Let’s start saying the long goodbye now.
Modern Family, which has been one of the most successful primetime comedy series over the past decade, will be closing shop after season 11 is done in 2020.
The Hollywood Reporter broke the news on Tuesday, February 5. Modern Family was renewed by ABC for its 11th and final season. It was announced at the Television Critics Association Press tour.
All the original cast will be coming back, including Ed O’Neill who plays patriarch Jay Pritchett. It was reported earlier this year that he wanted to retire and have his character killed off the show.
Modern Family may its way into spinoff land after the final season airs. It’s something that ABC Entertainment president Karey Burke said she “would love” to happen if that becomes part of the agenda.
Jesse Tyler Ferguson, who plays Mitchell Pritchett, the longtime partner of Cameron Tucker (Eric Stonestreet) on the show, shared an emotional tweet about the news, saying “Will be hard to say goodbye. Love my family.”
Modern Family began in 2009 and was an instant hit with viewers, routinely scoring over 10 million viewers per week and being one of the few primetime comedies left could still pull in those numbers outside of The Big Bang Theory.
It has won over 100 awards since being on the air, including the coveted Primetime Emmy for Best Comedy Series. It also won the GLAAD Media Award for the same category twice.