Want to know who gets our vote as the breakthrough comedy hero of the TV season?
It's a Ty.
Specifically, it's Ty Burrell, who plays Phil Dunphy on the hit sitcom Modern Family (Wednesdays on ABC and Citytv).
Yes, Modern Family has a stellar ensemble cast. But while the gay couple (played by Eric Stonestreet and Jesse Tyler Ferguson) or the hot Colombian (Sofia Vergara) or the former Al Bundy (Ed O'Neill) naturally garner more media attention, Burrell is the glue that holds Modern Family together.
"The part was written with me in mind — it's not very flattering," Burrell said with a laugh. "But it gives you an idea of how oblivious I am.
"I was like, 'Awesome, this is written for me?' And then it was, 'Oh ... '
"It was a total, 'Thanks ... I think.' "
Burrell's character, Phil, is the heart of Modern Family. He sees himself as the "cool dad," although his three kids would beg to differ.
"I am playing a character who is incredibly well-intended and incredibly positive, and that is really energizing to get up and go to work, you know what I mean?" Burrell said. "To play someone who is so quick to get back on his feet, and so wants to do right by his family, even though he's messing up constantly, is incredibly gratifying.
"I played a lot of jerks for a long time — I still occasionally do. But if I had to play one every week, it would be tiring. Well, not tiring, but difficult, I'm just imagining. With this, I feel I'm more interested every week, because Phil is so resourceful."
While Phil's clumsy attempts at parenting — or "peer-enting," as he calls it — usually are cringe-worthy, his relationships with the other adult characters in Modern Family are almost child-like in their hilarity.
O'Neill plays Phil's father-in-law Jay, and Phil is desperate for some measure of acknowledgment, or respect, or dare we say love from Jay, but we know it never is coming in any meaningful way.
And while Phil is deeply devoted to his wife Claire (Julie Bowen), Phil also has an adolescent infatuation with Jay's curvy new wife Gloria (Vergara).
"I love it that the writers haven't made it something that's sleazy," Burrell said. "Phil is out of control when it comes to Gloria. He doesn't know necessarily what he's doing. I think it would turn very sour if Phil were consciously aware, if he were manipulative about it."
In a recent episode, for example, Phil used some salty language — at least, what he considered to be salty language — in front of both Claire and Gloria. Phil then apologized, but only to Gloria, leaving his wife Claire to mutter quietly to herself, "Gloria?"
"Yes, it's a juvenile mindset, isn't it?" Burrell said. "Phil's not ahead of the game. It's just there. When he hugs Gloria he doesn't want to let her go."
TV audiences would be wise not to let Ty Burrell go for a while, either.
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