From 2009 to 2020, Modern Family depicted the day-to-day familial dynamics of Jay Pritchett, his son Mitchell, his daughter Claire, and their respective families. The mockumentary lasted 11 years, and Modern Family invited fans to grow up with the cast. This intimacy caused viewers to fall in love with the Pritchett clan. However, some characters weren't as popular - at least not in the beginning.
RELATED: 10 Sitcoms For Those Who Don't Like Sitcoms
While some members of the family were immediately welcomed by the fans due to their charisma like Phil Dunphy and Gloria Delgado, others weren't as interesting or lovable when the show first started. Since Modern Family attempted to show real familial dynamics, some characters had to grow a lot before they became fan favorites.
CBR VIDEO OF THE DAY
10/10 DeDe Had To Die For People To Sympathize With Her
DeDe Pritchett was a textbook narcissist. She was selfish, dramatic, and manipulative. From the moment she arrived, it became apparent why Claire and Mitchell didn't see her often. Her character, easily one of the worst parental figures in television, was killed off during the 10th season of Modern Family.
DeDe's death didn't necessarily redeem her. However, it made her less unlikeable. "Good Grief," the episode of her death, depicts Jay, Claire, and Mitchell as they cope with the news while making peace with who she was. The episode, like DeDe's time in Modern Family, ends on a hopeful note.
9/10 Ronaldo And Pepper Stopped Being Annoying
Originally Pepper Saltzman's assistant, Ronaldo became his boyfriend after they had a heart-to-heart about their feelings. Even though they often fought when working together, Pepper and Ronaldo made it work as one of Modern Family's favorite LGBTQ+ couples and adopted two kids, Lionel and Andrea.
RELATED: Modern Family: 9 Things That Make No Sense About The Show
When Ronaldo and Pepper first appeared on the show, they were two-dimensional characters rooted in stereotypes and were snobby and annoying. However, as things with Pepper started to fall in the right place, they became a more wholesome couple. Pepper never stopped being arrogant, but he and Ronaldo gained depth as the seasons moved forward, which fans liked.
8/10 Joe Pritchett-Delgado Developed A Bubbly Personality
The youngest member of the Pritchett bunch, Joe Fulgencio was born to Jay and Gloria in the fourth season of the show. Logically, he started as a baby. As the seasons passed, he grew up to be yet another important character in Modern Family, played by actor Jeremy Maguire.
Joe wasn't a dislikable character when he was a baby, but he obviously lacked personality. After season seven, he became as funny and chaotic as the rest of the family, even getting his own couch scenes. He then became a fan favorite.
7/10 Dylan Always Had Potential
Played by Reid Ewing, Dylan Marshall first appeared on Modern Family as Haley's boyfriend. He was an immature and reckless teenager who wanted to become a musician. Contrary to what Claire wanted, he actually ended up marrying Haley. He became a more centered adult, albeit still as random as always.
In the first season, Dylan had no concerns about his future. However, his feelings for Haley were always honest. The only thing missing was for him to find a path in life, which he did. By the end of Modern Family, he was still as naive as always, but his responsibility to Haley and their kids warmed the viewers' hearts.
6/10 Lily Grew Up To Be A Sassy Fan Favorite
Lily Tucker-Pritchett is the daughter of Mitchell and Cam, who they adopted from Vietnam when she was a baby. In the first two seasons, she was only a baby. However, from season three, she became a snarky but fun kid who eventually grew up to be a sassy teenager.
RELATED: 10 Lessons Modern Family Teaches Audience
Most Modern Family fans, whether they're adults or teenagers, love Lily's sassy remarks and sarcastic owns. She's funny, cute, and incredibly smart. As she grows up, these qualities are only enhanced. Additionally, Lily often feels like the only one aware of the family's dysfunctional dynamic, acting like a meta character to whom viewers can relate.
5/10 Cam Definitely Toned It Down
Cameron Tucker is Mitchell's husband as well as Lily and Rexford Tucker-Pritchett's dad. He's a very theatrical man with a big personality who loves to be the center of attention. This flare for dramatics, mixed with his inability to accept criticism, makes him clash with his husband Mitchell. It also makes him one of the most disliked characters on TV.
Regardless of this, Cameron is also a very empathetic man who is always willing to go the extra mile to help others. While his theatrical side prevails in the first seasons, his caring personality is more common later on in the show. This turned him into a more lovable character.
4/10 Mitchell Learned To Let Go Sometimes
Jay and DeDe's son, Claire's brother, and Cam's husband, Mitchell Pritchett is a high-strung and sarcastic man. Contrary to his husband Cam, Mitchell is demure and hates drawing attention to himself. Given this, he often feels embarrassed by Cam's flamboyant personality.
Cam and Mitch's dynamic in the earlier seasons of Modern Family is particularly uncomfortable. Often, viewers can't help but wonder why they are together if they make one of the worst couples on TV. However, they learn from each other and Mitchell becomes more relaxed. This obviously changes their dynamic for the better.
3/10 Haley Got Her Act Together By The End Of The Show
The oldest Dunphy sibling started Modern Family as an irresponsible, rude, and vain teenage girl. She was constantly the butt of the jokes, but this changed by the fourth season. After she messed up her chance to go to college, Haley changed her attitude, became more proactive, and started chasing her dream to have a fashion career.
RELATED: Modern Family: 8 Times Actions Spoke Louder Than Words
Haley never stopped being the center of "dumb blonde" jokes in her household (especially because she actually dyed her hair blonde). However, she became a more centered and independent woman with a clear goal in life. Even if her pregnancy put those plans on hold for a while, fans were definitely rooting for Haley to succeed.
2/10 Claire's Neurosis Started To Make Sense Later On In Modern Family
Claire Dunphy is Phil's wife and Haley, Alex, and Luke's mom. She's a strong-minded woman who often comes across as controlling. Contrary to Phil, who is the "fun dad," she's the "lame mom." This makes her the least favorite Dunphy, even for the audience.
Although Claire has a controlling approach to motherhood, it becomes apparent that her methods are just her way of showing love. What's more, she's willing to learn from her mistakes and change. As the show moves forward, Claire becomes less of a nag and more of a relatable woman who is always concerned about her family. All in all, Claire is an excellent mom. This change makes her more relatable, especially to mothers in the audience.
1/10 Jay Was Always A Softie, But Fans Couldn't See It In Earlier Seasons
Jay Pritchett is the patriarch of the Pritchett family. The owner of Pritchett's Closets And Blinds and a Vietnam veteran, Jay is a tough man who has a hard time showing his feelings. In fact, he actively avoids doing it. Unfortunately for him, his family always finds a way to crack his hard exterior.
As Modern Family moves forward, Jay becomes more lovable. While he's mostly a grumpy grandpa in the first seasons, he soon shows that he's more than that. By embracing new things in life out of love for his family (even though leaving his comfort zone makes him feel defensive), Jay earned his place in fans' hearts.
FAQs
Who is the most popular character in Modern Family? ›
Phil Dunphy
Since Phil is the Modern Family character who tells jokes the most and has his own way of speaking sometimes, it makes sense that he would be ranked at the top.
Modern Family
Who is the least liked character on Modern Family? ›- HALEY DUNPHY.
- JAY PRITCHETT. ...
- LUKE DUNPHY. ...
- MITCHELL PRITCHETT. ...
- ALEX DUNPHY. ...
- LILLY TUCKER-PRITCHETT. ...
- MANNY DELGADO. A lady's man who loves fancy coffee and fancier hats. ...
- JOE PRITCHETT. The newest member of the show is also the worst. ...
So, what is Nolan Gould IQ? He has an IQ of 150, which is rather outstanding. In addition, he has remarkable academic achievements, which sets him apart from the troublemaker "Luke Dunphy."
Who is the most toxic character in Modern Family? ›On Modern Family, Cameron Tucker is a hilarious and theatrical fan favorite character. But his shady, problematic behavior points to a dark side.
Why did Lily get replaced on Modern Family? ›Aubrey replaces Jaden and Ella Hiller, the identical twin girls who played Lily for the Emmy-winning sitcom's first two seasons. The reason for the re-casting, a show source tells PEOPLE, is because the Hiller twins didn't enjoy acting.
Who is the villain in Modern Family? ›DeDe Pritchet and Javier Delgado were known villains in the series but there are also main (and minor) characters who are low-key villains themselves.
Who is the best parent in Modern Family? ›Claire Dunphy
Of all the parents on Modern Family, Claire might be the most uptight and overwhelmed, but she also is the best one. Once Claire realizes that her kids are totally different from her and that she can't actually control every moment of their lives and schedules, she becomes a much better parent.
Since the twins were presumably conceived close to the end of Haley's relationship with Arvin Fennerman and the beginning of her renewed relationship with Dylan, there is a possibility of either of them being the father. However, in "Kids These Days", Haley confirms that she thinks Dylan is the father.
Where does Modern Family rank all time? ›The show netted 85 Emmy nominations and 22 wins, for starters. Yet Rolling Stone inexplicably placed “Modern Family” at no. 84 on its Top 100 sitcoms of all time list.
Why is Haley barely in season 9 of Modern Family? ›
On co-star Julie Bowen's Quitters podcast, with co-host Chad Sanders, Hyland—who played Haley on the comedy series' 11 season run—discussed her second kidney transplant and how her kidney dysplasia caused her to forget filming episodes because she was so tired.
When was Modern Family at its peak? ›Modern Family reached its peak popularity in 2013 and 2014, when it would generally attract an audience of at least 14 million viewers every week. But as streaming services became more popular, the show struggled to maintain its popularity, dropping to about four million viewers per week in its later seasons.
Who was Jay's best friend in Modern Family? ›Vincent, better known as Shorty, is Jay Pritchett's best friend. He first appears in "Fifteen Percent" as part of a group of Jay's friends that Jay is chatting with outside a café.
Who is the person with 200 IQ? ›Michael Grost. Michael Grost, who has an IQ of 200, was only 10 years old when he started studying at Michigan State University in 1964. He later attended Yale University and the University of Michigan, where he earned a doctorate in mathematics at age 23.
What is Luke's IQ from Modern Family? ›When Gould was five years old, the family moved to California. His older brother, Aidan Gould, is also an actor. Gould is a member of Mensa, and, as of 2012, had accelerated four grades in school. He stated on The Ellen DeGeneres Show that he has an IQ of 150.
Is Lily a genius Modern Family? ›Her Academic Proficiency
In the finale episode of season 8, The Graduates, fans along with Mitch and Cam, learn for the first time that Lily is actually extremely academically gifted. So much so, that her principal suggests her to skip a grade so that she can study with peers closer to her level of intelligence.
Brandy Lee Ledford (born February 4, 1969) is an American actress, model and Penthouse magazine's 1992 "Pet of the Year". She played the role of Desiree on Modern Family, starred as Dawn Masterton on Baywatch Hawaii, and Doyle in the science fiction television series Andromeda.
What is the funniest season of Modern Family? ›1. Season 5. Modern Family Season 5 earns the top ranking for numerous reasons, but the most notable being Mitch and Cam's marriage.
What swear word does Lily say on Modern Family? ›Out of nowhere, Lily says the "f-word", causing Cam to giggle (his weakness is children cursing) and leave the room. Mitch and Cam try to tell her that she shouldn't say that word, however, Cam keeps laughing every time she says it, which undermines the point. At the debate, things do not go really well for Claire.
Why did the Modern Family cast drop the lawsuit? ›The cast members -- Ty Burrell, Julie Bowen, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Eric Stonestreet and Sofia Vergara -- officially dropped their lawsuit against the ABC show, after coming to an agreement with the show's producers over their salaries.
What happened to Luke from Modern Family? ›
During the finale, Alex takes a new job in Switzerland and Luke heads to college. By the end of the show, Mitch, Cam, and their two kids are all packed up for their move to Missouri.
What Grandpa dies in Modern Family? ›The character of Frank Dunphy, played by Fred Willard, died on Wednesday's episode. Fans said goodbye to a special character this week on Modern Family — and, much to her surprise, so did Sarah Hyland.
Does Luke Dunphy have ADHD? ›Like his father, he is believed to have ADHD, as he repeatedly becomes distracted when he has to do something important.
Who is the red head in Modern Family? ›Jay (Ed O'Neil) has been known to hold a grudge against Phil ever since the show began. He believed Phil was never good enough for his baby girl Claire and regretted her marrying him. Despite having a cordial relationship on the surface, Jay never truly accepted Phil as one of his own.
Who is the number 1 TV dad? ›1. Danny Tanner ('full House') With Bob Saget passing away at the age of 65, the world lost a man who brought one of the most endearing father figures to television.
Who is the greatest TV dad of all time? ›- #6: Eric Taylor (Kyle Chandler, Friday Night Lights) ...
- #5 Al Bundy (Ed O'Neill, Married with Children) ...
- #4: Carl Winslow (Reginald VelJohnson, Family Matters) ...
- #3: Tim Taylor (Tim Allen, Home Improvement) ...
- #2: Adam Braverman (Peter Krause, Parenthood) ...
- #1: Danny Tanner (Bob Saget, Full House)
Season 3, Season 4 and Season 8 are the only seasons in which Manny appears in all episodes. Taught by his father, Manny is extremely good at chess, beating Jay in four moves, though not as good as Gloria ("Game Changer"). According to the original pilot script, Manny was supposed to be 2 years older than Luke.
Does Phil have a crush on Gloria? ›The relationship between Modern Family's Phil Dunphy and Gloria Delgado-Pritchett has always been platonic, but Phil can't help but be flustered and showcase his crush on Gloria whenever he's around her.
Who stole Alex's first kiss on Modern Family? ›Luke ponders the best use for his illegal firecracker, and Alex encounters a charmingly dim-witted young man, Jimmy, who shocks her by "stealing" her first kiss.
Who was Alex's first kiss in Modern Family? ›
Matthew David Gumley is an American actor who has appeared on the TV series Drake & Josh, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and Psych. He portrayed Jimmy Scrivano, the boy whom Alex Dunphy ends sharing her first kiss with, in "Dude Ranch".
Why did they end Modern Family? ›Reflecting on the show's last episode, Winter exclusively told Digital Spy why she thought the series needed to finish when it did. The actress suggested the show had to conclude in 2020 or risk not ending in a satisfying way. "It was very sad to see it end, but I think it ended in a great place," Winter said.
Is Modern Family ok for 12 year olds? ›As a 10 year old kid, I think this show is great for kids ages 10 and up. There are definitely a good amount of sexual references and jokes, which may make older kids uncomfortable, and younger kids may not understand everything.
What is the highest rated episode in TV history? ›The most watched non-Super Bowl broadcasts are the finale of M*A*S*H in 1983 (106 million viewers), Dallas's 1980 "Who Done It" episode (83.6 million), the 1993 series finale of Cheers (80.5 million), the February 23, 1994, broadcast of ladies' singles figure skating at the 1994 Winter Olympics (78.8 million), and the ...
What is Haley's Secret in Modern Family? ›Fans Wished Modern Family Expanded On Haley's Bisexuality
Her hidden self-awareness and the internal struggles she kept to herself were deep.
While in conversation with Entertainment Tonight, series alum Jesse Tyler Ferguson — who played Mitchell "Mitch" Pritchett — confirmed a script was written for the planned spin-off that ABC ultimately scrapped.
How old was Haley at the end of Modern Family? ›We've had Phil and Claire talk about it, but you've never seen it. So that will be a really interesting aspect because she is 25 years old, which is a completely normal time to have a baby; in some states, that's old, and in other states, that's a fetus.
Who's the most liked cast member of Modern Family? ›- Gloria Delgado-Pritchett.
- Cameron Tucker. ...
- Phil Dunphy. ...
- Jay Pritchett. ...
- Claire Dunphy. ...
- Lily Tucker-Pritchett. ...
- Luke Dunphy. ...
- Mitchell Pritchett. Of all the adults in Modern Family, Mitchell Pritchett appeared to be the most sensible when big decisions were made. ...
'Modern Family'
Some of the highest-paid TV actors in history, Sofia Vergara, Ed O'Neill, Julie Bowen, Eric Stonestreet, Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Ty Burrell each earned $500,000 per episode, according to a 2019 Variety report.
- He's Everyone's Favorite Uncle. ...
- His Ups And Downs With Work Are Shown As Much As Claire's. ...
- His Struggle With Confidence Was Shown As Great Character Growth. ...
- His Growth As A Father Was A Large Storyline. ...
- His Mother Issues Run Deep.
Who replaced Lily in Modern Family? ›
Ella and Jaden Hiller are two twin American actresses who played Lily Tucker-Pritchett on Modern Family in seasons 1 and 2. They were replaced by Aubrey Anderson-Emmons as of season 3, because the kids did not want to continue.
Who is the most paid female actor? ›Modern Family star Sofia Vergara is the highest paid actress in the world, according to Forbes. Vergara – who is also currently a judge on America's Got Talent – earned $43 million in salary and endorsements in the 12 months leading up to October 2020.
Who is the highest paid model? ›- Liu Wen - $19 Million. ...
- Joan Smalls - $19 Million. ...
- Gigi Hadid - $20 Million. ...
- Adriana Lima - $30 Million. ...
- Rosie Huntington-Whiteley - $32 Million. ...
- Gisele Bündchen - $33 Million.
Aubrey Anderson-Emmons Joins 'Modern Family' as the New Lily
Aubrey replaces Jaden and Ella Hiller, the identical twin girls who played Lily for the Emmy-winning sitcom's first two seasons. The reason for the re-casting, a show source tells PEOPLE, is because the Hiller twins didn't enjoy acting.
Through the 11 seasons of the show, fans witnessed how much the actress' appearance has changed. Viewers were particularly concerned about her drastic weight loss, as well as her swollen face. Hyland later revealed that it was due to a chronic illness that led to two kidney transplants.
Why did Joe Change in Modern Family? ›Joe was first portrayed by twin girls Rebecca and Sierra Mark in Season 4. For Season 5 Rebecca and Sierra Mark were replaced by Pierce Wallace. For Season 7, Pierce Wallace was replaced by Jeremy Maguire beacause they wanted to age the actor up, as they needed someone who could walk, talk and speak their lines.