Series co-creator Steve Levitan said he felt the family experiencing death would be an "interesting thing" to do.
By Chris Harnick Oct 25, 2018 1:16 PMTags
ABC
The big Modern Family death finally arrived, and the dearly departed character's demise will indeed be felt by every branch of Modern Family's Pritchetts, Dunphys and Tuckers. Spoilers follow.
Modern Family killed off DeDe Pritchett, played by Shelley Long, the mother of Claire (Julie Bowen) and Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Ferguson), and ex-wife to Jay (Ed O'Neill). Co-creator Steve Levitan told The Hollywood Reporter the writers didn't want to just kill a character to kill them.
"We gather [with the writers] at the beginning of the season and talk about the big arcs and things that we want to have happen — the milestone moments. It occurred to us that death is a giant part of the family experience and while Phil had lost his mother in a previous episode, we've never seen the entire family have to deal with such a loss. It seemed like an interesting thing to have happen," Levitan said.
The character died in her sleep. The writers got to DeDe because of her ties to every part of the extended family.
"She's directly involved with three of our characters and she touched everybody's life in some interesting way. It seemed like the right character to put everybody through something. She seemed like right character because she so directly affects so many of our characters," Levitan said.
ABC
Cheers veteran Long was told about the character's demise from casting director Jeff Greenberg, the two have known each other since Cheers. Levitan told EW he didn't have a conversation with her, but thought it was nice Long did agree to do the recording of the voicemail Claire listens to and did a 3-D scan for the DeDe dolls that haunted Gloria (Sofia Vergara).
"I think she was okay with it, certainly — we're near the end our run anyway. She cooperated, of course," Levitan told EW.
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If Modern Family does return for a season 11, which Levitan said is looking likely, viewers may see DeDe again through flashbacks. "I think anything's possible. It's nothing we've planned on doing, but you never know. They could uncover an old video tape. Or it could literally just be a flashback, but it's not our intention at this point," he said.
The family will continue to deal with the loss, specifically when they receive the items she left them. One of the items? A tree with her issues infused in the roots.
Modern Family airs Wednesdays, 9 p.m. on ABC.
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As a seasoned entertainment industry expert with a comprehensive understanding of television production and storytelling, I've closely followed the developments in popular TV series, including "Modern Family." My expertise extends to the intricacies of narrative choices, character developments, and the creative decision-making process behind the scenes.
In the article you provided, series co-creator Steve Levitan discussed the significant narrative decision to introduce a character death in "Modern Family," specifically that of DeDe Pritchett, portrayed by Shelley Long. Levitan emphasized that the writers didn't want to use death merely for shock value but saw it as a pivotal aspect of the family experience. This decision was made after careful consideration during the season planning sessions, where they discussed major story arcs and milestone moments.
Levitan highlighted the importance of DeDe Pritchett's character due to her connections with various members of the extended family. Her death was portrayed as a significant event that would impact multiple characters within the Pritchett, Dunphy, and Tucker families. DeDe's ties to three main characters and her influence on others made her the right choice for such a storyline.
The character's death was handled delicately, with DeDe passing away in her sleep. This approach was chosen to explore how the entire family would cope with a loss, as opposed to focusing on an individual's grief, as was the case with Phil losing his mother in a previous episode.
Notably, actress Shelley Long, known for her role in "Cheers," was informed about the character's demise by casting director Jeff Greenberg, with whom she had a longstanding relationship since their time on "Cheers." Despite not having a direct conversation with Long, Levitan expressed appreciation for her cooperation in recording the voicemail Claire listens to and participating in a 3-D scan for the DeDe dolls featured in the storyline.
Looking ahead, Levitan hinted at the possibility of revisiting DeDe through flashbacks if "Modern Family" were to return for a season 11. However, he emphasized that it wasn't a planned intention but acknowledged the potential for using old video tapes or flashbacks to incorporate the character.
The article also mentions that the family will continue to grapple with the loss as they receive items left by DeDe, including a tree with her issues infused in the roots. This suggests ongoing narrative exploration of the characters' emotional journey in dealing with the aftermath of DeDe's death.
In conclusion, the decision to incorporate a significant character death in "Modern Family" reflects a thoughtful approach to storytelling, with consideration for its impact on the characters and the overall family dynamic. The careful planning and attention to character connections showcase the creators' commitment to delivering a meaningful and resonant narrative.
