It has been almost two years since Modern Family ended. This good-hearted mockumentary remains a must-watch for all kinds of families, especially during the holidays. Modern Familyfollows the lives of the extended Pritchett family - a vastly different group of people brought together by family.
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Even if it depicts a wholesome and funny story, no TV show is perfect and Modern Family isn't an exception. There are several things about Modern Family that were either poorly written or poorly executed, and it only takes a glimpse to notice them.
9/9 Alex's Age Doesn't Track With Modern Family's Timeline
Alex Dunphy is Phil and Claire's middle child. A bright, rational but condescending girl, she tends to find herself exasperated byher family's lack of common sense. Some things about her don't make sense, such as her age.
In the first season of Modern Family, it's stated that Alex is 13 years old. Four seasons later, she turns 15 in Under Pressure.Everyone else had aged 4 years, so Alexshould have been turning 17. By the end of Modern Family, Alex is around 21 years old as she can now legally drink. Effectively, she's 2 years younger than she should be.
8/9 Mitch & Claire's Relationship With Their Father
Claire and Mitchell Pritchett are the two children of Jay and DeDe. Jay and DeDe had a toxic marriage that ends in divorce after DeDe leaves and becomesan estranged mother. When Modern Familybegins, DeDe isn't in the picture, while Claire and Mitch have a strainedrelationship with their father.
In the first seasons, Jay is strict, tough and has difficulty being open.He's constantly condescending toboth his kids and struggles to accept Mitch's sexuality. While Jay undergoes serious personal and emotional development,it seems bizarreClaire and Mitch are initially so happy to be close to him. Perhaps Jay is the lesser of two evils.
7/9 Gloria Allows Javier To Disappoint Manny
Even after Fulgencio is born, Gloria and Manny share a special mother-son bond as a result of the many years spent just the two of them. This makes Gloria particularly overprotective of Manny, who is also a very sensitive boy.
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It's widely known that Gloria is a very passionate woman. Despite this, she rarely challenges Javier’s emotional neglect towards Manny. Modern Familyfans know Gloria is no stranger to standing up for her beliefs.Although she wants Manny to have a father, it is strange that she doesn't scold Javier more often,or doesn't put an end to it when Manny is young and impressionable.
6/9 Haley's Progression Turned IntoRegression
When Modern Familybegins, Haley Dunphy is a rebellious, sassy and lazy teenager. By the middle of Modern Family, Haley finds a job in the fashion industry andfinds a stable, appropriate and kind boyfriend, Andy.
Her life was on track and she had new responsibilities, butgets back together with her goofy high-school boyfriend,Dylan. She falls pregnant with twins, living with Phil and Claire for their support and struggling with motherhood. Although Haley and Dylan move into Cam and Mitch's house, it still feels like her evolution unravelled.
5/9 The Dunphy's FinancialSituation Is Way Better Than It Should Be
In the first season of Modern Family, Phil works as a real estate agent while Claire takes on the responsibilities of being a stay-at-home mom. The Dunphy household is single-income, but there are 5 people in the house. What's more, Phil's job depends heavily on the real estate market, so it's far from stable.
Regardless, the Dunphys never have financialissues. They own a house and at least two cars, they have enough savings to put the kidsthrough college and they go on several holidays. This plot hole is resolved in later seasons when Claire starts working for, and becomes CEO of, Pritchett's Closets & Blinds.
4/9 Andy And Haley Broke Up After Having A Perfect Relationship
After a long will-they-won't-they arc, Haley and Andyfinally solve their own issues and gettogether. Having met when Haley had inappropriate, disinterested boyfriends,Andy and Haley were a strong match.However, their relationship doesn't last much longer than five episodes. Andy leaves to become a real estate agent in Utah.
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The end of this relationship has more to do with Adam Devine's scheduling issues than with the writing ofModern Family. In fact, producers have even stated that Andy and Haley were originally conceived as end-game. However, it was impossible to give their relationship a proper storyline, and it remains as one of the worst arcs in Modern Family.
3/9 Elizabeth Banks As Mitch & Cam's Best Friend Sal
Sal, portrayed by Elizabeth Banks, is Cam and Mitch's fun-lovingbest friend. She's a spoiled and wild woman whose idea of fun didn't change after her college years. Although she's only a guest character, she appears several times during Modern Family's ten seasons, each time morechaotic than the last.
Sal doesn't have to make sense - that'swhat makes the character funny.However, Mitch and Cam are no longer party-lovers, and Sal expresses a strong dislike for their child, Lily. It seems like they would outgrow their friendship with Sal.
2/9 The Whole Family Started Ignoring Lily Once She Grew Up
Lily's arrival to the family is one of the more important and wholesome moments, Cam and Mitch able to raise a child and become a family. Despite this, herpresence in the house stops being relevant when she'sno longer a baby. A frequent comedy trope isherparents frequently forgetting her. It feels as if there were too many characters onModern Family, so there's no space for a storyline for her.
By the end of Modern Family, Lily is around 12-years-old, the age Luke and Manny were in the first season. However,Lily Tucker-Pritchett never really develops a personalityoutside of being violently sarcastic. This is a real shame because Aubrey Anderson-Emmons has a lot of potential as an actress.
1/9 Cam & Mitch Argue Frequently
Mitch and Cam spend a great deal of Modern Familyfighting each other. Generally, they're constantly engaged in petty, small fights just for the sake of being right. While their opposing natures makes the pair endearing, they rarely see eye to eye in everyday matters.
Both Cam and Mitch areinflexible - neither of them is willing to let anything go. Them having a relationship is the most implausible arc in Modern Family. Despite their sweet moments and clear signs of love, it does surprise fans they stay together.
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FAQs
“Why has Haley been missing from so many episodes of Modern Family this season?” one fan asked the actress. She retweeted the question and replied, “Apparently I've been busy with the twins.”
Why is Luke not in Modern Family? ›
Phil and Claire's only son, Luke, played by Nolan Gould, shares that he was accepted to the University of Oregon and he plans to attend. This could be a subtle nod to his on-screen father, actor Ty Burrell, who enrolled at the University of Oregon in real life in 1987.
What was hayleys secret Modern Family? ›
Phil goes to the mall with Alex, Haley and Lily to fix the doll and on their way there, Alex accidentally reveals that Haley and Dylan have had sex, something that shocks Phil.
How old is Luke in season 9 of Modern Family? ›
Luke is 19 years old, turning 20 in a Year of Birthdays.
Who is the least likable character in Modern Family? ›
Sure, she had some shining moments, and as much as she mocked her sister Alex, she truly loved her. Haley also changed somewhat once she found a steady job and became a mom. But she was still the least likable of the bunch.
Why does Haley look different in season 9? ›
Modern Family's Sarah Hyland reveals she wore extensions as Haley to hide her hair loss. The actress is currently sporting a shorter, curlier do. Modern Family star Sarah Hyland has revealed she wore extensions on the show to hide her hair loss.
Why did they replace Stella on Modern Family? ›
It was announced in July 2012 that because of a dispute between the owner of Brigitte and the animal agency that hired her, she will no longer be appearing in future episodes of Modern Family (season 4).
Why was Joe replaced on Modern Family? ›
Trivia. 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 ...
Was Stella replaced in Modern Family? ›
She was played by a French bulldog named Brigitte up until season 4 when Beatrice took over the role.
Why does Haley's face look swollen in Modern Family? ›
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.
“This is just my natural hair,” the 28-year-old actress recently told Refinery29. Hyland went on to explain that over the years, she's chosen to wear “extensions” on Modern Family, because her hair had started to fall out as a result of her battle with kidney dysplasia and endometriosis.
What does Lily curse in Modern Family? ›
Claire's family tries to help her prepare for her political debate, Lily begins saying the "F word" right before her appearance as a flower girl at a wedding, and Jay begins to wonder if his dog Stella is suicidal.
Where did Haley go in season 9? ›
Phil and Claire realise that Alex may be more self-sufficient in college than they thought; Manny works to avoid a tearful goodbye after Gloria and Jay move him into his dorm; Haley comes across an unexpected opportunity while working her new job at the country club.
Who is older Claire or Gloria? ›
In the show, her character was around the same age, likely born in 1970, the same year Bowen was born. It is mentioned that Claire is 14 months older than her stepmother, Gloria, which is only a few months less than the actual age difference between the actresses.
Does Phil have ADHD in Modern Family? ›
While Phil demonstrates his ADHD (narrated in voice-over as Alex (Ariel Winter) tries to convince her mother Luke suffers from the condition), Luke surpasses his mother's low expectations and completes the project.
Who has the highest IQ in Modern Family? ›
IQ 150. Nolan Gould IQ is quite high. While he played "Luke Dunphy" on Modern Family, a youngster who isn't exactly renowned as the sharpest cookie in the jar, he is the polar opposite of his on-screen persona. Nolan Gould is, in fact, a genius!
Who is the most loved character in Modern Family? ›
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.
Who was almost casted in Modern Family? ›
Role of Jay Pritchett was almost played by Craig T. Nelson
But turns out, Ed O'Neill, who plays Jay Pritchett on the ABC show, almost didn't get cast in the hit comedy. "When I read it I thought, 'Oh boy, this is pretty good,'" the 67-year-old actor recalls.
Why is Hailey not in season 9 of Modern Family? ›
Why was Haley written off Modern Family? In January, the Dirty Dancing star tweeted about the lack of screen time. “Why has Haley been missing from so many episodes of Modern Family this season?” one fan asked the actress. She retweeted the question and replied, “Apparently I've been busy with the twins.”
Why is Haley barely in season 9? ›
The answer? She was asleep for them. 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.
In the episode "Can't Elope," she marries Dylan. In the episode "A Year of Birthdays," she gives birth to twins, Poppy and George.
Was Luke changed in Modern Family? ›
The actor, who starred as Luke Dunphy in the hit sitcom, has obviously grown up as the show progressed over the years, but his new fitness regime has made him look almost unrecognisable.
Is Lily the original baby in Modern Family? ›
According to the show's Fandom page, Lily's character was portrayed by twins, Ella and Jaden Hiller, for the first two seasons. But from season three onward, Lily was portrayed by Aubrey Anderson-Emmons.
How many times did they change 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.
Why did Alex gain weight in Modern Family? ›
Winter explained that her weight gain in high school was due to antidepressants that she had been taking. “I gained 30 pounds (14kg). It was rough going to school.
Why was Alex sick in Modern Family? ›
Alex (Ariel Winter) gets mononucleosis during the summer vacation. Claire (Julie Bowen), Phil (Ty Burrell) and Luke (Nolan Gould) all try to use her condition to their advantage.
Who was almost Phil Dunphy? ›
Matt LeBlanc could have been Phil Dunphy
This premise kept "Friends" around until 2004, when it ultimately concluded its 10-season run. Thus, the cast had no choice but to go out and find acting work elsewhere.
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.
Did they change the baby Lily in Modern Family? ›
According to the show's Fandom page, Lily's character was portrayed by twins, Ella and Jaden Hiller, for the first two seasons. But from season three onward, Lily was portrayed by Aubrey Anderson-Emmons.
How old was Stella the dog when she died? ›
At nearly 12 years old, Stella was diagnosed with cancer on Monday. After spending a few days near the lake, Stella died peacefully with her humans by her side.
Claire Dunphy
While it would be a surprise for Claire (Julie Bowen) to die, there was a hint dropped in a Season 4 episode about her health when she was diagnosed with the heart condition Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome.
Is Haley wearing a wig on Modern Family season 10? ›
"This is just my natural hair. I just had extensions in for Modern Family," Hyland explained. "With medications and stuff, it can make your hair fall out. So I had extensions put in for Haley to hide any of that loss.”
What personality type is Haley Dunphy? ›
Haley Dunphy – ESTP
Impulsive and snarky, Haley Dunphy embodies a fairly ditzy version of the ESTP personality type. She lives for the thrill of experience and is always looking for new opportunities to have fun or let loose with her friends (or boyfriends).
Does Claire wear a wig in Modern Family? ›
Bowen also introduces Kline, who's the head of the hair department, and lets fans in on a little secret surrounding Claire's signature blonde bob: It's faux! “Kelly Kline gives me Claire hair, which some is fake,” she confesses, showing off her blonde clip-in extensions.
Did Hayley wear a wig in Modern Family? ›
"This is just my natural hair. I just had extensions in for Modern Family," she said. "With medications and stuff, it can make your hair fall out.
Why do they look at the camera in Modern Family? ›
Like The Office (2005), sitcom Modern Family (2009) employs a faux-documentary approach to its storytelling. The characters frequently look directly at the camera as if to address the audience, and “confessional” cutaway moments in which the characters offer commentary to the viewer punctuate each scene.
What does Lily say when Cam cries? ›
The storyline ended with Lily, seeing Cam crying at the wedding, saying “f___” in front of the church to cheer him up; his having giggled at Lily's swearing blows up in his face, and he ends up fleeing the church with her. So this glamorizes indecency among children how?
What swear word was Lily saying? ›
The adopted two-and-a-half year-old character somehow picks up the profanity “f—.” This naturally horrifies her parents, Cam and Mitchell, who in particular fear she'll blurt it at an upcoming wedding. Lily is shown saying the word, but it's not audible to the viewer.
Where was Haley in season 4 of Modern Family? ›
This college is the school that Haley attends at the beginning of Season 4 from "Schooled" until "Arrested". While she attended this college, Haley shared a dorm room with a girl called Jorie.
Why did Haley's face change in Modern Family? ›
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.
In season 4, while they are still in high school, Haley and Nathan, discover they are expecting a baby, a boy, that they decide to name : James Lucas (affectionately called : Jamie). In the eighth season, Haley and Nathan will welcome their second child, a girl : Lydia Bob.
Did Haley leave Modern Family? ›
Sarah Hyland isn't totally satisfied with how her character, Haley Dunphy, is ending her time on ABC's Modern Family after 11 seasons. The 29-year-old actress appears on the May cover of Cosmopolitan (with only a large hat covering her body) and gets candid about her take on the end of the popular series.
Did Luke change in Modern Family? ›
The actor, who starred as Luke Dunphy in the hit sitcom, has obviously grown up as the show progressed over the years, but his new fitness regime has made him look almost unrecognisable.
Did they replace Joe on Modern Family? ›
'Modern Family' Finds Its New Joe
There's a new member of the Pritchett family. Jeremy Maguire has joined Modern Family Season 7 in a recasting for the role of Fulgencio “Joe” Pritchett. His onscreen mom Sofia Vergara (Gloria) ...
Was Sarah sick during Modern Family? ›
Yes. However, she has been silent about one thing for a long time–how her chronic kidney issues affected her while filming. On this episode of Quitters, we talk to Modern Family alum, Sarah Hyland!
