From its very first season, the cast of Modern Family reportedly agreed to submit themselves for awards in the supporting categories rather than competing for lead acting honors.
An Ensemble Show
The decision reflected how the show worked. Instead of revolving around one central star, Modern Family split the spotlight across three households: Jay and Gloria, the Dunphys, and Mitchell and Cameron.
Each episode usually followed several storylines at once, giving almost every cast member a chance to shine. No single actor was positioned as “the” lead.
Putting the Show First
The approach helped define the series as a true ensemble comedy, where everyone contributed to its success in their own way. It’s a rare example of a cast putting the show ahead of individual credit.
It Paid Off
The cast earned a long list of acting nominations over the years. Eric Stonestreet and Ty Burrell each won the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series twice, and Julie Bowen won Outstanding Supporting Actress twice.
In some years, multiple cast members were nominated in the same supporting category, competing against each other for the same trophy.
Meanwhile, Modern Family itself won Outstanding Comedy Series at the Emmys five years in a row, from 2010 to 2014.
The One Notable Snub
Fans have often pointed out that Ed O’Neill, despite anchoring the show as Jay Pritchett for 11 seasons, was never nominated for an Emmy for the role, one of the more surprising omissions in the show’s awards history.
Hard to Argue With
Whether it was strategy, generosity or simply an accurate reflection of the show, the supporting-category decision worked.
It’s hard to argue with five straight wins for Outstanding Comedy Series.