Modern Family's Ty Burrell On the Joys of Making Single-Camera, Anti-Schmaltz Comedy

ABC's Modern Family is one of the few new network comedies this fall to connect immediately with viewers, blending a du jour single-camera format, mockumentary confessionals, and a pointedly old-fashioned sense of humor. It seems fruitless to pick a breakout star of an ensemble cast, but Ty Burrell's performance may demand that recognition. Burrell, who plays the imperviously dorky -- er, "cool" -- dad Phil Dunphy, handles Modern Family's unpretentious story lines with jocular ease. Movieline caught up with Burrell to discuss Modern Family's quirks, his basis for the character of Phil, and his upcoming screentime with Sean Penn and Rachel McAdams.

What did you first think of the show's concept?

It's funny because I have worked with Chris Lloyd on three shows and for Steve Levitan, this is my second. I loved the concept, but they could've told me it was about two guys who sit in the same room for 20 years, and I would've loved it. I have so much faith in their writing, but I mean I loved the idea and thought it was something totally new, using this style for a family comedy. I was really excited about that.

How was this experience with Chris and Steve different?

I think everybody's getting to do new stuff, which is exciting for the writers and us. I've never gotten to do a show that give us some things that are more intimate, that get into the nooks and crannies of the character, and allow more room for movement as far as minor amounts of improvising and stuff. For them, I sense that it's similar, that they're getting a chance to write in a way that allows for some humor that doesn't always work well in multi-camera comedy. You know, it's such a precise medium, multi-camera. This one really allows for movement, for lack of a better word, a lateral movement. The longer silences, awkwardness, and also just some humor that's a little bit more abstract. The good thing about it is an old-fashioned comedy still works in this medium. You can still do slapstick too.

Modern Family seems to stand out even among single-camera comedies. How would you categorize it?

I think it's different from a lot of single-camera comedy in that Chris and Steve are writing it with heart, and it's not so much so that it's schmaltzy or saccharine, but it's also not keeping you at arm's length with irony. It makes it different from single-camera comedy that way. And it's different from multi-camera in that we take some of the pressure off the jokes; the precision is gone, and you can't see the punchlines coming as much as you can with most multi-camera.

Phil's obliviousness is almost astounding. Where did he come from? Who's the inspiration?

I know him now, to this day, because, uh, he's me. He is just a hair away from me. I know that Chris and Steve wrote this part with me in mind, even though I still had to go through the audition process and everything. So that's a combination of being flattering and also, you know, terrifying. The guy is so oblivious. The good news for me as far as not feeling alone in my delusional life is that the writers all have plenty of experience. Most are dads are moms, and they have plenty of experiences of their own to draw on.

In what episodes have you related to Phil most?

Well, in the pilot, he thinks he's a great dancer. How about that? I have always thought I was a great dancer, and I am just not very good. I've also always thought I was a great athlete, and then every time I get put in a situation where -- in fact, I went and played basketball with Chris Lloyd once after talking such a big game about my abilities. I don't think I was overtly bragging, but I definitely hinted that I know how to play some basketball. I went and played with him at the Staples Center, because he's in the NBA Entertainment League, and I proceeded to shoot 35 three-pointers, one of which may have hit the rim. I had passes to nobody. I had passes to the front row. It was so embarrassing, but probably just more telling than anything about me.

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