Modern Family premiered 15 years ago, launched as part of ABC’s risky attempt to throw on four all-new comedies on the same night. The biggest of the quartet (Hank, starring Kelsey Grammer), didn’t even make it to the winter, while the others (including The Middle and Cougar Town) filmed more than 200 and 100 episodes, respectively. But none of them got the attention and acclaim of this show, which won five consecutive Emmys for Outstanding Comedy Series. It definitely lost its fastball as it continued, but regularly produced plenty of laughs, right up until the end. Here are the best episodes, with apologies to “Message Received” and the final minutes of “Fulgencio.”
10. “Connection Lost” (Season 6, Episode 16)
While single-camera comedies weren’t yet the default when the show premiered in 2009, Modern Family didn’t really do anything revolutionary with its technique. But in this form-breaking episode, told entirely on Claire’s laptop screen, the show found a brilliant way to keep the cast separate while delivering a layered story complete with great visual gags.
9. “Crazy Train” (Season 7, Episode 21)
Because this was one of the last sitcoms to do full 22-episode seasons for more than a decade, any chance to move beyond the three family homes was a welcome one. On a train ride from L.A. to Portland, the family has brief encounters with numerous passengers. This might be the single most densely plotted episode the show ever did, with a subplot for every single character (though Cam and Phil are paired, as are Mitch and Claire). This could often be the show’s Achilles heel – trying to cram far too much story into 22 minutes – but every story has just enough time to speed by with some great jokes, including a Titanic parody.
8. “Goodnight Gracie” (Season 4, Episode 24)
Death, sadly, is a part of life. And while nearly every grandparent (or great-grandparent) got an emotional farewell episode, none of them hit quite as hard as this season finale. Everyone flies to Florida for the funeral of Phil’s mother. Jay reconnects with an old flame. Cam fits right into the retirement community as the mahjong circuit’s newest gossip queen. And Mitch finds renewed passion for criminal defense. But Phil and Alex have a much harder time. Their final words from the dearly departed confuse and frustrate them, until a powerful finale that made it impossible not to tear up.
7. “Baby on Board” (Season 3, Episode 24)
Extended parodies are hard to pull off, especially if the show doesn’t try them regularly. But this miniature telenovela had just the right amount of shocking reveals and melodrama. Cam and Mitch bring Gloria along to translate with the family of a woman who has agreed to let the couple adopt her new baby. But things aren’t so straightforward at this joyous occasion, with exciting highs and devastating lows for the trio.
6. “Strangers on a Treadmill” (Season 2, Episode 4)
A genius set-up with a perfect payoff. Instead of agreeing to a murder, Mitch and Claire agree to save each other’s spouses from embarrassment without hurting Cam and Phil’s feelings. Much like the Hitchcock movie that inspired its title, things go from bad to worse when one party doesn’t keep up their end of the bargain. This was the sort of sharply scripted and brilliantly acted highlight the show regularly turned out in its early years, and won Julie Bowen her first Emmy.
