Season 1 established the core personalities that would define the show for its entire run. From Phil's overeager dad jokes to Gloria's fiery temper and accent-related misunderstandings, the characters felt fully realized from the very first episode.
– Claire tries to gather everyone for a new family photo, but everything goes completely wrong. Main Cast and Characters Character Name Family Role Ed O'Neill Jay Pritchett The family patriarch Sofía Vergara Gloria Pritchett Jay's vibrant young wife Julie Bowen Claire Dunphy Jay's busy daughter Ty Burrell Phil Dunphy Claire's goofy husband Jesse Tyler Ferguson Mitchell Pritchett Jay's lawyer son Eric Stonestreet Cameron Tucker Mitchell's joyful partner Season 1 Awards and Impact index of modern family season 1
| # | Episode Title | Original Airdate | Director | Writer(s) | Brief Synopsis | |---|----------------|------------------|----------|-----------|----------------| | 1 | | Sept 23, 2009 | Jason Winer | Steven Levitan & Christopher Lloyd | Introduces the three families. Claire manages Phil’s distraction; Jay struggles with Gloria’s loud personality; Mitchell hides his relationship from his father. | | 2 | The Bicycle Thief | Sept 30, 2009 | Jason Winer | Bill Wrubel | Phil tries to teach Luke a lesson after his bike is stolen. Mitchell and Cameron face homophobic neighbors. Jay attempts to bond with Manny. | | 3 | Come Fly with Me | Oct 7, 2009 | Reginald Hudlin | Dan O’Shannon | Phil books a surprise trip for two – but must choose Claire or Haley. Gloria wants a baby. Mitchell tries to get Cameron on a plane. | | 4 | The Incident | Oct 14, 2009 | Jason Winer | Steven Levitan | Flashback to a disastrous family dinner where Mitchell embarrassed Jay. In the present, a soccer game causes tension. | | 5 | Coal Digger | Oct 21, 2009 | Jason Winer | Christopher Lloyd | Gloria feels alienated at a Dunphy family barbecue. Claire tries to mediate. Mitchell and Cameron bring Lily for the first time. | | 6 | Run for Your Wife | Oct 28, 2009 | Jason Winer | Paul Corrigan & Brad Walsh | Phil runs a 5K but hides an injury. Mitchell and Cameron lie about meeting a celebrity. Jay teaches Manny to box. | | 7 | En Garde | Nov 4, 2009 | Randall Einhorn | Danny Zuker | Manny takes fencing; Jay dismisses it. Claire tries to prove she’s fun. Mitchell struggles to make gay friends. | | 8 | Great Expectations | Nov 18, 2009 | Jason Winer | Joe Lawson | Gloria’s mother visits, creating language-barrier chaos. Phil tries to spice up date night. Cameron coaches a kids’ team. | | 9 | Fizbo | Nov 25, 2009 | Jason Winer | Paul Corrigan & Brad Walsh | Cameron’s clown alter-ego “Fizbo” appears at Luke’s birthday party. Jay and Manny get lost in a storm. Claire has a meltdown. | | 10 | Undeck the Halls | Dec 9, 2009 | Randall Einhorn | Dan O’Shannon | Claire threatens to cancel Christmas unless kids confess. Cameron obsesses over holiday decorations. Jay buys Gloria an inappropriate gift. | | 11 | Up All Night | Jan 6, 2010 | Michael Spiller | Christopher Lloyd | Mitchell and Cameron are sleep-deprived with baby Lily. Jay tries to keep Gloria awake during a movie. Phil tries a new business venture. | | 12 | Not in My House | Jan 13, 2010 | Chris Koch | Caroline Williams | Phil tries to scare Haley’s boyfriend. Gloria discovers a secret about Manny. Cameron confronts a bully. | | 13 | Fifteen Percent | Jan 20, 2010 | Jason Winer | Steven Levitan | Jay refuses to give a discount to a Latino client, angering Gloria. Claire helps Mitchell negotiate a raise. Phil has a lucky streak. | | 14 | Moon Landing | Feb 3, 2010 | Jason Winer | Bill Wrubel | Phil’s dad visits, clashing with Claire’s rules. Jay and Gloria argue about her past. Cameron joins a competitive choir. | | 15 | My Funky Valentine | Feb 10, 2010 | Michael Spiller | Jerry Collins | Valentine’s Day: Phil tries a sexy hotel roleplay. Jay takes Gloria to a fancy restaurant. Mitchell and Cameron go to a gay bar. | | 16 | Fears | Mar 3, 2010 | Reginald Hudlin | Steven Levitan | Claire forces herself to face her fear of birds. Luke and Manny try to scare Alex. Mitchell avoids public speaking. | | 17 | Truth Be Told | Mar 10, 2010 | Jason Winer | Joe Lawson | Phil accidentally sees Claire’s private journal. Jay lies about golf to avoid an errand. Cameron fakes an injury for attention. | | 18 | Starry Night | Mar 24, 2010 | Jason Winer | Danny Zuker | Phil tries to paint a masterpiece. Jay and Mitchell bond over a model airplane. Gloria helps Haley with a boy problem. | | 19 | Game Changer | Mar 31, 2010 | Kevin Hooks | Vanessa McCarthy & Joe Mande | Phil buys an expensive iPad without telling Claire. Jay coaches Manny’s soccer team. Mitchell and Cameron have a fight over an ex. | | 20 | Benched | Apr 14, 2010 | Chris Koch | Danny Zuker | Claire joins Jay’s softball team. Phil helps Luke with a bully. Mitchell feels left out when Cameron reunites with old friends. | | 21 | Travels with Scout | Apr 28, 2010 | Seth Gordon | Bill Wrubel | The families go camping. Phil loses the family dog. Jay refuses to ask for directions. Cameron over-prepares for wilderness. | | 22 | Airport 2010 | May 5, 2010 | Jason Winer | Dan O’Shannon & Joe Lawson | At the airport: Claire misses a flight while confronting a rude passenger. Jay tries to avoid a former employee. Mitchell and Cameron panic about Lily’s adoption papers. | | 23 | Hawaii | May 12, 2010 | Steven Levitan | Paul Corrigan & Brad Walsh | The family goes to Hawaii for Jay and Gloria’s anniversary. Phil tries to plan a perfect moment. Mitchell and Cameron lose Lily’s favorite toy. | | 24 | Family Portrait | May 19, 2010 | Jason Winer | Christopher Lloyd | The families attempt one big photo for Jay’s gift. Everything goes wrong – sunburn, tantrums, Manny’s espresso, and Cameron’s period costume. | Season 1 established the core personalities that would
The season consists of . Below is the official episode index including titles, original airdates, and brief synopses. Main Cast and Characters Character Name Family Role
Jay's furniture-buying trip with Mitchell and Cameron turns into a disaster, while Phil and Claire disagree on how to furnish their new home. The episode showcases the characters' unique personalities and their relationships with one another.
Phil wants to teach Luke a lesson about responsibility by stealing his "unlocked" bike, only to realize he stole the wrong identical bicycle. Jay tries to bond with Manny by building a fan, while Mitchell and Cameron attend a playgroup to impress other parents. 3. Episode 3: "Come Fly with Me" Original Air Date: October 7, 2009
We meet the three households. Phil tries to be the "cool dad," Jay struggles with his younger wife's fiery culture, and Mitchell and Cameron shock the family by revealing they adopted a baby girl from Vietnam. Episode 2: "The Bicycle Thief"