Modern Family Trivia, Early Years, Challenging

By Dennis Bjorklund

Modern Family Trivia: Early Years, Challenging is authored by a sitcom expert who penned the greatest trivia quiz books on the most popular television sitcoms (e.g., Seinfeld Trivia: Everything About Nothing, Friends Trivia: Channel Your Inner Unagi, The Big Bang Theory Trivia: Challenging, and Cheers Trivia: It's a Little Known Fact...). His latest effort, Modern Family Trivia, is the best source for accurate and well-written trivia questions about one of the top-rated sitcoms of the 2010s.

 

Modern Family Trivia is the perfect book for every type of fan, whether occasional viewer or rabid enthusiast. There are 500 questions with varying degrees of difficulty within each chapter. The reader will encounter easy and moderate queries in addition to some challenging and genuine head-scratching brainteasers. Unlike most trivia books that have measly one-word answers, Modern Family Trivia provides expanded descriptions containing anecdotes, humorous dialogue, or bonus fun facts to further enhance the reading experience, making it more enjoyable and entertaining.

 

In addition, scattered throughout the book are random text boxes featuring insider secrets about the show, its creators, the actors, and other contributors to the series. These entertaining morsels supplement the question-answer format with fascinating fun facts to give the reader the full Modern Family experience. Modern Family Trivia contains more information than any other trivia quiz book written on the subject, and the author's ingenious presentation has revolutionized the trivia quiz format, an unprecedented feat in publishing history.

 

Modern Family Trivia commences with general information about the show and its history, which includes noteworthy facts and intriguing trivia guaranteed to educate and enthrall the reader. The following two sections address guest stars and recurring characters. Modern Family was known for signing big-name movie and television stars as well as developing some of the most unique and fascinating recurring characters in sitcom history. Thus, two chapters are specifically devoted to these illustrious scene-stealers. The show's vast guest star list featured well-known thespians, such as Kevin Hart, James Marsden, Matthew Broderick, Greg Kinnear, Elizabeth Banks, Jane Krakowski, Edward Norton, Shelley Long, Chazz Palminteri, Matt Dillon, Nathan Lane, Benjamin Bratt, Jesse Eisenberg, Leslie Mann, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Jennifer Tilly, and many more. In addition, the trivia inquiry delves even deeper by spotlighting the most popular recurring characters, namely Dylan, Frank Dunphy, Gil Thorpe, Dede, Sal, Shorty, Pepper, and Javier, to mention a few.

 

The next segment of the book covers the most memorable moments of the show which pertain to all three branches of the Pritchett family tree. The questions address broader episode plots and character storylines. The remaining eleven chapters cover specific information directly associated with the members of each family—Pritchetts (Jay, Gloria and Manny), Dunphys (Phil, Claire, Haley, Alex and Luke), and Pritchett-Tuckers (Mitch, Cam and Lily)—highlighting the most uproarious scenes and unforgettable episodes while testing the viewer's attention to detail.

 

There is something for everyone. Casual watchers and avid fanatics will be equally captivated by this meticulously crafted tome. Modern Family Trivia is guaranteed to provide hours of entertainment and laughter as the quiz-taker regales in reliving the finest moments of the show. Photos included, 500 questions with answers, 128 pages paperback, available digitally.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Praetorian Publishing
• Release date: Nov 25, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223204558

Book preview

Modern Family Challenging Trivia

Early Years

Author

Dennis Bjorklund

Published by Praetorian Publishing

Copyright 2023 Dennis Bjorklund

Last Revised and Updated November 2023

Draft2Digital Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Draft2Digital.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

First published in the United States of America in 2004

Discover all the amazing television sitcom print and ebook publications by Dennis Bjorkund:

eBooks

Seinfeld

Seinfeld Reference: The Complete Encyclopedia

Seinfeld Secrets: 1500 Fun Facts About the Show

Seinfeld Secrets: An Insider Scoop About the Show

Seinfeld Trivia: Everything About Nothing

Seinfeld Trivia: Everything About Nothing, Challenging

Seinfeld Trivia: Everything About Nothing, Multiple Choice

Seinfeld Ultimate Episode Guide

Seinfeld Episode Guide: Ultimate Guide About Nothing (coming soon)

Friends

Friends Behind the Scenes: Backstage Pass to the Series, A Comprehensive History

Friends Secrets: 236 Episodes, Thousands of Facts

Friends Exposed: 1500 Fun Facts About the Show

Friends Challenging Trivia: Channel Your Inner Unagi Fan

Cheers

Cheers TV Show: A Comprehensive Reference

Cheers Trivia: It’s a Little Known Fact…

Big Bang Theory

The Big Bang Theory TV Show Trivia, Casual Fan

The Big Bang Theory TV Show Trivia, Challenging

Modern Family

Modern Family Trivia: Early Years, Challenging

All the digital books listed above will be available in paperback in 2024.

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Table of Contents

Scoring

The Series

Guest Stars & Recurring Characters

The Families

Alex

Cam

Claire

Gloria

Haley

Jay

Lily

Luke

Manny

Mitch

Phil

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Scoring

Correct Answers - Modern Family Skill Level

450-500 - Sanjay Patel

375-449 - Alex in Wonderland

300-374 - The Great Lukini

225-299 - Claire-acuda

150-224 - Who’s Da Manny

75-149 - Haley’s Comets

0-74 - Phil Dumb-phy

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The Series

Q1: Who created the hit sitcom Modern Family?

Christopher Lloyd and Steven Levitan. The pair also functioned as executive producers of the show. They met on the set of Wings. The first TV series they created was FOX’s Back to You (2007-08) starring Kelsey Grammer, Patricia Heaton, Fred Willard, Josh Gad and Ty Burrell.

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Q2: The Modern Family series followed the lives of which extended family?

The Pritchetts. The family patriarch (Jay Pritchett), born and raised in Ohio, was an avid Buckeye fan. This was an allusion to Ed O’Neill who also was born and raised in Ohio.

The Pritchetts. The family patriarch (Jay Pritchett), born and raised in Ohio, was an avid Buckeye fan. This was an allusion to Ed O’Neill who also was born and raised in Ohio.

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Q3: What successful sitcom lead actor was originally offered the role of Jay Pritchett?

Craig T. Nelson. He is best known for portraying Hayden Fox in the sitcom Coach (1989-97) (for which he won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series) and Zeek Braverman in the dramedy (drama comedy) series Parenthood (2010-15).

Fun Fact

In the original series pitch, a Dutch teenage exchange student named Geert Floorjte lived with the Pritchetts (Jay, Claire and Mitch) and filmed the family. He developed a crush on Claire while Mitchell had a crush on him. In the final pitch, Floorjte previously lived with the Pritchetts years ago as a teenage exchange student and came back to the US as an adult to film a documentary on the American family.

If you enjoy sitcom fun facts, check out the following book:

Seinfeld Secrets: 1500 Fun Facts About the Show

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Q4: What actor-comedian turned down the role of Phil Dunphy?

Rob Huebel. Originally, the producers wanted Rob Huebel, but he turned down the role (something he openly admitted was a career mistake). Nevertheless, Huebel gladly accepted a guest starring role at the end of season two as Phil’s college rival.

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Q5: Who was originally cast to play Cam?

Jesse Tyler Ferguson. He was offered the part of Cam but felt better suited for the role of Mitch. After Eric Stonestreet was cast as Cam, the character was made more flamboyant.

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Q6: What was unique about Aubrey Anderson-Emmons’ (Lily) audition?

It was her first acting audition ever. Surprisingly, it was the only significant role she ever earned as an actor. In over a decade since her acting debut, Anderson-Emmons has only appeared in one minor role, the movie short Distance in 2014, and as a contestant on the children's race show Paradise Run in 2018.

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Q7: In what type of filming format was Modern Family presented? (Hint: it’s a documentary parody.)

Mockumentary. It is a type of movie or television show depicting fictional events but presented as a documentary. These productions are often used to analyze or comment on current events and issues by using a fictional setting, or to parody the documentary form itself. There have been several successful mockumentary sitcoms, such as The Office and Parks and Recreation.

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Q8: What year did Modern Family premiere on national television?

2009. It became an immediate ratings success and critical darling. The debut episode on September 23, 2009 had 12.6 million viewers, and for the next six seasons its audience hovered around 12 million before slowly descending until its finale.

Cocreator%20Steve%20Levitan%20instructing%20the%20cast%20during%20the%20series%20finale

Cocreator Steve Levitan instructing the cast during the series finale

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Q9: Which network originally aired Modern Family?

ABC. The creators pitched the series to the Big Three television networks (they did not pitch it to FOX due to prior issues with Back to You, which Lloyd and Levitan also created and produced). CBS didn’t like the single-camera style of filming, and NBC was already broadcasting The Office and Parks and Recreation so it didn’t want a third mockumentary-style show, which left only one network. ABC ultimately accepted the pitch and ordered 13 episodes.

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Q10: Which recurring character appeared in at least one episode of every season of Modern Family?

Dylan. He had an on-off romantic relationship with Haley. They eventually married and had twins.

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Q11: Which former US president proclaimed Modern Family as his favorite TV show?

Barack Obama. In fact, his entire family (First Lady Michelle Obama along with their daughters, Sasha and Malia) named Modern Family and Parks and Recreation as two of their favorite TV shows.

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Q12: Which Married... With Children cast member appeared on Modern Family as Claire’s college friend Tater?

David Faustino. Before Modern Family, Ed O’Neill starred on the hit series Married... With Children (1987-97). The show ran for 10 seasons before being canceled by FOX in a move that shocked not only fans, but everyone who worked on the show.

Fun Fact

After the series pilot was shot, the creators decided that Geert Floorjte was unnecessary because he didn’t add anything to the show so they cut his character but kept the mockumentary vibe. The series concept was influenced by the French series Fais pas ci, fais pas ça (Don't do this, don't do that) created in 2007.

If you enjoy sitcom fun facts, check out the following book:

Seinfeld Secrets: 1500 Fun Facts About the Show

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Q13: Modern Family’s fifth season’s finale was a two-part show that celebrated the wedding of which couple?

Mitch and Cam. The show rode the LGBT wave that was engulfing many US states at that time. The Modern Family wedding episode was written shortly after same-sex marriage was legalized in California.

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Q14: Which movie was most parodied in Modern Family episodes?

The Godfather. In one episode, Cam was singing Ave Maria while Mitch destroyed the house in slow motion attempting to kill a pigeon. In another, Phil was the mastermind behind solving all his children’s problems, and then impersonated Don Corleone as he declared, Don’t ever ask me about my business, Claire.

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Q15: Which country did the families most often discuss visiting, but was never featured as a filming location?

Italy. The adults went to Paris and Australia, but Italy was always on their wish list. Cam and Mitch mentioned a trip to Italy, the families discussed an Italian vacation, and Phil and Claire once canceled plans for a bicycle tour of the country.

Cocreator%20Christopher%20Lloyd%20on%20the%20set%20joking%20with%20Ed%20O’Neill%20and%20Ty%20Burrell

Cocreator Christopher Lloyd on the set joking with Ed O’Neill and Ty Burrell

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Q16: When the cast went on location to a dude ranch, where was the episode filmed?

Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Jackson is a small city in the Jackson Hole valley of Teton County, Wyoming. The population was 9,577 at the 2010 census. Jackson is a popular tourist destination due to its proximity to ski resorts (e.g., Jackson Hole Mountain, Snow King Mountain and Grand Targhee) and national parks (e.g., Grand Teton and Yellowstone). The episode Dude Ranch (3.01) was filmed at Lost Creek Guest Ranch, a western guest ranch with a world-class resort.

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Q17: Which Modern Family actor was most like the character they portrayed?

Sofía Vergara. Most castmates indicated that Vergara was a lot like her character, especially her loudness. She confirmed it was a running joke with the cast that they often wanted to gag her. The crew was known to place tape over her mouth while on the set, and once, she was tied to a chair and gagged with a cloth wrapped over her mouth to silence her.

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Q18: Modern Family tied the record for the most consecutive Emmy Awards for Outstanding Comedy Series. What series shares the record with Modern Family?

Frasier. Like Modern Family, Frasier also earned the honor in its first five seasons on the air. Cheers and All in the Family both had four victories but not in consecutive years.

Fun Fact

Modern Family was originally going to be called My American Family. Early in the process, the creators were concerned the show wouldn’t appeal to children and considered making it an animated series. Except for TV veteran Ed O’Neill, the proposed series had no huge stars. And apart from its trendy mockumentary style, it promised no gimmicks. Yet this simple story of three families became a ratings hit and unbeatable Emmy winner for ABC.

If you enjoy sitcom fun facts, check out the following book:

Seinfeld Secrets: 1500 Fun Facts About the Show

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Q19: Which actor received the most Emmy nominations for the portrayal of their Modern Family character?

Ty Burrell. He received an Emmy nomination for eight consecutive years. Burrell won the award twice, which tied Julie Bowen and Eric Stonestreet. Ironically, NBC vehemently resisted casting Burrell for the part. The network initially wanted Matt LeBlanc (Friends) or Brendan Fraser (Mummy franchise).

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Q20: What real-life building was used for the exterior establishing shot of the kids’ high school?

Palisades Charter High School. It is an independent charter secondary school in Los Angeles, California. The public high school serves the neighborhoods of Pacific Palisades, Palisades Highlands, Kenter Canyon and portions of Brentwood.

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Guest Stars &