Emmys 2011: 'Modern Family' On Fire

They may be a dysfunctional family, but it makes for quite compelling television. Just ask the experts.

"Modern Family," the critical darling of an ABC comedy, went on an early epic run at the 2011 Emmys, netting Outstanding Supporting Actor and Actress wins for Ty Burrell and Julie Bowen. It then took in Best Direction and Best Writing, going four-for-four in the categories in which it was nominated.

Though it sidestepped Best Leading Actor and Actress -- as an ensemble, it had no true leads to nominate -- it then won the Outstanding Comedy Series award, cementing its absolute dominance.

Bowen and Burell stopped by the press room after their back-to-back wins to talk about what just happened.

"Everyone's been incredibly supportive of each other," Burrell said (via PopSugar), later adding he wasn't too nervous about the nomination. "I have the benefit of having a fake wife and a real wife. I get my nerves soothed by both of them. We basically get together and lean on each other and figure it out."

Bowen, however, didn't think she had a shot at winning.

"I kind of thought it was a lock on Betty White, she said. "I think if I didn't have a dog in this fight -- and I had two [herself and Sofia Vergara] -- I would have voted for Betty White. Claire is not necessarily fall-down funny all the time."

Congrats to the entire "Modern Family" cast on their Emmys!

WATCH:

Comments

[pahammer]

01:07 PM on 09/21/2011

Julie Bowen has it going on!

[AsISaid]

08:07 AM on 09/20/2011

Best show on TV - by far. Years from now, it will still have the comedy impact that 'The Honeymooners' has today. Timeless.

Julie Bowen is really hot. I've liked her since she starred on 'Ed'.

[firelord5000]

08:43 PM on 09/19/2011

Bowen is so hot, Sofia who?

[dterraman]

07:02 PM on 09/19/2011

how about more action on the play "Solyndra"....lots of emmys there

[neverwas]

06:31 PM on 09/19/2011

ABC? I thought that was a Jackson 5 song.

[dickn2000b]

03:55 PM on 09/19/2011

This show is what's now considered to be politically correct. I personally find the show disgusting, not that I have anything against homosexuals. I realize they are the way they are because they were born that way and they have no control over their sexual preferences, just as I also have no control over mine. But I don't have to watch it...and I don't!

[hf2hvit]

11:34 PM on 09/21/2011

And why did we need to know that you think you're not a hater but you really are? Obviously,, you are guided by your intrigue

[LMPE]

02:13 PM on 09/19/2011

That boy must have liked having his head where it was in that photo!

[Dancenownzen]

02:08 PM on 09/19/2011

GREAT writing ......... GREAT cast ............ TRULY representative of 21st century ... perhaps the TEA BAGGERS and REPUBLICANS should tune in and SEE wht reality looks like. America is NOT a WHITE CHRISTIAN HETERO CONSERVATIVE MECA It is a beautiful culturally diverse country where ALL KINDS of people shoulod be able to live and be FREEEEEEEEE

[LMPE]

02:14 PM on 09/19/2011

Yes, they SHOULD, but expecting them to do so is like waiting for cows to dance the watusi on the undersides of bridges.

[intellectualTradition]

04:45 PM on 10/12/2011

bad news for both of you lemmings. millions of conservatives watch it. even teabaggers. it's a funny, funny show. it's not reality, it's TV.

[Paul Co]

01:16 PM on 09/19/2011

No one watches this show? Hollywood is shoving the gay agenda down peoples throats? Its really a waste of TV viewing. But, so is the awards shows? BOOB TUBE for sure!!

[sobrien]

11:38 AM on 09/20/2011

"The gay agenda?" What are you talking about? The show shows a committed homosexual couple that has adopted a daughter. They struggle with the same issues as straight couples, but through a slightly different point of view. Any couple watching that show easily identifies with them - gay or not.

The only "gay agenda" at work is the thinly veiled homophobia/discrimination from posts like yours.

[Paul Co]

01:13 PM on 09/20/2011

Call it what you want? Is my opinion any less valid? If I disagree with Obama, I'm a racist? If I disagree with homosexuality, I'm a homophobe? The Greatest Generation made this country the best "moral" country in the world. Wonder what they watched in their day? Not Modern family stuff.

[PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS]

12:40 PM on 09/19/2011

This show is nothing more than an example of the radical homoTHEXxual agenda!!!!! *ha ha*

[Daws]

11:33 AM on 09/19/2011

The show deserves it. Now that Bowen got her trophy, I'll be rooting for Sofia next year. Her singing "she'll be coming around the mountain" on this season's preview had me on the floor!

[McParadigm]

11:20 AM on 09/19/2011

Pretty much just another Office/Parks and Rec style show, with a light sprinkling of Arrested Development....just not as funny as AD was.

[frieda406]

03:01 PM on 09/19/2011

Wrong.

[sobrien]

11:41 AM on 09/20/2011

Unfair comparison. AD was BRILLIANT. I think maybe the best comedy ever. MF is a different tone, it is not the based in the off-center universe of AD. MF plays it closer to the reality of the middle. I think MF is the best comedy on TV now; saying it is no AD does not diminish its worth.

[The Revolving Diet]

11:16 AM on 09/19/2011

Love this show! All characters have their own quirky idiosyncrasies that make it an entertaining and funny show.

Congrats on the Emmy's!! Rightly deserved!

[jgreen3947]

10:58 AM on 09/19/2011

people still watch ABC?

[zenlikejen]

12:29 PM on 09/19/2011

People still make comments like this?

[dickn2000b]

03:49 PM on 09/19/2011

Apparently you still do.

[LeoChild]

10:40 AM on 09/19/2011

Congrats to Modern family, but I did not enjoy seeing Julie Bowen's protruding sternum & chicken giblets.