Fansided

Every season of Modern Family so far, ranked

By Nir Regev

(EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE, PREMIUM RATES APPLY. EXCLUSIVE TO GETTY IMAGES UNTIL JANUARY 13, 2011) MODERN FAMILY - "Our Children, Ourselves" - Claire and Phil want Alex to relax a little about her studies, but then they start questioning their own intellectual drives. Meanwhile, Gloria tries to befriend another nice couple, much to Jay's chagrin, and Mitch and Cam run into and old female flame of Mitchell's, only to make a disturbing discovery, on "Modern Family," WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 12 (9:00-9:31 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network. (Photo by Randy Holmes/ABC via Getty Images)MARY LYNN RAJSKUB, ERIC STONESTREET, JESSE TYLER FERGUSON
(EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE, PREMIUM RATES APPLY. EXCLUSIVE TO GETTY IMAGES UNTIL JANUARY 13, 2011) MODERN FAMILY - "Our Children, Ourselves" - Claire and Phil want Alex to relax a little about her studies, but then they start questioning their own intellectual drives. Meanwhile, Gloria tries to befriend another nice couple, much to Jay's chagrin, and Mitch and Cam run into and old female flame of Mitchell's, only to make a disturbing discovery, on "Modern Family," WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 12 (9:00-9:31 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network. (Photo by Randy Holmes/ABC via Getty Images)MARY LYNN RAJSKUB, ERIC STONESTREET, JESSE TYLER FERGUSON /
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MODERN FAMILY – “Fifteen Percent” – Mitchell plants the seed in Jay’s head that he thinks one of Jay’s old buddies, Shorty, might be secretly gay. Jay doesn’t believe it for a second… except for all the questionable signs he now keeps noticing. Meanwhile Gloria gives Manny’s date a makeover and Claire faces off with Phil’s universal remote, on “Modern Family,” WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13 (9:00-9:30 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network. (Photo by Danny Feld/ABC via Getty Images) JESSE FERGUSON, ED O’NEILL, CHAZZ PALMINTERI
MODERN FAMILY – “Fifteen Percent” – Mitchell plants the seed in Jay’s head that he thinks one of Jay’s old buddies, Shorty, might be secretly gay. Jay doesn’t believe it for a second… except for all the questionable signs he now keeps noticing. Meanwhile Gloria gives Manny’s date a makeover and Claire faces off with Phil’s universal remote, on “Modern Family,” WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13 (9:00-9:30 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network. (Photo by Danny Feld/ABC via Getty Images) JESSE FERGUSON, ED O’NEILL, CHAZZ PALMINTERI /

4. Season 1

Modern Family’s iconic first season was loaded with pristine material with one of the crown jewels being episode “Fifteen Percent” (episode 13) which at the time got the highest episode rating since the series’ pilot. During the beginning of the episode, Jay introduces Cam as Mitchell’s friend instead of partner, leaving Mitchell seething. Later when Mitchell meets one of his father’s friends Shorty, he thinks he might also be gay after Shorty touches the fabric of his jacket. Mitchell informs his father as such and Jay vehemently denies it, that is until Gloria actually agrees with Mitchell leaving Jay to see certain signs he hadn’t.

Eventually, Jay tries to comfort Shorty by asking him if he has a secret to tell. Telling Shorty that he’d be his friend no matter what, and his son is like Shorty as well. Shorty suddenly realizes what’s going on and tells Jay he simply has a $20,000 gambling debt and a certain taste in clothing. Jay ends up paying Shorty’s gambling debt but Mitchell is proud of his father becoming more open toward his lifestyle. “Fifteen Percent” refers to Mitchell’s voiceover at the end of the episode saying that people can change a little, maybe fifteen percent.

Meanwhile, there’s some classic technology humor in this one when Claire can’t figure out how to use the universal remote without Phil. Claire thinks no body in the house knows how to use the remote outside of Phil but is soon proven wrong. Once Phil falls asleep she asks Haley to secretly teach her how to use it.

Season 1’s highly memorable season finale “Family Portrait” in which Claire is trying to get the perfect family picture taken is one that stays with you. The family just can’t seem to get their portrait right when Jay starts a mud fight after speaking about how things can’t be perfect in real life. Eventually, Claire gives in to the fun and admits she loves the “imperfect” photos.