Modern Family
Season 9 M-Net (*101) 19:00 Comedy
Sitcom Modern Family (2009-current) is growing up – season 8’s finale saw Luke and Manny (Nolan Gould and Rico Rodriguez) graduate and it’s a turning point, teases Ty Burrell (Phil): “I’m excited – we’re finding our identities without their kids and also the kids are finding their identities as they become independent. I think that’s really what we’re going to be exploring over the next two years [in seasons 9 and 10].”
Insecurities come flooding out from episode 1 as the Pritchett-Dunphy-Tucker family go on a group holiday that keeps them in too-close quarters on a houseboat – and that’s an issue for the parents. “Phil and Claire (Julie Bowen) are going through this weird phase with their daughters Haley and Alex (Sarah Hyland and Ariel Winter). They want the kids to move out, then the nest is too empty and they’re missing them and want them back at home. That’s where they are at this season,” says Ty.
Fans should enjoy the changes coming in season 9 because there’s only one more season left afterwards, although executive producer Steven Levitan has revealed that they’re working on spinoffs already. Ty isn’t ready to leave the show just yet and he’s secretly hoping that one of the spin-offs will focus on his character Phil’s life before he got married into the Pritchett family, adding that “it’s going to be a hard thing to say goodbye to the daily rhythm of seeing everyone’s faces. Very hard”.