126 Fun Facts About Modern Family

On Modern Family, Jay Pritchett's company, which his daughter Claire later runs, makes what?

Closets and blinds: Jay built the firm from scratch after his partner Earl Chambers walked out on their first closet company and badmouthed him to half their clients.

In what city is 'Modern Family' primarily set?

Los Angeles is also where the show films, so faithfully that Luke and Manny attend the real public high school their Westside neighbourhood would send them to.

What is Phil Dunphy's profession?

Real Estate Agent: Phil sells houses with relentless optimism, and late in the series he takes on Gloria as his intern and then as his business partner.

Mitchell and Cameron's daughter Lily was partly named after which animal from Cam's farm childhood?

A pig: Cam's childhood pet was a sow he called his Aunt Lily, and years later Mitchell knocks over the urn holding her ashes and stages a cover-up rather than confess.

Who plays Jay Pritchett, the Pritchett family patriarch?

Ed O'Neill got the part only after talks with Craig T. Nelson fell through, and took it for less than his usual fee because, he said, he had a feeling about the show.

Modern Family anchored its network's comedy line-up on which night?

Wednesday: the pilot aired on 23 September 2009, and by February 2010 the show was the centrepiece of its network's Wednesday comedy night and already renewed for a second season.

Which Benjamin Bratt character is Gloria's ex-husband?

Javier Delgado dazzles everyone on his rare visits, Jay included, which is why Jay grumbles that the thrill-seeker is really just a dad who doesn't show up.

Which university did Alex Dunphy attend from season 7?

Caltech: Alex leaves for college in season 7 sooner than her parents expect, so it is Haley, of all people, who settles her into the dorm and hands out the advice.

What is Gloria Pritchett's country of origin?

Colombia is Gloria's homeland, and when her mother and sister fly in for baby Joe's christening they bring its traditions with them, plus a family name Jay can't stand.

Which comedy ended Modern Family's run of five straight Outstanding Comedy Series Emmys in 2015?

Veep took the 2015 prize and kept it for three years running, so Modern Family, nominated each time, never won the award again.

What is the name of the dog that becomes a beloved member of the Pritchett family?

Stella is Jay's beloved dog; he dotes on her more than on Gloria, and after retiring he launches a dog-bed business named after her.

What is Cameron's classically trained clown persona called?

Fizbo first appears at Luke's birthday party in season 1, and on the way there the clown-suited Cam faces down a man menacing Mitchell at a gas station, to Mitchell's amazement.

On Modern Family, Jay and Gloria's son Joe goes by his middle name; what is his first name?

Fulgencio is the family name Gloria's mother insists on at the christening; Jay gives in and agrees to Fulgencio Joseph, then tells Gloria they are never going to call him that.

Which hobby does Phil Dunphy pursue with the most enthusiasm on Modern Family?

Magic is Phil's lifelong passion: he performs tricks whenever the family gathers, and late in the series he goes as far as owning his own magic shop.

Where do the Pritchetts and Dunphys holiday late in season 1, when Phil and Claire renew their vows?

Hawaii: Phil springs the vow renewal on Claire there because they never had a proper wedding or honeymoon, Claire having been pregnant with Haley when they married.

Which lifestyle company hires Haley Dunphy as a style editor late in Modern Family's run?

NERP hires Haley in season 9, after she barges into Alex's college class to get help preparing for her interview with the pseudoscience-peddling brand.

In season 1, Jay accidentally kills Manny's pet turtle and blames which animal for the crime?

A raccoon is Jay's scapegoat: after a poster he hangs falls and crushes the turtle, he fakes a break-in complete with claw marks, until Gloria sees through it and makes him confess.

Cameron grew up on a farm in which state?

Missouri is where Cam grew up on the family farm, and where the series leaves him: in the finale he, Mitchell and the children move there so he can coach college football.

Which Modern Family actor won the cast's first Emmy, in 2010, for an episode about their character's clown act?

Eric Stonestreet won for an episode drawn from his own childhood: as a boy in Kansas he invented a clown act and was performing it at younger children's birthday parties by the age of 11.

What does Phil Dunphy call the book of fatherly maxims he gives Haley?

Phil's-osophy is the homemade book of life lessons Phil hands Haley as he drops her at college; mortified by her parents that day, she phones later to thank them, leaving all three in tears.

Alex Dunphy's scientific research later takes her to a posting on which continent?

Antarctica: Alex opens the final season on a research internship there, and by the next episode she is home again, in time to help catch Claire faking an illness.

Which alias does Phil use for Valentine's role-play with Claire?

Clive Bixby is Phil's smooth-talking visiting businessman; his seduction of Claire's 'Julianna' ends with her coat, and nothing under it, leaving the pair trapped on an escalator.

In season 1, the whole family turns out to watch Manny excel at which sport?

Fencing: Manny reaches the final, then announces his retirement rather than face a girl, until Gloria tells him that refusing to fight her is the real insult.

Cameron was a starting center on the football team of which university?

Illinois football is the one thing Cam and Jay bond over, much to Mitchell's envy, and the sport later becomes Cam's career when he takes a job as a high-school football coach.

On Modern Family, what breed is Jay's dog, introduced in the season 2 episode 'Good Cop Bad Dog'?

French Bulldog: Jay dotes on her, so it is a blow when baby Joe's rash is blamed on the dog and she is sent away for a week, until the culprit turns out to be Gloria's face cream.

Lily, adopted by Mitchell and Cameron, was born in which country?

Vietnam is Lily's birthplace, and when she grows curious about where she comes from, her fathers decide to teach her about her heritage with a trip to a Vietnamese restaurant.

Which Modern Family cast member won acting Emmys for the show in both 2011 and 2014?

Ty Burrell won as Phil both times; the creators already knew him from Back to You, their short-lived sitcom, and cast him again a year after it was cancelled.

Modern Family is filmed in which style?

Mockumentary: the format shaped where the show landed, since one interested network would not commit as heavily as its rival, having so little experience with single-camera comedy.

Modern Family's five straight Outstanding Comedy Series Emmys matched a record set in the 1990s by which sitcom?

Frasier won five in a row from 1994 to 1998, and the link is personal: Modern Family co-creator Christopher Lloyd was one of Frasier's producers, so the record his show tied was one he had helped set.

As Modern Family ends, what is left on at the Dunphy house?

The porch light stays on because Phil has just told Claire they must always leave it on, so that the children, all moving out at once, know they can come back.

Which network aired Modern Family?

ABC bought the show at a moment when the sitcom was widely thought to be dying, and Modern Family's success over its 11 seasons there is credited with reviving the genre.

What was Modern Family's original working title?

My American Family was the title when the story was told by a Dutch documentary maker revisiting the family he had lived with as an exchange student; the producers dropped him as too cumbersome.

Which future Hamilton star guest-starred in season 2 as Guillermo, who pitches Jay a dog-training business?

Lin-Manuel Miranda plays Guillermo, whose treat-based training scheme Jay bluntly shoots down; he leaves in tears, then thanks Jay for his honesty, goes back to school and leaves his dog with the family.

NBC hesitated over Modern Family because it already had Parks and Recreation and which other comedy in the same style?

The Office and Parks and Recreation were already on NBC's books, so a third show built the same way was a harder sell there, and a rival network that wanted it more snapped it up.

What name does Jay give the life-size dog butler statue that Gloria can't stand?

Barkley is Jay's pride and joy, but the statue spooks Gloria every time she walks past it, so she banishes it to the guest room and Jay ends up giving it to Mitchell and Cam.

From Modern Family's second season, how did its co-creators Lloyd and Levitan divide the showrunning?

Each supervised half the episodes, switching off who had the final say, an arrangement insiders likened to a custody agreement, after the pair found that debating each other wasted time.

In season 4, Phil settles his children's scores during a christening in a sequence modelled on which film?

The Godfather's baptism scene is the model: while Phil recites the godparent's vows, Luke carries out his revenge orders, down to a stuffed zebra's head left in a rival's bed.

Which studio did five Modern Family stars sue over pay in 2012?

20th Century Fox Television, the show's producer, was sued by five of the adult stars in July 2012 to void their contracts; after a cancelled table read, new pay deals were done within days.

Which cable channel bought Modern Family's rerun rights in 2010?

USA Network agreed in June 2010 to pay a fee reported at close to $1.5 million an episode, for reruns it could not start airing for another three years.

Which two streaming services began sharing all of Modern Family in February 2021?

Hulu and Peacock both began carrying all 250 episodes on 3 February 2021 under a shared deal; until then Hulu had offered only a limited batch of them.

What do Haley and Dylan name their twin daughter?

Poppy and George are a double surprise: Haley learns she is pregnant in hospital after a bumper-car mishap, and only later that she is carrying twins.

A Facebook campaign during Modern Family's first season demanded that Mitchell and Cameron be allowed to do what?

Kiss: fans had noticed the couple never did on screen; the producers said one had been planned all along, and season 2's The Kiss delivered it by confronting Mitchell's unease with public affection.

Modern Family's 2012 Golden Globe for best comedy series ended which show's two-year hold on the award?

Glee had beaten Modern Family to the award two years running; at the January 2012 ceremony both were nominated again, and this time the sitcom won.

For the 2010 Emmys, Modern Family's adult stars all entered which acting categories?

Supporting Actor and Actress: the six wanted to stand as equals in an ensemble, and the actor who plays Jay ended up the only one of them without a nomination that year.

Which two political spouses both named Modern Family their favourite show in 2012?

Michelle Obama and Ann Romney were married to the rival candidates, so a sitcom about a gay couple and a blended family had devoted fans on both sides of the 2012 presidential race.

Which comedy veteran earned Emmy nominations ten years apart for playing Phil's father, Frank Dunphy?

Fred Willard was nominated in 2010 and again in 2020, for Frank's final episode; the second nomination was posthumous, as Willard had died that May.

Which Brooklyn Nine-Nine star played Gloria's sister Sonia on Modern Family?

Stephanie Beatriz plays Sonia, who on a Valentine's Day visit mistakes a kind gift from Jay for a come-on and starts flirting with him.

Which guest star earned three Emmy nominations as Pepper Saltzman, Mitch and Cam's flamboyant wedding planner?

Nathan Lane was nominated in 2011, 2013 and 2014 as Pepper, who talks the crews ordering a wildfire evacuation into waiting half an hour so the wedding he planned can go ahead.

Which Marvel series paid tribute to Modern Family with an episode of to-camera interviews?

WandaVision moves through a different sitcom era each week, and its seventh episode reaches Modern Family's, with Wanda confiding in an unseen interviewer and staring deadpan into the lens.

When Gloria asks Jay's secretary to order a box of 'baby cheeses', what arrives instead?

Baby Jesus figurines: after Jay and Manny spend the day correcting Gloria's accent, her request for the little cheeses Jay likes is misheard, and he unwraps a box of tiny Jesuses.

In Haft Sang, Iran's scene-by-scene remake of Modern Family, what replaced the gay pairing of Cam and Mitchell?

A heterosexual couple, a husband and wife who can't have children, replaced Cam and Mitchell in the Iranian copy, which the show's studio said had been made without the rights.

A planned Modern Family spin-off, reported in 2013, was to centre on which Rob Riggle character?

Gil Thorpe makes his entrance lowballing a house Claire and Cam have renovated, returns to gloat when their buyer flees, and is then bluffed by Phil into raising his offer.

In Modern Family's pilot, Luke gets his head stuck in what?

The stair banister traps Luke's head yet again, and Phil's day gets no better: after freeing him with baby oil, he hurts his back trying to scare Haley's boyfriend, who has to carry him to the couch.

What business does Gloria launch based on a family recipe?

Hot sauce: Cam talks Gloria into recreating her family's recipe to sell, and when her provocative ad for it draws the wrong kind of attention, Jay is consumed with jealousy.

Mitchell's legal career later shifts to what role?

Prosecutor: Mitchell takes the job in season 9, and the next Christmas it backfires when a mall Santa refuses to help the family because Mitchell once took him to court.

In Modern Family's final season, Mitchell and Cameron adopt a baby boy and give him which name?

Rexford is named after the street their new house stands on; he has barely arrived when Cam is offered the coaching job that takes the whole family to another state.

What career does Dylan eventually train for on Modern Family?

Nurse: after drifting through jobs as a musician, cowboy, limo driver and sign spinner, Dylan, long played as dim-witted, enrols in nursing school and makes a career of it.

Which Cheers star played Jay's ex-wife DeDe?

Shelley Long plays DeDe, whose drunken toast at Jay and Gloria's wedding ended with her being carried out and the cake knocked over, a scene the family still calls 'the incident'.

Which actress plays Sal, the party-animal friend who officiates Mitch and Cam's wedding?

Elizabeth Banks plays Sal, who appoints herself officiant; heavily pregnant, she goes into labour just as the vows begin and leaves for the hospital, so Phil has to step in.

Andy Bailey, the 'manny' who dates Haley, is from which state?

Utah is Andy's home, and it ends the romance: at the close of season 7 he is offered a job back there, and Haley, admitting he is the first man she has really loved, tells him to take it.

On Modern Family, Nathan Fillion's character Rainer Shine has what job?

Weather forecaster: Rainer Shine is the local TV weatherman Phil idolises, until Phil makes the mistake of introducing him to Haley, and the two end up briefly engaged.

On Modern Family, Haley's wellness-brand boss parodies which celebrity?

Gwyneth Paltrow: Mira Sorvino's ditzy founder runs a Goop-style lifestyle company that sells crystal stickers and other pseudoscientific cures.

Alex's boyfriend Bill, played by Jimmy Tatro, has what job?

Firefighter: Bill meets Alex in season 9 when he carries her out of her smoke-filled dorm room after she burns a bagel in the microwave, and she is a little embarrassed by how unintellectual he is.

Which pair play Phil and Claire's obnoxious neighbours, the LaFontaines?

Steve Zahn and Andrea Anders play Ronnie and Amber, who outbid the buyers Claire wanted next door; the feud ends when both couples unite against a lewd statue in the neighbourhood.

What does Phil call his signature approach to raising Haley, Alex and Luke?

Peerenting is Phil's motto: act like a parent, talk like a peer. He says he learned it from his own dad, who used to walk into his room and ask, 'What's up, sweathog?'

What phobia does Phil suffer from?

Fear of clowns, coulrophobia, is the problem; he may have found a dead clown in the woods as a child.

Which home repair does Phil keep promising to get to throughout season 1?

Fixing the step: Phil keeps tripping on it and muttering 'Gotta fix that step'. In the season 1 finale Claire tackles the job herself and destroys it completely.

In college, Phil was a cheerleader at which university?

Fresno State is Phil's alma mater, where he was a cheerleader. In season 3's Go Bullfrogs! he shows Haley round the campus, reliving his college days so keenly that she is embarrassed.

In 'Dude Ranch', Phil shows surprising skill at what?

Horseback riding and shooting: at the Wyoming dude ranch Phil rides well and impresses on the skeet range, finally earning some respect from Jay.

Which Super Bowl-winning quarterback guest-starred as Coach Gary, the sports tutor Gloria hires for Joe?

Peyton Manning plays Coach Gary, hired to teach Joe to throw and catch. He then fixes a drawer and clears the gutters as well, leaving Jay feeling he is being replaced.

Which holiday does Claire insist is hers after other relatives take over the rest?

Halloween is all Claire asks to keep: Gloria reshaped the family Christmas and Mitch and Cam took over Thanksgiving, so she throws everything into her haunted house.

What terrible anniversary gift did Claire make Phil in return for a bracelet?

Coupons for five free hugs was Claire's gift. To make amends she booked a private show by a former Spandau Ballet member, then learned Phil had never been a fan of the band.

What grade is Haley in when Modern Family begins?

High school sophomore: Haley starts the series in tenth grade dating a senior, Dylan, whom Phil tries to scare off in the pilot before throwing his own back out.

Which demanding fashion boss hires Haley as his assistant in season 6?

Gavin Sinclair, a celebrity stylist played by Michael Urie, hires Haley after she and Andy coach each other for job interviews; both get hired, Andy as Phil's assistant.

In which episode does Haley marry Dylan?

Can't Elope: in season 10 Haley and Dylan plan to slip away and marry quietly, but Phil and Claire turn it into a rushed home wedding that falls apart, so the pair marry that night in front of just a few relatives.

Which instrument did Alex choose because it was more in demand in university orchestras?

Cello: her parents had suggested the violin, but Alex was already planning for college. Haley's comeback is that nobody is less in demand than girls who play in orchestras.

Which university rejected Alex in season 6, to her shock?

Harvard turns Alex down in season 6's Spring Break. Haley, who has taken her to a music festival to unwind, hears the news from Claire and talks her sister round.

Where does Alex move at the end of the series for a research project?

Switzerland: in the finale Alex announces she is moving there for work with Arvin, her former professor, just as romance sparks between the two.

How did Luke garble Claire's insult that Gloria was only after Jay's money?

Coal digger: at a family barbecue Manny reveals that Luke keeps calling Gloria that, and Luke says he learned it from Claire, exposing what she thinks of her stepmother.

Where does Luke enrol as a student in the Modern Family finale?

University of Oregon: after passing on college for a well-paid job at Jay's country club, Luke reveals in the finale that he has been accepted there and is moving out.

What is the title of the song Dylan writes for Haley and sings to her whole family?

In the Moonlight (Do Me) is Dylan's ode to Haley, performed to the mortified family in the season 1 episode The Incident; Reid Ewing wrote it himself.

After losing his ranch job, Dylan takes what job at Disneyland?

Dapper Dan: Dylan sings in the park's barbershop quartet, then turns up inside a Little John costume to tell Haley he still loves her, and the two get back together.

Jay did his basic training at Pensacola before serving in which branch of the US military?

Navy: in Florida for Phil's mother's funeral, Jay recognises Charlotte, the older woman he fell for during basic training at 18, only to find she cannot tell him from the many other servicemen she saw off.

Which hobby of Jay's ends with Phil being hit in the face in season 1?

Model airplanes: in Come Fly with Me Jay takes Phil out to fly his new model, buzzes him with it and finally crashes it into his nose, then insists it was an accident.

Which city is the birthplace of Sofía Vergara, who plays Gloria?

Barranquilla, a Caribbean port, is Sofía Vergara's birthplace, and the show nods to it: in season 5 Gloria recalls hiding a sausage in her bag on the way back from there.

Which everyday skill does Gloria admit in season 2 that she never learned?

Riding a bicycle: Gloria's mother thought it was dangerous, so she never learned. Jay's bossy lessons get nowhere, and it is Luke who finally has her pedalling.

In which episode does Gloria become a US citizen?

Patriot Games: Gloria nearly drops her citizenship bid on learning Jay mostly wants shorter airport queues, but he talks her round and she passes the test in this season 6 episode.

Manny is terrified of what?

Butterflies: caddying for Jay in season 2, Manny admits he is terrified of them, so when Gloria describes heaven as full of sunshine, rainbows and butterflies she has to take it straight back.

What garment is Manny often seen wearing?

A burgundy dinner jacket is what Manny demands from Santa Claus in season 1, and by the season 2 premiere he is putting it on to impress a girl.

Cameron's birthday falls on which special day of the calendar?

Leap day: Cam was born on February 29, so when he turns 40 in season 3 he insists it is only his tenth birthday, and Mitchell spends the episode scrambling to save the party.

Cameron guessed which film during charades the night he met Mitchell?

Casablanca: at one of Pepper Saltzman's game nights a stranger named Cam blurted out the answer to Mitchell's charade, and the two became a couple.

Which classic film is Cameron's favourite?

The Wizard of Oz is Cam's favourite, so Mitchell plans an Oz-themed party for his 40th birthday, then panics on recalling the tornado that destroyed Cam's grandfather's farm.

Which instrument does Cameron play well enough to fill in with Dylan's band?

Drums: when Dylan's drummer moves away in season 1's Travels with Scout, Cam talks his way into the band, flops at first, then swaps the sticks to his other hands and proves very capable.

What is the name of Mitch, Cam and Lily's pet cat?

Larry is the cat; Mitch and Cam bring him home in season 4 after a planned adoption of a baby boy falls through.

An animatronic exhibit of which figure inspired Jay to stay married to DeDe until the kids grew up?

Abraham Lincoln: in the season 3 Disneyland episode Jay recalls that the park's animatronic Lincoln show talked him out of leaving DeDe while the kids were young.

Whom does Frank marry in season 8?

Phil's childhood babysitter: Lorraine, also his first crush, met Frank again on jury duty, where he changed his vote in a triple-homicide trial to win a lunch date with her.

Which Breaking Bad actor played Jay's brother Donnie?

Jonathan Banks, Breaking Bad's Mike Ehrmantraut, plays Jay's brother Donnie in the season 2 episode The Musical Man, in which Donnie reveals he has cancer.

Who directed the Modern Family pilot?

Jason Winer directed the pilot and won the Directors Guild award for it. At the 2010 Emmys he was nominated for directing but lost, though the pilot's script took the writing award.

The episode 'Connection Lost' is presented entirely through what?

Claire's laptop screen carries the whole episode. Steven Levitan had the idea when a video call from his daughter popped up among the emails and websites open on his own computer.

What does flower girl Lily do in the middle of a wedding ceremony in Modern Family's third season?

Swears loudly: Lily has just learned her first swear word, and when Cam cries at the wedding she says it to cheer him up. The whole church laughs, so she keeps repeating it.

At which airport is Claire waiting during 'Connection Lost'?

O'Hare: stuck at the Chicago airport after a row with Haley, Claire convinces herself her daughter has run off to marry in Las Vegas, when Haley is in fact asleep at home.

In the Modern Family finale, where do Phil and Claire move to escape their overcrowded house?

Frank's RV in the driveway: Phil and Claire hide out in his late father's camper and order one child to move out, then decide they love the chaos just as every one of the kids announces a move.

As child figure skaters, Claire and Mitchell competed under what duo name?

Fire and Nice: Mitchell says he was Fire because of his red hair and Claire was Nice 'because it was ironic'. He still resents her for quitting just before a regional championship.

What animal does Haley release at Luke's birthday party, sending the family to the ER?

A scorpion: jealous that Dylan is chatting to the party's animal handler, Haley frees it from its box. In the panic that follows, Luke slips on craft beads and breaks his arm.

Which NBA legend guest-starred in the season 1 finale 'Family Portrait'?

Kobe Bryant appears as himself at a Lakers game, where a starstruck Phil finally gets his attention and can only ask, 'Do you like being a basketball player?'

In 'Family Portrait', what does Mitchell battle while Cameron sings 'Ave Maria' at a wedding?

A pigeon: Mitchell's frantic fight with the stray bird wrecks the house, so when Claire begs to move the family photo shoot to his place he has to tell her it is impossible.

Which film star guest-starred as Izzy, the Spandau Ballet musician Claire hires as an anniversary surprise for Phil?

Edward Norton plays Izzy, who balks at playing once he works out Phil is no 'Fandau'. Phil then admits to Claire that their song was never 'True' but one by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark.

In 'Airport 2010', why is Manny detained for questioning?

His name matches a no-fly list: while a guard questions Manny, Gloria has to admit she booked him a different return date so that she could have some time alone with Jay.

In Modern Family's child-free episode 'Las Vegas', what does Claire secretly slip away to do?

Win back money she once lost: Claire had gambled away their anniversary savings on a girls' weekend, so she lets Phil think she is still angry with him, slips off to the tables and wins it all back.

Which SNL alum played Mitchell's ex-boyfriend Langham in 'Las Vegas'?

Fred Armisen plays Langham, the ex whose bachelor weekend collides with Mitchell's Vegas trip; Stephen Merchant also appears as an officious butler.

In 'Baby on Board', Mitch and Cam rush to which town for a failed adoption?

Calexico, on the Mexican border, is where Mitch and Cam race in the season 3 finale to adopt a baby boy, with Gloria along to translate; the adoption falls through.

Who plays Claire Dunphy?

Julie Bowen plays Claire. She shot the pilot eight and a half months pregnant, so the crew hid her bump behind laundry baskets, pillows and loose clothes.

In season 5 the family travels to which country to honour Phil's late mother?

Australia: in the season 5 episode of that name the family visits the country where Phil was conceived, fulfilling his mother's wish.

Which gadget does Phil crave for his birthday in Modern Family's 'Game Changer'?

iPad: Phil's birthday falls on the tablet's launch day, but Claire, who offers to queue at dawn for him, dozes off on the couch and finds the store sold out.

Who plays Mitchell Pritchett?

Jesse Tyler Ferguson plays Mitchell. He first auditioned for Cameron but was desperate to play the uptight lawyer instead, and ended up cast before the show had found its Cam.

Which comedian played Duane Bailey, the councilman Claire ran against in season 3?

David Cross plays Duane Bailey, who brushes off Claire's plea for a stop sign, beats her in the election she enters over it, then quietly puts the sign up anyway.

In the pilot, Jay and Gloria watch Manny play which sport?

Soccer: Gloria yells from the sideline and rows with another parent at Manny's game, where one of the other fathers assumes Jay is her dad.

According to Phil in the pilot, what does the text abbreviation WTF stand for?

'Why the face?' is Phil's guess, delivered while telling the camera what a cool dad he is, straight after he gets LOL and OMG right.

Who plays Alex Dunphy?

Ariel Winter plays Alex for all 11 seasons. Midway through she fitted a second job around the show, voicing the title princess in Disney's Sofia the First.

In the pilot, Phil must punish Luke for shooting Alex with what?

A BB gun: under the family's deal Phil must shoot Luke in return, so the punishment goes on the calendar. When the hour comes he accidentally shoots Luke, Dylan and himself.

Which award for best comedy ensemble did four-year-old Aubrey Anderson-Emmons share with the Modern Family cast?

A Screen Actors Guild Award: she took over Lily in season 3 from the twins who had played the baby, and within months was sharing the cast's ensemble prize.

In the pilot, Cam presents baby Lily to the family to music from which film?

The Lion King: Cam hoists Lily aloft like Simba to 'Circle of Life', a reveal that stuns the family and mortifies Mitchell.

Who plays Haley Dunphy?

Sarah Hyland plays Haley. Born with a kidney condition, she had a transplant during the show's third season, with her father as the donor.

In season 11 the family follows Jay to which city, where he expects to collect a lifetime achievement award?

Paris: Jay arrives for his big honour only to learn he is accepting it on behalf of his old rival Earl, a mix-up caused by Manny's shaky French.

Who plays Luke Dunphy?

Nolan Gould plays Luke, the family goofball, yet the actor is a Mensa member who tested out of high school at 13, during the show's run.

How does Gloria mangle the phrase 'dog-eat-dog world'?

Doggy dog world is Gloria's version. When Jay corrects her, she asks who would want a world where dogs eat each other, while hers is 'a beautiful world full of little puppies'.