In late February, a famous family found itself down to its final farewell. The cast and producers of Modern Family filmed the very last episode of its 11-season run — No. 250, for those who like big, clean numbers — capping the mockumentary comedy’s celebrated, Emmy-studded run. It was a tough task to bid adieu to the Dunphys, Pritchetts, and Tuckers after all this time, and emotions were running understandably high for the cast. “I hope people will forgive us for breaking character a bit, because it was actually a little tricky to delineate,” Ty Burrell, a.k.a. Phil, told EW. “[The finale] really has to do with that feeling that this chapter of this family is over. This magical period in their lives won’t be the same anymore, and people are wrestling with a lot of the same feelings we were wrestling with.”

You can experience some of those feelings secondhand right here: A photographer was on hand to capture the colorful behind-the-scenes emotions in black and white, and the following images document the cast and producers savoring their last laughs (and shedding a few tears). After you compose yourself, check out the one-hour series finale (Wednesday, 9 p.m. ET/PT, ABC) to see how the sentimental send-off turned out in front of the cameras.

Source: EW

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Television Series > Modern Family > Season 11 > Behind The Scenes

Why the face? Because the Modern era of Family time has drawn to a close. Saying goodbye after 11 seasons, 250 episodes, and 22 Emmys (including five consecutive Outstanding Comedy Series trophies, tying Frasier’s record) was no easy feat for the producers and cast; ask them to describe the vibe while finishing the one-hour farewell that airs April 8 at 9 p.m. on ABC, and analogies flow like the tears did. “It’s kind of like when you’re a kid and your best friend moves away — only it’s 100 best friends,” quips co-creator Christopher Lloyd. Sums up Ty Burrell, who won two Emmys as aspiring cool dad Phil: “It was like a beautiful torture. It was like being at a wedding and a funeral at the same time.”

Neither of those scenarios takes place in the finale, but other emotionally charged events do. The ending also speaks to new beginnings for the Dunphy-Pritchett-Tucker clan. “The family is suddenly dealing with a lot of changes,” says co-creator Steven Levitan, “some of which come from the very nature of kids getting older, the time when you have to say goodbye.”

The finale opens with a Dunphy home so overstuffed with kids and grandkids that Phil and Claire seek shelter in the RV in the driveway (R.I.P, Frank). From there, the plot involves: a soft-sculpture gift from Jay (Ed O’Neill) to Cam (Eric Stonestreet) and Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Ferguson), who are busy parenting Lily (Aubrey Anderson-Emmons), considering adopting another child, and still finding time for karaoke; one last sibling hazing ritual performed by Haley (Sarah Hyland) and Alex (Ariel) on their brother, Luke (Nolan Gould); and a bathtub-side scene with Manny (Rico Rodriguez) and Gloria (Sofia Vergara).

In addition, “Claire and Mitch have realizations as adults about their old skating routine that they didn’t as kids,” says Levitan. And, yes, an immovable father and his unstoppable son-in-law will share new intimacy. “Jay and Phil finally bond—literally,” hints Burrell.

The tri-family comedy with a sharp wit and wink that redefined the genre aimed to keep the finale flowing with laughs while suffusing it with goodbye gravitas. “There’s a combination of sadness and gratitude, and these are feelings all of the writers had — and I think the actors had too,” says Lloyd. Burrell confirms that hunch. “I hope people will forgive us for breaking character a bit, because it was actually a little tricky to delineate,” he says. “It really has to do with that feeling that this chapter of this family is over. This magical period in their lives won’t be the same anymore, and people are wrestling with a lot of the same feelings we were wrestling with.” And just a few weeks from now, it will be your turn.

Source: EW

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Television Series > Modern Family > Season 11 > Episode Stills > 11×18

Sarah Hyland learned a lesson from the latest Modern Family death: Read the scripts.

Hyland took to her Instagram after “Legacy,” the Wednesday, Jan. 15 episode of Modern Family aired to tell viewers she was just as surprised as they were about the ABC sitcom’s latest twist. Warning, spoilers follow!

In “Legacy,” Phil (Ty Burrell) goes to visit his father Frank (Fred Willard) after he was found wandering a grocery store for hours. Phil thought Frank was suffering from dementia. He wasn’t, and the two spent a nice day together with Phil ultimately revealing it was their last. Frank passed away off camera and viewers heard Phil give his eulogy to the family. “My dad was OK, and my takeaway from our day, don’t miss the chance to let the people you appreciate know that,” Phil said.

Well, he gave the eulogy to almost all the family. “So, I don’t read scripts of episodes of Modern Family that I’m not in, so I just found out that my grandpa’s dead along with all of you,” Hyland said on her Instagram stories. “I still feel special.”

Hyland’s Instagram posts spoiled some viewers, and she immediately acknowledged her faux pas. “I guess I should’ve put a spoiler alert for Grandpa Frank dying, but I was just caught off guard. Like, as his granddaughter, you think I’d be invited to his funeral,” Hyland told her followers. “If it’s any consolation to those who are angry about the spoiler alert, karma hit real fast and Boo just farted in my face and the smell was so bad she had to get off the bed because she couldn’t handle the heat.”