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Even though Ed O’Neill is the patriarch of TV’s hottest show Modern Family, Emmy nominators today treated him like his Married…With Children lovable loser character Al Bundy. I told you in April that O’Neill made a magnanimous gesture by submitting himself in the Supporting Actor category even though he could have gone for Lead Actor for a sitcom that was built around him. (‘Modern Family’ Cast Will All Compete For Supporting Emmys After Ed O’Neill Gesture) O’Neill did it because he felt the show had evolved into a true ensemble, and the rest of the cast followed suit. So of course, O’Neill was the only adult cast member to not get nominated. Still a classy move on his part, I say. But next year, it would be better to divvy up categories because the whole cast is so good.
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They really ought to consider a “Best Ensemble” award the way the SAG awards do. I mean, they give an Emmy for casting — which really means the same thing….
“which really means the same thing”
Um, no?
The Casting goes to Casting Directors that bust their butts for creative casting and/or finding new talent.
Ensemble goes to a group of actors that have great chemistry together.
No. They are NOT the same thing.
finding new talent?
The Casting goes to Casting Directors that bust their butts for creative casting and/or finding new talent.
Don’t you mean, “and/or finding new talent that are repped by the Top 10 agencies and/or Management firms?”
I can’t believe he didn’t get a nom and Julie Bowen did. She’s not so great on that show.
Can we talk about how shitty Glee is?
Julie Bowen is a fantastic part of that show! She is flawless as the straight man, and that’s the hardest part of comedy. I shouldn’t be responding to this because it feels like a bait post to slam an actor who is clearly outstanding on a show to illicit response to there lame posts. So well played fool, you got me.
Uh, have you ever watched “Modern Family.” The show was not built around Ed O’Neil’s character. Yes, he deserved a nomination, but he is not the main character of the show. The character of his son is.
Have YOU ever watched the show? If there were a “main” character, it would be Phil, and Phil isn’t his son.
Still doesn’t mean the show wasn’t built around Ed O’Neil, but like so many other shows that start out in development around a star, it evolved into an ensemble. (Rob Lowe/West Wing?)
I think it’s a shame he didn’t get nominated, he’s great on the show.
He deserves a nomination and a win.
The main problem with ONeill is that his character doesn’t get much to do and hardly gets any laughs. I was very surprised with Ferguson’s nomination as he’s almost in the same situation and thought that given name recognition being such a big part of Emmy voting (John Hamm for 30 Rock instead of SNL), ONeill would be nominated if a third guy from the show was going to get in. Instead they went for Ferguson.
Either way, the third guy should have been Rico Rodriguez as Manny.
“The character of his son is?” Have YOU ever seen the show? It’s almost the definition of an ensemble show.
Agreed re: Glee’s crapiness, Joe
I’m up for the Glee conversation. I’ve forced myself to watch two episodes. Clearly it’s not for me. But at this point, it has to be the most overrated thing on TV. Possibly ever. I try to be understanding of the idea that not every movie or TV show is for me. But I really want Glee to go away.
Christ, just don’t watch it?
Dear “it’scalledaremote”. (really funny name… Not! remember that? Wayne’s World? around the time your level of sarcasm was en vogue). I tried that. I don’t watch it. But it still is EVERYWHERE. Not watching it doesn’t make Glee go away.
Most overrated would be Mad Men
Ed O’neill has always been a generous actor and good guy. He got paid hefty bonus’s on Married…but did not have a piece of the profits. He never openly complained not that he did not get rich in the process.
Good luck Ed, you will get your emmy.
Modern Family was always meant to be an ensemble. If you read the pilot, there clearly is no lead. Ed O’Neil is terrific and it’s just too bad he didn’t make the cut. Manny is also awesome and would have been a worthy nominee. There really should be an emmy for best ensemble because the chemistry of the actors is what makes shows like Modern Family, 30 Rock, Seinfeld, Friends, etc work much more so than the efforts of any single actor.
I think Sophia Vergara should be nominated just for being so freaking sexy.
As Casting Director for the show I can tell you definitively that MF was NOT built around any main character but was always intended as a total ensemble. And when we were casting we didn’t pursue a “name” per se, but the best actor for each and every role. Ed was cast midway through the process after a couple other actors were set.
No fair injecting some reality into this conversation. Congratulations on putting together such a wonderful cast.
Thank you, Jeff. Some people just like to hear the sound of their own keyboard.
And as for those talented young actors you found to play the kids, well done.
Thank you for all your hard work… genius casting and genius writing… congratulations and continued success. The world needs all the compassionate laughs it can get. Well done!
you guys are all so obsessed with process stuff in casting. take it easy
To add insult to injury on O’Neill’s snub, Peggy Bundy (Katey Sagal)
was snubbed for Sons of Anarchy so Mariska Hargitay can get her 34th nomination. She was fantastic last season and deserved to win.
Ed and Katey were never nominated for Married With Children either!
Yep, I can’t believe Katey didn’t get a nomination. She and Sons of Anarchy was fantastic last season.
If you don’t recognize the brilliance of Jane Lynch I just don’t know what to tell you. Glee’s had some inconsistencies (partly from airing episodes out of order–good goin’ Fox), but any weaknesses are easily addressable. Don’t even get me started on how terrific Chris Colfer’s been. That nomination was well-deserved. The boy can make you cry. I can’t wait to see Javier Bardem’s arc next year.
I’d love to know how many people dogging on Glee enjoy folks bursting into song in the first place. If you don’t like musicals, or pop songs, you’re already in the hole when you try the show. They’re getting some great Tony-winning/nominated actors & often those people start so far down the totem pole when they come to make it in television. Now they get a venue to showcase themselves and build a tv fanbase. For that alone I applaud Glee.
I loved Jane Lynch on several previous shows (Two and a Half Men, Party Down, etc…) but her character on Glee leaves me cold. I’m glad for her to enjoy increased popularity, regardless.
the show is just way too gay
“way too gay”?! You can stop “waiting for the collapse” as it has clearly already taken place in your brain.
Because God forbid a show should exist on TV that is gay friendly and appealing to gay viewers to go along with the 90% of TV shows that are uncomfortable with gay people or depict them as non-existent – get your head out of your ass and turn the channel if Glee is too freakin’ gay!
I agree with all you said and you know folks love to kick a hit not watching is to them not an option. They want to ruin it for those who do like it.
One thing sorry to say Javiar is just a rumor not true.
‘Glee’ is…I roll my eyes just thinking about it. Yes, Jane Lynch is divine. But that’s what she does. She has a history of stealing a scene regardless of which movie/show she’s a part of. I don’t mind that the show has a rabid fan base that will defend it to the grave. Every great and crappy show ever created has that following, regardless of size. What grates my soul is the deep extent of misguided praise that it gets.
First and foremost, the show is neither original nor is it a musical. Heck, they can’t even write original songs for the occasional episode. Elaborate, auto-tuned karaoke with good lighting does not equal a ‘musical’. On the contrary, it’s a shoddy musical revue. On top of that, it has crappy writing, crappy structure and even worse acting overall. Lea Michelle’s ‘Rachel’ has to be the most irritating and eye roll causing heroine I’ve seen in a number of years. Matthew Morrison isn’t any better. And, on some level, I don’t fault these two actors for it. If anything, I’ll blame the medium. For both of these peeps to come from Broadway with the difficult combo of minimizing their approach to performance (for television), while still maintaining a ‘musical’ mentality isn’t easy. And it shows in their weekly performance.
You know a show is in trouble when, before they even get out of the first season, they’re doing a lot of leaning on ‘special guest stars’ and ‘themed’ episodes. Ultimately, the show is a gimmick being spoon fed by the hack that is Ryan Murphy. Hate it accordingly, but Disney at least had the fortitude to create original songs for the “High School Musical” trilogy. Murphy took note and followed suit in the most lazy, creatively counter-productive way imaginable. And much like Zac Efron and gang…this show will have a short shelf life. Enjoy kids, you’ll age out before you can phase out.
Modern Family is a very warm half hour. It feels good to watch. Like macaroni and cheese feels good to eat.
But it is not very funny. It is not sharp. Or terribly insightful about family. It is just a down-comforter in the middle of the week.
I get why people love it. But it is not an outstanding artistic achievement. It does not belong in the top three tiers of all time sitcom greats. It is a little above average. That’s it.
The direct address to the camera makes no sense on this show. It’s not a faux documentary like The Office, or Parks and Rec. It’s odd.
Not very funny? Have you ever watched the show?
Modern Family is the funniest show on TV in forever. And beautifully done.
I couldn’t disagree with you more….either you truly have never seen the show or you do not understand American culture. MF is LOL funny, and has quickly replaced 30 Rock as the only sitcom to watch on broadcast TV. It has quickly turned into the ‘Seinfeld’ of the modern family.
You may never get it, but many, many, many others have, and will, for years to come.
I believe this is what we call a troll….or maybe that person with that illness where they cannot get humor? Either way idiot.
MODERN FAMILY is extraordinary. Measure for measure, it is CHEERS, TAXI, ALL IN THE FAMILY and MARY TYLER MOORE for today.
Steven Levitan & Christopher Lloyd plus brilliant casting by Jeff Greenberg. The cast is pitch perfect. Fingers crossed to see more of Ms. Long this season.
Ed O’Neill!! Love, love Ed! Loved you in LakeBoat and every turn you make on television! Julie Bowen makes it look so easy. And this speaks to how GREAT she is. My personal favorite is Eric Stonestreet. I love, love, LOVE the entire cast.
Modern Family makes me laugh and cry. And laugh some more!
Real comedy in my book. It’s really not all about Emmy for Ed and we all know it. He’s a gentleman and a true artist!
Love, LOVE Ed O’Neill (remember Big Apple?). But his character didn’t have much to do in Modern Family. He was more the rock amid the relative craziness, walking a fine line between being a grouch and a father-figure for Manny. There’s always next year.
Class act by a Classy man. Truth be told it IS an ensemble show.
Sure, many actors have won by doing that, notably Michael J. Fox with three consecutive Outstanding Lead Actor Emmys for “Family Ties”, but the years he won them (’86-’88) the plot lines had shifted to him more greatly.
In ’85 he was nominated for supporting and the show had been on for 4 years before his move to Lead Actor.
Right now the show IS an ensemble. “Family Ties” was a show about a single family living in a single house. “Modern Family” is about three separate families living in different homes with each home covered fairly equally.
It’s harder to make that move for O’Neill.
Being the Pater Familias is a great position, but it’s not called, “Jay Pritchett’s Modern Family”.
Once again?-
Class act.
What a beautifully-constructed show. Good from minute one of episode one. That is not easy with a sitcom.
Ed O’Neill’s a class act, but the writers are the stars of this show.
Couldn’t agree more. Some sitcoms are funny (joke-wise or situation-wise)beginning with the pilot episode but Modern Family was not only funny but had characters I loved from the very beginning (loved every character– none had to “grow on me”). Must be due to the combination of great casting and excellent writing.
Maybe it’s just me, but I see sort of the same character from Ed as I saw in MwC. A fumpy man just going through life that sprouts out some wisdom every now and then. Come to think of it, it’s just like his character in Dutch…
Book Guy speaks right. Beautifully observed show. It doesn’t push for nonsense, and gets it right.
I met O’Neill in Peets Coffee in Santa Monica a week ago. Stopped him to say how much I liked his turn. He was self-effacing, and humble. Nice guy.
That really bummed me out. It’s definitely his best role. It’s a huge oversight.
Modern Family is clearly the best show on TV right now (especially since 30 Rock has had such an uneven season). It is beautifully observed and relatable and that’s not easy to do. Most good and great TV comedies of the last few years are really niche shows (30 Rock, It’s Always Sunny, Curb, The Office,
Entourage– but not recently) they have their following, but they never were able to build a wide audience. MF has been able to do that– really impressive. I do agree that it’s disappointing they aped the mockumentary thing from the Office and Parks and Rec, an unoriginal note in an inspired show, but to a previous post, I don’t see how it fits any less well on a family show than on a show about a paper company or a low level public servant.
Glee is the greatest threat to Hollywood now on TV. It teaches absolute disrespect for the laws of copyright and intellectual property in the guise of an “uplifting” liberal show. The students steal, or “mash-up”, music by legitimate hard-working artists without payment, permission or even considering their misuse of someone else’s property.
The biggest shock is that the show is on Fox. Expect a number of lawsuits against Fox for contributory copyright and intellectual property infringement as children across the country are caught imitating the scofflaws of Glee.
I think Mariska might not even win, but deserves the nomination. She is fantastic as Olivia Benson. At least I’ll see her beautiful, as always, the red carpet.
Ed O’Neill is simply funny, I guarantee the show would not be nearly as good without him. Married With Children was a great comedy as well, it’s too bad that Hollywood is too stupid and pretentious to appreciate his obvious comic talents; he is far funnier than someone like Tina Fey, who is absurdly overrated. Hollywood doesn’t understand comedy and is too stupid to see past the supposed “low brow” Al Bundy image.