Image Credit: Patrick Wymore/ABCABC’s freshman hit Modern Family earned 14 Emmy nominations today, including nods in the Outstanding Comedy and Outstanding Supporting Actor categories. Only Ed O’Neill was overlooked for playing patriarch Jay Pritchett, no doubt because many voters took it for granted that the veteran TV actor would earn a shout-out. Yet it was O’Neill’s choice to submit himself alongside co-stars Julie Bowen, Ty Burrell, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Sofia Vergara, and Eric Stonestreet as a supporting actor rather than a lead one, insists co-creator Steve Levitan.
Bowen and Vergara earned nominations in the Supporting Actress category today, while Burrell, Ferguson, and Stonestreet snagged nods for Supporting Actor.
“I really admire the spirit of what Ed wanted to do. That’s what makes him such an amazing guy,” Levitan tells EW. Levitan, together with Family co-creator Christopher Lloyd, also scored a nomination for writing the comedy’s pilot. “I do wonder if people took him for granted … ‘He’ll get nominated so I’ll vote for these other people.’ Had he been in the lead category, I believe he would have earned a nomination. Other than that glaring omission, I am thrilled. It’s the culmination of a pretty fantastic year, so we are just counting our blessings.”
Adds Lloyd to EW, “A year and a half ago when we wrote the pilot, we honestly didn’t think there was a series in it. We thought it was a fun kind of thing to take a swing at, we just weren’t sure what the hell it is.”
Levitan and Lloyd have already broken 12 stories for the comedy’s second season, which begins production Aug. 1. Here’s a sneak peek of some of the things they have planned for the three lively clans: Each will experience a Southern California earthquake in their own unique way (Rico Rodriguez’ Manny, in particular, has a “spiritual awakening”). Cameron (Stonestreet) and Mitchell (Ferguson) contemplate whether to expand their family, and some of the characters get caught up in a flash mob/dance sequence in a public place.
Modern Family will air at 9 p.m. Wednesdays this fall on ABC. The comedy already earned awards from the Writers and Directors guilds earlier this year.
The last laugher to earn an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Comedy after its first season was Ugly Betty in 2007.
Love this show. I’m already giddy hearing about next season’s concepts.
I don’t understand why people are saying that Ed O’Niel was the lead actor in the first place. They are clearly saying that just because he’s Ed O’Niel and for no other reason. On the show, he has less screen time than Ty Burell as well as less funny materials. If anyone would be a lead, it would be Ty.
Agree, James. He has the same if not less screen time than most of the other actors.
Also, while I think Ed O’Neill is good on the show, I don’t think he is as good of a performer as the other actors.
I think on shows like this where it is a true ensemble cast everyone should submit as supporting because they are. They support each other and no one character is more important than the others.
He’s the patriarch, that’s why he could be considered “Lead.” If his character didn’t exist, none of the family would exist.
Ty Burrell should def be lead actor.
I’m really happy, I love this show
So, Phil is a lock to be one of the characters who gets caught up in a flash mob/dance sequence, right?
Gosh, I sure hope so!!
How could he NOT be??? If it’s him and Cam, the funniest scene of next season almost writes itself!
That would be a great time to introduce O-Zone, Phil’s break-dancing character (from the Judy Greer episode).
The potential of this episode with Phil in the flashmob has a epic feel .I can’t wait for it.
There is much hype about Glee and I love Glee. But I LOOOOOVE Modern Family, and I think that it is much more consistent and much funnier overall. So all my hopes are for a Modern Family win and a couple of the actors’ as well, though it’s hard to choose which two should win. I’m thinking Sofia Vergara and Ty Burell.
I don’t care for either. Not to troll, but am I alone?
@ Zach. I very much dislike Glee. I think it’s story lines are awful and disjointed. I love musicals but there is something about Lea Michelle that doesn’t translate to the small screen. I like Modern Family but think it really kind of puttered out toward the end of the year and was outshown by it’s ABC neighbors and by NBC’s Community (which was totally snubbed).
Modern Family + Flashmob = I can’t wait!!!!
What about Justified on FX and Timothy Olyphant? Best new show this year.
So happy for this show and the actors. Burrell and Stonestreet are awesome…just wish Manny could have gotten some love.
Eric Stonestreet for Best Supporting Actor!!!
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Best thing on TV. Too bad baby Lily didn’t garner a nod. I swear that kid understands everything that’s going on around her!
Modern Family + flash mob/dance sequence = O.M.G.
best comedy on network tv, hope it wins.
The best show on television!!! OMG at the flashmob dance sequence..I’m already crying laughing imagining the brilliance of whoever is involved..Come on Modern Family! Snatch all the awards..
Great show but I really think they need to get away from the gay sterotypes here. The show is better than that.
Agreed, great show. As a gay man, I beg to disagree with “gay stereotypes”. I can be macho & threaten to kick some bad guy’s butt (ala Cam)and five minutes later scream like a teenage girl over some pesky flying insect. We come in many colors, shapes and dispositions.