Jesse Tyler Ferguson JokesModern FamilyCast Couldn't 'Get Out of the Building' After Emmy Loss Following Winning Streak (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

TheModern Familyfamily cast were feeling lost — literally — after theirEmmy-winning streak came to an end in 2015.

In PEOPLE’s exclusive first look atJesse Tyler Ferguson’s appearance onBusy This Week, the 49-year-old actor discusses the ABC sitcom’s five consecutive Emmy wins for outstanding comedy series, which tied the record for most wins in the category withFrasier.

When asked if the cast ever got sick of winning, Ferguson responds, “No, but the audience got sick of us being there.”

Jesse Tyler Ferguson attends The 77th Annual Tony Awards at David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center on June 16, 2024 in New York City.Kevin Mazur/Getty

Kevin Mazur/Getty

“We won five years in a row, which is some sort of a record,” he adds. “I think we tied withFrasierfor the most consecutive Emmy wins in a row and I remember the year we won for the fifth time, there was a collective groan in the audience.”

After the win streak, which came to an end in 2015 whenVeepwas announced as the category’s winner, Fergurson jokingly recalls how the cast had difficulty finding their way out of the awards ceremony as they previously exited through the backstage area following their wins.

“I hope this doesn’t make us sound too gross, but when we didn’t win the sixth year, we didn’t know how to get out of the building. We went to the exit and they were like, ‘This is not the exit, it’s always been over there.’ We’re like, ‘well, we’ve never had to go out that door,” he explains with a laugh. “A group of like 10 actors [saying] ‘Well, that’s the way we went last year.’”

“That’s kinda iconic,” hostBusy Philippsresponds before joking that the group still wanted to go backstage and do press.

(L-R) Actors Sarah Hyland, Aubrey Anderson-Emmons, Sofia Vergara, Ty Burrell, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Ariel Winter, Eric Stonestreet, Nolan Gould, Rico Rodriguez, Julie Bowen and Ed O’Neill, winners of Outstanding Comedy Series for “Modern Family,” pose in the press room during the 65th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on September 22, 2013 in Los Angeles, California.Jason Merritt/Getty

Jason Merritt/Getty

“I thought you’d want to hear our massive disappointment that we did not win a sixth [Emmy], no, we were very lucky to get five,” he jokingly responds. “But it was like, enough is enough.”

Ferguson jokes that over the years, the cast — which also includedSofía Vergara,Ed O’Neill,Julie Bowen,Eric Stonestreet,Sarah Hyland,Nolan Gould,Ariel WinterandRico Rodriguez— got “closer and closer to the side and the exit” while his costarTy Burrell, who played Phil Dunphy on the sitcom, remained front and center as a nominee. Burrell was nominated for outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series from 2010 to 2017 and took home the prize in 2011 and 2014.

“Ty Burrell kept being nominated. So he was always in the center, and we just kept moving farther away from him,” he recalls before adding, “He was likeKate Winsleton the door at the end ofTitanic. He’s like, ‘You can try it all fit on this’ and we’re like, ‘No, we’re fine.’”

“Modern Family” stars Ed O’Neill as Jay, Rico Rodriguez as Manny, Sofia Vergara as Gloria, Nolan Gould as Luke, Julie Bowen as Claire, Ariel Winter as Alex, Ty Burrell as Phil, Sarah Hyland as Haley, Jesse Tyler Ferguson as Mitchell and Eric Stonestreet as Cameron.Bob D’Amico/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty

Bob D’Amico/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty

Modern Familycame to an end in April 2020 after 11 seasons.

“This is as close a cast I’ve ever seen,” he added. “Everybody was just grateful to be there. Everybody was so appreciative. It really is a family.”

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Busy This Weekairs Wednesdays at 10:00 PM EDT on QVC+.

source: people.com