22 Emmy Wins Later: 40 Funniest Modern Family Episodes to Watch Again

A lasting sitcom favorite

Across 250 episodes, Modern Family followed an extended family through funny situations and familiar struggles. The series’ three families supported one another, even when difficult conversations or secrets strained their relationships.

Episodes that linked separate storylines, brought the family together on vacation or centered on holidays became especially memorable. The show’s ensemble cast and recurring characters also contributed to its lasting appeal.

DeDe makes an entrance

“The Incident” introduces DeDe, Jay’s ex-wife and the mother of Claire and Mitchell. Played by Shelley Long, DeDe has tense relationships with her children and former husband. Gloria’s dislike of DeDe becomes clearer when the episode reveals what happened at Jay and Gloria’s wedding. DeDe gave an inappropriate toast and had to be escorted out, creating an unforgettable moment from the show’s early seasons.

Travel brings family chaos

In “Airport 2010,” Gloria plans a Hawaii vacation for Jay, who expects a romantic getaway before discovering the whole family is coming along. The episode captures the disorder of air travel with teenagers and young children in tow.

Forgotten passports and fear of flying add to the trouble, while Jay’s frustration supplies further comic moments. The article notes that the episode stands on its own, even without the events of the Hawaii vacation that follows.

Separate stories come together

“Hit and Run” shows how the series can make several storylines work at once. Gloria tries to help Jay and Manny with work and school stress, while Phil and Claire clash with a local councilman.

Meanwhile, Mitch and Cam search for the driver who hit their car and fled without exchanging insurance details. The separate plots eventually converge, illustrating the show’s approach to ensemble storytelling.