Modern Family

May 8, 2020

After 250 episodes and numerous Emmys, Modern Family ended its 11th season in 2020. Journalist Freeman presents the first retrospective: a massive oral history of the hit sitcom. On set for a week during the filming of Season 11's "The Prescott," the author had unprecedented access to the cast and crew, and the result is a talking head-style documentary intercut with script excerpts and Freeman's observations. While the overall tone is glowing (cast and crew acknowledge the show as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity), Freeman also addresses the challenges of making a great show work: Modern Family's cocreators found it so difficult to collaborate that they landed on the idea of showrunning alternate episodes; memorable travel episodes were logistical nightmares; and the inability to retain women writers became a self-fulfilling prophesy. However, the bulk of the work is dedicated to fond memories and hilarious anecdotes: Ed O'Neill shares acting tips, Sarah Hyland discusses how the show supported her through two kidney transplants, and Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Eric Stonestreet reflect on the impact of portraying a same-sex marriage. VERDICT This definitive guide to the show answers every question a fan could pose, by quoting the people who created it.--Terry Bosky, Madison, WI

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May 15, 2020
Dozens of those responsible for making the popular ensemble comedy, which ended in 2020, reflect on their experience in this amiable account. In his first book, journalist Freeman assembles excerpts from interviews with the show's cast, writers, directors, production team, guest stars, and two showrunners into brief chapters that roughly follow the show from conception to conclusion, leaving plenty of room for detours along the way. Those looking for dirt or gossipy details won't find them here: Most of the interviewees are polite and cautious, happy to offer up amusing anecdotes but seemingly eager to leave professional bridges unburned. However, that doesn't mean that dramatic tension is lacking. Most of it comes from the long-simmering conflict between showrunners Steven Levitan and Christopher Lloyd, who, a few episodes into the series, realized that their narrative styles and goals were so incompatible that their only solution was to take turns masterminding the episodes, which they continued to do--not without resentment and writerly feedback--for the duration of the series. While the focus is squarely on Modern Family and its cast and crew, readers curious about the making of TV shows in general, and network sitcoms in particular, will find plenty to interest them, including the process of casting a show, the mechanics of a "table read," the construction of a temporary set, and the designing of a title sequence. Freeman occasionally dips a toe into controversy, as in a chapter featuring some of the show's female writers, who made up a very small percentage of the writing staff, reflecting on their less-than-ideal experiences. As Freeman notes, the show "gained an industry reputation...for letting women writers go or not asking them back." Though some might wish for a stronger editing hand in chapters in which the same point is made by several different interviewees, true aficionados may be happy for the excess. A glossy look behind the scenes and a satisfyingly ample memento for fans.

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