What if ‘Modern Family‘ had looked completely different and felt a little more like ‘Friends‘? Sounds surprising, right? But this almost became reality.
Two familiar faces from ‘Friends‘ were actually in the running for two of the most loved roles in ‘Modern Family‘, and it could have changed the show completely. Before Julie Bowen and Ty Burrell became Claire and Phil Dunphy, the makers had very different actors in mind.
Lisa Kudrow and Matt LeBlanc Almost Became The Dunphys
Yes, you read that right. Lisa Kudrow and Matt LeBlanc were both offered roles in ‘Modern Family‘. Kudrow, who played Phoebe, was considered for Claire Dunphy, the strict but funny mom of three. And LeBlanc, our beloved Joey, was almost cast as her goofy husband Phil.
Related: Ty Burrell’s ‘Modern Family’ Audition Flopped So Hard He Nearly Lost The Role Of Phil Dunphy
Now imagine that for a second. Phoebe and Joey only as parents? Honestly, it could have been fun to watch!
Their chemistry in ‘Friends‘ was already a fan favorite. So seeing them as a married couple again would have felt like a mini reunion. But things didn’t go that way. Instead, the roles went to Bowen and Burrell, who became iconic in those parts.
Why They Turned Down the Iconic ‘Modern Family’ Roles
When LeBlanc read the script, he liked it but didn’t feel right for the role. He clearly said, “I remember reading it thinking, this is a really good script, (but) I’m not the guy for this.” He also added, “I’d be doing the project an injustice to take this. I know what I can do, I know what I can’t do. Plus, I’m having too much fun lying on the couch.”
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Kudrow had a similar reaction. When she thought about playing Claire, she admitted, “I thought, ‘I don’t know what I’d do with it.’” She also added, “And, so, you know, that’s all. Julie Bowen does know what to do with it, so it’s all as it should be.” Both actors felt that someone else would be a better fit, and looking back, it’s hard to argue with that.
However, if LeBlanc had joined the show, he would have shared screen space again with Ed O’Neill, his former co-star from ‘Married… with Children‘. That would have been another fun reunion moment! Even though LeBlanc didn’t act in Modern Family, he still played a role behind the scenes.
During a salary dispute, Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Mitchell) reached out to him for advice. LeBlanc told him, “You have to walk out, or they won’t take you seriously. If you stick together, you have power.” The cast followed his advice and stood united during the negotiations.
Eventually, everything really did fall into place. Julie Bowen and Ty Burrell made Claire and Phil Dunphy their own, and it’s hard to picture Modern Family without them now. Sometimes, the best TV magic comes from the choices actors make!
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