show didn’t just entertain but showcased a hilarious take on the modern American family. Whether it was Phil Dunphy’s cool dad antics or Mitch and Cam’s hilarious couple banter, fans cherished each and every episode of the show.
But beyond these elements, the show also had a significant cultural impact and tackled real-life issues with a hint of sarcasm and warmth. The mockumentary-style format also helped the audience feel as if they were part of the family.
On the same subject, let’s look back at the top 9 things we still miss about Modern Family that make us appreciate the show even more today.
9. Phil Dunphy being the ultimate cool dad
Just as the first episode of the show aired in 2008, fans immediately spotted Phil Dunphy as being the perfect definition of a fun dad. In the first episode itself, he makes this statement: “I’m a cool dad, you know. That’s my thang. I’m hip. I surf the web. I text.” Not just this, but he also had a huge passion for magic tricks (at one point, he even had his own magic shop).
While he always had a unique way of looking at the world, he often said things without even realizing just how awkward they sounded. This usually led to his kids rolling their eyes at his attempts to bond with them.
But beyond his goofy nature, he was also a die-hard dreamer and optimist. From his magic tricks to using every modern gadget out there, he truly had an enthusiasm for life. Of course, his relationship with Claire was another comedy goldmine. While she was the tough parent and the practical half of their marriage, Phil was the fun-loving and slightly clueless counterpart.
She often questioned his over-the-top ideas, but she also adored his big heart. And this was one of the strongest reasons why the show would not have been the same without him.
8. Diverse cast and representation
The sitcom genre has long been among the most favorite of the audience out there. From the fun yet hilarious take on friendship that FRIENDS brought to the smart jokes and banter in The Big Bang Theory, these shows have the capacity to completely reign over the television genre. So, when Modern Family came out in 2008, with its amazing ensemble and a good take on diversity and representation, it stood out.
The show brought forth different kinds of households and proved that a family isn’t just about a mom, dad, and two kids. It gave the viewers a refreshing take on blended families, second marriages, same-sex parenting, and adoption.
Gloria, played by actress Sofía Vergara, was a strong immigrant from Colombia who brought her culture and humor to the family. While everyone loved her fights with Dede, she truly cared about Mitch and Claire wholeheartedly. On the other hand, fans absolutely adored the relationship between Mitch and Cam.
Their relationship also gave the much-needed representation to same-sex marriage. Not only that, but they also adopted Lily, who was Asian, and then their second child, Rexford. The show was a true testament to how biology doesn’t make a family—love does.
7. Hilarious misunderstandings that everybody loved
The show was filled with moments that started out as misunderstandings. This often led to some of the most hilarious storylines of the show. A perfect example of this was in season 9 when all the Dunphy family members tried to sneak into Alex’s fancy hotel. But the concierge (as you may remember him as Dave from The Big Bang Theory) kept misunderstanding their situations.
While we all saw David Beckham and Courteney Cox also making an appearance here, the chaos-filled episode was truly hilarious in so many ways.
Another hilarious episode took place in the second season of the show when the kids accidentally walked in on Phil and Claire in the bedroom. Their desperate attempts to process what they saw led to one of the most hilarious storylines in the show.
6. Mitch and Cam were a fan favorite
Mitch and Cam’s relationship was one of the most hilarious yet important aspects of Modern Family. They balanced each other perfectly, with Mitch being the practical and reserved one and Cam being expressive and dramatic. This difference in personalities often led to some of the most hilarious sequences in the show. But at the heart of everything, their love and support for each other were undeniable.
One of the biggest plus points of their relationship was their ability to have proper communication. While sometimes it took them some time to get on the same page, they always found a way to work through it. Whether it was planning a perfect party or navigating parenthood, they always leaned on one another.
The major highlight of their relationship was when they adopted Lily (the flight scene still tickles the funny bones of viewers). Not to forget how they introduced her to their entire family, with Cam walking in with her in the iconic Lion King-inspired entrance. Their decision later to adopt a second child, Rexford, further detailed their commitment to building a loving family.
5. Jay Pritchett looked grumpy but was a softy at heart
Jay Pritchett was the tough but loving patriarch of the family, whom his sons-in-law always wanted to impress. He ran a successful closet business and was always used to being in charge when it came to business and family affairs. But throughout the seasons, fans also got to see his emotional and heartwarming sides as well.
The most important element of this was his relationship with Manny, Gloria’s son from her first marriage. From the first season to the last, the father-son bond between Jay and Manny changed drastically. The most emotional moment of all was when Manny had to submit a video for his Juilliard application.
Towards the end of the episode, both Gloria and Jay watch Manny filming the video, and he says:
I’m the child of an immigrant single mother, who taught me to believe in myself and dream big. I’m also the stepson of a businessman who opened his home and heart to me and showed me by example how to make those dreams come true.
This was definitely heartwarming, and along with Jay, fans also choked up a little bit.
4. Mockumentary style format that everyone loved
The mockumentary style sitcoms have long enjoyed the love and appreciation of the audience. On the same lines, even Modern Family is regarded as one of the most sought-after shows in this genre and has perfectly used the format to bring out the humor and dynamics of the show.
Here, the characters often directly talk to the camera and share their thoughts as if they are being interviewed. This makes the audience feel like they are actually a part of the family’s daily life.
The camera follows the characters around and often captures certain unexpected and funny moments. Unlike other shows, Modern Family doesn’t explain why the characters are being filmed; instead, it feels as if we are watching their lives unfold naturally. This perfectly mixes comedy with real-life situations, making the sitcom even more hilarious to watch.
Also, since the show follows three different families (the Pritchett’s, Dunphy’s, and Tucker-Pritchett’s), we get to see different points of view, making everything quite refreshing.
3. Modern Family wholeheartedly embraced technology
When a show runs for multiple seasons, there’s a good chance that the quality or storytelling might downgrade. But Modern Family has time and again proven why it still continues to be in the top three for every sitcom fan. The series took creativity and storytelling to a whole new level when it presented an entire episode on a computer screen.
The episode, titled Connection Lost from Season 6, was filmed entirely on Apple devices and shown through the perspective of Claire Dunphy’s computer screen. But this wasn’t the most standout aspect of the episode—it also cleverly showcased the ways people experience digital interactions in real life.
Of course, there was also Phil Dunphy, who truly embraced new technologies on the show. Whether it was setting up the house with the latest smart home devices or convincing Claire to buy an Apple iPad for him on his birthday, he was a big fan of technology.
2. The awkward yet hilarious bond between Jay and his son-in-law Phil
It’s not uncommon to have a great bond with your spouse’s parents, but Phil Dunphy definitely took this up a notch. From the very first episode, it was quite clear that he wanted to impress Jay. However, Jay rarely showcased any emotions toward him. One particular episode that comes to mind was in the very first season of the show.
Here, Jay accidentally confessed that he had deliberately crashed a model plane into Phil in the past. This obviously left Phil quite upset, but by the end of the episode, the two found common ground, realizing that it was simply an act of protecting their kids. This further established that, despite their differences, they shared the same values when it came to family.
Time and again, Phil proved to Jay why he was the perfect man to marry his daughter. He was not only a loving husband but also a great and capable father to their three kids. Throughout the seasons, the show detailed their evolving relationship, and Jay, in his own way, began to respect him—even though he would never reveal it out loud.
By the series finale in 2020, it was clear that their relationship had grown into something pure and genuine.
1. Watching the kids grow up on screen
One of the most heartwarming elements of Modern Family was witnessing the kids grow up in front of the television screen. When the first episode aired, fans saw that Haley, Alex, Luke, and Manny were very young, and some of them were not even teenagers at the time. But as the show progressed season by season, everyone watched their transition from school-going kids to filling out university forms.
While Haley took a different career path altogether, hers was one of the most significant transformations the show had ever seen. Toward the series’ end, she became a mother of twins, Poppy and George, and even married Dylan. Now, five years after the show’s ending, these actors have moved on in their lives and have built successful careers for themselves.
You watch all the episodes of Modern Family on Hulu.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
